We all know that buying products in the wrong places can cost you – like buying food at the airport, movie theater, theme park, or sports arena. But items with astronomical markups are also hidden in places you’d hardly suspect, like your local grocer or drugstore.

So whether you’re sipping a martini in a swanky hotel bar or bottled water from the grocery store, chances are you’re paying an astronomical markup. Money Talks News founder Stacy Johnson reveals some of the most overpriced products and shares tips on how to get them for less. Check it out, then read on for more.

Click here to watch ‘The Most Overpriced Products’ on MoneyTalksNews.com

Here, in no particular order, is a larger list of products with high markups, along with ways to avoid paying a premium.

Movie theater popcorn/candy

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.

Prescription drugs

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.

Diamonds

Shoppers in the market for a diamond should be prepared to pay anywhere from 50 percent to 200 percent more than the appraised value, 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 knowing where to look. Consider online diamond retailers like BlueNile.com or Whiteflash.com. If you prefer heading to your local jeweler, read our Guide to Buying Diamonds in 5 Simple Steps.

Bottled water

Some claim bottled water’s markup reaches 4,000 percent – more expensive than gasoline. Yet so many of us buy it. To save, use a water filtration system, if necessary, and a refillable bottle with tap water instead.

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), radishes (302 percent), and baby corn (277 percent). To save, load up on the lighter items that actually offer a markdown, like bacon bits (55 percent markdown) and grilled chicken (44 percent).

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. Check out 8 Ways to Save on Eyeglasses for more ways to save up to 90 percent.

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.

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.

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 (look for house wines). Even BYOBs make out, charging corkage fees up to $25. In this case, inquire about fees when you make your reservation – just in case they’re high enough to send you elsewhere.

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