The use of a set of secret marks with which to mark the price of goods is in universal use. As a rule the buying price only is marked in these characters, the selling price usually being in plain figures.

Arbitrary signs are sometimes taken to designate the numerals, but as a usual thing a keyword is used, the letters of which stand for the numerals. Following are examples:

In a similar way "MAKEPROFIT," "CALEBSMITH," or "CHELMSFORD," could be used. A repeater is sometimes used instead of writing a character twice.