% what's the markup?

[ACE]

I have had to go around the shops just recently, what with crimbo and all that. I can't help but notice that quite a few stores are giving 20%, 30% even more of the price of the goods.

Currys and that sort of national are increasing their prices daily, apart from a few seasonal offers, (small pressies).

Very soon Currys and their like will be telling us they are knocking off 30 or 40% only because they are overpriced at the moment.

How much is the markup anyhow? surely they shouldn't be running over 50%. Although it seems as if they are, if this is the case, Rip Off Britain is still going strong and I shall not be shedding any tears when they start crying about falling sales.

I am not naive and realise profit has got to be made to stay in business. But credit crunch or not somebody is still having a laugh.

[ACE]

[Deb P]

Many moons ago I used to be in buying for a large department store in London, and the markup on items varied widely depending on the type of goods.

On electrical appliances the margins are some of the tightest, and stores 'loss leader' items to tempt you in may be selling on virtually at cost. Accessories for electrical goods often have much more generous mark up, because you are a captive audience by then!

There is no such thing as an 'average' mark up, but the department I used to work in had mark up ranging from 2%-1000%, the biggest mark ups on large orders of small imported items of course. Our average across the whole department worked out about 35% I think, but this was quite a while ago! ;D