I find that exploiting a difference between expectations and reality is a common way to make money, but I'm no good at it myself. I'm cursed with engineer-brain instead of business-brain.
> exploiting a difference between expectations and reality is a common way to make money
Maybe? Or maybe expectations catch up with reality? I mean, does anybody really go into a car dealership thinking the dealer isn't going to do their best to rip them off? Or believe that "their" real estate agent is "on their side?"
I think most people just accept that the world is full of rip-off artists.
Which is kind of sad, really. If one person pushes back on bad billing, the company still makes money, even if it has to do a refund.
But if everybody were to always push back? It wouldn't be worth it to try to tack on extra fees for non-rendered services.
Yes, lots of people who don't frequent HN think their real estate agent is on their side, and think car dealerships just sell cars for a fair price. They might even think politicians make laws to make society better.
That's why all these groups of people are able to make so much money. If everyone expected a car dealer to rip them off, car dealers wouldn't be able to rip anyone off and there wouldn't be so many of them.
Maybe? Or maybe expectations catch up with reality? I mean, does anybody really go into a car dealership thinking the dealer isn't going to do their best to rip them off? Or believe that "their" real estate agent is "on their side?"
I think most people just accept that the world is full of rip-off artists.
Which is kind of sad, really. If one person pushes back on bad billing, the company still makes money, even if it has to do a refund.
But if everybody were to always push back? It wouldn't be worth it to try to tack on extra fees for non-rendered services.