17 Things That Are Actually So Cheap To Make But Cost Sooo Much Literally Just 'Cause Of Greed

This life-saving medication device costs hundreds despite costing a few dollars to make.

I'm a numbers guy. Not a good numbers guy, but I am fascinated by taking a closer look at numbers. So, I thought it would be interesting to look at a bunch of products under a microscope and see if they are worth the cost of making them.

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Here are 17 items that are priced WAY higher than they cost to make:

1. Eyeglasses

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Eyeglasses have a wide range of prices. Some are as cheap as $8, but designer frames are a whopping $600.

However, it's reported that most only cost around $14 to manufacture. That means there is a profit percentage of well over 1,000%! (Although, that is rare since $600 frames are usually the ceiling for designer eyeglasses.)

2. Candles

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Light the candle! Who doesn't love a lovely candle? Whether it is for ambiance or smell, candles can be found in just about every home. It may shock you, but making a candle costs from pennies to $5. Candles can sell for anywhere from $7 to $50.

So those "prestige" candles are marked up more than 500%.

3. Greeting cards

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The average cost of a greeting card is between $4–$5. The cost to produce these cards is at most $2. In fact, most are under a dollar to make. I know $5 doesn't seem expensive, but the price is relative here. Remember, we're talking about a thin piece of cardboard with words on it.

Don't lie. I'm interested. Who actually keeps greeting cards?

4. College textbooks

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The actual printing of textbooks usually costs $10 on average. College students spend about $410 per textbook. Yikes.

It's pretty unbelievable to think that college textbook prices increased 88 percent between 2006 and 2016.

5. Printer cartridges

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Printer ink can be more expensive than the printers themselves.

Printer cartridges cost around $2–$3 to make. What is the average cost to buy? Around $25–$50. All that for some colored ink...I think I will stick to black and white.

6. Soda can

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Soda cans only cost about $0.30 to produce. The average today is about $2! That doesn't seem expensive, but that's only 12 ounces of liquid!

If you look closely at Coke, they benefit from selling less and profiting more. The volume reduction by selling cans is only helping them increase profits.

7. EpiPens

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Epipens vary from $100 to $700 for higher-named brands but only cost several dollars to make.

This might be the most frustrating entry on the list since there aren't too many life-saving medication devices on this list.

8. Mattresses

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Manufacturing materials for a mattress can cost as low as $75, whereas the average market price for a quality mattress is $1,000.

The better designs mattresses get over time, the more expensive they will be on the market. It sucks that a better night's sleep has to be so costly.

9. Smartphones

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The average price for a smartphone is $468.00. Apple iPhones are now in the $1,000 range. So, how much does it cost to make? Usually, always half of the shelf cost.

Technology, man.

10. Bath bombs

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Bath bombs only cost a dollar to make but can cost up to $10 at higher-end stores. The fact that some would list bath bombs under cosmetics only helps up the value of them as an item.

11. Wristwatch

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High-end watches can price from $1,000-$10,000. 

Rolex, priced at $8,000, only costs around $500 to produce. Making a cheaper watch can cost as low as $30.

12. Designer jeans

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You can definitely find cheaper jeans, but if you want to be a real "fancy pants," odds are you will turn to designer jeans.

Designer jeans sell in the $150 range. What is the cost of making them? Around $50. That is the cost of being a "fancy pants" wearer.

13. Any sneaker

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The cost to make a $70 shoe is about $15. 

14. Wedding dresses

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The low for a designer wedding dress is about $2,000. Some custom dresses have been made for as low as $100–$700.

15. Jewelry

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It only costs about $40 to make jewelry (depending on the materials), but the average cost can range in the thousands. It's all dependent, like the rest of this list, on the materials, but the profit margins are high.

16. Halloween costumes

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The average (affordable) Halloween costume costs $45 in total.

The detail that goes into them is time-consuming, so depending on your skill in sculpting and casting, a latex Halloween mask can be made for a total of $20. But the cost versus the selling price is night and day, as the average cost of a latex Halloween mask is about $70.

17. Any "high-end" beauty products

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Speaking about beauty products in general (list of types), we're talking about hundreds of dollars per product. Cost to make them? Dollars.

For example, lipstick costs less than $3 to make, yet, they are priced anywhere from $10–$100.

Do you find these prices fair despite the manufacturing cost? Is there a specific item that you believe is straight-up not worth it? Comment below!