Understand that 'at cost' means the seller doesn't make any profit from the sale.

No Profit

'At cost' can imply a strategy to sell inventory quickly, often to make room for new stock.

Clearance Strategy

Businesses may use 'at cost' to show transparency in pricing, building trust with customers.

Expect 'at cost' to mean someone pays a personal price, beyond monetary, for an outcome.

'At cost' can also reveal that negative consequences resulted from an action taken.

Be aware that 'cost' can refer to emotional, social, or other non-financial effects.