i think i founds it.

we were using the catalog>products price manager. that seems to be overwriting the values when it hits shopping_cart, though that's a guess at the moment. we had it configured to give a discount based on amount, so if a customer ordered 1 item price = retail, if 11 items price = cheaper. you get the idea.

i'll try taking a closer look at shopping_cart.php/functions.php and mebbe see where that products price manager is doing its magic. for now though, we'll just have to hose the discounts for users that order tons of stuff. *wry grin*

if i find it, i'll let ya know, though in a race i think you'd win. *grin*

thanks again!