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5 major markups at the store

6:05 AM, Jun 12, 2012   |    comments
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We see inflated prices on everyday products from bottled water to movie popcorn to designer jeans but if you are aware of what's not worth it - you can save money. Here's a list of 5 extraordinary markups from Yahoo! Finance and how to avoid them.

Celebrity perfume. A perfume by any other name would smell as sweet - and it should cost the same. But as long as it's named after a celebrity, expect to pay 50 percent to 60 percent more than what it costs to make a regular bottle of fragrance. Here's what you can do to cut costs -- shop online versus at the department store to find the most savings on celebrity-branded perfume.
 
Minibar snacks. A chocolate candy bar can have as much as a 400-percent markup. Plus, a lot of hotels are now charging a minibar 'restocking fee,' where they charge you to have a hotel employee go back to your room and replace the snack you've just taken out.Instead, stop at a convenience store and stock up for a much better price.
 
Greeting cards. Before you head out the door to get your dad a Father's Day card for Sunday, check this out. Cards are very inexpensive to produce, but carry hefty markups starting at around-200 percent.  Instead, consider sending a free, yet elegant, e-card from sites like PaperlessPost.
 
Pre-cut veggies. Convenience carries a higher price. They may save you a little time and energy, but will cost you double what you'd pay by simply buying veggies whole and taking the time to cut them yourself.

Brand name pharmaceuticals. The markups are as high as 3-thousand percent. In most cases generic drugs can be available for as little as $4 a month, but if no generic is available then you could spend an absolute fortune and go deep into your pockets.