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40 Things In Our Daily Lives That Many People Don’t Realize Are Scams
Interview With Author
What seems to be very obviously nefarious to you might not be obvious to someone else. That’s exactly the question that internet users have been tackling on the r/AskReddit subreddit. User u/Aurallius asked people to open up about what they personally believe to be scams that “everyone else accepts otherwise,” and they were glad to deliver.
The thread quickly went viral, getting over 36.6k upvotes and a whopping 27.3k comments: everyone was fired up to share their opinions and discuss each other’s views. From shopping channels to credit repair companies and more, you’ll find all things that some people think are secretly scams below.
Some of the things mentioned in this list are likely real-life scams. Of course, you might not agree with all of these conclusions, dear Pandas, but that’s part of the point—the grey area in which these things exist. Let us know what you think about these redditors’ opinions in the comments and if you agree with them or not and why.
The author of the thread, redditor Aurallius, gave Bored Panda some insights about the inspiration behind their question and what people should do to avoid scams. Aurallius is a design student at the School of Visual Arts in New York. They're an illustrator "working to make a living from art." You'll find their comments below.
This post may include affiliate links.
All of insurance as it is currently sold.
Example: I have full coverage car insurance. I pay $X/month to have that coverage.
Then I use it. Then they charge more.
Which means that my rate before my accident wasn't really the price of coverage; the new, higher rate is. I was paying a subscription fee to have coverage at a higher rate once I needed it.
Same for health insurance. I have to pay a deductible, meaning, I am not covered until I've paid it. "You are covered, but actually not until you've paid out of pocket a certain amount. Also, we will only cover a certain percentage of costs." Which means I'm actually not covered entirely. It's not actually insurance.
Here's how insurance is supposed to work: I pay you $X/month and you pool that money with everyone else paying that to you. When I have a problem you have the pooled resources to cover it for me. I'm still paying more over time probably than the cost of that event, but you're there to take on that cost for me for the price of my premiums. That's not what's happening anymore.
I'm probably going to be blasted for it, but the wedding industry seems to be scamming people for love.
You don't need a $35,000 party to marry someone, just get a priest and some friends for like $3k and save that money for your relationship.
Weddings used to be paid by parents or grandparents of the couple, but times have changed and more people are paying out of their own pocket for a celebration that doesn't really need to be extravagant.
"Get a priest and some friends for $3k"? That sounds like people trafficking, but sure, I'll buy a priest 😂
The funeral industry. Poor families get robbed of so much money just to put on a "respectful" funeral, and because they're grieving, it's seriously kicking them while they're down. You don't need to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars to have grandma embalmed, made-up with corpse makeup, put in a casket worth an arm and a leg, and lowered into a hole filled with roses, to be topped with an ornate expensive headstone. I wish natural burials were more mainstream, where the body is put in its favorite outfit, wrapped in a biodegradable sheet, and placed in a mound of dirt to be absorbed by the earth. Big funeral companies are benefiting off of people's grief and it's disgusting.
Aurallius, the author of the thread, told Bored Panda that they're often subjected to various ads. The "variety of products and services that are advertised on a regular basis" made the redditor come up with the question in the first place. However, that wasn't the only reason.
"I also wanted to make a popular post," they opened up to Bored Panda that they were aiming for some popularity online as well.
There are various ways how people react to being scammed. Some choose to waste the scammers' time. Others immediately call the authorities. While others choose to ignore the scammers entirely. Aurallius told Bored Panda that, in their opinion, it's best to "immediately report the scam" so as to help protect others in the future.
So-called "body cleanses", whether it be juice, herbal pills or something else.
I want to smack anyone who says they need to go on a cleanse. What the hell do you think your liver and kidneys are doing? you wanna cleanse? drink some water and let the giblets do their work, dingus!
There is an even weirder belief which says that the gut gets lined with dried up s**t over time and therefore needs to be rinsed out at intervals. I mean, strictly speaking the gut IS a sort of pipe, but a) it can't dry out inside, b) the walls are too soft and move too much to maintain a dry lining, c) the contents don't trickle, they are pushed through, rubbing against the walls so how is a stable layer of grime ever supposed to build up? d) the gut cells are constantly renewed with the old and dying gut cells being expelled into the gut interior. People have the weirdest beliefs about bodies.
Unpaid internships.
If you look at the actual laws, internships are supposed to be primarily focused on education. If the intern is doing work that is providing value to the company, they are supposed to be paid.
It's just never enforced.
This is the biggest scam, and really should be cracked down on - I hope this one makes it to number 1. Reminds me of the stingy influencers who want you to work for free for exposure/experience, except it involves the biggest, most profitable companies
Buying T-shirts with the company's logo on them.
You pay them a ridiculous price to advertise them.
Well that's the whole point of conspicuous consumption - you're also advertising yourself, as being able to afford it (even though it's probably a knock-off). Still ridiculous though, I'd rather advertise to the world something I genuinely enjoy, like a band or icecream 😁
I wanted to get Aurallius' opinion about what people can do to make sure that they don't fall for scams. In the redditor's opinion, education, patience, and awareness are key. "People should think critically and do extensive research on the stuff they use or consume," they pointed out that we should all be willing to put in the time to do some research to protect ourselves and our wallets.
The redditor also shared that credit repair companies are an example of a scam that they've had some experience with.
Scams, hustles, cons—whatever you call them, they’re as old as human history itself. Fighting against scams and con artists is a never-ending battle because a person’s biggest defenses are education and awareness.
I’m not a nutritionist but having comfort food be cheaper than fruits and vegetables is just plain wrong.
Totally agree. You are preach into the ground about eating healthy but when its time for meal prep and grocery shopping, you can feed a family for $20 with unhealthy foods or $60 for better choices. Many families have to take what is affordable for their situation. How can fresh fruit cost more than a loaf of bread that has a process to produce it for sale? Makes no sense at all.
Organized religion.
The mormon church asks their members to give them 10% of their money. F***ing 10% even if you're a little old lady living on a very fixed income or an 8 year old kid mowing lawns.
If you don't pay, you're not worthy enough to go to their temples. If that's not a scam, I don't know what is.
And filthy rich pastors. The religion, where your pastor is richie rich and greedy is a scam.
Tipping.
It's a scam restaurant owners use to keep wages low and profits in their pockets.
When you’re aware of the tactics scammers use, you’re prepared to shut down their attempts to weasel money or sensitive personal information out of you. However, that just makes the scammers find even more creative, evil ways to bamboozle you and the whole process continues to spiral.
There’s hardly a greater bunch of experts on scams than the r/Scams subreddit, a community dedicated to fighting back against hustlers and providing info and support to victims. One of the moderators previously gave an interview to Bored Panda about the difference between real-life and online scams, and what you can do to protect yourself.
"I think online shopping scams are different because you lose that layer of dealing with a real-life person. When you have a real person in front of you, a typical person will feel shame or guilt at the thought of taking advantage of a person,” one of the r/Scams mods explained to Bored Panda that interacting with a scammer face-to-face can give away some of their intentions. Things aren’t as clear-cut with the advent of the internet.
College in America, it's absolutely absurd that they can hold your transcripts hostage, charge 600 dollars a year for a 'parking pass' require that the first year be spent on campus, rotate out a 500 dollars text book every single semester (that was written by your professor), and basically can find any other way to outrageously over charge students while promoting predatory lending and saying they're "not for profit".
Cable TV. Either provide it for free, or remove the incessant advertisements. Not okay with the double charge.
Totally agree with this one. When I watched a mates sky TV For the first time I couldn't believe that they were adverts in the middle of something he was paying for. Whilst I'm on a rant - in England we used to get football on terrestrial channels which are, except for the BBC's licence fee, free. Then Sky took over and hoodwinked people into thinking that their coverage was sooooo much better. The majority of people fell for the idea and subscribed with the result that we now have to pay an arm and a leg to watch our national game. Same with boxing and cricket. All previously very cheap or free now we have to take out loans to watch it.
Engagement rings (specifically diamond ones). Ridiculously expensive pieces of crystallized carbon that are intrinsically worthless.
“With the internet, you aren't dealing with a person, but a username and avatar. It is much easier to act maliciously when you don't have a real victim directly in front of you," the redditor pointed out that distance and anonymity don’t work in our favor, but are very useful for scammers.
"Online scams also use a lot of tricks to pressure buyers; low prices, pushes to buy now!, taking advantage of someone's kindness or naivete (re: advance check fraud, money mules, etc), or advertising one product and sending another (or nothing at all, by using a fake tracking number). Getting a person to make a decision via high-pressure tactics and preventing them from reflecting and making a sound decision is key.”
Any seminar entitled "Secrets to Building Your Wealth" or something in a similar vein. The only secret is that you attending is building some other person's wealth.
They’re usually pyramid schemes. However I’m not sure how often they’re accepted by everyone - I think most people realise (?).
Popcorn prices at the cinema
I buy popcorn at our discount cinemas. There's one that does second run films for $2 and another that does movies after the theater runs but before the DVD release for $5. That's less than half the cost of a standard movie ticket. I know the concessions are how they make their money, and I'm okay supporting them that way.
Inkjet printer cartridges.
My printer cost a bit less than the replacement cartidges and it came with ink when I bought it.
It would be more cost effective if I bought a new printer every time the ink runs out.
That's why it makes sense to check the price for cartridges *before* you decide for a printer, so you can buy the one that is the most cost-efficient *including* the future cost of replacement cartridges. The printer ink will still be overpriced, mind you, but a lot of companies try to entice you with a super cheap printer but then make up for the difference and more with every purchase of printer ink. THAT at least is something you can avoid.
One of the best ways to know whether something’s too good to be true is to rely on your gut, your instincts, that little voice in your head that’s saying there’s really something sus going on here. “If a deal is too good to be true, it is. If you see a pair of brand new Apple AirPods advertised for $50, you are not getting an authentic product. There are many counterfeit items out there on the market, and you need to verify authenticity before hitting buy.”
Buying knockoff and counterfeit products is a horrible idea, not just because of the ethics alone but also because they pose potential risks to your health. In short, be careful what you buy. “These knockoff products do not always go through the same safety standards of the real item; they may not be UL certified, they may use chemicals or ingredients that are not FDA approved and are unsafe for use on or in the human body, or could cause major harm to human life or property,” the r/Scams moderator warned.
When a company asks at the register, “Will you round up to the dollar for xyz charity?”
You think you’re being honorable but these companies are just taking your money and representing that THEY are the ones giving it for a tax break. It’s a total scam. If those companies want a tax break they can donate. Screw off. I donate on my own and in my own way.
Bridal showers. I'm already getting you a wedding gift, but i need to get you something else too, essentially in celebration of the same event? And people who expect gifts at Their engagement parties are really milking it.
Bridal showers came about in the 19th century to replace the dowry. The original intent was to provide the bride with items for her wedding night and money that would ensure the wedding would take place. That of course was in a day and age when most women did not work. This is yet another tradition that needs to dropped. I suggest unmarried people (men and women both) bring back the "hope chest" or "glory box" that they begin to fill with household items while still in their teens. The items move with them to their first home away from mom and dad.
Transaction/processing fees when you order a digital product online. Such as a concert ticket: you pay 16 bucks extra while you pay online, and then have to print the ticket yourself.
All fees are BS and are designed to either hide the price of the original product or are an excuse for a middleman to cash in.
Yes, from a customer’s point of view, this also used to really annoy me, until I started selling goods and services (including digital products) online. In order to do so, I need a business bank account (for which I have to pay a monthly fee, plus additional fees, if I have to pay in a lot of cheques), but most of all, I need another third party that processes the customers’ card payments. This also incurs a monthly fee and in addition to that, a card processing fee that varies in amount depending on which type card they use (debit or credit) each time someone buys something. Plus, each time you pay for something with your card online (ie where you’re not physically present) the processing fee is automatically higher than if you pay in a shop, as the card processing service provider claims that the risk of fraud is higher (and thus the risk that they might have to refund you.)
One thing that you should definitely consider for the sake of your financial safety is getting a credit card and using that instead of a debit card. “Credit card protections for most cards are much more forgiving than debit cards. You can generally get your money back faster if you were scammed or misled by a business, versus initiating an investigation through your bank. It is always smarter to pay by credit card (and pay off your balance monthly!)."
Apartments charging pet fees but not children fees.
Some people are allergic to (some) pet hair, thus more cleaning will be needed, I don't know of any people being allergic to baby hair. Don't think the fee has anything to do with potential mess and noise, because if so I agree that children likely is deserving a higher "fee" :)
Psychics.
How do these people live with themselves when they are taking advantage of people in their time of mourning/loss?
It's cheaper to go a therapist
I wouldn't say people accept this as normal. Most people know this is a scam.
You’d be surprised what people want to believe when they’ve lost a loved one.
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This picture depicts tarot cards which is an old form of psychoteraphy more than psychic practice. Tarot cards are used to reflect the querent's feelings and dilemmas, not to tell a message from the dead or something.
I think it is a valid practice, scamming obviously isn't, but tarot card readings are fun. Once you get into tarot it does make sense.
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Our local pub was having a psychic night one time and there was quite a bit of interest in it. Until they put a sign up saying 'Psychic Night Cancelled Due To Unforeseen Circumstances'.
Was on search and rescue. The family got wrapped up with this psychic who (for a moderate fee) convinced them that the fellow was "in a high place". His body was found at the bottom of a well.
Being psychic is not a scam. Reading the tarot is not a scam. Not everyone who does it takes money for it either. There are some bad people out there who take advantage of and scam others. Those types of people infiltrate everything. Before making uninformed statements, do some research. Tarot/card readers, psychics and mediums are all different things, although the specialties can overlap for some. Governments have had programs for decades, studying and confirming psychic phenomena. Gut feeling, mother's intuition...what do you think that is?
In the 1970s, the US government funded a program called Project Star Gate where the CIA recruited men and women to spy on the USSR via remote viewing. And I agree, sometimes you just *know* certain things without having any input from anyone or anything else. There have been times that I or someone in my family got a sudden feeling about something and it later proved to be true. My brother worked in construction. One day he was on the grid, started to take a step and something told him to step back. The second he moved, an I-beam fell from three stories up and landed end-first on his foot. He broke his foot, but his steel toe boot kept it from being completely crushed. If he hadn't acted on his intuition, we would have lost him altogether. That brother had many other moments like that throughout his life. It's because of those type of incidents that I keep an open mind.
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Relgion in general is a scam. Let's not start picking on specific ones. If you can drink Jesus's blood and eat his body because it makes you clean, you can turn over some cards to see what kind of week you're having. The Jehovah's witness are known for targeting people in vulnerable situations. The issue here is preying on people, not the religion it comes packaged in. There's always someone trying to make a buck on grief, punish the bad ones but not everyone in the religion.
Taking wine and bread is a commemoration of Jesus’ sacrifice, a remembrance. Asking God for forgiveness of sin is what makes you clean, not eating or drinking anything.
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A nutty older relative had a blind dog and went to a "pet psychic". The psychic told her that the dog was trying to say "Don't move the furniture." True story.
Common sense is something that they "use" against you. Wearing something monogrammed? They start with the most common names with that letter. True story.
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Well, depends. I treat it as a way to self-awareness, wandering around symbols, archetypes, getting deeper knowledge. It gives me more understanding of the world around me. Tarot and astrology (advanced, not some gazette fake) are great psychotherapy for me. Sometimes my friends are coming for my insight, sometimes I tell them when the tide will change. For free of course. For 28 years I was never mistaken. Though I sometimes forgot what I was telling them about. But this is not a divination or mysticism. Only knowledge about current trends (astrology) and deep psychological insight (Tarot). All this is just a tool for me. For me, it helped me much more than years of professional psychotherapy.
This is a tricky one. I think most people know it isn't real? I hope. Some people use it for comfort I guess...knowing the unknown even though you know it isn't true.
Bad as it is, I kinda think it’s part of the letting-go process for some people and it is their choice after all to seek out psychic services.
Lieing to grieving people for money is not part of the letting-go process.
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My dad had a reading once, the thing the guy new and shared with him, where very specific details of our lives he couldn't guess or Google. I'm not convinced alle psychics are scammers, this one knew things he really couldn't know. I am really skeptical about these type of things, but this guy made me second guess myself.
Many of these people are great at reading others and tell them what’s obvious but nobody ever tells them.
For money. Sometimes huge sums of money. It's an evil scam that is preying upon people. If someone needs a therapist, they should seek a real licensed therapist with expert training, education, and credentials.
Load More Replies... My boss went to one and said the psychic knew things no one else knew about her. She mentioned several of the things. I googled my boss' name and came up with all that information in under a minute.
That's a really good way to help them realize 👏😺👍Not just saying "That's stupid"... online proof is hard to argue.
Load More Replies... A group of us went to one - I was going to die in prison in my 33rd year! Hi gonna be 76 don't know what I did but I never got caught! We went for fun - got a group rate - nothing came true! People interpret what these scammers say and twist meanings to make thinks fit what they are told!
I really believe that some folks prefer these 'physics' to therapists. It appeals to them on a different level, and is probably less expensive. whatever.....
I have a story from about 20 years ago regarding Tarot Cards which we've never been able to explain. I'm a sceptic regarding them. A woman who we knew would do cards for free, she was quite spiritual and had something about her. One time she came to our house. There was me, my mum, my dad and Sandra the card reader. We were sat about a metre or two away from the coffee style table with a tablecloth on it that Sandra was putting the cards on as she was doing a reading, she wasn't touching the table with anything but the cards, no feet or legs. All the windows and doors were closed and there was no draughts. I was sat opposite the table, my parents were either side. As she placed a card on the table, the tablecloth kept pushing up on my opposite side as though something was underneath the table going a bit crazy and my parents noticed it as well. This carried on for probably at least 5 minutes every time a card was placed on the table...
So I looked under the table to get the cat out thinking it had sneaked under it, nothing there, so I said to my mum Where's the cat? Then we realised the cat had been locked outside earlier and looked behind us and the cat was going absolutely nuts at the patio windows trying to get in staring at the table. Never been able to work out what was under the table, and still a sceptic on tarot cards. Gave us all the chills.
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Can we not assume that the only time people go to psychics is when their suffering a loss? Plenty of people go just for fun and don't take it seriously. Also, the pic is tarot cards, which isn't the same as psychics. I've been reading the cards for over 25 years, and it's all about symbols and symbolic meanings. I was a very well paid card reader in Boston, and I have no psychic powers (nor did I ever claim to). We advertised as "fun and entertainment only."
A not insignificant portion of the human race is not above cheating (stealing from) their fellow humans... and another. even larger portion are gullible enough to accept their claims. Politicians are the same... even those who claim to be doing what they do because they want to "help people". Psychics also claim to want to help people. The trouble is politicians seek positions of power.
While there MAY be people with this gift, I am not a fan or supporter of psychics. I guess if I gives a family closure....yeah I just don't like it
I was concerned by one mourner spending money on a psychic. They spent less than $100 (affordable for them) and gave it up. It was part of the grieving process.
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Some People do actually have psychic skills. You just need to find a genuine one. I have been a translater for a psychic it was incredible what messages came through and the things said did happen later in life for many of the clients. Very cool, and very uncool to scam if you do not have the abilities. But actually it is easy because scammers are not able to see, the genuines are though, and thetefore clients come back. 😊
Listen to what the individual is saying, If the person is asking you a LOT of questions, don't be surprised if they are telling YOU what YOU have already told THEM. Too many questions, Walk away and don't pay.
You obviously don't look as the whole picture. Psychics do much more than see people in their hour of loss/mourning. Charlatans do and charge an arm and a leg and don't care how much they ask for. as a Psychic. I charge for my time at $15 an hour, with a money back guarantee. I clear Spirits when they are needed to be removed, I don't scam people, If someone is down, I often offer my services for free. There are many like myself, Psychics, Intuitive, sensitives and more. We are not heartless and we do get annoyed at those who would rip people off, So please, don't lump us in the same mud hole as Charlatans, We are so much more and more humane.
Some people are knowingly taking advantage, others have actual faith and belief in psychic abilities. Not saying it's great, but it's not always done with malicious intent.
A therapist or church counselor. There are honest-to-God psychics but they are as rare as hen's teeth.
Absolutely not a scam. Are there scammers out there? Of course. But just like it's "nit all men" or "not all cops" not everyone with psychic abilities are a scam. I have a very good friend who has had a very successful life doing readings. She's booked months and months out. Millions and millions of people give money to their churches every month. These billion dollar businesses that are just taking advantage of people. Not protecting the children. Ruining lives. Yet people continue to show up every Sunday.
I've done tarot readings for people before but I never charged and I never will. I've paid for tarot before and that was the right personal choice for me but I myself would never ask someone for money.
I know that astrologist did, we talked about it many years ago. The first time I heard about it on course with my teacher was in 1991. But of course, you will not believe me. Whatever.
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Can't remember the comedian's name all these years later. Shtick was about calling a Psychics Hotline. "When they say what can I help you with today? I always say you tell me. You're the psychic."
I agree. You could find a different photo to represents the psychics you’re taking about with out disrespecting ppls beliefs. Tarot cards should not be used to support the idea of Psychic scams.
Doing tarot or such is being a therapist. People will ask questions and work out there own answers to a stranger and then be glad you 'helped' them. The cards or whatever are facilitators. I don't charge either.
Same here. The cards are just visual cues for the people consulting and they will help kick start their process. I don't charge either :)
Load More Replies... Okay, I'm on the fence with this one. I'd say the vast majority of the psychics are fakers. Like one guy said, they will latch onto a common name, like John or Jennifer, and that is their hook. Just about everybody knows at least one deceased person with that name. On the other hand, I have seen "stuff" for which I have zero explanation. I used to stay at hotel that is now torn down. The hotel had once been an 1850 two-story mansion with a newer addition that connected through an overhead walkway. I discovered soon after staying my first week, that I could not go anywhere in the old building without feeling like I was being closely followed and watched like a hawk.
The last straw was when I stayed in Room 25 on the second floor. I couldn't sleep that night, so stayed up reading a book with TV on for company. The room had a row of windows to my right and next to the wall opposite the bed was a chest of drawers topped with a large mirror. The table lamp was turned on to my left, but the ceiling light was turned off. Out of the corner of my right eye, I saw something white fly across the room. At first I thought it was a reflection of the TV on my eye glasses. Turned off the TV, went back to reading my book and watching in the mirror. About 10 minutes later, I saw it again. In the mirror, a wad of linens flew out the window, but no matching apparition was in the room with me, just in the mirror. That's all I needed, an irate maid. Okay, I knew the hotel was booked to the gills, no chance of getting another room. I did not get a wink of sleep until dawn.
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Gah I never thought my parents bought that stuff til they went to a damn tv psychic's stage show thing. I was gobsmacked, and a little peeved at the psychic, but glad that he brought mum some comfort. 🤷♀️ I dunno how to feel really. I'm like Ralph wiggum "I'm happy and angry!"
Psychics are a scam period. If they were for real they'd be rich and sure as hell wouldn't be giving advice to others.
Phsychics, colour healers, crystal healers, naturopaths, tarot readers. Scams, every one, and every one aimed right at people who have run out of hope.
You think that Long Island Medium is fake????? How could you? Except for the color of her hair.....maybe...... Since time Immemorial, people need to believe in psychics. It's fun to think they are real.
Some 'psychics' are scammers and some are good psychologists who can help. The illustration provided by the OP shows a Tarot deck, which was originally developed as a means of transacting business between people who didn't speak the same language. The Major Arcana address classic themes in human experience and each can serve as a focal point for someone consulting them. Most people are just too inundated with data to be able to sift through it effectively without some kind of analytical tool.
Psychics are more therapist than some psychiatrists. People need their mental help packaged in something that makes sense to them. If you need cards to hear the advice, fine. Some folks need to lie on a couch. It's all props and dressing.If telling someone that dead Aunt Joy wants them to dump their abusive Edward is what it takes, sounds okay to me.
If used with real skill, tarot cards are a tool for advanced psychology, not magic. The cards themselves do not talk, but your subconscious does when interpreting them. So sometimes they can be useful to find out some things you already know, but do not know you know.
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Hotels charging for WiFi. Also flights.
You’re telling me I can get free WiFi from libraries, coffee shops, the dentist, and the bus. But I can’t get WiFi included with this $189/night room? If I spend more than $2 i want free WiFi
Those "For every share/like this post gets we'll donate £1 to a charity for the Amazon rainforest" posts on Instagram. No way in hell are any of these people donating millions of pounds just because they got a bunch of likes on a post. It's just a very shameful way of getting likes in my opinion and makes people feel very self righteous when they share or like them.
Any kind of over the counter pill, vitamin, cream or personal cleansing product that is usually unisex but claims that this particular one is for men or women only. It's the same razor model but in a different color, Gillette. I'm onto your s**t.
Double check though - some vitamins marketed at women do have a higher proportion of folic acid because that does have more benefit for women (particularly pre-pregnancy). If the two sets of contents are genuinely identical - don't spend more for just the pretty lady on the front.
Organic produce.
I grew up on an orchard, so I know that it’s actually pretty easy to follow organic standards. Contrary to popular belief, organic does not mean no sprays, it just means that the sprays you used were on a very long list of approved sprays. (In the US anyway. I can’t speak for other countries)
And then actually being able to use the term organic requires a very expensive certification process.
So all that organic means is that big companies can charge higher prices for their produce.
It always amazed me how organic carrots and non organic cost the same. Either you are scamming me or organic are not organic and the other way around. BTW, I have a local farmer's market where I live and these "organic" products from supermarkets look nothing like a real ones.
Priority boarding for airlines. Personally if I paid extra I would want to be the last person on the plane. I sit down, we go. I wouldnt pay extra to make my plane time longer by 30 mins just to have 100 people bump into me as they board.
Wish.com
Yeah you find something you like for a dollar, BUT it has 7 dollar shipping fee AND it's from China and will take a month to get to you.
Autism speaks. The organisation is actually terrible, and views autism as a curable illness and as a burden that must be fixed.
I have seen nothing good about this organisation. I have spoken to a number of autistic adults online after my son was diagnosed. They all hate it. They also have a major problem with this Spectrum10k thing where scientists want DNA from autistic people but have not been clear on why and who will have access. That has been likened to eugenics.
College. Most of he population does not need a degree to work the job they work, but we're told all thier lives that they will never become anything without it. Most of us get fooled into going and spending tens of thousands on a BS piece of paper that in reality contributes nothing to ones ability to do the job they end up doing.
I wish people didn't push so much for higher education for everyone remotely intelligent, and I wish trade jobs weren't marketed as something for the people "too stupid" for higher education. What's people's problem with having intelligent craftsmen? Do you really prefer stupid craftsmen doing work at your house? And on the other side of the coin, a lot of the jobs for which university education is expected don't in fact need to be done by the most intelligent people. Can't we finally accept that intelligent jobs aren't an opposite of manual jobs, but rather are the jobs where independent problem solving is required? It's not the difference between blue collar and white collar and it shouldn't be.
Payment plans for phones and just paying $1000 for a phone in general.
Any company that makes you go to their dealers for repairs, like Apple, just so you have to pay triple the amount. If you had gotten an android and watched a youtube video, you could have fixed the problem yourself in 20 minutes for about 10 bucks.
The shopping channel, they just get some common product, slap a few mouthy salesmen on it with an infomercial and sell it for 10x the price.
They're just screwing over pre internet senior citizens.
I'm a 'pre internet senior citizen' and do not watch these appalling channels at all
Workout/meal plan apps that you have to pay for. All of their workouts and meal recipes are google'able and extremely generic. There’s no face time between you and the app people so there’s no individuality in it. I don’t get how people fall for it at all
Some people (including me) will more likely stick to something if they have paid for it. Sounds stupid, is stupid, but if it works...
The cost of mobile Data plans.
I'm from Sweden and here I currently pay $15 for 8 GB. I lived in Canada for the winter and they wanted $50 for like 3GB.
I can't easily split out what I pay for data from mine, as it also includes the phone, but I am on unlimited data and unlimited calls. I can even take it roaming for a very small daily fee. The freedom of being able to watch streaming services on the move, or connect my laptop to the internet from practically anywhere without worry about data charges and limits is liberating - previously I had a limit and hardly dared use it for fear of overrunning it.
High School rings. I don’t know why people buy them. What do you use them for?
For those who don’t know what a class ring is, it’s a ring that you can buy when you’re going to graduate. Details vary from ring to ring, but it generally has the school’s logo on it, can be customized a bit, and costs anywhere from $100-$1000 depending on the materials, what school you go to, etc.
Went to high school in the US and remember them trying to get us to buy one... super expensive and SO ugly! The best part is, everyone was trying to convince me I'd regret not getting one... now I never see anyone wearing theirs. If it's something that makes you happy, go for it, but my school pushed these so hard and plenty of people wasted their money on something they never wear.
Fruit juice and most breakfast cereals. They're full of sugar and so obviously terrible for your health and teeth, but they also lead to an energy slump that makes late mornings at work unnecessarily irksome.
Subscriptions like xbox live gold, playstation plus, etcetera...
It feels odd to have to own a console + monitor/tv, buy a game, have an already paid internet subscription and then above that, before you can even play the game (not all of them, it's clearly stated which games you need a subscription for and which not) you need a paid subscription to your console's online service?
They aren't too expensive but it just feels a little odd.. (I do not own any consoles myself nor am I trying to speak bad about console players. It just feels odd to me personally)
Pancake mix. You literally only need flour and baking powder plus a bit of salt. That's it. That's all it is. The liquid ingredients (milk, eggs) are still the same. Don't spend your money on boxed pancake mix.
A box of pancake mix is $1. How are you saving money by buying all of the ingredients separately, especially if you don't bake and don't keep baking ingredients on hand?
Credit repair companies.
I used to sell this stuff.
You pay $100 a month to send letters to credit companies to fight the debt. If they don't respond in X days, it goes off your credit. You can also dispute it if a name is barely spelt wrong or an address.
You can do this 100% on your own and there are templates online you can print out.
Note: this post originally had 56 images. It’s been shortened to the top 40 images based on user votes.
I feel like most of these things are american things, hadn't heard of half of them.
Planned obsolescence. Crap for the consumer, terrible for the environment and no real reason it should happen.
And heavily disputed by Apple and the likes, because "Innovation would stop if devices could be used for more than 3 years." It's the same argument that Apple used to oppose "Right to repair" legislation or in their effort to block the "One charging connection for mobile devices." law. If "Innovation" means "Making more profit" they are not lying.
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Let's add "the subscription model." Adobe is a prime example. You no longer purchase Photoshop; you purchase a subscription to Photoshop. This means that, if you can no longer afford it, you no longer have the software to use. At all. Adobe shuts off your access to it. (Use Gimp instead. It's free and does nearly everything Photoshop does. The things it doesn't do are only crucial to a graphic designer.)
Yes!! Add to that Microsoft Office 365. I refuse to pay for that.
Load More Replies... I don't fully agree with #28- I agree that university degree doesn't automatically mean someone is intelligent and someone in trade without a degree isn't, but tertiary education is so important in developing critical thinking abilities and just gaining more perspective in so many different topics that you wouldn't get in high school. Just the amount of anti-vaxxers and other conspiracy theorists that fail to even recognise credible sources of information alone proves that the general level of critical thinking skill of the human race is dangerously on the decline..
US Jails are a con. People who do wrong should pay for their crimes but to receive inadequate food, live in dirty rodent infested housing is wrong. Families have to pay a large fee to deposit money in their loved one's commissary accounts which are then used to buy adequate undergarments so they don't freeze, overpriced ramen noodles so they don't starve, soap that is actually soap, toothpaste that doesn't taste like ajax, and pay for phone calls over crappy phone lines. There is nothing rehabilitating about jail. Prisons aren't quite as bad but are still not doing what they are supposed to do. And, prisoners have to pay for their medical care - not a lot but when all you have in our account is $20, having $15 taken for an infirmary call means you don't eat that week.
Price markups are wrong- especially on food items. I can understand the jail needing to break even but don’t make a profit on bare necessities.
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Homeopathic and alternative 'medicine'. There is no alternative medicine: there is only medicine that works. Anything else is a scam and should be illegal.
I happen to agree that homeopathy is a scam, but to say all alternative medicines or treatments are a scam is false. Alternative means not prescribed by a GP and regulated by the pharmaceutical industry. Ginger biscuits are an "alternative" treatment for travel sickness.(ginger has been proven in trials to help with nausea, but that doesn't qualify it as a medicine). St John's Wort is considered alternative because it is herbal (never quite understood why the distinction is there, but whatever) but it must be mentioned to a GP because it can interfere with "conventional" medicine. It shouldn't be illegal, because it had proven results. What I think you mean is powdered rhino horn and tiger blood. Those already are in many places illegal because of the poaching of endangered animals involved. A blanket ban on anything "alternative" to stop stuff that is already illegal is pointless.
Load More Replies... 'Business accreditation organisations'. Supposedly to maintain standards and protect consumers against cowboy traders, but all that is needed is a fat fee to get a certificate and a few stickers/logos to fool the gullible.
Medical bills - go to our local hospital - yearly brand new furniture in all waiting rooms and offices, New flat screen TV's. We then get notified that our doctor has a financial stake in the clinic/ hospital aka he/she gets a share of the PROFIT the hospital makes. At the same time I am being sent to collections because they do not like that I can only afford to pay them 20/month. STOP making a profit on my health!
There are some places that should be run barely above breaking even. I consider hospitals and churches to fit into that category. You want to buy a new CT Scan Machine? Great! Do it! But do all the rooms really need furniture and tv upgrades?
Load More Replies... Phone provider: "For just £25 per month, you get unlimited data and 100 free minutes". Me: "I don't need unlimited data; I'll just have the 100 minutes for free please." Them: "No, you only get the free minutes if you pay the £25 a month". Me: "Huh, how are they free then?" Amazing how many customers are taken in by this BS and still talk about having "free" minutes which they have paid For!!
Ugh, America is awful. Can Europe take me please? (Not that I'm saying this is just America, but it is mostly America)
I'd like to add any business, charity, product, or service with the name of the Biggest Loser (the Tangerine Toddler) on it.
These might be UK specific but..........when supermarkets ask you to donate to X charity I believe they can use the amount as a kickback to pay less tax. Also the same sort of thing if you're at an airport buying stuff and the shop asks to see your ticket. Unless you're buying something out of duty free which requires you to be on an international flight or something like that, you're under no obligation to show your ticket. Again, its a way of companies paying less tax
Nope Lee, it happens at many American stores too, not just the supermarkets.
Load More Replies...
I feel like most of these things are american things, hadn't heard of half of them.
Planned obsolescence. Crap for the consumer, terrible for the environment and no real reason it should happen.
And heavily disputed by Apple and the likes, because "Innovation would stop if devices could be used for more than 3 years." It's the same argument that Apple used to oppose "Right to repair" legislation or in their effort to block the "One charging connection for mobile devices." law. If "Innovation" means "Making more profit" they are not lying.
Load More Replies... Let's add "the subscription model." Adobe is a prime example. You no longer purchase Photoshop; you purchase a subscription to Photoshop. This means that, if you can no longer afford it, you no longer have the software to use. At all. Adobe shuts off your access to it. (Use Gimp instead. It's free and does nearly everything Photoshop does. The things it doesn't do are only crucial to a graphic designer.)
Yes!! Add to that Microsoft Office 365. I refuse to pay for that.
Load More Replies... I don't fully agree with #28- I agree that university degree doesn't automatically mean someone is intelligent and someone in trade without a degree isn't, but tertiary education is so important in developing critical thinking abilities and just gaining more perspective in so many different topics that you wouldn't get in high school. Just the amount of anti-vaxxers and other conspiracy theorists that fail to even recognise credible sources of information alone proves that the general level of critical thinking skill of the human race is dangerously on the decline..
US Jails are a con. People who do wrong should pay for their crimes but to receive inadequate food, live in dirty rodent infested housing is wrong. Families have to pay a large fee to deposit money in their loved one's commissary accounts which are then used to buy adequate undergarments so they don't freeze, overpriced ramen noodles so they don't starve, soap that is actually soap, toothpaste that doesn't taste like ajax, and pay for phone calls over crappy phone lines. There is nothing rehabilitating about jail. Prisons aren't quite as bad but are still not doing what they are supposed to do. And, prisoners have to pay for their medical care - not a lot but when all you have in our account is $20, having $15 taken for an infirmary call means you don't eat that week.
Price markups are wrong- especially on food items. I can understand the jail needing to break even but don’t make a profit on bare necessities.
Load More Replies... Homeopathic and alternative 'medicine'. There is no alternative medicine: there is only medicine that works. Anything else is a scam and should be illegal.
I happen to agree that homeopathy is a scam, but to say all alternative medicines or treatments are a scam is false. Alternative means not prescribed by a GP and regulated by the pharmaceutical industry. Ginger biscuits are an "alternative" treatment for travel sickness.(ginger has been proven in trials to help with nausea, but that doesn't qualify it as a medicine). St John's Wort is considered alternative because it is herbal (never quite understood why the distinction is there, but whatever) but it must be mentioned to a GP because it can interfere with "conventional" medicine. It shouldn't be illegal, because it had proven results. What I think you mean is powdered rhino horn and tiger blood. Those already are in many places illegal because of the poaching of endangered animals involved. A blanket ban on anything "alternative" to stop stuff that is already illegal is pointless.
Load More Replies... 'Business accreditation organisations'. Supposedly to maintain standards and protect consumers against cowboy traders, but all that is needed is a fat fee to get a certificate and a few stickers/logos to fool the gullible.
Medical bills - go to our local hospital - yearly brand new furniture in all waiting rooms and offices, New flat screen TV's. We then get notified that our doctor has a financial stake in the clinic/ hospital aka he/she gets a share of the PROFIT the hospital makes. At the same time I am being sent to collections because they do not like that I can only afford to pay them 20/month. STOP making a profit on my health!
There are some places that should be run barely above breaking even. I consider hospitals and churches to fit into that category. You want to buy a new CT Scan Machine? Great! Do it! But do all the rooms really need furniture and tv upgrades?
Load More Replies... Phone provider: "For just £25 per month, you get unlimited data and 100 free minutes". Me: "I don't need unlimited data; I'll just have the 100 minutes for free please." Them: "No, you only get the free minutes if you pay the £25 a month". Me: "Huh, how are they free then?" Amazing how many customers are taken in by this BS and still talk about having "free" minutes which they have paid For!!
Ugh, America is awful. Can Europe take me please? (Not that I'm saying this is just America, but it is mostly America)
I'd like to add any business, charity, product, or service with the name of the Biggest Loser (the Tangerine Toddler) on it.
These might be UK specific but..........when supermarkets ask you to donate to X charity I believe they can use the amount as a kickback to pay less tax. Also the same sort of thing if you're at an airport buying stuff and the shop asks to see your ticket. Unless you're buying something out of duty free which requires you to be on an international flight or something like that, you're under no obligation to show your ticket. Again, its a way of companies paying less tax
Nope Lee, it happens at many American stores too, not just the supermarkets.
Load More Replies... 