Since we have given our industrial base mainly to China and other third world countrys where goods are produced so cheap, is when this markup game started. At the time most products that were made in USA the normal markup was generaly as such. For instance if the reailer were to buy a shirt for $1.00, to that they would add the freight lets 10% which would make their cost $1.10, then they would generaly mark it up 100% or slighly more which would mean at retail from $2.19 to $2.49, that was pretty much things were priced. But here's what happened, when they could by the $1.00 for $.50 cents or less, they would still mark it up based on comparable USA prices, have a sale with 25% to 50% off and still double there cost. The USA retailers in their adds would say compare at $2.49, and what they were comparing it with was if it was made in the USA, so the consumer thought they were getting a bargain, no doubt they were, but it wasn't the same quality that was made in the USA. This type of marketing has created the problems that retailers have today, because we no longer produce products here, they don't have that same comparison model. Because the market is so price oriented and highly competitive,they lie to the consumer about the bargain they are getting by creating a false true markup to begin with. The consumer is conning himself if he thinks there is something for nothing, no one wants to be made a sucker but that's exactly what the retailers are doing based on the ignorance the general public has about marketing The biggest hoax of all is the car industry,no interest for 36 months or cash back, you are getting nothing, not one thin dime all that is built into the cost of the automobile, folks there is a sucker born every minute, you are not going to outsmart the seller any more then beat the odds in Las Vegas. So if you really want the best deal possible shop and compare apples to apples. Everyone wants to say what a great deal they got because if they don't they are going to look and feel stupid. Buy what you like and if you can afford it pay the price, be quiet about it and you will allways be satified. Thanks