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

    • AlienC on 16/04/2017 - 08:05
      +1

      Child craft? I would actually have to say for me at least it was value for money.. so many childhood memories from child craft books. One of the few non technology things I still cherish.. I say books will always be good for the young at heart and children. Definitely love all my children's books.

      • ankor on 16/04/2017 - 10:57
        +1

        Nah, mine were a competitor to encyclopaedia brittanica. To be honest, it turned me into a real bookworm because I felt compelled to read everything in it. Back before I was introduced to consoles, I read encyclopaedias as a 12yo.

        You could imagine the thrilling conversations I had with my friends at the time..

        • AlienC on 16/04/2017 - 14:37
          +1

          I honestly probably would have preferred your conversions to my ones.

  • polyteknika on 15/04/2017 - 17:02
    +2

    First-class plane tickets.
    Even though I've never been in first-class, I'd rather go economy and spend that extra money saved at my destination :)

    • canleyheights on 15/04/2017 - 21:52
      +3

      I've never been first-class either but I think those who spend first-class have no problem with spending money at their destination.

  • dvstec on 15/04/2017 - 17:25
    +7

    Nandos

  • try2bhelpful on 15/04/2017 - 17:25
    +4

    Womens haircuts. The guys haircuts are roughly 1/2 the price for a women's cut in the swanky places and, if you are willing to go to a standard barber, you can get a good mens haircut for considerably cheaper - half the time they throw in a beer as well. Last time I went to "Heading Out" they charged me $130 for just a plain pixie cut. Haven't been back since I found somewhere else a bit cheaper.

    • PJC on 15/04/2017 - 18:40

      Amen to that. Whenever I'm in Hurstville I get mine cut for $7, but I think women are charged $9. Astonishingly, just 2 doors away Swiss Concept recently opened their 2nd store. I thought I was dreaming. http://swissconcept.com.au/

      • Hardlyworkin on 16/04/2017 - 08:44

        How much do you think your 'hairdresser' is getting paid per hour? Happy for a bargain at someone else's expense?

        • PJC on 16/04/2017 - 11:18
          +3

          I'm literally there for 5 minutes and I always give a tip, such as "don't wipe your arse with sandpaper because it hurts".

        • try2bhelpful on 16/04/2017 - 21:35
          +2

          $130 is taking a lend for a basic cut. I'm willing to pay a reasonable price, but that is too much. Particularly as prices aren't usually displayed before the cut. Asking appears to be very tacky.

        • PJC on 16/04/2017 - 23:17

          Jokes aside, I really am in the chair for 4 or maybe 5 minutes, I do tip them money and I always say please and thank you. What am I supposed to do?

        • eug on 16/04/2017 - 23:33
          +1

          @try2bhelpful:

          http://headingout.com.au/
          THE HOME OF FOUR TIMES AUSTRALIA HAIRDRESSER OF THE YEAR.
          Our stylists have been shaping the Australian hair industry for years; from styling the catwalks of the Melbourne Fashion Festival to creating our own award-winning collections. Our four Melbourne Hairdressing studios are Salon Select accredited, working with only the best products and industry best practices, because our stylists wouldn't accept anything less.

          Looks like they're award-winning stylists which means their staff would probably be better paid, the shop fitout would be expensive, and their four branches are in expensive, high-rent locations (Fitzroy, CBD, Camberwell, Balwyn North).

          If I walked into a Mercedes showroom, I wouldn't expect prices to be cheap.

          Their price list is online, a mens cut starts at $67 for a senior stylist. Looks like you ended up with an "art director", the second-most-expensive person they had. If you're too uncomfortable to ask how much a haircut cost, I don't think you can complain! I wouldn't sit down and order a meal at a fancy restaurant in an expensive suburb without knowing how much it cost first.

        • try2bhelpful on 17/04/2017 - 15:21
          +3

          @eug: I rang them beforehand and was told the cost would be $100. I had a voucher for $30 so I could live with the cost. When I got the cut done then they told me it was $130. When I told them I had a quote beforehand they told me that the cost depended on who they gave me a the time. I didn't ask for an art director - the cut isn't that hard. If I go to a mercedes dealer I expect a mercedes, not a Kia. My haircut didn't look like a mercedes. I stand by my comment. They should have prices on a "menu" up like a restaurant or any other service you pay for afterwards.

        • eug on 17/04/2017 - 16:07

          @try2bhelpful: Did you specify which price tier you were after when you booked the appointment?

        • PJC on 17/04/2017 - 16:12

          @try2bhelpful: I fully agree. Where I go there is a clear sign showing the 2 prices in at least 3 languages.

        • try2bhelpful on 17/04/2017 - 16:14
          +1

          @eug: I didn't know they had a price tier. I had been going to them for quite some time and the cuts had always been around $80 so that is what I thought they were. I thought the $100 was a tad high but I had the voucher so I was OK with it. It was only after I had the cut that they brought this up. There was no price list up anywhere so I wasn't aware of any of this tier stuff. They lost a regular at that moment. I stand by my original premise - they charge more for women's cuts than mens and the skill required is not very different for a standard cut.

        • try2bhelpful on 17/04/2017 - 16:22
          +2

          @eug: Also what sort of a world do we live in where a hairdresser gets off calling themselves an "art director". This was a hair cut not an art installation.

        • eug on 17/04/2017 - 16:30
          -1

          @try2bhelpful: The same world where someone making a sandwich at subway is a Sandwich Artist. :)

          When you start going to high-end places like that, you're bound to come across descriptions like that. Just have a look at the menu in a fancy cafe or restaurant.

          You went to a Mercedes dealership wanting to buy something like a Kia. The cheapest Mercedes they can sell you is still very expensive, and probably performs like a Kia. The problem is that you went into a Mercedes dealership in the first place. If you want a Kia, you should go to a Kia dealership.

          Womens cuts cost more because evidently women will pay more. If they didn't, then prices will drop.

        • try2bhelpful on 17/04/2017 - 16:55
          +2

          @eug: Well, in my case they don't get any money from me anymore because I realise I was paying for a Mercedes and getting a Kia. As I have previously stated, I rang them, got a price and they still stung me for more than they quoted. The place had never been that expensive in the past so I didn't realise they had turned into a Mercedes dealer. The thread is about things that aren't value for money, and I have raised one. If they charge more for women's haircuts we have to pay more, unless we can find an alternative. Fortunately I have found an alternative which I can accept, but they still charge more for my haircut than my other half it is just much cheaper than Heading out and the cut is very similar. I don't care who the sodding stylist is only they give me the cut I want and charge me according to the skill required to provide it. There are very few other industries where you get charged for the potential of the person providing the job rather than the outcome. Assess what my haircut will take and provide me with the right level of skill.

        • eug on 17/04/2017 - 17:30

          @try2bhelpful:

          because I realise I was paying for a Mercedes and getting a Kia.

          With mens hair, I think there's only so much you can do unless your hair is long which would give more to work with. So if you have Kia requirements, there's really no point going to a Mercedes dealer.

          As I have previously stated, I rang them, got a price and they still stung me for more than they quoted.

          Did you specify the $100 price level when you booked your appointment?
          If you did and they charged you $130 without telling you beforehand, you definitely have grounds to complain. If you didn't, then probably not.

          I don't care who the sodding stylist is only they give me the cut I want and charge me according to the skill required to provide it.

          Then you probably shouldn't have gone to a hair salon that was "Four times Australian hairdresser of the year", does hair at the Melbourne Fashion Festival, and are located in expensive suburbs.

          Your OzB alarms should have been ringing. If all you value is the end result, then high-end outlets like that will never be good value.

          Hair salons like that are like luxury cars. If all you care about is getting from A to B, get a Kia. Anything else would be poor value.

          But if you put value in the feel of the drive, the interior, the comfort, etc.. then spending the extra on a luxury car might make it "good value" to you, even if the end result (A -> B) is exactly the same as a $5,000 secondhand Kia.

          There are very few other industries where you get charged for the potential of the person providing the job rather than the outcome.

          I don't think it's as rare as you think. Doctors can see you for 5 minutes, prescribe you paracetomol, and still charge you $78. A locksmith might charge you $150 to unlock your door at night. A plumber might charge you $60 to change a tap washer.

        • try2bhelpful on 17/04/2017 - 20:56
          +2

          @eug: We can keep doing this all day, if you like. I've stated my case and I don't think there is any point in continually restating it. I could "live with" what they were charging right up to the point where they jumped the price up significantly for exactly the same hair cut I had been having for the last few years. I really have no interest in the "feel" of a hair salon. I want my hair cut, it to look good and to get out of the place. For the cut I was after I didn't need an art director, but they gave me one anyway and they certainly didn't point out to me there was a tier of costs. They could've given me a lower priced person, but they didn't.

          My doctor has his prices at the front desk, I ask the plumber his per hour cost upfront and he keeps to it when he arrives at the door, the locksmith gives me his prices up front too. None of them tell me they are more qualified when I see them so they have to charge me extra for the same service.

        • eug on 17/04/2017 - 22:05

          @try2bhelpful:

          I've stated my case and I don't think there is any point in continually restating it.

          Do note that you never explained the whole situation till later on. In your original post, all you said was that you went to a fancy hair salon and they charged a lot of money. Of course they would. Hence the whole Mercedes showroom comparison.

          I asked several times but you never answered - did you specify what price level you were after when you booked your appointment? If you did and they changed it on you without telling you, shame on them. Otherwise … well now you know what they assume.

          Anyway I do agree that fancy salons are poor value for money if all you're after is the end result. Some people enjoy the whole experience though.

          With your doctor/plumber/locksmith, we weren't talking about them giving their prices upfront. We were talking about paying for the person rather than the outcome.

        • try2bhelpful on 17/04/2017 - 22:23
          +1

          @eug: The "fancy hair salon" had not charged even close to this price previously so it had not been a "mercedes" showroom previously. It is like a Honda dealership, still full of Hondas, had become a Mercedes dealership without telling me. This was a while back so I can't guarantee that the booking was made at the same time as I requested the price, but I doubt I would've taken the effort to find out the price and then not made the booking.

          My point was that ladies hair cuts may be over priced and we agree on that.

          In the case of a locksmith I would be ringing around for a specific function with a specific price and would expect to be charged for delivery of that service, not that they would turn up and then charge me extra because they are over qualified.

    • Gnosh on 16/04/2017 - 12:30
      +1

      This really bugs me.
      I'm a woman with short hair (a typical male cut) and am automatically paying over 2x the amount a male would pay for the same cut.

      Barbers are the best choice to avoid this; they don't normally advertise a female price so I'll get the standard men's price.

      Otherwise they will clip my sides, trim a little off the top in 20 minutes and flog me with an $80 bill over the $40 men's style cut price.

      • try2bhelpful on 17/04/2017 - 16:17
        +1

        My point exactly. They have done studies that show that women/girls stuff tends to be marked up compared to the equivalent male product. Usually I just buy the bloke equivalent but not really possible with the ladies hair cut.

  • [Deactivated] on 15/04/2017 - 17:28

    Just thought you should know that you don't need to go to your dealer to retain new car warranty. Any mechanic that completes the logbook service is sufficient.

  • [Deactivated] on 15/04/2017 - 17:30
    +1

    Keeping in theme of the Easter break - Easter Eggs. Per 100g they are far more expensive than the standard block and after Easter they are always something like 75% off…

  • try2bhelpful on 15/04/2017 - 18:57
    +1

    Just about anything listed in the thread I started on the most useless Kitchen gadget people had bought.

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/298108

  • Kironium on 15/04/2017 - 20:02

    Costco membership

    • Matt P on 17/04/2017 - 17:52

      I dunno i disagree. I don't go there super often, but i use the fuel station when i do go. Saves me 6-10 bucks a fill (big tank in the family car). I'm fairly switched on with standard pricing of stuff in supermarkets (as we all should be) and i manage to find a few bargains. Also some stuff i can't get anywhere else. Plus i enjoy my $2 hotdog/pepsi when i leave haha

      edit: i go halves with the membership with my mum. She pays one year i pay the next. We've been members since it opened, so like $30/yr on average

    • mranderson978 on 18/04/2017 - 15:21

      Only if you don't use the membership.

      Sort of like a gym membership or any other membership for that matter.

      Like Matt P, I save about $10 each time I fill my car.

  • [Deactivated] on 15/04/2017 - 20:19
    +4

    Robbery.

    Every time i've been robbed i've felt a distinct dissatisfaction with the value for money i've obtained as a result of that robbery.

    • iridiumstem on 15/04/2017 - 20:34
      +3

      Yeah, Harvey Norman does that.

  • chumbucket on 15/04/2017 - 20:46

    Easter show tickets

  • xuqi on 15/04/2017 - 22:36
    +1

    Politicians!!

    • retiredfeline on 15/04/2017 - 22:40

      It's more price competitive in the US. As a USAn once told me: We have the best politicians money can buy. ;)

  • staccato on 15/04/2017 - 22:40
    +3

    Food at the Sydney Royal Easter Show!

    • Gnosh on 16/04/2017 - 12:31
      +3

      Not only overpriced but absolutely horrible. Everything there tastes like cardboard.

    • Mixinitup on 18/04/2017 - 09:53
      +1

      I would say paying for entry to the Easter show, pay money for the right to pay money as not much is included

  • cdaddy on 15/04/2017 - 23:57
    +1

    Computer parts when they first come out. Recently: gtx 1070 sc a month after release bought for ~ $800 aud now they're ~ $500

    • AlienC on 16/04/2017 - 08:10

      This is why I can never justify a computer purchase even though I really want to.. every year they get better and I don't stay the same age. Ended up with a tablet because longer life cycles comparatively. I'll probably get a laptop soon though unless I can figure out a designated desktop spot.. I move around a lot and have gotten used to the convenience of the tablet mobile portability.

      • eug on 16/04/2017 - 08:15

        You could just get last-generation parts. They'll be pretty cheap second-hand. No need to be on the bleeding edge if you're on a budget.

        • AlienC on 16/04/2017 - 08:38

          That's what I have been thinking lately but I think my new cut off is going to be affordable 4k 60fps gaming and 4k vr so the line keeps moving maybe a few more years to go.

          Tablet or mobile gaming is still kind of brand new relatively and the closest thing for me to an emerging market so the investment in watching it unfold is worth it for me kind of like how I wish I was more around when gaming moved from games like Pong to Pacman then to Tetris to games like Doom and Descent.

          It still kind of feels like we are in the Pong stage of mobile gaming by about to reach a major jump to Tetris skipping the Pacman stage thanks to residual pc gaming achievements.

          Basically I have had my large fill of pc gaming from before mainly late 90s to late 00s then took a long break and an now just exploring the tablet sector mode so I can't really justify going back to it anymore especially with the high over continuing costs.

          Plus I am slightly happy enough with just YouTube and twitch hehe lol.

        • Feeblely on 17/04/2017 - 18:43

          @AlienC:

          meh. people choose how much value their time is worth. i mean even tho a new graphics card right now for 4k 60fps vr gaming may be $800, i'd rather have it now and use it for 2 years whilst someone like you may choose to not have it for the next few years.

  • freemoneyhunter on 16/04/2017 - 09:36
    +4

    My tip is never buy anything you do not need. I was going to buy a new phone because I dropped my Iphone 4 last year and smashed the screen, been using it like that for awhile, was going to spend $250 on a new note 4 but decided I'll call my friend who constantly upgrades his phone, I bought his old Galaxy S1 for $20.

    If you need something, call up friends, if you need furniture, wait for council curbside clean up and pick up everything you need then.

    I mainly use ozbargain for the banking deals where you sign up for a bank account and get $100. I do a few of those a year, sometimes alcohol deals but I usually just buy the cleanskin cabsav's for $3.75 each a dozen from the local porters shop.

    Do not buy what you want for any price, only buy what you need and try to find friends who will sell you their stuff cheap. Things like cooking utensils, just go to your friends house, nearly everyone is overloaded with cooking utensils, just ask for stuff for free.

    • staccato on 16/04/2017 - 09:41
      +3

      What if you don't have any friends?

    • AlienC on 16/04/2017 - 14:38

      I am curious.. what do you eat and shop you ever still eat outside our just mainly all home cooked meals.

      • PVA on 16/04/2017 - 14:55

        Funny you say that. I was talking to a work colleague a while back about the cost of eating out. We have one child he has three. I asked how much does it cost him, even for maccas, he replied that they have never been out for dinner anywhere . His kids are year 11,12 .. never taken anyone out for dinner! Pretty sad I reckon.

        • AlienC on 16/04/2017 - 14:57

          Hmm.. must be letting them focus on whatever they are doing or getting take out otherwise yeah.. they must have some bomb food at home. What nationality was he by any chance and young or old?

        • PVA on 16/04/2017 - 15:00

          @AlienC: white Aussie.
          No reason except really tight with money, there food at home is mainly sausages and mashed potato and peas.
          Sometimes he buys a pizza , the cheapest dominoes and one to share between five people.

        • AlienC on 16/04/2017 - 15:02

          @PVA: hmm that's kinda (profanity).. well to me at least.. although sausages and mashed potatoes and peas sounds pretty bomb to me right now haha lol.. I guess their family home life is much more appreciative over going out which is ok I guess if you have a good family home life.

        • PVA on 16/04/2017 - 15:07

          @AlienC: I don't believe family life at their home is great either going by stories from him. Nah, pretty poor overall.

      • freemoneyhunter on 18/04/2017 - 20:03

        Well I'm not scared to spend a dollar, I sometimes do eat out usually at an RSL, buy a fisherman's basket and that kind of thing but never an upper class place. I don't mind spending on food because you have to eat and ideally you want to eat good. I might eat out once a month. I usually buy home brand type foods, I eat sausages, make hamburgers and things like that. I do take a lot of vitamins, usually 2-3 Mega B complex tablets a day, a few grams of Vitamin C, I usually avoid multivitamins because they contain minerals and I get enough minerals likely with my diet but supplementing with vitamins is perfectly safe and best to err on the side of more rather than less.

        I do enjoy a drink, sometimes I do buy some of the finer things, I do have some nice bottles but I only drink a little of the good stuff for the taste and then drink the cheaper stuff for example I'll pour a shot of fine whisky and sit on it all night while drinking cheaper cabsav and taking a few sips of the whisky in between to savour the taste.

        I think the best thing to avoid is to pay for cluttering stuff, so much on ozbargain is that sort of junk. I think electronics and gadgets are mostly junk, they end up not getting used as much as you would have thought.

        • AlienC on 18/04/2017 - 21:06
          +1

          Some really good words here.

          I think I need to get me some good alcohol.. I haven't drunk that much in the last couple of few years.

          That RSL line was so me I can't pass up a good burger or schnitzel. I can't justify anything much more over a good RSL meal unless it is something like really good cheap Chinese or Vietnamese or really good quality Mexican.. alas Mexican is really hard for me to find these days they are mostly in places I never go to.

  • lunartemis on 16/04/2017 - 10:18

    When Asian grocery stores sell weird drinks for less than 30% of its rrp. They generally taste like warm tasteless dirt water with a hint of perfume…

  • linxinkai on 16/04/2017 - 11:02
    -8

    funny 27 years-old still cant tell cogs and expense, in this case, iphone made by 200 gram metal and plastic that probably worth $5? why they are selling it for over$1200?? rip off!!!

    • commandershephard on 16/04/2017 - 12:48
      +12

      you are actually stupid.

      if i gave you 200 grams of metal and plastic can you make an iphone from scratch?

      • linxinkai on 16/04/2017 - 17:53
        -4

        No, I cant
        but with right equipments and team, yes I can.

        same question, if I put some milk and beans on ur hand,can u make a proper cappuccino without any tool and work place? no u cant.

        so whats the point whinging price of a cup of coffee by only counting the cost of milk and beans?

        • [Deactivated] on 17/04/2017 - 03:20
          +6

          So you and a team of engineers are willing to work for free?

    • try2bhelpful on 17/04/2017 - 15:44

      Apple does charge a premium for their phones, but you don't seem to understand that the costs have little to do with the the raw materials. The main expense is around development and tooling to produce the devices. Also there are a lot of freebie apps you can get from the Apple stores so the value of the phone is not in the raw materials but what you can use it for. I can just about guarantee you that that bang for buck their iphone is probably the best value device they have given the amount of use they put it to.

  • [Deactivated] on 16/04/2017 - 11:05

    personal training sessions when joining a gym

  • [Deactivated] on 16/04/2017 - 11:07
    +2

    flying in high season because desperate to go but paying triple for the ticket

  • iridiumstem on 16/04/2017 - 13:26

    Anything that's related to wellbeing fad.

    Jesus, 4L jar from K-mart costed $4, 4L jar with an airlock on eBay costs $50. All it requires is a hole on the lid, a silicon bung and an airlock. The airlock and the silicon bung would cost less than $10 combined (less than $5 even).

    I just want some sauerkraut, not for some wellbeing fad but just as a cheap side dish.

    • Matt P on 17/04/2017 - 17:54

      You see a problem with the market, i see an opportunity ;)

      • iridiumstem on 17/04/2017 - 18:37

        I simply think wellbeing fad adds bit of premium which doesn't mean there is a problem with the market. Just makes the products less cost efficient.

        I doubt the market is big enough for someone to specialise in it. It might be a fun side business for little bit of cash if you already own the equipments for it. The options I've seen out there were very limited, suggesting to me that the demands for it are small.

        Besides, fermenting equipments, unless you are in it for a cheap side dish (like me), you'd likely choose branded ones (which were more expensive but the results with them are well established).

  • FatBlanket on 16/04/2017 - 13:33
    +7

    Movie theatres. With coke and popcorn you're looking at $40. And they can't even keep the joint clean ?

    • AlienC on 16/04/2017 - 14:41

      Always was nice when you were a kid and your family basically shouted it for you… but as an adult yeah it's hard a lot harder radically if your love for movies has died down over the years because Netflix and chill is the most you will spend now for "movie night".

      • Cluster on 16/04/2017 - 14:50
        +4

        Walking into a cinema recently, a friend showed me his large Coke and popcorn and said 'guess how much this cost!'. I guessed high, about $12. He said no, try $19. $19 for maybe 20c of corn and tap water mix Coke!

        The kicker was he absolutely bolted from the cinema as soon as the movie credits began to roll and ran to the toilet. Drinking a litre of caffeinated soft drink isn't such a good idea. The last 30 minutes of the movie all he could think about was taking a piss. Not only was the drink poor value, but it affected his enjoyment of the movie too.

        • AlienC on 16/04/2017 - 14:53

          Yeah it's weird.. can get the same if not more value from a supermarket and they are ballsy enough to charge more than triple the supply cost..

        • eug on 16/04/2017 - 14:58
          +2

          The last 30 minutes of the movie all he could think about was taking a piss.

          You should introduce him to Runpee.

        • [Deactivated] on 17/04/2017 - 03:19
          -1

          Where can you get popcorn and soft drink for 20 cents in Australia? And how do you get free labour?

        • Cluster on 17/04/2017 - 03:36
          -1

          @Orpheus: The ingredients are very cheap (hence the 20c of corn comment). At Event Cinemas they don't employ anyone at the concession stand to serve food or drinks. You fetch them yourself. Two people are employed across the whole section: one at the checkout, another to refill the machines. Those two people can sell a lot of 'value' combos during an hour.

          No matter which way you look at it, paying $19 for 1L of carbonated beverage and maybe 200g of corn is not value for money in anyone's language. All labour costs included. Others may disagree however. Maybe it is a bargain for $19 and I have it all wrong. I suspect however, it's a screaming bargain for one person: whoever owns the cinema.

        • eug on 17/04/2017 - 09:39
          +2

          @Cluster: The cost of the snacks contributes to the cost of running the whole cinema.

        • try2bhelpful on 17/04/2017 - 16:46

          Been there before, we saw the second Lord of the Rings film in Gold Class - by the time I finished watching the movie I had to shuffle as fast as I could to the ladies after the film. I felt white hot and all I could think was, just wrap this up so I can get out of here.

    • Matt P on 17/04/2017 - 18:04
      +2

      The way i see it, movie theatres are the example case for an industry existing at the price point of "whatever you're willing to pay".

      You have your $10-12 tickets for those of us tightasses - you have to jump through some hoops, ordering online, special handshakes etc.. but if you value the discount high enough, you will do it. You will bring your own bottle of XYZ and bag of ABC to consume while you're there.

      You have the "loyalty cards" - for the casual bargain hunter - helps justify the cost a bit and will get a bit of brand loyalty (i.e. i want to go to an event cinema - only 1 more movie and i get a free one - so the whole clan goes there).

      You then have "signposted prices" for those people who just rock up and tap their visa card. They're putting the smallest amount of effort in and thus are paying the highest prices. They probably have no loyalty and would interchangeably go to a Hoyts/Event/Etc.. but they make good profit on those customers.

      Theres probably an economic explanation of this but i didn't take those subjects at uni haha

  • Cluster on 16/04/2017 - 14:47
    +3

    Branded clothing. People pay more to advertise multi billion dollar companies on their clothes. Recently I bought some sports shirts from Costco. No branding, great quality, $25 each. Nike shirts with that tiny little 'swoosh' on them are more than double the price for the same product.

    • iridiumstem on 16/04/2017 - 16:00

      There are some (a lot, even) branded ones that are better than non-branded clothes, mainly with fabric and stitches.
      At least that's what my mother told me, and she owns a clothes store.

      That said, don't buy branded one thinking it'd automatically be better than the non-branded counterparts or buy non-branded one thinking it'd be worse.
      She always checks fabrics and such before buying any clothes.

    • staccato on 16/04/2017 - 17:40

      Agree about the shirts, although I think Nike shoes are actually worth it. I've owned a pair of Air Max's that have lasted forever and are still super comfy.

  • congo on 16/04/2017 - 15:03
    +2

    Paying full price for games, movies (Gold class) and blurays.
    Easter eggs before Easter.
    First class and business class flights.

    • Herp on 18/04/2017 - 20:05
      +1

      First class and business class flights.

      But if you can afford it especially on longer flights it's really, really nice. Much better seats, heaps more legroom, better food, free booze and the attendants bend over backwards for you (or as per last time I flew, bending over a lot for the one across the aisle from me which I didn't mind in the slightest).

      • congo on 18/04/2017 - 21:01

        I flew business class and first class once.
        I slept for most of the trip and watched movies for when I was awake.
        One glass of booze (they make really nice drinks) will put me straight to sleep.
        So for me, it wasn't worth it.

  • kwijybo on 16/04/2017 - 15:49
    +6

    Booking fees for shows. Ticketek/Ticketmaster cop most of the flack but Sydney Opera House/QPAC/Brisbane Powerhouse also charge $6 to $8.50 per transaction.
    Drinks at any bar/venue are right up there too.

  • zuuutoootuuu on 16/04/2017 - 16:46
    +1

    Recently I saw a post where people complained that target was selling bottles of water (24 pack) for $72 after the hurricane in FNQLD yet they probably buy individual bottles for the same price of $3each.

  • CandyMan on 16/04/2017 - 17:40
    -1

    Car rego
    Ctp
    Tolls
    Parking fines
    Parking fees

    • [Deactivated] on 18/04/2017 - 01:04

      Perhaps you are better suited to full time public transport use?

      • CandyMan on 18/04/2017 - 06:20
        +2

        Sadly, also poor vfm

  • Brianqpr on 16/04/2017 - 17:57
    +3

    Health funds, an entire system built around ripping people off.

    • Matt P on 17/04/2017 - 00:08

      Wholeheartedly agree with you on this, surprised i don't see this more often.

      Back when i was ~24 i had to have a filling. Cost me about $80 at the local dentist. The work he did is still perfect.

      Met a girl in my mid 20s whos uncle was a dentist and wouldn't take a cent from us for work between about 27-33. He passed away a few years ago.

      At 35, a stint in the unemployment queue qualified me for govt assisted dental, for most of my life i wouldn't have taken advantage of this out of pride but considering i've paid tax in the multiple 100's of thousands over my working life, i figured i'd use it. Spent about the same at the dentist for effectively the same work and the seemingly early 20s dentist was almost offended they could only claim $250 for the job (including my $80 i think it was that i had to kick in)

      The only reason a dentist charges what they do is because the health funds pay it. They're effectively helping medical professionals be paid well whilst moving quality healthcare further out of reach of lower-middle income earners.

      • fozzie on 17/04/2017 - 00:12
        +2

        Well for us who haven't met anyone with an uncle dentist and who need to pay private, health funds are the best option unfortunately.

  • staccato on 16/04/2017 - 18:00

    Prescription glasses

    • Matt P on 17/04/2017 - 00:13

      Almost impossible to find an optometrist that isnt located in a glasses store isnt it..

  • horice on 16/04/2017 - 18:46

    Negative gearing and the CGT discount

  • LadyCocoa1234 on 16/04/2017 - 18:59
    +2

    The Sydney Royal Easter Show!

  • ribze1 on 16/04/2017 - 19:56
    +6

    Foxtel

  • ego22 on 16/04/2017 - 23:11

    Getting the mclaren 570s when it would have been alot better if i went with the 570gt ..freakin ridiculous..gaaawww

  • djmm on 17/04/2017 - 01:27
    +2

    Escorts

    • PJC on 17/04/2017 - 03:27
      +4

      Unfair. I don't charge all that much really.

      • djmm on 17/04/2017 - 09:47

        U guys arent even taxed.

        • PJC on 17/04/2017 - 10:55
          +2

          This is OzBargain but I'm not giving you a discount.

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