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Just tell me what it really cost dammit!

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edhopper Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-15-10 01:45 PM
Original message
Just tell me what it really cost dammit!
I am tired of airline tickets, concert tickets, phone bills etc... costing some unknown amount beyond the stated price.
There should be a regulation that makes them state the real, final cost.
Don't tell me the fuel/convenience/luggage/fcc/venue charges are something extra that I'll find out when I get the bill. State the damn full price!
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tridim Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-15-10 01:58 PM
Response to Original message
1. And we'll double the offer! Just pay additional shipping and handling.
Not that I ever buy shit off the TV, but every one of those TV products is a scam as you describe.
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BadgerKid Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-15-10 01:59 PM
Response to Original message
2. It's a marketing gimmick not to raise the "price"
which would otherwise make the business less appealing to the consumer. Though I agree with your sentiment.
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dflprincess Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-16-10 01:12 PM
Response to Reply #2
17. It's away to avoid some taxes
The airlines pay a tax on tickets to the Federal government; they do not pay a tax on fees like this.


http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/travel/90899024.html?page=2&c=y

Airlines currently pay 7.5 cents to the federal government for every dollar they collect in fares, but no tax is imposed on fees collected for nonessential services, the senators said. They said the Treasury Department last January ruled that carry-on bags are not essential for air travel.

"As a result, airlines can impose fees on these bags without paying any tax to the federal government on the revenues they collect," the senators said. "This creates a tax incentive for airlines to try to bilk consumers in the form of fees rather than by increasing the fares."
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BadgerKid Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-16-10 04:22 PM
Response to Reply #17
19. Thanks. Wasn't aware of that. n/t
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sharp_stick Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-15-10 02:00 PM
Response to Original message
3. Wouldn't that be nice
I went online to buy some flowers for my wife. I had to enter my credit card before I was told about all the extra add ons that sent my $47 order to $78. I was able to shitcan it before ordering, but it was mighty hard to find that tiny little cancel button near the huge CONFIRM ORDER slab.

I called a local florist, told her what I wanted, received a quote, picked it up two days later.
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electropop Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-15-10 02:19 PM
Response to Reply #3
4. Buy local!
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edhopper Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-15-10 02:54 PM
Response to Reply #4
8. Tickets for "local" concerts? same shit
Phone bills? same shit.
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electropop Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-15-10 02:20 PM
Response to Original message
5. And rental cars!
Sheesh. When I travel I plan on the rental costing at least double the advertised rate.
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damntexdem Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-15-10 02:31 PM
Response to Original message
6. If you have to ask, you can't afford it.
Of course, today, we can't afford any of it, so I guess we always have to ask. ;-)
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Catshrink Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-15-10 02:39 PM
Response to Original message
7. I was going to buy concert tickets for the first time in years.
Marc Knopfler is coming here next month and I figured I could find $43 to go see him. I went online to buy tickets and along with a $2 fee for something there was a $12 "convenience" fee. Screw that. Somewhere I read that those fees actually go to the performers but they're disguised so the performer doesn't generate ill will with the fans. Whatever. Youtube will have to do.
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edhopper Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-15-10 02:56 PM
Response to Reply #7
9. That bullshit convenience fee
For one event I found that you pay it whether you buy online,over the phone or at the box office.
So it's actually the price of the ticket, not some extra fee.
Like I said, it should be the law, isn't it false advertising?
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walldude Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-15-10 02:59 PM
Response to Reply #7
10. Not true about those "fees" going to the performer..
The performer gets a flat rate for a show. Now it is possible that the promoter underestimated ticket sales and some of that money may have go to pay the performers fee but that fee isn't there because of the performer.

And now Live Nation and Ticketmaster have merged, it's going to be a bigger mess. Much like everything, the rich will pay inflated prices for premium seats while the rest of us get to sit "on the lawn" cheap.
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Catshrink Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-15-10 03:06 PM
Response to Reply #10
11. Or use youtube
not as much fun at being there, but hey, I can watch the show and have a reasonably priced adult beverage, too.
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walldude Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-15-10 03:19 PM
Response to Reply #11
12. Yeah... although I can't support that fully...
as I do video for live concerts. I'm the guy who makes sure you poor saps on the lawn get to see the performers up close. So advocating using YT for concert viewing cuts my own throat. However, I also can't fault someone for not wanting to drink a $10 beer, that is provided you can make your way through the sea of people without spilling it. :)
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edhopper Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-15-10 04:06 PM
Response to Reply #11
13. Watching a concert on youtube
is like jerking off to a Playboy photo spread.
Not exactly the same as being with the woman, if you get my drift.
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Catshrink Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-15-10 04:52 PM
Response to Reply #13
14. Yeah, I know...
but $$ is an issue. Another 4-6% paycut looms.
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deaniac21 Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-15-10 05:05 PM
Response to Original message
15. I wish there was a regulation that would force the government
to do the same.
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Toucano Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Thu Apr-15-10 05:09 PM
Response to Original message
16. +1
Gimme a square deal! Enough with the tricks, asterisks, fine print, mail-in rebates, and all that junk!

Obama should be reviving Teddy's "Square Deal" since people have been cheated so damn much lately.
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Ikonoklast Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Fri Apr-16-10 01:16 PM
Response to Original message
18. I can get you as many airline seats you want, anytime, for FREE.
It is up to you, however, to figure out how to get them back into a plane.
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