ADVERTISEMENT

Most of us like to think the world is a fair place. We rent-to-own appliances to repair the kitchen, pay to set up a router, and pack on ink cartridges for our printers that seem to have an insatiable appetite for these overpriced refills.

And there’s nothing wrong about it until you pause and think for a moment. Are we all just normalizing the ways companies make a profit off us without even realizing it?

When someone posted the question “What is clearly a scam but is so normalized people don’t notice?” on r/AskReddit it surely resonated with many. Amassing 85.7k upvotes and 47.1k comments, we have some of the most interesting and insightful responses that will make you go “wait a moment!”

#1

50 Things That Are Actually Scams Yet We Don't Notice Them Because They're So Normalized Most mega churches... I remember an interview with Kenneth Copeland talking about how he needed a private jet to spread religion

GrandTadpole18 , Karl Fredrickson Report

#2

50 Things That Are Actually Scams Yet We Don't Notice Them Because They're So Normalized Minimum wages staying the same, while the price of virtually everything else rises

Mcreemouse , Sharon McCutcheon Report

Add photo comments
POST
andreavilarmelego avatar
Ozacoter
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It’s crazy. The minimum salary in Spain stayed the same for about a decade. Even working 50h a week with that salary didn’t give you a decent life. Luckily the new left government is raising it. It is still too low for the rent and cost of living but it’s an improvement.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#3

50 Things That Are Actually Scams Yet We Don't Notice Them Because They're So Normalized Funerals and everything to do with them. The funeral industry has insane pricing. Some of the funeral homes and vendors are even predatory, getting grieving families to pay upwards of tens of thousands of dollars, because “that’s what the deceased would have wanted”.

chiggenNuggs , Rhodi Lopez Report

Add photo comments
POST
james_fox1984 avatar
Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I personally don’t understand the big lavish funerals. Your dead so why do you care how your send of goes. I don’t care if I have a memorial, ceremony etc. I want to be disposed of as cheap as possible coz I don’t want my family to be in debt or pay thousands of dollars to legally dispose of me.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#4

50 Things That Are Actually Scams Yet We Don't Notice Them Because They're So Normalized Planned obsolescence, where products are deliberatly designed to have a defect or worse performance shortly after the warranty has expired.

TheBassMeister , Markus Spiske Report

#5

50 Things That Are Actually Scams Yet We Don't Notice Them Because They're So Normalized ''The customer is always right"

Biggest scam of all- the customer is usually an idiot and looking to get free stuff.

Corner_beat , Johann Walter Bantz Report

Add photo comments
POST
michaelswanson avatar
Lunar Bicycle
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The original saying made perfect sense: “The customer is always right, in matters of taste.” If a customer wanted wear something ugly or eat something gross, you helped them out with a smile. It’s their money and their business, and you’re just there to facilitate that purchase. But once it got shortened and lost that meaning, it became a huge pain in the ass for employees and businesses, and a license to act like an entitled douche to customers.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#6

50 Things That Are Actually Scams Yet We Don't Notice Them Because They're So Normalized The US tax system. “We know how much money you owe, but it’s up to you to figure it out and if it’s not right, we’re going to penalize you for not understanding the convoluted code.”

JeromeBaritone , Leon Dewiwje Report

Add photo comments
POST
lyuboiv avatar
Vorknkx
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is so weird. In my country, all the necessary data is fileld in. In most cases I don't have to file anything at all, my employer does that for me, automatically.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#7

50 Things That Are Actually Scams Yet We Don't Notice Them Because They're So Normalized The fact that so many products require you to create an account and register it just to use it. This is starting to become so widespread. Even CAMERAS are doing that [things] now. Pisses me off so much. I don't want to be tied to some stupid cloud BS I just want to use the damn thing.

Phones themselves are terrible for this too. I should not need an apple or google account to have a phone I should be able to use it as a standalone device with just the cell service and that's it. All this sort of BS is only so they can spy on you.

RedSquirrelFtw , Marc Mueller Report

Add photo comments
POST
james_fox1984 avatar
Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I agree 100%, also I hate that you have to give permission to use your data to access most apps, websites etc. You should be able to use them without them selling your info to other parties.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#9

50 Things That Are Actually Scams Yet We Don't Notice Them Because They're So Normalized College textbook prices.

It's crazy how ridiculous expensive they are putting even more of a financial burden on students

-eDgAR- , Daria Nepriakhina Report

Add photo comments
POST
lyuboiv avatar
Vorknkx
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We the option to lease textbooks for a very small price. The only condition was to return them without any visible damage.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#10

50 Things That Are Actually Scams Yet We Don't Notice Them Because They're So Normalized Unpaid internships. F*ck anyone who gives unpaid internships! People get exploited like sh*t in that and for what? Most times they don't even count. For what purpose?

I get so irritated when someone posts "unpaid but you'll be given a certificate". Shut the f*ck up and do the work by yourself you lazy ass.

MojoJojo1945 , Austin Distel Report

Add photo comments
POST
d-x-a-gokke avatar
EQXL
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Worst in these is that people usually get to do normal paid work without any guidance at all.

View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#11

50 Things That Are Actually Scams Yet We Don't Notice Them Because They're So Normalized Diamond rings for marriage.

Red-7134 , Simon John-McHaffie Report

Add photo comments
POST
lyuboiv avatar
Vorknkx
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If two people are truly in love, it wouldn't matter if there is a ring at all.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#12

50 Things That Are Actually Scams Yet We Don't Notice Them Because They're So Normalized Mobile game ads that show gameplay of a Call of Duty or Skyrim style game but in reality are just a spin-off of Candy Crush

WWI_History_Buff , Pexels Report

Add photo comments
POST
james_fox1984 avatar
Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have downloaded so many apps from what is advertised in another game and then find out it is nothing like the ad at all. So now I don’t even bother. It’s essentially click bait.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#13

50 Things That Are Actually Scams Yet We Don't Notice Them Because They're So Normalized Printer ink.

Zanders1981 , Robbin Wong Report

Add photo comments
POST
james_fox1984 avatar
Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Omg yes, it is super expensive. Our old printer was cheap but we didn’t research before hand to find out that the ink for black was $38 and colour was $45.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#14

50 Things That Are Actually Scams Yet We Don't Notice Them Because They're So Normalized "If you tell me the truth, I won't get mad." -Mom

DoYuNoDaWae6321 , Nickolas Nikolic Report

#15

50 Things That Are Actually Scams Yet We Don't Notice Them Because They're So Normalized Bottled water, like Dasani. Especially in places like an amusement park that mark ups the price a shocking amount. Also the average markup of bottled water is 4000%, which is outrageous, bc water is literally free most places

gnot_your_friend , Andy Thrasher Report

#16

50 Things That Are Actually Scams Yet We Don't Notice Them Because They're So Normalized Having to pay $100+ for glasses

Lonewolf23319 , Apostolos Vamvouras Report

#17

50 Things That Are Actually Scams Yet We Don't Notice Them Because They're So Normalized The diamond industry, specifically as it relates to jewelry. Everything that the average person "knows" about it stems from propaganda and advertisements created by DeBeers. They aren't rare, they aren't worth what you pay for them, they don't appreciate in value and are a terrible investment. They aren't special.

Steelle88 , Girl with red hat Report

ADVERTISEMENT
#18

Health Insurance in the US. Costs a small fortune, never covers sh*t, and you still end up bankrupt if you're not rich and get sick or hurt.

go_kartmozart Report

Add photo comments
POST
ii_3 avatar
I I
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

and most still hate of the though of socialised health care , crazy AF

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#19

50 Things That Are Actually Scams Yet We Don't Notice Them Because They're So Normalized Apple's headphone jack removal.

Supposedly was to make the phone thinner, but everyone puts a case on anyways. Samsung galaxy S10 was 7.8 mm thick with a headphone jack. Apple removed the jack with iPhone 7, which was 7.1 mm thick. That's great, but every iphone since has been thicker.

And very convenient to remove that, wait till the annoyance died down, then release airpods.

The whole thing was clearly a scam to artificially make bluetooth a borderline necessity right before releasing Apple bluetooth earbuds.

And everyone ate it up.

SOwED , Daniel Romero Report

Add photo comments
POST
andreavilarmelego avatar
Ozacoter
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

And the removal of the chargers “for the environment”. If it was for the environment then you would reduce the cost of the charge from the phones and also give the option to buy them for a small price. Now they charge the same without it and then charge you like 40 euros for the charger.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#20

Gerrymandering. In most representative democracies, voters choose their elected officials. In the US, elected officials choose their voters.

Harry-le-Roy Report

Add photo comments
POST
lyuboiv avatar
Vorknkx
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The electoral college is a huge scam as well - allows people who get FEWER votes to win. How does that make any sense?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#21

50 Things That Are Actually Scams Yet We Don't Notice Them Because They're So Normalized Cat food. Look at the cat food at a random store, and see how the design brags about all the healthy vegetables they've crammed into your obligate carnivore's diet. Then check out the ingredients and see how corn, rice, etc. are often the first ingredients. Pet foods market toward humans by trying to appeal to human sensibilities, not genuine desire to provide your cat with the best diet.

Hadrian_x_Antinous , Fernando Jorge Report

Add photo comments
POST
andreavilarmelego avatar
Ozacoter
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

When you buy kibble look at the ingredients. Like this post said the first ingredients are the ones that have a bigger %. You want the first ingredients to be meat and it to not contain a lot of wheat, beets, corn, flour or ash. Most fancy commercial brands are really poor in composition.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
ADVERTISEMENT
#22

50 Things That Are Actually Scams Yet We Don't Notice Them Because They're So Normalized Members of Senate, Congress, and Presidential candidates, collecting money from corporations, big donors, and hiding it in campaign accounts, Pac's and Super Pac's, and then doling it out as they like. They no longer act as a government of the people and for the people.

perspectives , Paul Weaver Report

#23

50 Things That Are Actually Scams Yet We Don't Notice Them Because They're So Normalized Giving credit card details for a "free trial" and auto renewal fine print.

Heck, stop it after my trial ends. If I really liked it, I'll pay for it.

ag3ntweird , Mark OFlynn Report

Add photo comments
POST
vidimlic62 avatar
Mimi777
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sometimes you can use those Visa gift cards/credit cards that you can load money onto.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#24

50 Things That Are Actually Scams Yet We Don't Notice Them Because They're So Normalized Manufacturers refusing documentation to private repair enterprises and requiring you to get your products fixed by the dealer. Basically, the reason for the "Right-to-repair" movement

distrucktocon , Alexander Andrews Report

Add photo comments
POST
katd_1 avatar
Malakai
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

YES. And making products "seamless" so that you CAN'T open them up to repair them (I'm looking at you, Apple), at least not without a ton of effort and higher than average risk.of damaging the product doing it yourself. This refusing documentation and all is just yet another scheme for them to wring money out of consumers and away from small businesses

View more commentsArrow down menu
#25

50 Things That Are Actually Scams Yet We Don't Notice Them Because They're So Normalized The school picture industry. $80 for an awkward picture of my baby? Nah, thanks

impossiblejams , Luke Lung Report

Add photo comments
POST
james_fox1984 avatar
Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

$80 is insane. I would never pay that. Thankfully the average cost I pay is $35 for a basic pack which includes a class photo and about 10 individual photos of various sizes.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#26

Application fees for colleges, apartments, etc.

ohdominole Report

#27

50 Things That Are Actually Scams Yet We Don't Notice Them Because They're So Normalized HOSPITALS OMG

Lol ask them for an itemized bill (like everything they gave you and how much it costs) and they'll cut the bill down by like 50%.

Snootlebootlet , Marcelo Leal Report

ADVERTISEMENT
See Also on Bored Panda
#28

Weddings. My wife and I got married in a post office and could not have asked for a better ceremony. It cost us the price of notary services and that’s it.

MrPSPLock Report

Add photo comments
POST
liverpoolroze avatar
Rose the Cook
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The exhorbitant sums spent on weddings, specially second marriages or where couples have lived together for years and often already have children, has become rediculous.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#29

50 Things That Are Actually Scams Yet We Don't Notice Them Because They're So Normalized Working 40 hours a week

liniNuckel , Surface Report

Add photo comments
POST
lyuboiv avatar
Vorknkx
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Or the entire concept of having to work, in order to justify being alive... many years ago I came across a quote by some economist (can't remember the name, sadly) who argued that most job positions are totally superfluous, but are maintained because of the whole "everyone has to have a job" thing.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#30

50 Things That Are Actually Scams Yet We Don't Notice Them Because They're So Normalized Wish.com

xiphos805 , Ilyuza Mingazova Report

Add photo comments
POST
blasphemousriots avatar
Rick
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can’t believe people still use this website. Although Amazon is slowly going the same way with its marketplace and scammers flooding it with fake 5 star reviews.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#31

Fashion, but also just clothing in general. No pockets on female clothes? More purses get sold. Thinner layers for women? Have to buy more layers. It gets marketed as being fashionable, but the clothing industry could roll out a marketing campaign for baggy rugged clothing tomorrow and get it trending if they wanted to.

Also, the clothing industry is a cesspool of child labor, human trafficking, and it has some of the highest carbon emissions and water waste of any industry on the planet, way worse than flying. One cotton t-shirt takes thousands of gallons of water to produce. Almost any synthetic fabric is a type of plastic, and you release microplastics upon washing.

On top of all that, we have repressive cultural norms and laws regarding the necessity of wearing clothing that come from Puritans and Victorians who thought table legs had to be covered and ankles were sexy. The idea that you should be embarrassed to be naked in front of other people is a cultural phenomenon, not instinct, and you can look at pretty much any tropical tribe to verify this fact that humans are actually generally normal around other naked humans.

tringle1 Report

Add photo comments
POST
andreavilarmelego avatar
Ozacoter
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I always wear men’s trousers because it is impossible to find non skinny jeans for women and least with real pockets. I don’t mind but they are always too long for me.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#32

50 Things That Are Actually Scams Yet We Don't Notice Them Because They're So Normalized Social media. From their happy beginnings they are now mostly a funnel used to ram as many advertisements into your mind as inhumanly possible. “Sponsored Posts” every third or fourth item - I see you, IG/FB/Red/etc. And that’s not even mentioning the extensive filtering network that “curates” the information you get to see when you are looking for something. “Curated information” is just a nice expression for you being conditioned to form certain opinions / buy more stuff. Social media groom minds

Solitary-Dolphin , Kate Torline Report

Add photo comments
POST
amunetbarrywood avatar
Kristal
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I noticed this with Pinterest. One day ads started popping up but looked like pins. Now, just looking at the browse feature, it shows me pins I already have pinned! Not just a few, quite a bit. Same with Facebook. I HATE how the feed only shows you a few peoples' posts.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#33

50 Things That Are Actually Scams Yet We Don't Notice Them Because They're So Normalized Reducing a price by 1 cent to trick our brains into thinking a product costs less than it actually is.

dogarfdog12 , Benedikt Geyer Report

Add photo comments
POST
asatvoong_1 avatar
Adam C
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Some stores rise the price 100% 1 week before "sale". Then they can have 50% off.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#34

50 Things That Are Actually Scams Yet We Don't Notice Them Because They're So Normalized Starbucks. I pay $9.99 for 51 oz of Folgers Ground Coffee, roughly 380 8 oz cups. That comes out to about $0.02 per cup of coffee. At Starbucks, a Tall Dark Roast costs $1.85. I could have 92.5 cups of Folgers at home before I pay for 1 Starbucks. My tub of Folgers is worth $703.00 if I were to sell it at the same price as Starbucks. AND I’m using reusable cups every day.

Bryan15012 , Amr Taha Report

#35

Homeowner's insurance:

"Sorry, we're not selling new policies in Your Area right now because Thing just happened" where Thing = earthquake, wildfire, flood, and other things you might ... want to insure against?

"We don't cover That Sort of Problem." where That Sort of Problem = anything that actually happens to your house, due to weasel-wording loopholes

"You submitted a claim? We're going to triple your rates FOREVER after this."

balsamicextremist Report

#36

50 Things That Are Actually Scams Yet We Don't Notice Them Because They're So Normalized Those registries that people pay money to “name a star”

VictorBlimpmuscle , Warren Wong Report

Add photo comments
POST
james_fox1984 avatar
Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The thing is no registry owns the stars so just because you name it, doesn’t mean it is actually named that or that you are the only person to name that specific star. You may call it Fred whilst someone has called that same star Wilma. You are literally paying for a piece of paper, nothing more.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#37

Payday loans.

Onetrickhobby Report

Add photo comments
POST
ii_3 avatar
I I
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

never ever use them had a mate borrow £100 then lose his job , he was over £5000 owed last i knew , he's trying to fight it at the moment

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
See Also on Bored Panda
#38

50 Things That Are Actually Scams Yet We Don't Notice Them Because They're So Normalized Lotteries

llcucf80 , Emiliano Vittoriosi Report

Add photo comments
POST
thomasjohnson avatar
No.
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

never enter into the lottery. Even if you win the money, you'll probably lose all of you relationships.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#39

50 Things That Are Actually Scams Yet We Don't Notice Them Because They're So Normalized Doing your own taxes, and paying to use a privately-owned software (or a service) when the government could totally do it for you, send you the details, and ask if it’s correct.

strawberrywords , Danial Igdery Report

Add photo comments
POST
james_fox1984 avatar
Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would rather use an accountant, especially when our tax is a bit more complicated with all the deductions.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#40

50 Things That Are Actually Scams Yet We Don't Notice Them Because They're So Normalized Annual college tuition increases. Why aren’t they held to a competitive pricing model as opposed to having to take out a mortgage to go to school? Everyone wants to talk about government paying for college education, but there is no conversation on why is it that expensive anyway? Especially when some unis have endowments in the billions that just the interest on those funds could literally pay the tuition for everyone that goes through the door.

lcapaz , Charles DeLoye Report

Add photo comments
POST
dirigobill avatar
Bill
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Colleges got ridulously expensive because the US government got involved. 1971 was when student loans became mainstream and about the time costs started spiking

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#41

Social media looks like free, harmless fun, but is more like selling your soul (and data), makes you addicted and sad. Most people notice, probably, but don't care enough.

_Pillars_ Report

#42

50 Things That Are Actually Scams Yet We Don't Notice Them Because They're So Normalized Paying for cable tv. The whole idea of paying was to create a revenue stream separate from that of marketing. There are a few out there (HBO, I think) but generally we pay to access the content and still have to spend 20% of the time sitting through commericals.

Then streaming comes in and were free of advertisements again, for a bit. Now YouTube has tons of ads and other streaming services are talking about adding ads as well

suelzlej , Daan Stevens Report

Add photo comments
POST
james_fox1984 avatar
Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I would never get Foxtel coz it is approx $60 a month when I can get Netflix, Disney Plus, Prime video, Stan etc plus all the catch up tv and YouTube for at least $20 less a month. They are an absolute rip off.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#43

Most modern manufactured goods. Designed to not last, so you keep buying more.

toxiczen Report

Add photo comments
POST
ii_3 avatar
I I
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

yep , my wife thinks we get a bargain if a washing machine lasts 4 years , i get mad having to buy yet another washing machine for £400

rangerkeim avatar
Ross Keim
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have yet to buy another washing machine, if it breaks at all I fix it, try that instead

Load More Replies...
lunanik avatar
Nikki Sevven
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is why all of my furniture is hand-me-down. I'm perfectly capable of refinishing real wood furniture, and I know it will last. I have a gorgeous bentwood rocking chair build by my great grandfather that still looks brand new.

jasminehammond avatar
J
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Planned obsolescence. Every person's nightmare, every capitalists dream.

rcatheron avatar
Rcath
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

$30,000 for a car that starts needing expensive repairs in three or four years??? How/why did we let this happen?

backatya7 avatar
backatya
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

the auto industry is first on that. Mercedes use to be the longest durable car now it's doing what all manufacturers are and making them cheap

sueuser avatar
Sue User
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I just figured out that my appliances and tv are 15 years old. I am impressed and scared at the same.

soniw avatar
soni w
Community Member
2 years ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Totally disposable society. Instead of fixing the washing machine just buy a new one. Got a puncture in my tyre that's repairable and will last, nah f**k it buy a new one. Consumers are bombarded with replacing things instead of repairing and recycling. Most modern goods can be fixed but everyone wants new or are just too lazy and then complain endlessly about having to replace it.

robertthompson_1 avatar
Robert Thompson
Community Member
2 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I have a couple of latters that (if not run over by a truck) will never wear out.

mriche avatar
Memere
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

We had a washer/dryer set at our old house that was 20 years old & worked fine. We moved, left that set at the old house, & bought a new Samsung washer & dryer. The Samsung set works fine, but I miss the old Kenmore set - nowhere near as complicated, I had more control over the amount of water used & time settings for the dryer, plus the old set didn't have all the computerized parts so it was easy & cheap to repair. Now everything is chips & circuit boards that can't be fixed so you have to buy a whole new appliance.

jedimoonlarkavenger avatar
RiaDeCatterpillar
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

our first tv was 20 years old when we decided to get a new one because we wanted flat screen. the next one lasted one year.

martinforbes avatar
Martin Forbes
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Most manufactured goods, washing machine, tv's etc last 3 - 5 years now, it's like a throwaway society sometimes.

kateh_1 avatar
kate h
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love vintage! I started buying them because they're cool looking, but soon realized they were also made extremely well and are typically easy to repair. Bonus: most are reasonably priced too.

s_p_barnett avatar
Steve Barnett
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's a minefield. Some manufacturers do make reliable products, but others don't. Personally, if I can, I only buy Bosch. BTW, I'm not affiliated in any way with Bosch, there are other manufacturers available. Every Bosch item I've bought has lasted very well. Example, Bosch drill, refurbished, still working perfectly, bought over 20 years ago.

jyrihakola avatar
Jyri Hakola
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Indeed. If you pay 400£ you get a 400£ machine, decent made in germany (note: Made in, NOT designed in) machine costs easily 800-1500£ But if you look tech specs and see that el cheapo weights about 60-70 kg and the other about 100 kg it’s not hard to guess where costs have been cut and durable materials have replaced with plastics...

Load More Replies...
pauldavis avatar
Paul Davis
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This post is already above with planned obsolescence. Why the duplicated posts? is no one editing any of this?

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#44

50 Things That Are Actually Scams Yet We Don't Notice Them Because They're So Normalized EVERY SINGLE PERSON on the Internet that sells some sort of „millionaire education“ .

Every single one of them. They are all liars, most of them are not even rich to begin with! They fake it enough that some idiots buy it. You are customers to them. Nothing more.

pinocchiosWoodBalls , rupixen.com Report

Add photo comments
POST
pusheenbuttercup avatar
pusheen buttercup
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

A lot of self-help unfortunately is based on the falsehood that you can "accomplish it with this one trick." The One Trick will not get your weight healthy, get you that relationship with that person, put money in your pocket or make you happier. Real life requires nuance and complexity. And things that are hard and take time and effort. I wish there were One Trick but we need to deal with the situation we have, not the situation we wish it was.

View more commentsArrow down menu
#45

50 Things That Are Actually Scams Yet We Don't Notice Them Because They're So Normalized Toothpaste commercial were actors filled their toothbrush with toothpaste too much which is unnecessary

GrandpaBells , Anastasiia Ostapovych Report

Add photo comments
POST
james_fox1984 avatar
Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You should only use about a pea size amount. In saying that though, I am just as bad as the actors and put on almost as much as what is pictured lol.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#47

50 Things That Are Actually Scams Yet We Don't Notice Them Because They're So Normalized Internet Data Cap

vynlak Report

Add photo comments
POST
ii_3 avatar
I I
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

always get unlimited , if you go over your cap you pay a fortune

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
See Also on Bored Panda
#48

50 Things That Are Actually Scams Yet We Don't Notice Them Because They're So Normalized The fact that you have to pay to bury loved ones

twodorrahsucc , Hannah Wernecke Report

Add photo comments
POST
chi-weishen avatar
chi-wei shen
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't think the mere fact that you have to pay for burials is a scam, but the often high prices are equivalent to a scam.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#49

50 Things That Are Actually Scams Yet We Don't Notice Them Because They're So Normalized Rent-to-own furniture and appliances.

TheSanityInspector , Inside Weather Report

Add photo comments
POST
james_fox1984 avatar
Foxxy (The Original)
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I understand why it’s a thing coz some people can’t afford to pay for those big items upfront so rent to buy is one of their only options.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu
#50

Lootboxes in videogames.

HXTXI Report

Add photo comments
POST
lyuboiv avatar
Vorknkx
Community Member
3 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Oh yes, to the point where some countries actually declared them illegal. A wise decision.

View More Replies...
View more commentsArrow down menu

Note: this post originally had 75 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.