Do M and S prices mean anything anymore?

an9i77

And it's not only M and S but the likes of Debenhams, and now Selfridges. I'm talking about all these 25% off days, it seems that M and S are having them, on different products or brands, every week now. For example per una, then knitwear, then per una again and now knitwear and coats. So now I am reluctant to buy anything from M and S at full price in case it is reduced a week later. I'm presuming that if they really gave 25% off it would kill their profit margins so can only imagine that the prices are inflated by 125% to begin with, to allow them to afford to do this. But I wish they'd just pick a price and stick with it. Seems like there's two prices for everything now, the higher price for shoppers who aren't price conscious and the savvy shopper discounted price. I'm sure this never used to happen. And when did we start getting sales in December? Sign of economic crisis or just savvy price manipulation to get us to come out and buy more stuff?