Things That Aren't Value for Money!

Trying2SaveABuck on 14/04/2017 - 10:26
Last edited 14/04/2017 - 10:29

Ozbargin is full of deals, bargains and great advice!

But recently hitting the wise old age of 27 I look back at some of the times I've been ripped off or 'almost' ripped off and thought it be good to get a forum on the things people think are the WORST value for money.

So for example buying a car Brand new is generally considered a bad deal.

What i never new till i got old was how much i was getting ripped off getting my car serviced at the deal-ship (after warranty expires).

Dealership servicing is 50-100% more expensive then independents now whilst on warranty i think its best to get you car serviced by the manufacturer but a lesson i learnt is once that warranty ends you are being ripped of considerably.

Another thing that pisses me off are places that sell coffee for $4-6 but there coffee is absolutely shit. It cost 36cents to make a latte if your going to charge a ridiculous mark up the end product needs to be quality ie not burnt, not too cold etc

other examples

  • Certain private schools (fees for the education given had heaps of people complain about high school fees for inept teachers)
  • Taxi drivers (biggest rippers)
  • Insurance - Health/Car/home/occupational indemnity - especially when they dont pay out
  • Loans (Anything by the big four is usually over priced)
  • Almost anything from Harvey Norman
  • EB games (without price match)
  • Real estate agent fees (Can be really high and the service isnt always the quality you would expect)
  • Electronics Playstation VR, Fitbit (any of them), blu ray players when they 1st came out etc

If you got a story of being ripped off or someone/thing trying to rip you off comment below let the community know

General Discussion

Comments

  • holdenmg on 14/04/2017 - 10:30
    +11

    Masters Hardware Stores
    Dick Smith Electronics shares…
    (dodged those bullets). lol

    • Mrbean007 on 14/04/2017 - 12:50
      +5

      Speaking of dicksmith i wanted to purchase a ADSL splitter thinking Max $2 went to dick $17 lol i said will just check eBay $2 free postage from China i said before i get it and wait a month might just check the markets $4 so just purchased it from the markets i would pay double no prob but $17 no wonder they went bust

      • PJC on 14/04/2017 - 13:51
        +1

        Twice I collected batteries at Dick Smith purchased C&C for $6 and spotted the same pack on display for $23.95ish.

        • ShiKu on 15/04/2017 - 19:59
          +6

          Having worked at DS until they closed, I can confirm that the battery cost price was about $2.00 per pack, this included those 40AAA pack. All of the DS branded stuff rarely exceeded $20 cost. Just a bit of a fun fact.

        • PJC on 15/04/2017 - 20:20
          +1

          @ShiKu: I fully believe that. Thanks.

        • seanbaussie on 17/04/2017 - 21:27
          +8

          Every time I go in to Domino's and pay $15 for my 3 pizzas (using codes) I'm astounded at the people who pay $40 for the same (usually walking up and just ordering over the counter).

        • PJC on 17/04/2017 - 21:37
          +1

          @seanbaussie: Yes, it is amazing price still doesn't concern so many people.

        • Pornboy69er on 18/04/2017 - 17:22

          @seanbaussie:

          My parents do this… :(

        • PJC on 18/04/2017 - 20:37
          +1

          @seanbaussie: Here's a good example where codes are unnecessary.

          Recently IGA had Pepsi 24-pack for $10.29 …
          https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/46870/47690/img_201703…
          … 3 metres away from 30-pack for $28.50 …
          https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/46870/47689/img_201703…
          … at least 2 of which had been sold.

          They also had Coke 30-pack for $19.00 …
          https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/46870/47688/img_201703…
          … 3 metres away from 24-pack for $19.99 …
          https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/46870/47687/img_201703…
          … a lot more of which had sold.

          Today IGA have Coke 24-pack for $17.00 again 3 metres away from 30-pack for $35.30 - of which 9 had been sold!

        • Savas on 19/04/2017 - 08:57
          +1

          @PJC: Wow that's sad, great work again PJC!

        • PJC on 19/04/2017 - 12:11
          +1

          @Savas: It resembles a bizarre social experiment. IGA adverts portrayed Shane Jacobson circumnavigating Australia with a trolley affably assuring us we were listened to, but this is the reality. As for those purchasing the blatantly dearer options, why did they bother attending school?

    • [Deactivated] on 17/04/2017 - 00:43
      +5

      I still love my Stanley drill/impact driver combo from Masters. Best bargain I've nabbed so far I think. I bought a few cheap things from there, I'm sorry they're gone

      • ronnknee on 18/04/2017 - 09:22
        +1

        Yea, Masters was generally cheaper than Bunnings and discounted eGift was accepted.

        • Scorpex on 19/04/2017 - 21:09
          +1

          Yep - got that drill and driver deal from Masters too. There were blokes lining up at the checkouts with five packs each. Feeding frenzy!

        • [Deactivated] on 20/04/2017 - 00:46

          @Scorpex: I actually clicked and collected, was expecting them to say sorry out of stock or something like that, but they had heaps of stock for days. I couldn't believe there weren't more people buying them, like you describe lol.

  • John Kimble on 14/04/2017 - 10:31
    +9

    I bought fisherman pants for $20 in Thailand when I was young and naive… never wore them again. They stayed in my cupboard for years because I couldn't bear throw them away because of how much I paid for them. My wife ended up forcing me to donate to charity only a year or two ago.

    • MessyG on 15/04/2017 - 12:33
      +1

      Guilty.

    • jonathonsunshine on 15/04/2017 - 19:04
      +7

      Was given a pair of red fisherman pants at Xmas once, genuine article. They turned a whole load of my clothes pink. Thanks Auntie!

    • jlogic on 18/04/2017 - 17:07
      +2

      Damn… I had to google that. In my head I was thinking those trout fishing pants.

  • John Kimble on 14/04/2017 - 10:34
    +23

    I also don't like that espressos/piccolos cost the same as a cappuccino/flat white even though there's no/less milk. Does that mean I'm paying for milk, or other people don't pay for milk??? But large coffees are extra? Confusing.

    • Trying2SaveABuck on 14/04/2017 - 10:40
      -7

      100% its bullshit they will charge you the cost of a small latte in most cases the actually shot of coffee roughly costs 22cents

      So they charge you $4 for that like 1800% increase on cost price

      • bobbified on 14/04/2017 - 10:45
        +41

        You're only comparing the price of the coffee/milk/product itself though.
        In terms of time and labour to take your order and make the actual coffee, there's not much difference - and that's where the bulk of the costs would be.

        • John Kimble on 14/04/2017 - 11:04
          -7

          Yeah, I know there are overheads, but still.

        • kiitos on 15/04/2017 - 16:01
          +3

          Then large coffees shouldn't be 15% more than regular!

        • heatseeker424 on 16/04/2017 - 12:46
          +6

          @John Kimble: FYI: Labour isn't an overhead.

        • Hellman109 on 16/04/2017 - 21:11
          +7

          Can I have all your possessions for like $100? They're just metal, cloth, wood and stuff, hardly worth anything at all and you can buy them raw for basically nothing.

        • BluebirdV on 16/04/2017 - 22:16
          +1

          Funny thing is when I traveled in the Philippines they were selling coffee for $4-$5 yet labor costs there are almost 20 x lower.

        • Gnosh on 17/04/2017 - 11:15
          +1

          You are correct about the impact of overheads.

          That said I would still expect the price to reflect the materials used.

          After all, they have no hesitation to charge you a dollar extra for cheese, so why should you pay the same amount with no milk?

        • bobbified on 17/04/2017 - 14:23

          @Ninth Sphere:

          It could be a simple case of averaging out the price with the different products in the range for simplicity.

          If only the odd person here and there asked for cheese as an extra, it doesn't make sense to include the price of cheese in the price of all the products in the range just so that there's no "extra cost" for that odd person.

          As long as there's no deception in the price, then there's no right or wrong in the way a business sets prices.

          I buy cigarettes and there have been many cases where, if I work it out on a per cigarette basis, the bigger pack is actually more expensive than the smaller pack - eg, $28 for a 25-pack and $20 for a 20-pack. It doesn't make sense to me because I'm used to expecting the bigger pack to be cheaper, but I won't complain - I'll just get the smaller pack.

        • Murdrum on 17/04/2017 - 18:40

          @bobbified:

          Working at Officeworks, had someone furiously complain about a 240 page exercise book costing 5x(or similarly large) more than a 120 page exercise book when the customer was expecting to get a better rate for more pages.

          Could not explain to the guy how the cost of the 120 page book is so much less since Officeworks probably sells 50 times as many 120 page books.

      • Nutrino on 14/04/2017 - 17:13
        +20

        You should never run a business.

      • od810 on 14/04/2017 - 23:50
        +3

        Labour + rent accounts more than 50% of business expenses. You can't say they put the markup 1800% on it.

      • Mr2gt on 17/04/2017 - 02:24
        +3

        You should open a business and sell us 22c coffees

      • [Deactivated] on 17/04/2017 - 03:23

        Where can you get a coffee in Australia for 22 cents? How do you get the free labour? And the training to go with it? And free electricity and free rent?

    • nubzy on 14/04/2017 - 11:10
      -4

      Really hate that.. I like espresso/long black and really it shouldn't cost any more than $2. Preparing the milk and doing the latte art is the most time consuming part in the process, so why should I pay the same..

      • Cheapo333 on 14/04/2017 - 21:47
        +26

        Maybe you should set up your own cafe and sell coffee at $2/cup. Once you include just rent and wages, your profit margins will become thin and you need to sell a high volume just to break even.

        • jenkemjunkie on 15/04/2017 - 12:38
          +7

          He'll also have to deal with many other business experts that will profess espresso coffee should be no more than $1.50 MAX!

      • bobbified on 15/04/2017 - 16:38
        +5

        ..so why should I pay the same..

        Here's a reminder that you do have a choice of whether to buy or not.

    • redpump on 15/04/2017 - 13:59
      +9

      I have to steam enough milk to actually make it any good which is the same quantity of milk I steam for lattes, which I end up having to throw away if no-one else orders a coffee I can use that extra milk in.

      Also, considering I take 1 min (minimum: 30s to grind and tamp beans + 30s for espresso to extract whilst steaming milk at the same time) labour actually brings the cost of a cup a coffee up to about $1.7 for a $4 cup, so 57% profit margin which doesn't include rent, depreciation of equipment, water and electricity, and waste costs yet. So, yes, running a business ain't easy.

      Though I do believe espresso only shouldn't be the same price, that's why I suggested to the boss to at least give double for the same price (no extra charge).

    • Janko on 16/04/2017 - 01:20
      +6

      Espressos and to a lesser extent, piccolos, have far less room for error and their drinkers are typically more discerning. I would expect a good barista to sink shot a pour that wasn't spot on for an espresso. One could say they're a higher quality product.

      Typical latte might have 120-150 mL milk - about 20c worth.

    • uggugg on 17/04/2017 - 10:06
      +1

      How about cafes that charge the same price for a tea as they do for a coffee? The best ones are the cafes that dump a tea bag, a pot of hot water, some milk and an empty cup in front of you

      • eug on 17/04/2017 - 10:08

        Tea is normally a little cheaper. In any case you're really paying for the costs of running the shop. Imagine if half their customers ordered tea which cost $1. They'd go broke.

        • uggugg on 18/04/2017 - 07:29
          +1

          Most cafes I go to the tea is the same price as the coffee. I'm not advocating for $1 tea but just pointing out the discrepancy in the amount of work needed to make a coffee vs a tea bag and hot water. They should at least provide loose leaf tea

  • bobbified on 14/04/2017 - 10:41
    +20

    Anything at "Recommended Retail Price" RRP is never good value.

    • Diji1 on 14/04/2017 - 12:17
      +1

      Because the RRP is there to cause a fraction of people seeing the list price and the RRP price at the same time to make a decision to purchase when they would not have without this manipulation occurring.

      The RRP is listed on this website for the majority of deals when a more appropriate figure IMO would be the next best price - it would certainly make the deal look a lot less impressive to many people: which is what i just explained above.

    • Lord Fart Bucket on 15/04/2017 - 11:13

      That makes PriceLine the worst retailer around, seeing they regularly sell ABOVE RRP

      • PJC on 15/04/2017 - 12:16
        +7

        My father used to say "if the prices are high blame the people who pay them".

        • Cusack on 16/04/2017 - 09:49
          +3

          I agree, on the other side I also heard the saying "it's not expensive, it's that you can't afford it". Ouch

    • [Deactivated] on 15/04/2017 - 13:16
      +2

      RRP = Recommended Rip-Off Price

      • decr on 16/04/2017 - 08:46

        Yeah! RROP does have a ring to it.

    • ronnknee on 15/04/2017 - 19:17

      Puff Braddy wants to have a talk with you.

  • holdenmg on 14/04/2017 - 10:47
    +3

    ASIC isn't good value.

    APRA isn't good value.

    AusPost isn't.

    • horsome on 15/04/2017 - 17:13
      -3

      ACCC no value

    • hahaboy on 17/04/2017 - 01:19

      what do you mean by that? Do ASIC and APRA provide purchasable services that are not good value?

      • holdenmg on 17/04/2017 - 07:55

        Bang for Buck…

        • [Deactivated] on 17/04/2017 - 08:43

          Lady boys

  • apple2016 on 14/04/2017 - 10:53
    +7

    Tax!..

    • [Deactivated] on 15/04/2017 - 13:17
      +2

      Rich people don't pay much tax.

      • apple2016 on 15/04/2017 - 16:28
        +2

        That's why they are rich

      • abb on 18/04/2017 - 10:06

        Instead, they pay a slightly lower amount to an army of accountants and lawyers…

        • abb on 20/04/2017 - 14:39

          @blaccdong: Haha, there you go, a timely article.

          Average pre-bullshit income: $2.46M
          Average "cost of managing tax affairs": $1.07M

          The tax payable on an income of $2.46M is $1.08M. So they saved $10k, or 1%.

          (Yes, I know, averages are misleading etc, I can't be bothered going into the raw data, it's good enough to show my point).

      • prinsenhof on 18/04/2017 - 19:09
        -1

        Poor people pay less tax

  • [Deactivated] on 14/04/2017 - 11:39
    +16

    paying $30 for a CD from hmv etc to add to my worthless collection and they wonder why people started to pirate things. Maybe if prices started from a reasonable amount record companies wouldn't be in the situation they are now.

    • nrg2010 on 15/04/2017 - 15:31
      +5

      Yeh $30 bucks ten/fifteen years ago was a huge ask, especially because the CD booklet was never as good as a full size album spread. And how many albums did we buy that got listened too once or twice?

      Not surprised Napster, P2P took over.

    • macrocephalic on 16/04/2017 - 10:47
      +1

      Do people still buy them? I've only bought one CD in the last 5 years, and that was a special edition album from a band that hadn't released anything for over a decade. The irony, there was a delay shipping the products, so the distributor sent out the MP3's. I don't think I've actually used the physical CD.

      • Matt P on 17/04/2017 - 00:30

        These days, popular release cd's can be had for about the same as paid online services (apple/google music). Bought the first one i have bought in over a year from sanity online and it was about $19 delivered. Latest release, Aussie artist included an autographed cover (Tina Arena).

        Actually local music that comes with a signed cover/signed art card is the only music i buy these days. For the rest, theres my student apple music subscription

        • macrocephalic on 18/04/2017 - 12:34

          Spotify on a family plan is only a few dollars per person per month - and I don't have to worry about having physical discs or ripping them. There's something to be said for the old ritual of getting a new album and putting it on and looking at the booklet etc, but I don't think we'll be going back.

  • cnmarine on 14/04/2017 - 12:01
    +8

    Ahpra - it's nearly 1k just to put your name up there

    • canyoudoitcheaper on 15/04/2017 - 20:19
      -1

      Doctors can charge $28 for a 5 min consultation, so I'd say that's one of the biggest bargains out there.

      • [Deactivated] on 15/04/2017 - 20:39

        They tried to add a co-pay of $6 to deter people going in for 5 min consults (get a quick med cert to skip work) but then people complained. Can't win

      • Ozbargainlyf on 16/04/2017 - 08:23
        +1

        Studying for 7+ years to become a gp. Then have a target on your back and the stress of the job. All to make around $200k (i think was the latest average). They deserve $28 every 5 mins. But even that is a massive assumption. I dont know about you but I've never been to the gp without being there for at least 15 mins.

        • Protato on 16/04/2017 - 13:52
          +6

          Minimum time to become a GP is 10 years. 2 years undergrad + 4 years med school + 1 intern year + 3 years training program.

        • Ozbargainlyf on 16/04/2017 - 14:16

          @Protato: 7+ or 10, not exactly the point. What im trying to say is they are a highly trained highly qualified individual that charges what, at most 28$ x 12 by what canyoudoitcheaper is arguing. To get $300 an hour by studying 10 years really isnt that big a deal.

      • Pricebeat on 17/04/2017 - 00:20
        +2

        But nurses can't!

        • diazepam on 17/04/2017 - 22:26

          thanks for posting this; was hoping someone would
          GP's are honestly the most undervalued profession in my opinion.

        • [Deactivated] on 18/04/2017 - 11:20
          +5

          @lux: Because most of them are rubbish.

        • diazepam on 18/04/2017 - 12:15

          @blue-dinosaur: some of them are rubbish, I won't deny that. However, what about those that aren't rubbish?

      • prinsenhof on 18/04/2017 - 19:13
        +1

        $28 for 5 minutes is fine. Its the hourly cost of me waiting for 1 hour minimum when i booked an appointment.

    • kats on 17/04/2017 - 15:31
      +1

      Increased fees, decreased service

  • eatwell365 on 14/04/2017 - 12:03
    +8

    full price ticket to go wet and wild Sydney,
    saw tourists played $400+ for one day entry for 4 people + $100 each for queue jumping wristband. OMG?

    • bobbified on 15/04/2017 - 16:50

      what??? So $200+ per person??
      Are you exaggerating a little or was it actually that price?
      I've been thinking of going there.

      • eatwell365 on 15/04/2017 - 16:58

        season is closing soon in April. best get your season pass from groupon,

        • bobbified on 17/04/2017 - 15:39

          I thought Australia's Wonderland was expensive before - Looks like I won't going to Wet n Wild! lol

        • eatwell365 on 17/04/2017 - 23:17
          +1

          @bobbified: Looked it up online. $79 one day + bonus season pass now - as the season is finishing

  • 18 on 14/04/2017 - 12:19
    +4

    HTC U Ultra

  • Baebs on 14/04/2017 - 12:30
    +7

    Mc'Donalds

    • gimli on 14/04/2017 - 20:39
      +2

      macccas

    • ruddiger7 on 15/04/2017 - 13:52
      +1

      Especcially those new gourmet range burgers. Had the angus truffle and spent $9. Terrible terrible burger.

      • [Deactivated] on 15/04/2017 - 14:44

        Had one today for the first time. The most expensive bad burger I have eaten. Stuff was just thrown together in a box and i had to reassemble it on my seat. I rarely go to maccas and those time they are making me regret it.

        • Daabido on 16/04/2017 - 18:13

          Yes I swear one day instead of reassembling myself I will take it back to the counter and ask them to do it again.

    • [Deactivated] on 17/04/2017 - 00:39

      They are meant to be cheap and nasty, but lately they are just nasty. I spent $18 on two burgers and a mcflurry thing (admittedly the burgers had extras etc and one was a double QP), but wow, if I wasn't so hungry and it wasn't 11pm on a week night I would have walked out.

      • Baebs on 17/04/2017 - 09:33

        I was disappointed when my mcflurry was just soft serve with 2 crushed Oreo biscuits sprinkled on top in a cardboard cup with a regular spoon, not stirred. Not a great first mcflurry experience..

  • WatchNerd on 14/04/2017 - 12:32
    +11

    Most fast food is junk & not worth anywhere near what they charge, it really has no nutritional value & is bad for your health.
    Last time I ate Dominos Pizza I felt tired & lethargic from my body trying to break down the high fat content and I was really thirsty from the high salt levels.

    • try2bhelpful on 14/04/2017 - 12:39
      +2

      I agree, the cost to the body is much higher than the monetary cost. If you are going to do that many calories go for something that tastes really delicious and enjoy it.

    • Bullion78 on 15/04/2017 - 12:28
      +2

      Its not the high fat your body was struggling to break down.. It’s the volume of cardboard or completely empty volume of calories you've just ingested and your system thus digesting. If you just ate the toppings (albeit very few) you would feel fine the next day.

      • callum9999 on 15/04/2017 - 13:08
        +12

        If you feel bad the day after eating a pizza, you have health issues. That is not normal…

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