We all know to be alert for criminal scam artists preying on the vulnerable and the gullible.
However, several everyday practices aren’t criminal but feel scammy, unethical, misleading, or all three.
Many involve charging people for things without providing any extra value; sometimes, there’s even less value. Following are several to be aware of and avoid as much as you can.
“Shrinkflation”
Consumers hate it when prices go up, so businesses sometimes reduce the amount in, say, an orange juice carton while keeping the price the same. Often, consumers are fine with that. However, when the number of products goes down and the price goes up, they feel they’ve been scammed.
ATM Fees
Believe it or not, there was a time when you didn’t have to pay money to get your money. Then banks started charging you to withdraw money if you didn’t have an account with them. Now, some banks charge even if you do have an account with them; they just charge more if you don’t.
“Convenience” Fees
When ordering something online, it’s not unusual to find yourself charged with a convenience fee as a cost of doing business. Yes, you have to spend money to spend money.
Planned Obsolescence
This is the intentional creation of products that are supposed to fail or become obsolete after a few years. The idea is to keep making you buy again rather than having something last for a long time.
Ticketmaster
Truly one of the most hated companies out there, Ticketmaster has made the experience of getting tickets for concerts and other events miserable for so many people. Outrageous prices and lightning-fast sellouts are among the most common complaints.
Being Asked for Donations at the Cash Register
Sometimes, the prompt is electronic and easier to reject, but when it comes from the cashiers themselves, it feels like a guilt tactic. Once you say no the first time, though, it’s a lot easier going forward.
Donating to Politicians
When was the last time you felt a politician was looking out for your interests? So why would you give them money? Unless you’re a company or individual who can donate the big bucks, your voice isn’t likely to make a difference.
The U.S. Health Care System
We have some of the best doctors, equipment, and procedures in the world yet also some of the worst outcomes. Most people have to get a decent job to get health insurance in the first place, and then navigating all the complexities can make things a nightmare. In the meantime, millions go without critical care since they have no health insurance at all.
Telemarketing
This annoying tactic seemed to recede a bit with do-not-call lists and the abandonment of landlines, but it never really went away. At least you can still just hang up, and now you can block numbers as well.
Buying a Car
First of all, remember that they always want to sell you the most expensive car they can regardless of whether you need it or can afford it. Then there are all the scam fees such as those for freight, processing, etc. on top of the thousands you’re already spending. Oh, and don’t forget the hard sell for extended warranties, paint protection, and more.
Diamonds
If you like them and can afford them, great. But if both aren’t the case, ask yourself what you’re getting for all that money. It’s a rock, a pretty one for sure, but still just a rock.
The 9-To-5 Grind
The pandemic accelerated the realization that there are better alternatives to the traditional work model, and it accelerated demand for them as well. Despite what management says, the 9-5 grind is a drag, makes people miserable, and in a lot of cases is unnecessary; it’s more about control.
Hot Dogs vs. Buns in Packaging
This surely isn’t the first time you’ve heard this asked, and it probably won’t be the last, but what’s up with hot dogs coming in packs of 10 or 12 and buns coming in packages of 8? Do the manufacturers collude with one another to make us always buy more?
Tipping
For waiters and waitresses earning well below the minimum wage, tipping is still critical. Elsewhere, tipping seems to have gotten out of control. Now, you’re often prompted to tip when someone is simply handing something across the counter to you.
Paying Fees for Things Your Taxes Cover
Governments love to do this, and it comes in the form of tolls on roads already built, entrance fees for public parks, vehicle registrations, and more. It can be especially bad in so-called low-tax states; the government will always find a way to get your money.
Apps for Everything
Ordering and buying things online seemed to be working perfectly well, so why is practically every business out there trying to get you to download their app now? Who needs all that clutter?
Lottery Tickets
If you go in knowing that the chances of winning big are ridiculously small, then maybe the lottery isn’t such a scam. However, it’s also called a “poor tax” because low earners disproportionately put their money toward it in hopes of getting lucky.
Bottled Water
In many cases, that “purified” water you’re drinking is filtered tap water, and what you’re paying for is the bottle. Bottled water generates huge amounts of waste each year, literally tons that go to landfills or end up along roadways and in waterways.
Misleading Gas Prices
You see a price in large numbers that’s significantly lower than the other gas stations in sight. Then you pull in and see in smaller lettering that it’s the price for cash or members of a special club. Most people don’t carry enough cash to fill a gas tank, so this practice is deceptive at best.
Dealer Markups
This aspect of buying a car deserves a mention of its own. Sometimes, dealers add several thousand to the purchase prices of high-demand cars. It’s an extra fee because you want a popular car; there’s nothing extra you get for it.
Don’t pay for it!
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