10 Ways You're Getting Ripped Off !!! - GoFuckYourself.com

SmokeyTheBear · 05-18-2010, 01:44 PM

From forbes

http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home...ing-ripped-off

Airline Club Memberships

The Rip-Off: A year of access to United Airlines' Red Carpet Club costs $425, plus a $50 sign-up fee. For that you get cushy chairs, short customer service lines and peace and quiet at some of America's busiest airports. Sounds nice, except that the airline is taking you for a ride.

How to Avoid It: For $375 a year you can get a United Mileage Plus Club Visa card that earns airline miles and includes a Red Carpet Club membership. Delta Air Lines (DAL - News) and Continental offer similar deals.

The Rip-Off: Reebok calls it the EasyTone; Skechers, the ShapeUp. These curved-sole shoes, transforming people into human rocking chairs, cost up to $130 and promise to keep you fit even while grocery shopping. During 2009 sales grew 14-fold to $245 million, estimates market researcher NPD. One problem: "They mostly affect the foot and ankle," says Dr. Michael Ross, director of Rothman Institute's Sports Performance Lab, which counts the Philadelphia Eagles, Phillies and Flyers among its clients. "There is no evidence they will help you tone better or quicker than a regular shoe."

How to Avoid It: Join a gym.

The Rip-Off: Textbooks cost the average American student about $900 per year. New editions often come out every three years and tend to run 45% more than used copies of previous editions. Between 1995 and 2004 textbook prices rose at more than four times the rate of inflation, according to Nicole Allen, a director at Student Public Interest Research Group, a student advocacy group. "Students are a captive audience since professors decide what books they need to buy," says Allen.

How to Avoid It: Sites like ecampus.com and alibris.com offer better deals than campus bookstores. Then there's chegg.com, a textbook rental site with an approach similar to that of Netflix (NFLX - News).

The Rip-Off: Americans spend more than $1 billion on travel insurance (paid to agents) to guard against cancelled flights and stolen bags. Thing is, other policies often cover the same stuff. Some homeowners' policies and credit cards cover lost luggage; airlines reimburse travelers for up to $3,000 worth of goods. "It's not a good economic decision for most people," says Robert Hunter, director of insurance at the Consumer Federation of America.

How to Avoid It: If you just can't sleep without insurance, "don't buy from someone who's selling you something else," say Hunter. "It's almost always a bad deal involving kickbacks to whoever's offering the service."

The Rip-Off: Is it that hard to mix powder with water to feed your child? Take Enfamil's Premium Lipil, a popular formula brand. A 32-ounce can that you can crack open and serve might last a day or two. On Diapers.com a 6-pack of 32-ounce cans (192 fluid ounces of formula) costs $45, while a container of Enfamil's water-mix powder that makes 168 ounces goes for $25. That's 23.4 cents an ounce for liquid vs. 14.9 cents an ounce for powdered--a 57% markup.

How to Avoid It: Buy a $30 Brita pitcher (to purify the water), add powder, shake.

The Rip-Off: Consumer protection types are coming down on hard on aggressive credit card companies. They might take issue with gift cards, too. American Express (AXP - News) charges $3.95 for its cards, whether you're buying a $25 card or a $3,000 one; Visa charges $3.50 for cards purchased at bank branches and tacks on a $2.50 monthly fee after the first 12 months following the purchase date. Another rub: Merchants often reject cards bearing amounts less than the price of an item. (So much for that $2.59 left on your card.)

How to Avoid It: Give cash.

The Rip-Off: Plenty of supermarkets offer pre-sliced, prepackaged deli meats while employing lots of people to slice the same stuff at the deli counter. The grab-and-go premium? Whole Foods (WFMI - News) charges $4.29 for a 4-ounce package of Applegate Farms soppressata. The same meat (likely fresher) at the deli counter: $13.49 per pound, or $3.37 for 4 ounces. That's a 27% markup for the packaged stuff.

How to Avoid It: Walk over to the deli counter and have them slice it for you.

The Rip-Off: These products initially claimed to fight germs, help battle colds and boost the immune system. They don't. In 2007 and 2008 the Federal Trade Commission charged manufacturers of three products with making false and deceptive advertising claims. All have since changed their packaging. Airborne Health, marketer of Airborne, paid $23.5 million to settle charges. CVS agreed to pay $2.8 million in consumer refunds and to stop making certain claims.

How to Avoid It: Wash your hands and get enough sleep.

The Rip-Off: If you need a mortgage, you need title insurance. But costs and regulations vary wildly from state to state. Insurance on a $500,000 home can cost $3,000 in Houston and less than $2,000 in Boston. Your real estate broker will likely steer you to a title company with which the broker has a relationship, but it may not offer the best deal.

How to Avoid It: You can't avoid title insurance, but you can shop around. Your best bet: contact the company hired by the previous owner. They've already done most of the work and are likely to give you a good rate.

The Rip-Off: All you want is basic cable, but your cable company wants you to have so much more--and pay through the nose for it. That's why it bundles in a whole mess of channels, including dozens that even the most feckless of couch potatoes won't watch.

How to Avoid It: Hulu.com offers thousands of videos, TV episodes (new and old) and full-length movies--all free. And Netflix charges as little as $9 a month for access to more than 100,000 TV episodes on DVD, as well as 12,000 movies.

seeandsee · 05-18-2010, 01:49 PM

You should add porntubes in last ripoff :D

GrouchyAdmin · 05-18-2010, 01:53 PM

Holy crap, supply and demand. There's no ending of idiots who like to waste money - or people who will repost a half-assed writeup to promote hulu. Boo, Smokey. Boo.

11) You thought you were going to learn something from this thread.
Fix: Stop reading these threads.

Stephen Pink Tv · 05-18-2010, 01:54 PM

good looking out

Wizzo · 05-18-2010, 02:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmokeyTheBear

From forbes
The Rip-Off: Textbooks cost the average American student about $900 per year. New editions often come out every three years and tend to run 45% more than used copies of previous editions. Between 1995 and 2004 textbook prices rose at more than four times the rate of inflation, according to Nicole Allen, a director at Student Public Interest Research Group, a student advocacy group. "Students are a captive audience since professors decide what books they need to buy," says Allen.

This will change in the near future, in fact my daughters school already did away with traditional textbooks and she got a handful of CDs this year instead.

DudeRick · 05-18-2010, 02:06 PM

12. Paying for porn.

How to avoid it. Tube sites!

SmokeyTheBear · 05-18-2010, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GrouchyAdmin

Holy crap, supply and demand. There's no ending of idiots who like to waste money - or people who will repost a half-assed writeup to promote hulu. Boo, Smokey. Boo.

11) You thought you were going to learn something from this thread.
Fix: Stop reading these threads.

lol i was going to mention this article has some great product placements

this is like morning drivel, obviously nothing to learn from it but the list is amusing.

skywalkeer · 05-18-2010, 02:12 PM

hmm interesting report

Barefootsies · 05-18-2010, 02:12 PM

I completely agree with it comes to cable. As well as phone.

These fucking 'bundles'.

smutnut · 05-18-2010, 02:16 PM

I thought you meant in adult where I thought there were two ways

1) Don't convert
2) Don't pay

BestXXXPorn · 05-18-2010, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Barefootsies

I completely agree with it comes to cable. As well as phone.

These fucking 'bundles'.

This is my ideal consumption method for TV shows and I wish someone would implement it...

I want to subscribe to shows, watch them digitally, and at the end of the season when the BluRay/DVD versions come out... you ship them to me. I'm tired of the multiformat bullshit! I don't want to be raked across the coals by paying for each episode as they come out digitally and a the end I own nothing but files and I've paid more than the entire series costs on BluRay... Let me preorder the BluRay movie and for a little extra on top I'll get to watch them digitally as they come out. Seems fair to me!

96ukssob · 05-18-2010, 03:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SmokeyTheBear

The Rip-Off: Consumer protection types are coming down on hard on aggressive credit card companies. They might take issue with gift cards, too. American Express (AXP - News) charges $3.95 for its cards, whether you're buying a $25 card or a $3,000 one; Visa charges $3.50 for cards purchased at bank branches and tacks on a $2.50 monthly fee after the first 12 months following the purchase date. Another rub: Merchants often reject cards bearing amounts less than the price of an item. (So much for that $2.59 left on your card.)

How to Avoid It: Give cash.

I fucking HATE prepaid debit cards as gifts. You never get the real amount and get dinged every month. I got a $50 one last year, went to use it for $50 and was declined. After 30 minutes on the phone with some lame ass support rep, they charged me $3.95 to use the card. So the $50 card is really $46.05

Penthouse Tony · 05-18-2010, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wizzo

This will change in the near future, in fact my daughters school already did away with traditional textbooks and she got a handful of CDs this year instead.

The worst is when it's a book that a professor wrote. They make it required reading for the class and boost their own book sales. Every few years they update it and require students to get the new revision.

LoveSandra · 05-18-2010, 04:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stephen Pink Tv

good looking out

05-18-2010, 01:44 PM	#1
SmokeyTheBear ►SouthOfHeaven Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: PlanetEarth MyBoardRank: GerbilMaster My-Penis-Size: extralarge MyWeapon: Computer Posts: 28,609	10 Ways You're Getting Ripped Off !!! From forbes http://finance.yahoo.com/family-home...ing-ripped-off Airline Club Memberships The Rip-Off: A year of access to United Airlines' Red Carpet Club costs $425, plus a $50 sign-up fee. For that you get cushy chairs, short customer service lines and peace and quiet at some of America's busiest airports. Sounds nice, except that the airline is taking you for a ride. How to Avoid It: For $375 a year you can get a United Mileage Plus Club Visa card that earns airline miles and includes a Red Carpet Club membership. Delta Air Lines (DAL - News) and Continental offer similar deals. The Rip-Off: Reebok calls it the EasyTone; Skechers, the ShapeUp. These curved-sole shoes, transforming people into human rocking chairs, cost up to $130 and promise to keep you fit even while grocery shopping. During 2009 sales grew 14-fold to $245 million, estimates market researcher NPD. One problem: "They mostly affect the foot and ankle," says Dr. Michael Ross, director of Rothman Institute's Sports Performance Lab, which counts the Philadelphia Eagles, Phillies and Flyers among its clients. "There is no evidence they will help you tone better or quicker than a regular shoe." How to Avoid It: Join a gym. The Rip-Off: Textbooks cost the average American student about $900 per year. New editions often come out every three years and tend to run 45% more than used copies of previous editions. Between 1995 and 2004 textbook prices rose at more than four times the rate of inflation, according to Nicole Allen, a director at Student Public Interest Research Group, a student advocacy group. "Students are a captive audience since professors decide what books they need to buy," says Allen. How to Avoid It: Sites like ecampus.com and alibris.com offer better deals than campus bookstores. Then there's chegg.com, a textbook rental site with an approach similar to that of Netflix (NFLX - News). The Rip-Off: Americans spend more than $1 billion on travel insurance (paid to agents) to guard against cancelled flights and stolen bags. Thing is, other policies often cover the same stuff. Some homeowners' policies and credit cards cover lost luggage; airlines reimburse travelers for up to $3,000 worth of goods. "It's not a good economic decision for most people," says Robert Hunter, director of insurance at the Consumer Federation of America. How to Avoid It: If you just can't sleep without insurance, "don't buy from someone who's selling you something else," say Hunter. "It's almost always a bad deal involving kickbacks to whoever's offering the service." The Rip-Off: Is it that hard to mix powder with water to feed your child? Take Enfamil's Premium Lipil, a popular formula brand. A 32-ounce can that you can crack open and serve might last a day or two. On Diapers.com a 6-pack of 32-ounce cans (192 fluid ounces of formula) costs $45, while a container of Enfamil's water-mix powder that makes 168 ounces goes for $25. That's 23.4 cents an ounce for liquid vs. 14.9 cents an ounce for powdered--a 57% markup. How to Avoid It: Buy a $30 Brita pitcher (to purify the water), add powder, shake. The Rip-Off: Consumer protection types are coming down on hard on aggressive credit card companies. They might take issue with gift cards, too. American Express (AXP - News) charges $3.95 for its cards, whether you're buying a $25 card or a $3,000 one; Visa charges $3.50 for cards purchased at bank branches and tacks on a $2.50 monthly fee after the first 12 months following the purchase date. Another rub: Merchants often reject cards bearing amounts less than the price of an item. (So much for that $2.59 left on your card.) How to Avoid It: Give cash. The Rip-Off: Plenty of supermarkets offer pre-sliced, prepackaged deli meats while employing lots of people to slice the same stuff at the deli counter. The grab-and-go premium? Whole Foods (WFMI - News) charges $4.29 for a 4-ounce package of Applegate Farms soppressata. The same meat (likely fresher) at the deli counter: $13.49 per pound, or $3.37 for 4 ounces. That's a 27% markup for the packaged stuff. How to Avoid It: Walk over to the deli counter and have them slice it for you. The Rip-Off: These products initially claimed to fight germs, help battle colds and boost the immune system. They don't. In 2007 and 2008 the Federal Trade Commission charged manufacturers of three products with making false and deceptive advertising claims. All have since changed their packaging. Airborne Health, marketer of Airborne, paid $23.5 million to settle charges. CVS agreed to pay $2.8 million in consumer refunds and to stop making certain claims. How to Avoid It: Wash your hands and get enough sleep. The Rip-Off: If you need a mortgage, you need title insurance. But costs and regulations vary wildly from state to state. Insurance on a $500,000 home can cost $3,000 in Houston and less than $2,000 in Boston. Your real estate broker will likely steer you to a title company with which the broker has a relationship, but it may not offer the best deal. How to Avoid It: You can't avoid title insurance, but you can shop around. Your best bet: contact the company hired by the previous owner. They've already done most of the work and are likely to give you a good rate. The Rip-Off: All you want is basic cable, but your cable company wants you to have so much more--and pay through the nose for it. That's why it bundles in a whole mess of channels, including dozens that even the most feckless of couch potatoes won't watch. How to Avoid It: Hulu.com offers thousands of videos, TV episodes (new and old) and full-length movies--all free. And Netflix charges as little as $9 a month for access to more than 100,000 TV episodes on DVD, as well as 12,000 movies. __________________ hatisblack at yahoo.com

05-18-2010, 01:49 PM	#2
seeandsee Check SIG! Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Europe (Skype: gojkoas) Posts: 50,945	You should add porntubes in last ripoff :D __________________ BUY MY SIG - 50$/Year Contact here

05-18-2010, 01:53 PM	#3
GrouchyAdmin Now choke yourself! Industry Role: Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 12,085	Holy crap, supply and demand. There's no ending of idiots who like to waste money - or people who will repost a half-assed writeup to promote hulu. Boo, Smokey. Boo. 11) You thought you were going to learn something from this thread. Fix: Stop reading these threads. __________________ AIM: GrouchyGfy

05-18-2010, 02:12 PM	#8
skywalkeer Confirmed User Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 227	hmm interesting report __________________ 20% rev-share / $1 per free signup / $50 Broadcaster referral Chaturbate.com

05-18-2010, 02:12 PM	#9
Barefootsies Choice is an Illusion Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Land of Obama Posts: 42,635	I completely agree with it comes to cable. As well as phone. These fucking 'bundles'. __________________ Should You Email Your Members? Link1 \| Link2 \| Link3 Enough Said. "Would you rather live like a king for a year or like a prince forever?"

05-18-2010, 01:54 PM	#4
Stephen Pink Tv Registered User Join Date: Nov 2009 Posts: 54	good looking out

05-18-2010, 02:06 PM	#6
DudeRick Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Tobacco Road Posts: 1,568	12. Paying for porn. How to avoid it. Tube sites!

05-18-2010, 02:16 PM	#10
smutnut So Fucking Banned Industry Role: Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Babylon Posts: 5,889	I thought you meant in adult where I thought there were two ways 1) Don't convert 2) Don't pay