Products with Giant Markups

Money Talks News: 10 Products with Giant Markups

By Renee Morad

If you’re a merchant seeking profits, there’s only one way to find them: sell stuff for more than you pay for it.

But what’s a fair markup? Fifty percent? One Hundred? Two? It depends on both product and business, but one thing’s for sure – some consumer goods are being sold for a whole lot more than they cost.

Whether you’re sipping a martini in a swanky bar or bottled water from the grocery store, odds are you’re swallowing an astronomical markup.

(iStock)

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The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.

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Products with Gi... By Renee Morad

If you’re a merchant seeking profits, there’s only one way to find them: sell stuff for more than you pay for it.

But what’s a fair markup? Fifty percent? One Hundred? Two? It depends on both product and business, but one thing’s for sure – some consumer goods are being sold for a whole lot more than they cost.

Whether you’re sipping a martini in a swanky bar or bottled water from the grocery store, odds are you’re swallowing an astronomical markup.

(iStock)

More from Money Talks News:
8 Things Rich People Buy That Make Them Look Dumb
7 Things You Should Always Buy Generic
How I Furnished My Entire House for $716.97

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
Movie theater po... What’s harder to digest: (1) Movie theater popcorn has an average markup of 1,275 percent, or (2) With a soda, that popcorn has a caloric equivalent of three McDonald’s Quarter Pounders? Nutrition aside, concessions like $5 tubs of popcorn and $6 boxes of gummy worms are big revenue streams for movie theaters.

Since most theaters prohibit moviegoers from bringing in outside food and drinks, the way to save is to bypass concessions altogether. If you can’t, find your cinematic savings elsewhere, like getting a five-pack of movie tickets for $30 at CinemaDeals.com.

(iStock)

More from Money Talks News:
8 Things Rich People Buy That Make Them Look Dumb
7 Things You Should Always Buy Generic
How I Furnished My Entire House for $716.97

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
Prescription dru... Astronomical prescription drug prices – with markups ranging from 200 to 3,000 percent – are enough to give patients a headache. In fact, price hikes caught the eye of Arizona’s Attorney General Tom Horne, who is suing pharmaceuticals distributor McKesson Corp. for markups on Allegra, Celebrex, Coumadin, Flonase, Lipitor, and Valium.

To save on prescriptions, ask your doctor for free samples and about generic substitutes. Comparison-shopping is also a great idea. Walmart, Target, and warehouse stores like Costco are good places to start. And take advantage of mail-order suppliers like Express Scripts if your prescription-drug plan offers it.

(iStock)

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8 Things Rich People Buy That Make Them Look Dumb
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The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
Diamonds Shoppers in the market for a diamond should be prepared to pay anywhere from 50 percent to 200 percent more than the wholesale cost, according to TheStreet.com.

A diamond’s sparkle may cause shoppers to turn a blind eye to the price tag, but you can land a better deal by understanding what you’re buying and doing a lot of shopping.

(iStock)

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The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
Bottled water Some claim bottled water’s markup reaches 4,000 percent – more expensive than gasoline. Saving is simple: drink tap water. If you’re concerned about taste or quality, use a water filtration system.

(iStock)

More from Money Talks News:
8 Things Rich People Buy That Make Them Look Dumb
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How I Furnished My Entire House for $716.97

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
Salad bars Some salad bar items are marked up more than 350 percent, according to Food Network Magazine. Items that aren’t worth their weight: chickpeas (386 percent markup over retail), radishes (302 percent), and baby corn (277 percent). To save, load up on the lighter items that cost less than you’d pay at the grocery store, like bacon bits (55 percent markdown) and grilled chicken (44 percent).

(iStock)

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The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
Eyeglass frames Dishing out $450 for Armani frames? Markups for eyeglass frames can reach 1,000 percent. That’s certainly not unheard of. Fortunately, focusing on warehouse stores and the Internet can help you find discounts.

(iStock)

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8 Things Rich People Buy That Make Them Look Dumb
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How I Furnished My Entire House for $716.97

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
Fountain soda Order a glass of Coke when you’re dining out, and you could pay 300 to 600 percent over cost. Sure, you know going into a restaurant that you’re paying for the service and ambiance too. But if you’re looking to save without sacrificing a night out, skip the extras like soda and opt for water instead.

(iStock)

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8 Things Rich People Buy That Make Them Look Dumb
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The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
Text messages Outgoing text messages on a cell phone can cost the provider three-tenths of a cent, but users up to 20 cents – that translates to a 6,000 percent markup. Some plans charge 10,000 times more for sending a text than other types of data. If you frequently send text messages, get an unlimited plan.

(iStock)

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The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
Wine/champagne It’s not uncommon for restaurants to charge two or even three times retail for a bottle of wine. Order by the glass, and you’re sipping on an item marked up as much as 400 percent. So scan the menu for a reasonably priced bottle (tip: look for house wines).

(iStock)

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8 Things Rich People Buy That Make Them Look Dumb
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The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
Hotel minibars Whether you’re reaching for a Snickers or a toothpaste kit, minibar markups can hit 400 percent. Some of the most ludicrous minibar prices, according to Oyster.com: $14 gummy bears at Omni Berkshire Place and a $10 bottle of water at the Mansfield Hotel. Simple solution: Leave your room and prices drop significantly.

(iStock)

More from Money Talks News:
8 Things Rich People Buy That Make Them Look Dumb
7 Things You Should Always Buy Generic
How I Furnished My Entire House for $716.97

The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
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