I think you completely misread my post, or have no idea what is being referred to (or a combination of both).
This has nothing to do with "Lowest Price" marketing, this is about fees and service charges that are complete scams.
Are the costs to a bank that charges an "account maintenance fee" for balances under $1,000 any different when the customer's balance dips to $999.99? I don't think so, but they charge you $30 anyway.
Does the gas a car rental agency sells you cost them anymore when you return the car at the end of the day than when you picked it up that morning? No, but they charge you at least 100% more for it.
Speaking of car rentals, why do many rental places force you to use their insurance if you're already covered under your own plan or through your credit card? They basically force you to buy something you don't need, and pay for it twice.
What about the fee I mentioned earlier that cell providers charge to collect the other fees?
What about hotel mini bars that charge you when you touch an item in the fridge? Not eat it, mind you, but imply pick it up to look at it - perhaps curious if the candy bar has peanuts because of your allergies...
I don't see how any right-mined person could think these sorts of fees are justified.
So you're resorting to an attempt to be condescending. At your young age I would not expect you to understand how a business operates or manages costs, especially with your background. Ask a bank manager why small accounts have minimum balance fees, it's because banks are in business for profit and small accounts cost more per dollar earned to maintain.
Do you really believe that it doesn't cost a rental company anything to fill up a car's tank? They have to pay an employee to leave the premises and go fill up the tank. No employee I've ever had would do that on their own time.
A rental company certainly may dictate it's own (lawful) terms. If you don't like being forced to buy insurance, then rent from another company. Also, they have to purchase insurance policies to cover damage to the vehicles by renters, so why should they give you that for free? I don't remember being forced to purchase extra insurance once you're over the age of 25; however since you are liable for any damage to the vehicle whether or not your personal policy covers it, at the rental counter you feel like purchasing it just to be safe. Fear is a strong motivator, as every good insurance agent knows.
I never attempted to defend nickel-and-diming, I am just trying to point out that because the average consumer will try to switch cell phone plans if they see one advertised for $5 per month less, most businesses have to resort to adding small charges to 1) cover their expenses, and 2) retain competitive marketing.
About the hotel mini-bars, again, if you don't like the terms and conditions put forth in their contract before you sign, don't stay there. Every for profit business is entitled to cover their costs and maximize their profits by whatever means they devise, within whatever regulations govern the particular business. In fact, the investors in that business would say that is the only purpose for the business to be receiving their hard earned cash in the first place.
A "scam" would be if you were not informed in advance of these charges, but all the examples that are in this thread are in the contracts that we sign and "read" ahead of time.
I realize that you just want to complain on the internet about something that you're frustrated with, so I don't expect you to see my point of view. I just had an extra 5 minutes to type this reply. So, peace, dude
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