Mark up in Chemists

[SteveJ]

I went into our local branch of Lloyds Chemist last week to get the Movicon that I've promised to take over for Volkan in VoJo's. The assistant gave me the two boxes that I asked for but they didn't have a price sticker on them so she asked the Pharmacist how much they were. He told her to look them up in the book which she did and shouted over to him that the cost price was £4.33 per box. He tapped a few buttons on his calculator and told her to charge me £7.88 per box.

I'm in the wrong job! 

[KKOB]

Not bad. A lot of goods are marked up by 100%.

[Jacqui Harvey]

When I did my business course run by the local Council.  We were told that 100% is what most businesses must aim for.   
Businesses have a lot of overheads, rent, rates, heating, lighting,insurances, wages, the list goes on, so a business has to make a profit. 

[Bluwise]

Pharmacists and the like have the market cornered so can decide their own profit margin.  Hate to think what the mark up is for the big pharmaceutical companies who make the stuff !!  There's a tablet/ointment/remedy for all these "ailments" they keep suggesting we have got on TV every night 
Many other businesses like restaurants, general stores etc have to be competitive and constantly looking at prices - which usually means reduced margin too - I doubt many of those type of businesses can attempt 100%.

[Highlander]

When I did my business course run by the local Council.  We were told that 100% is what most businesses must aim for.   
Businesses have a lot of overheads, rent, rates, heating, lighting,insurances, wages, the list goes on, so a business has to make a profit. 

More like the Council not giving monkey's because it's not their money. Makes my blood boil.

[Jacqui Harvey]

There are a few of businesses that can charge just what they like and we never/cannot complain.  Vets, Funeral Directors and Solicitors.
My son just took his cat to the Vets as it had peed on the carpet. The Vet said it was physiological because, my son and his wife had redecorated the lounge,  put down a new carpet and new blinds.  So the cat needed a plug in device to emit fumes to calm him down, some tablets and a special cleaner for the carpet, so the cat would not pee again and of course, tests in case he needed an antibiotic.   Total bill £100.00 and still have the test results to pay for.   So my son looked up the three products on the net, that the Vet had sold him one was £35.00 from the Vet and £10.00 on the net. The two others were cheaper too.

[Highlander]

I was advised to get a blood pressure monitor - yes I know it's hard tpo believe.

Went to Boots to find it priced at £ 99.99 which sent my blood pressure sailing through the roof. Then found out it was available from Chemist Direct for £ 13.94.

[SteveJ]

Jacqui - I know that businesses have to make a profit but all they have to do is put them on a shelf and sell them to me, it's not as though they've added any value to the transaction. £4.33 to £7.88 that's almost 85%, 78%, 92% a lot of money!

[Colwyn]

Makes my blood boil.

I was advised to buy a blood pressure monitor.

If you get that mad at companies making a quite normal markup of 100%, and the get mad at the Council for running a course saying so, then ...................... where's your picture of the bloke in a cell with a straight-jacket?

[KKOB]

Jacqui - I know that businesses have to make a profit but all they have to do is put them on a shelf and sell them to me, it's not as though they've added any value to the transaction. £4.33 to £7.88 that's almost 85%, 78%, 92% a lot of money!

They've had to pay rent / mortgage and council / business tax on the premises. All heat, light, phones, internet, and wages plus NI. They had to invest in stock and equipment for the shop.

I think they've added quite a bit of value.