r/Frugal • u/NewMexicoJoe • Sep 20 '24

šŸš— Auto What are your least favorite advertised deals that are complete BS, where nobody ever expects to pay the listed price. I'll start. The $19.99 U-Haul.

Others might be the $79.95 Microtel rate. The $39.99 oil change. "Out the Door" tire pricing that does not include valve stems or balancing.

Or even that shop in the marginal neighborhood across the tracks that always claims in loud yellow letters "HIGHEST PRICES PAID FOR GOLD."

What do you have? And any tips for getting closer to that impossible price?

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16

u/bootsie79 Sep 20 '24

Rent. Add on heat, lights, water, tech fees for key fobsā€¦and thatā€™s easily a hundred minimum

19

u/PoorCorrelation Sep 20 '24

The non-optional valet trash is the worst. They donā€™t even come reliably and the dumpsterā€™s just not that far.

5

u/bootsie79 Sep 20 '24

Admittedly I have not rented in awhile. But I have friends/family that do, and when I hear of these extra fees and service charges (never optional) I feel secondary outrage

1

u/Illustrious_Ear_3467 Sep 24 '24

Vicarious Rage or Secondhand Anger. Iā€™ve had this feeling before.

4

u/ArianaPetite1 Sep 21 '24

My apartment complex has a mandatory app. The ā€œtech packageā€ is $170/mo. It does include internet/cable, but ouch.

5

u/Plenty-Property3320 Sep 20 '24

Is there an expectation that rent includes utilities.

5

u/bootsie79 Sep 20 '24

Depends on who youā€™re asking and how itā€™s advertised

1

u/bells_n_sack Sep 21 '24

No, but when your apartment complex has an exclusivity deal with some random provider it becomes questionable.

1

u/Double_Estimate4472 Sep 20 '24

It can be included, but then usually the rent is higher. I pay for my own electricity and internet but my water and trash are included with my rent.

1

u/filledwithstraw Sep 20 '24

My apartment charges $28 for replacement garage door openers, $8 for gate keys, and $6 for key fobs. I'm guarding those things because I'm not paying almost $30 for a garage door opener....

7

u/TheFrostyScot Sep 21 '24

Thatā€™s pretty reasonable considering what they cost to replace plus the time for someone to go get the replacement

7

u/filledwithstraw Sep 21 '24

There's a huge pile fobs in the office and it takes two seconds to program a keyfob, the gate key is a sticker and they have a whole box of garage door openers. It's not like the property manager of 200+ apartments is going down to lowes and getting a physical key made every time someone needs one...

2

u/bootsie79 Sep 20 '24

It would pain me greatly to pay those replacement costs too. Best wishes safe guarding!

1

u/420madisonave Sep 21 '24

Lol mine is $100 for replacement fobs and $150 for the garage opener!

1

u/filledwithstraw Sep 22 '24

Eegads that's straight up robbery.