What "up to 70% off" really means
"Up to 70% off" is one of the most common lines in South African retail, and one of the most misleading. Here is how to read it.
"Up to" means at most, not typical
The 70 percent usually applies to a few items, often the ones nobody wants. Most of the sale sits at a much smaller discount. The phrase is a ceiling, not what you should expect to get.
The percentage is measured off the was-price
A percentage is only as honest as the price it is taken from. If the was-price is inflated, even a big percentage is a small saving in rand. The number that matters is the actual price against the item's own history, not the badge.
Check the item, not the banner
A store-wide "up to" claim tells you nothing about the specific thing you want. Open the product and look at its recorded prices. That is the only way to know what you are really saving.
A quick example
An item at "70% off R1,000" sounds like R300. If it normally sells for about R350, the real saving is R50, not R700. The percentage was technically true and almost meaningless.