The Biggest Rip-Offs You’ve Likely Fallen For
Sadly, some things in life are really too good to be true and are major rip-offs. The thing is, most people have fallen prey to these schemes. Take movie theater popcorn. Kernels cost maybe a quarter, while theaters price a large container at almost $10!
Keep reading and see how many rip-offs have happened right under your nose.
Expensive Coffee
Expensive coffee is probably one of the biggest rip-offs people fall for (yes, Starbucks, that means you).
Grabbing a cup of joe for anything more than a few cents shouldn't be allowed since purchasing a container of ground coffee at the store costs less than ten dollars and can last for weeks.
Bottled Water
One of the biggest scams people fall for is the concept of bottled water. The funny part of this product is the fact that there are numerous companies bottling what is essentially tap water quality, which you can get right in your own home.
Skip the bottled product, grab a reusable water bottle, and use the tap, or add a filter folks!
Hotel Minibar
For adults enjoying a nice stay at a hotel, steer clear of the hotel minibar. They are one of the biggest rip-offs in the hospitality industry.
Opening a bag of M&Ms is going to cost about $5, while unscrewing a tiny airplane bottle might tack on a solid $10 to the bill. Unless it clearly says complimentary, steer clear!
Fountain Drinks At Fast-Food Restaurants
Fountain drinks are a guilty pleasure for a lot of people. Unfortunately, it's a guilty pleasure they're spending way too much money on. While fast-food restaurants sell fountain drinks for around $3, it costs the place pennies to actually supply.
That's a lot of money for a pour-it-yourself sugary syrup drink.
All-You-Can-Eat Buffets
People go into all-you-can-eat buffets thinking they will scarf down a whole lot of food. The fact of the matter is, most people aren't able to eat $15 worth of the food offered.
This is because these types of places load people up on carbs such as potatoes, pasta, and pizza.
Ink Cartridges
Honestly, people are better off buying an entirely new printer that might come with a free ink cartridge instead of actually purchasing a new ink cartridge.
Depending on the brand and whether a person needs colored or black and white ink, they are looking to spend upwards of $160, such as the HP 727 Black Matte Standard Yield Ink Cartridge.
Razor Blades
Razor blades are one of the biggest scams in existence, especially some of the big brand names such as Venus. A razor blade refill package costs more than an actual razor shaft!
Venus razor blade refills cost around $22, while the actual razor itself cost $14. People are better off just buying a new razor each time their blades go dull.
Lottery Tickets
Scratchers, lottery tickets, or whatever name a person wants to call them, they're all the same -- a rip-off. People are more likely to get his by a falling vending machine than actually winning the lottery.
Yes, they only cost a few dollars, but that is a few bucks that can be spent elsewhere.
A Funeral
It might sound very morbid, but funerals are actually a huge scam. A person just passed away, and now their family has to spend an average of $7,848.
That is a whole lot of money for a viewing, burial, and emotional trauma of saying goodbye to a loved one.
Movie Theater Popcorn
Grabbing a bucket of movie theater popcorn is part of the cinematic experience. Sadly, it is also a buttery rip-off. The fact of the matter is a person is paying for a large popcorn anywhere up to $10.
The thing consumers might not know is that huge vat of kernels is only worth about a quarter.
French Fries
A low $1.89 for a large French fry at McDonald's might not sound like a rip-off. In fact, it might sound like an absolute steal! That is where people are mistaken.
Fast-food chains tend to pay 15 cents per pound for potatoes. Doing the math, the consumers are paying for one huge scam served in oil and salt.
Gym Memberships
It is no secret that many people join a gym and never actually step foot inside the facility. It's a huge waste of money for them and a gain for the gym.
Interestingly, what people don't know, is that the gym is well aware of the one in 20 people that will actually come to the gym, selling memberships well past capacity to earn a few more dollars.
Oil Changes For Your Car
Most people like to let professionals deal with motor oil changes just to ensure it is done correctly. Unfortunately, doing so is a scam and will leave a nice dent in their wallet since oil changes can cost anywhere from $35 to $125.
A better option is to learn how to change the motor oil and purchase a large container at the local Walmart.
Branded Pain Killers
When it comes to name brands versus non-name brands, the former tends to be of better quality than the latter, especially when it comes to food. This is not the case with medication.
Due to FDA regulations, branded pain killers and over-the-counter medications are legally required to use the same chemical equations. The only difference between the two is the price points.
Text Messaging
In the modern-day, a majority of people enjoy texting over calling someone on their phone. So, an unlimited plan probably sounds like a better deal, even if it does cost $40 or more.
That is where consumers are wrong. Text messages only cost wireless providers about between a fifth and a third of a cent, making text messaging a huge scam.
Hotel Movies
Going back to a hotel to relax after a long day is difficult, especially since it is most likely an uncomfortable bed with little to watch on TV. That's where hotel movies come into play.
It's just too bad they're huge rip-offs, costing up to $12 for a blockbuster someone has most likely already seen.
Airport Food
When people are traveling for vacation, they really don't think about the price of things, even at the airport. Unfortunately, most products at the airport are a huge rip-off, namely the food and beverages.
At an airport, people pay $10 for something that would otherwise cost them $2 at the corner market. The thing is, they're willing to pay because what other choice do they have?
Prescription Glasses From The Optometrist
Prescription glasses are such a scam. Even if a person has insurance, glasses from an optometrist are most likely still going to cost at least $175. It is a big rip-off.
People are better off getting their prescription, trying on different frames at the clinic, and then hopping online and purchasing something for a fraction of the price.
HDMI Cables
After purchasing a ridiculously expensive TV, what is going out and buying an HDMI cable to people? Honestly, pretty much nothing, even if it is a big rip-off. At stores, these cables can cost over $40!
People are better off sitting online to find an HDMI, as some places sell them for as low as $6.
Concession Stands In Amusement Parks
Unless people plan ahead and bring food and drinks into an amusement park, they are going to fall prey to the overly-expensive vendors at the park, aka one of the biggest rip-offs ever.
People are already buying hundred-dollar tickets to enter the park, and now the place goes and sells a bottle of water for $5. Alas, people get caught up in the excitement and don't care their Mickey Mouse ice cream is way overpriced.
