Cheaper than offering

[mrmvp]

In a book named "Business Results", I found this sentence:

In the words of one CEO, who asked not to be named: 'It's a lot cheaper than offering a 2% on our whole product range!'

I can't understand what "than" means above because I see no comparison between two thing. Why doesn't it rewrite as " It's a lot cheaper to offer a 2% on our whole product range!"

 

[Barque]

In the words of one CEO, who asked not to be named: 'It's a lot cheaper than offering a 2% on our whole product range!'

We need to know what came earlier, so we can understand what he means by "It". He's saying that "It" will be cheaper for the company than offering a 2% discount on the entire product range.

because I see no comparison between two thing.

The comparison is between "It" and a 2% discount on the entire range. The sentence is a comparison.

Why doesn't it rewrite as " It's a lot cheaper to offer a 2% on our whole product range!"

This isn't the intended meaning. This means the opposite. This means that offering a 2% discount on the entire product range would be cheaper.

In a book named "Business Results",

Who's the author?

 

[Barque]

Also note:

between two things.

Why doesn't it rewrite as " It's a lot cheaper to offer a 2% on our whole product range!"

A rewriting is a change. That's not what you mean. You're asking why they didn't write it differently.
Why wasn't it written as "It's a lot cheaper to offer a 2% on our whole product range!"?
(Note the question mark at the end, and also that there shouldn't be a space after the opening inverted commas.)

 

[mrmvp]

We need to know what came earlier, so we can understand what he means by "It". He's saying that "It" will be cheaper for the company than offering a 2% discount on the entire product range.

The comparison is between "It" and a 2% discount on the entire range. The sentence is a comparison.

This isn't the intended meaning. This means the opposite. This means that offering a 2% discount on the entire product range would be cheaper.

The more important the customer, the bigger the budget of the host company that is paying. A seat at a Champions League football final, for example, can cost as much as €10,000 per person for a package that includes dinner and drinks. Even at these prices many companies consider it to be good value for money.In the words of one CEO, who asked not to be named: 'It's a lot cheaper than offering a 2% on our whole product range!'

Does "it" refer backwards to the word "a package"?

Who's the author?

David Grant, Jane Hudson & John Hughes

 

[Barque]

Does "it" refer backwards to the word "a package"?

It refers to what the host company does for the customer. A Champions League final package is just an example. It says so in the passage you quoted.

It appears you need to go further back. Do you have the last couple of sentences before this?

The more important the customer, the bigger the budget of the host company that is paying.

 

[SoothingDave]

Taking an important customer out to a Big Game can cost a lot of money. However, that keeps the customer happy and costs the company less than reducing their prices. The expense for the "business entertainment" is less than the loss a 2% reduction in prices would represent.