We are getting nickel and dimed to death.

[panteragstk]

I've been thinking about this for a while, but two different things I learned today made me create a thread.

Basically, we, as Americans, are getting nickel and dimed to death by companies just because they can. I'm sure this is happening a lot in other countries too, so please share.

So, the one that's always bugged me is the fact that no gas station has air/water hoses next to the pumps anymore. Now, they're off on their own. Not a big deal all by itself, but air use to just be free, now it's $2 and doesn't inflate fast enough to be useful. So you end up spending even more. It cost me $4 to sort of get my pressure up in my rear tires when I had a heavy load in the bed of my truck. My compressor at home does the same in seconds.

Another is the fact that Toyota has a subscription package that lets you remote start your vehicle from your phone. Neat right? It's $8/mo, which is a lot, but it's not my money. However, if you don't have the subscription, your key fob you got with your vehicle may stop working for remote start. WTF?

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2021/1...to-keep-using-their-key-fob-for-remote-start/

Will this stick? Who knows, public outcry can sometimes make companies get it together, but making me pay a subscription for a fob and vehicle I already own is some BS. I'm sure Tesla is laughing because they do stupid stuff like this too. Bought a used Tesla that someone opted to get add-on features won't get to use them because they aren't the ones that paid for them. By that logic, if I sell my truck, my tires should refuse to inflate.

https://www.autoblog.com/2020/03/23...OgK9wY6q4kmvNJfoqcdiMyXPbWtQb5FkVSH_ez9oGXqDl

Granted, people are "hacking" their cars to unlock features without paying for them, but that's another problem. No idea if the above is common or if that was a one off.

I'm sure there are plenty more, but that's what I've got for now.

What are some examples people might not be aware of?

 

[davidscott]

I've been thinking about this for a while, but two different things I learned today made me create a thread.

Basically, we, as Americans, are getting nickel and dimed to death by companies just because they can. I'm sure this is happening a lot in other countries too, so please share.

So, the one that's always bugged me is the fact that no gas station has air/water hoses next to the pumps anymore. Now, they're off on their own. Not a big deal all by itself, but air use to just be free, now it's $2 and doesn't inflate fast enough to be useful. So you end up spending even more. It cost me $4 to sort of get my pressure up in my rear tires when I had a heavy load in the bed of my truck. My compressor at home does the same in seconds.

Another is the fact that Toyota has a subscription package that lets you remote start your vehicle from your phone. Neat right? It's $8/mo, which is a lot, but it's not my money. However, if you don't have the subscription, your key fob you got with your vehicle may stop working for remote start. WTF?

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2021/1...to-keep-using-their-key-fob-for-remote-start/

Will this stick? Who knows, public outcry can sometimes make companies get it together, but making me pay a subscription for a fob and vehicle I already own is some BS. I'm sure Tesla is laughing because they do stupid stuff like this too. Bought a used Tesla that someone opted to get add-on features won't get to use them because they aren't the ones that paid for them. By that logic, if I sell my truck, my tires should refuse to inflate.

https://www.autoblog.com/2020/03/23...OgK9wY6q4kmvNJfoqcdiMyXPbWtQb5FkVSH_ez9oGXqDl

Granted, people are "hacking" their cars to unlock features without paying for them, but that's another problem. No idea if the above is common or if that was a one off.

I'm sure there are plenty more, but that's what I've got for now.

What are some examples people might not be aware of?

I recently saw that fob issue at Toyota. Disturbing. As far as air being 2 dollars now, I have a portable battery-operated compressor that I keep in my car because I got tired of that expense. I used to dislike the tip jars at restaurant counters when I am getting takeout but with covid I understand and mostly will leave a couple of dollars.

 

[rnatalli]

Nickel and diming is the invisible hand at work. You know, the one that consistently takes money out of your pocket without you seeing.

 

[lovinthehd]

I can sympathize with the air hose thing. When I got my van it had very high pressure requirements, particularly for the rear tires (80 psi). When I lived in the SF bay area I found only one gas station reasonably near me or where I worked that still had a regular old available air hose (but believe they put it away when closed to avoid issues) with a sufficient compressor on it. I bought a compressor and just do my own now, but the air compressor is used for some tools and bikes too. Spent quite a few quarters on the pay for play hoses at many gas stations (if they had one at all, it was almost always the coin fed type).

Biggest nickel and diming we're getting IMO is the overlapping gubmint of various levels....at least that's my first thought on seeing your thread title.

 

[panteragstk]

Biggest nickel and diming we're getting IMO is the overlapping gubmint of various levels....at least that's my first thought on seeing your thread title.

Very true, but major companies are getting in on it too. Just like in the Audyssey X thread. $200 for a license is fine, tying it to a single AVR with no way to change to a new AVR isn't. Now, we don't have complete info right now, but that's what we have so far, and I don't like that at all.

That sort of thing is what I'm talking about.

 

[lovinthehd]

Very true, but major companies are getting in on it too. Just like in the Audyssey X thread. $200 for a license is fine, tying it to a single AVR with no way to change to a new AVR isn't. Now, we don't have complete info right now, but that's what we have so far, and I don't like that at all.

That sort of thing is what I'm talking about.

Well, business is built on nickel and diming things We had a term in our industry for our list of fees....a laundry list. We loved the customers that triggered a whole bunch of them....

Yeah for software that isn't actually operating from the avr, agree on the license fee....but didn't they do that with Audyssey Pro way back as well? That the software could be told by the avr it's serial number is kinda bothersome to an extent as well....wonder how hackable that is. Then again I suppose if they offered it as freeware they'd not recoup development costs.

 

[highfigh]

If nickels and dimes were the extent of it, I wouldn't mind so much but I'm really getting tired of the quarters.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Electronic Arts, Spirit Airlines, and my fav SolarWinds. If you are familiar with the latter and @panteragstk I think you might. I've never seen more nickel and diming companies than SolarWinds. Even EA is ever so mild compared to them.

 

[gholt]

Most of the tire pieces around here will check your pressure and fill it up if needed


Sent from my Pixel 4a (5G) using Tapatalk

 

[Mr._Clark]

I've been thinking about this for a while, but two different things I learned today made me create a thread.

Basically, we, as Americans, are getting nickel and dimed to death by companies just because they can. I'm sure this is happening a lot in other countries too, so please share.

So, the one that's always bugged me is the fact that no gas station has air/water hoses next to the pumps anymore. Now, they're off on their own. Not a big deal all by itself, but air use to just be free, now it's $2 and doesn't inflate fast enough to be useful. So you end up spending even more. It cost me $4 to sort of get my pressure up in my rear tires when I had a heavy load in the bed of my truck. My compressor at home does the same in seconds.

Another is the fact that Toyota has a subscription package that lets you remote start your vehicle from your phone. Neat right? It's $8/mo, which is a lot, but it's not my money. However, if you don't have the subscription, your key fob you got with your vehicle may stop working for remote start. WTF?

https://arstechnica.com/cars/2021/1...to-keep-using-their-key-fob-for-remote-start/

Will this stick? Who knows, public outcry can sometimes make companies get it together, but making me pay a subscription for a fob and vehicle I already own is some BS. I'm sure Tesla is laughing because they do stupid stuff like this too. Bought a used Tesla that someone opted to get add-on features won't get to use them because they aren't the ones that paid for them. By that logic, if I sell my truck, my tires should refuse to inflate.

https://www.autoblog.com/2020/03/23...OgK9wY6q4kmvNJfoqcdiMyXPbWtQb5FkVSH_ez9oGXqDl

Granted, people are "hacking" their cars to unlock features without paying for them, but that's another problem. No idea if the above is common or if that was a one off.

I'm sure there are plenty more, but that's what I've got for now.

What are some examples people might not be aware of?

I bought a portable air compressor for my car that runs off the car battery:

https://www.amazon.com/Viair-00088-88P-Portable-Compressor/dp/B005ASY23I

So far it works really well. It's saved me calling a tow truck when I got a nail in my tire. And, it really comes in handy for my sporting goods stuff (e.g. my inflatable woman)

 

[panteragstk]

Most of the tire pieces around here will check your pressure and fill it up if needed


Sent from my Pixel 4a (5G) using Tapatalk

True, but for me that is WAY out of the way. Gas stations are everywhere, and could easily offer air for free if they wanted. They did it for decades without a problem.

 

[panteragstk]

Electronic Arts, Spirit Airlines, and my fav SolarWinds. If you are familiar with the latter and @panteragstk I think you might. I've never seen more nickel and diming companies than SolarWinds. Even EA is ever so mild compared to them.

No kidding. Addons for software features (some that should have been included in the first place) are very popular.

 

[lovinthehd]

True, but for me that is WAY out of the way. Gas stations are everywhere, and could easily offer air for free if they wanted. They did it for decades without a problem.

Well I do remember finding many vandalized air compressor hoses for those that left them out when closed....people suck.

 

[highfigh]

Well I do remember finding many vandalized air compressor hoses for those that left them out when closed....people suck.

Yup- I have seen many damaged hoses and hoseless pumps.

Providing an air pump costs money and people don't want to pay higher prices when they might never use it, don't know how to use it, never bother to check their tire's air pressure, the weather is bad, air pumps are usually uncovered or cars are in the way and they don't want to wait.

WRT "people suck"- you're starting to sound like me. Welcome to the club- meetings are on Tuesdays.

 

[cpp]

They all blame it on the pandemic. So why up the prices you say, well, " I don't have enough people", "Can't get anyone to work". Total BS, they up the prices as noted because they can. They are following the freaking housing trend here in Fl. As house and rent prices rise SO DO the cost of goods and services. WE already have a session in our State Capital with representatives and senators trying to freeze any increase on rent which if NOT approved will place a lot of good people out on the street with NO place to go. Wages still do not support the cost of living at the moment, but what's freaking interesting, before COVID, people could afford pretty much what they had, then covid, some lost their jobs and then a return to some things normal but at a higher dollar value.

 

[highfigh]

They all blame it on the pandemic. So why up the prices you say, well, " I don't have enough people", "Can't get anyone to work". Total BS, they up the prices as noted because they can. They are following the freaking housing trend here in Fl. As house and rent prices rise SO DO the cost of goods and services. WE already have a session in our State Capital with representatives and senators trying to freeze any increase on rent which if NOT approved will place a lot of good people out on the street with NO place to go. Wages still do not support the cost of living at the moment, but what's freaking interesting, before COVID, people could afford pretty much what they had, then covid, some lost their jobs and then a return to some things normal but at a higher dollar value.

Supply of much of what we could buy pre-COVID is still incredibly screwed up and that does affect pricing but if you want to prove your point, do a bunch of FOIA requests and make it public.

Many quit their jobs because they didn't feel fulfilled. Taking time off will do that. The Yahoo home page has an article about a guy who feels financially stressed after quitting his job as a server at a place called WunderHaus, but the article reads almost like a hit piece because other former WH workers shared their stories. They were making $11/hour- WTF did they expect? The first guy has a girlfriend, two car payments, rent and after quitting, he found out that she was pregnant. Now, he's driving a truck, has another part-time job and wants to be a drummer (his band got a recording contract, but I seriously doubt they'll make any money unless they gig A LOT). He lives in Conway, AR and can't find a job- I did a simple search and found that in that city, more than 5900 jobs are available.

Jobs are available but people don't want to work, so employers are offering signing bonuses, better pay & benefits, training, etc.

Human nature- it's a bitch.

 

[cpp]

Jobs are available but people don't want to work, so employers are offering signing bonuses, better pay & benefits, training, etc.

Well they want the goverment to take care of them, like they did when they were out of work. Right now in the Daytona area,, there are 11763 jobs available in Daytona Beach, . Its crazy.

 

[highfigh]

Well they want the goverment to take care of them, like they did when they were out of work. Right now in the Daytona area,, there are 11763 jobs available in Daytona Beach, . Its crazy.

I was discussing this with a friend yesterday and told him about the local tech school that has a welding program for people who's first language isn't English- I have mentioned it on AH, too. They accept the students, often based on financial need. If the student doesn't have a high school diploma, they provide a way to earn their GED, as well as teaching them English and welding to the extent that they'll be able to get a job immediately after finishing the program and since welders are in very short supply almost everywhere, starting pay was more than $50K as of a few years ago, when I saw the report. Carpenters and all trades are short-staffed, retail, offices, shipping, warehouse, manufacturing....

I worked with someone who would occasionally say "If it was supposed to be fun, they wouldn't call it 'work'.".

A local news station ran a story about a Dollar Tree store that had a sign on the door with "Sorry, store is closed- everyone quit".

 

[panteragstk]

Well they want the goverment to take care of them, like they did when they were out of work. Right now in the Daytona area,, there are 11763 jobs available in Daytona Beach, . Its crazy.

Jobs being available isn't the entire picture. How much those jobs pay would be telling though. If they're all professional positions that require experience, but pay well, then that's awesome.

But, if they're "unskilled" (which doesn't exist) and pay less than $15/hr, then of course they're open. Nobody wants to work is only the beginning of the sentence. The complete sentence is "nobody wants to work...in a toxic environment, for low pay, for a company that doesn't care about work/life balance, etc."

There are a lot of reasons people are quitting, and one of them is that they realize they don't have to put up with what they used to. I've had that attitude for a long time, but a lot are just now finding it.

 

[jinjuku]

I've never seen more nickel and diming companies than SolarWinds

You must not have to interact with Cisco. If they could charge a licensing fee for rack ears they would.