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

    • jlogic on 18/04/2017 - 17:11

      Lucky my body is like a Diesel engine… Takes crap and processes it as per normal.

      Still power through the day after a $5 lunch box at KFC.

    • AustriaBargain on 19/04/2017 - 13:57

      Some people eat junk food just to try and chase down that relaxing tired and lethargic feeling, the so called food coma.

      • idonotknowwhy on 20/04/2017 - 14:20

        I used to do this if I knew I had boring tasks coming up at work after lunch :)

    • idonotknowwhy on 20/04/2017 - 14:19

      It's the carbs doing this to you, not the fats.
      I bet if you eat the equivalent calories in omelette's and/or steak, you'd be fine.

  • chazfg on 14/04/2017 - 12:35
    +14

    Council Rates
    Water Rates
    Power Company "Service" Charge
    NBN Tier 1 Speed Extra
    Driver's License Fee
    Car Rego

    And paying RRP on Ebay
    Just to name a few

    • cwongtech on 14/04/2017 - 14:58
      +9

      1st world problems..
      I wish I had this: "NBN Tier 1 Speed Extra"

      • Daabido on 16/04/2017 - 18:16

        Living in the 1st world and people saying "1st world problems".

    • chazfg on 14/04/2017 - 19:07
      +4

      Whoops. Meant to say NBN Tier 5 Extra Charge (but still getting Tier 1 speed) -___-

    • Grandslam on 19/04/2017 - 22:33

      I think Council rates are actually good value for money. When you consider what you get for it - roads, parks, infrastructure, local area governance, landscaping, free events, litter collection, street bins, swimming pools. In my area we also get free tipping. Then there's the libraries with all those free books, magazines and DVDs. I do object to the price of water though.

  • try2bhelpful on 14/04/2017 - 12:37
    +14
    • Online stores that look cheap until you take into account the postage costs. Especially when you have to go through hoops giving them registration details before they tell you the shipping cost. (I usually put in a fake account info).
    • Multibuy items where you end up throwing some of them out because they go out of date before you use them.
    • Something online that looks good but when it is delivered it is a piece of crap.
    • "Cheap" applicances that break after a short period so you need to buy another one.
    • Any new technology when it first comes out, e.g. TVs, computers, etc (Wait a while and they get cheaper).

    BTW - Am I the only one that gets ticked off with companies that talk about how "long lasting" their product is and then offer a piddling warranty. Meille says they test washing machines for the equivalent of 20 years and offer a 2 year warranty - are they kidding me?

    • PJC on 14/04/2017 - 13:07
      +4

      Online stores that look cheap until you take into account the postage costs. Especially when you have to go through hoops giving them registration details before they tell you the shipping cost.

      Which is why I frequently comment …
      https://www.ozbargain.com.au/wiki/help:deal_posting_guidelin…
      Write a descriptive title & description
      5. If shipping is required, state the shipping cost to major Australian cities if this information is available; approximate range is ok if the exact cost is variable or not available. (Store representatives must provide this information - there should be no reason to hide this from potential customers.)

      Naturally, not everyone sees it my way …
      https://www.ozbargain.com.au/comment/4166456/redir

    • Wystri Warrick on 14/04/2017 - 13:23
      +3

      Meille says they test washing machines for the equivalent of 20 years and offer a 2 year warranty - are they kidding me?

      Bahahaha ROFL LOL

  • PJC on 14/04/2017 - 12:37
    +27

    Flowers from a florist. I acknowledge they are pleasant and demonstrate thoughtfulness, but they are destined for the bin in a week or so. So I buy my wife another watch …

    • try2bhelpful on 14/04/2017 - 12:44
      +6

      Absolutely on the flowers; this is the worst value for money. You do the dance of maintaining the flowers and gradually throwing out the dead ones. In the end you have a slimy mess you have to clean up and throw everything out. Why do people give flowers when someone has died, the last thing you need at that time is something else that will be dead soon cluttering up your house. When our cat had to be put down our Vet sent us condolence flowers, I would much prefer they used the money to give a discount to some of their less well off clients.

      • PJC on 14/04/2017 - 12:56
        +47

        Your vet was mourning a lost source of revenue.

        • try2bhelpful on 14/04/2017 - 12:56
          +2

          Could well have been.

        • Meconium on 15/04/2017 - 14:43
          +6

          @try2bhelpful: what an arsehole, sending you flowers, unbelievable

        • try2bhelpful on 15/04/2017 - 17:09
          +1

          @Meconium: I did appreciate the thought, we were very upset we had to put her down, I just wish the money had been used for something more useful.

        • ensanguined on 15/04/2017 - 22:39
          -1

          HAHA!

        • gimli on 17/04/2017 - 08:11
          +3

          @try2bhelpful:
          should have sent you another cat..

      • fairyprincess on 14/04/2017 - 22:24
        +14

        I, for one, love flowers. I love the gesture when they are given to me, and I love how they brighten up my apartment. Sure they may only last a week or two tops (depending on how well you maintain them), but I enjoy them, they bring me happiness, so I am happy to purchase them for myself every now and then, and I am certainly more than happy to buy them for the people in my life who I care about who also enjoy them. What better thing to spend your money on, if not for something you love?

        • PJC on 14/04/2017 - 23:47
          +4

          Flowers are indeed nice. My wife grows flowers here at home. The watches last longer.

        • try2bhelpful on 15/04/2017 - 12:34
          +3

          @PJC: Personally - flowers on plants are nice, flowers in vases not so much. The only time I regularly bought flowers was when I was selling my house and I wanted to make it look "nice". I think I would save up the flower money and buy myself a nice piece of art or craft work or bring in a nice flowering pot plant for a while. However, each to his own and I won't tell people how to spend their own money.

        • Super8Tab on 16/04/2017 - 23:19
          +1

          Username checks out

        • edwardcr on 17/04/2017 - 02:07

          Forget flowers.

          I always buy really beautiful hand-made chocolates - then I end up eating most of them!

          Still a good investment though.

    • iridiumstem on 14/04/2017 - 12:55
      +10

      Huh, I thought it was more of a threat. That's the kind of message I can get out from what it is.

      "You see this reproductive organ of a plant that has been cut off? Watch it wither away."

      • try2bhelpful on 14/04/2017 - 13:26
        +4

        So you think this is the Lorena Bobbitt school of gift giving.

      • scrimshaw on 14/04/2017 - 16:10
        +2

        Hmm. What if we were a species of plant people, would we cut off the genitalia of other mammalian organisms, arrange them into a bouquet and send them as gifts?

        • iridiumstem on 14/04/2017 - 16:43

          "Show your love to your loved one, with a pickled testes and penis. Comes in various colours and size."
          "Talk to use penisist for bouquets"

          Hmmm, maybe it's a good thing we are not plant people.

    • Trying2SaveABuck on 14/04/2017 - 13:32
      +6

      Flowers are a rip off especially during valentines day!

      • PJC on 14/04/2017 - 13:40
        +1

        Depend on that.

      • Vancomycin 1000mg on 15/04/2017 - 04:59
        +16

        It's well worth it at night.

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

        This depends on the price your girlfriend puts on romance, and whether it gets you in her good books.

    • kronicmacstigator on 14/04/2017 - 15:01

      Does keep couriers like me in a job though :)

    • bobbified on 14/04/2017 - 22:08
      +1

      Im pretty sure every guy knows this - except we don't really have a choice.

      The same goes for buying diamonds! haha

    • macrocephalic on 16/04/2017 - 10:49

      Yes, we should give potatoes instead.

      • PJC on 16/04/2017 - 11:12
        +1

        A whole one? You must be in love!

    • Matt P on 17/04/2017 - 00:38
      +4

      Step 1. Find out the type of flower your wife loves the most.
      Step 2. Spend a few hours learning how to care for the plants.
      Step 3. Buy a new plant every month and plant it into your garden.
      Step 4. Regularly clip flowers and arrange into a vase in your home regularly. Mention it every time you do it (look at this fantastic yellow one.. the colour is so vibrant etc..)

      I've spent about $100 on gerbera plants in my life, they're planted underneath a Japanese Maple (my mothers favourite tree) and my wife knows that every time i bring flowers in, its because she loves them and i'm thinking of her when i'm watering and tending to them. I pretty much have a lifetime supply.

      • prinsenhof on 18/04/2017 - 19:27
        +2

        LOL, i see what you are doing. Reverse psychology. You keep talking about the flowers, how to grow them, what new types are on the market, what you water them with, what fertiliser you use. Then she gets fed up with the flowers and never wants any again.

        Brilliant long term strategy

  • Nugs on 14/04/2017 - 12:45

    taxi rides

    • Cheapo333 on 14/04/2017 - 21:51
      +8

      Taxis have huge overheads.
      Fuel only costs 15cent/km, but you are getting charged over $2/km. Rip off right?

      Cost of vehicle $40k for 6 year life, taxi green slip 8k/yr, commercial vehicle insurance 8k/yr, network fees 8k/yr, driver salary 50k/yr, taxi license 35k/yr.

      Overheads are a killer.

      • Matt P on 17/04/2017 - 00:40
        +1

        But are any of those absolutely necessary… all agencies of power forcing drivers to comply…

  • AlienC on 14/04/2017 - 13:19
    +29

    Reverse reverse answer:

    Always research an item or services you are buying and always ask if you really need it and how much of it.. for example for an extra $10 a month I could get much faster internet speeds but my current one is ok and does me finely so I will stick with that..

    Home cooked usually always beats store bought with a few exceptions I have found but they are just mainly either items you can't make yourself or are too hard to make I.e lots of preparation and cleaning time.

    It's amazing what you can live without if you really want to.

    One of the big money killers is your electric bill so being energy conscious sometimes pays off but always research your alternatives because some times you do get what you budget to pay for.

    I guess for me food is a big one as I don't own a car and if I did I would be more than happy with an ultra second hand one that would only last me a few years or decade at most.

    Yeah tech and gadgets is kind of an obvious easy one for tech heads because we all already know the market well and it's energy costs etc so each use case scenario automatically has a dollar figure usually attached to it for every level or step of the necessities ladder.

    Tbh you don't even need a strong expensive computer nowadays for most stuff unless you are a serious video photo editor/autocad or gamer/streamer.

    But I guess the most notable recent for me is movies. Haven't been awhile due to busy life and some mental illness problems so youtube and a cheap old ex Netflix account have been keeping me pretty busy and entertained while I find my sanity instead of playing the ever so risky pirate bay game.

    As the internet gets more "safer" some liberties and old ways get shoved away off into the corner. I could just be getting sloppier and older or more paranoid but I find it hard now to juggle keeping up with the super elite cutting edge and maintaining my normal day to day life responsibilities and duties.

    Etc. Never buy second rate asian (mainly Chinese) electronic knock offs especially stuff like chargers and sd cards or cables.. more often than not you pay more thanks to damage equipment or poor craftsmanship. I am more than fine now for paying for quality when it comes to most items especially electronics after paying maybe the same price for maybe 5 of the same cheap asian knockoffs. Alternatively you can buy the super ultra cheap stuff if you are willing to have fun or play with it and write it off as just a fun experiment in which that case it hasn't really lost its value but gained some through a new fun hobby.

    Lastly this one is for food again.. try buy bulk or the value for money packs.. yes unless of course it is just nice to maybe try a new product or menu item usually buying in bulk or Thai bigger packs save you more.. also home brand is usually pretty good. unless you have a soft spot for premium quality items which is not a bad thing by any means home brand is usually good.. especially soft drinks.. you can buy some thing like 3x the amount of home brand drinks compared to the more recognisable brands.. obviously taste is a factor but if you are feeling cheaply or frugal or just want to save some money try the home brand route it's pretty good once you get used to it and your savings can go to something else like an extra packet of chips or some fruits and veggies etc.

    This is all I have got for now. Sorry if it was an eyesore to read.. I can and will delete it if it takes up too much room or space or is too annoying. I am Going slightly seniles haha lol.

    • doodo477 on 15/04/2017 - 22:41
      +27

      I up voted because it looks like you've put a lot of thought and work in the answer. Although I cannot bring myself to read the wall of text.

      • drprox on 16/04/2017 - 09:53
        +1

        I'm with this guy. Take your upvote for effort!

      • Daabido on 16/04/2017 - 18:24

        I gave up at "ultra second hand one that would only last me a few years or decade at most."

        Damn it. I went back and read the rest. Oh well, time sunk.

        • doodo477 on 16/04/2017 - 19:49

          Dear kind sir, I'm sorry I put you through the pain! Thank you for spending the time to read the wall of text.

  • ectogammat on 14/04/2017 - 13:43
    +7

    'Cheap' basic Quartz watches (cheap movement, crappy crystal, meh design) over $100, like the Daniel Wellington watches. I'm no watch aficionado but I love my citizen and seiko watches I bought for anywhere between $90 and $250 each (on sale, not RRP).

  • ectogammat on 14/04/2017 - 13:48
    +6

    Certain extended warranties, The Checkout explains better than I can: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=NrxxzsaBkC4

  • Stewardo on 14/04/2017 - 13:58
    +2

    $2.50 250ml cans of soft drink at supermarket checkout. $10ltr
    Concrete tile roof re-spray
    Car hire extra insurance
    Credit card surcharges

  • retiredfeline on 14/04/2017 - 15:28
    +6

    Long How do I get out of this situation caused by my stupidity threads on OzB.

  • k-rokfm on 14/04/2017 - 15:41
    +20

    Apple

    • freakatronic on 14/04/2017 - 20:48

      Apple.

      • [Deactivated] on 14/04/2017 - 20:49
        +6

        Banana

        • freakatronic on 14/04/2017 - 20:50
          +12

          Bananas after that cyclone a few years back. $15/kg was it? Ah, memories.

        • PJC on 14/04/2017 - 22:00
          +4

          @freakatronic: We just lived without them until the price became sensible again and refused the USA bananas.

        • freakatronic on 14/04/2017 - 22:36
          +7

          @PJC: So that was how to do it. Man I nearly went bankrupt on bananas. It was chaos.

        • PJC on 14/04/2017 - 22:46

          @freakatronic: Ha ha! Good one!

        • theStinge on 15/04/2017 - 01:55

          @freakatronic: $3 a piece IIRC.

        • Ozbargainite on 16/04/2017 - 01:07
          +1

          @PJC: What USA bananas?
          I thought Australia has a ban on importing bananas?

        • PJC on 16/04/2017 - 02:15

          @Ozbargainite: We never saw them, but a TV news report said some were being imported and we resolved to cope without.

        • Daabido on 16/04/2017 - 18:30
          +1

          @PJC: "We just lived without them until the price became sensible again and refused the USA bananas." I thought you were talking about Apple until the last word.

        • PJC on 16/04/2017 - 18:44

          @Daabido: Ha ha! I loathe iTunes and I'm still pleased I replaced my wife's iPhone 3G Plus or whatever it was called.

        • prinsenhof on 18/04/2017 - 19:35

          @freakatronic:

          Yeah my wife was always complaining about it. So i bought her one for her birthday. Cost me like $3.30 for 1. Her reaction was worth it, she was so happy.

          Now it sounds so stingy, but hard times…

      • Nugs on 15/04/2017 - 08:01
        -5

        crApple

  • nomoneynoproblems on 14/04/2017 - 15:56
    +14

    Dentist for sure. Look after your teeth people.

  • PJC on 14/04/2017 - 16:20
    +1

    nvm

    • PJC on 14/04/2017 - 22:09
      +1

      Ha! I considered my original comment too off-topic - too late to delete it, I was reluctant to bother the Moderators. Anyway, my original comment was …
      Zoos. The inmates have done nothing wrong but get caught or bred in captivity.

  • Hardlyworkin on 14/04/2017 - 18:03
    +2

    A pint of beer at a non fancy pub. I understand paying a small fortune for a beer somewhere fancy but $10-12 for a pint of beer at an average pub in Melbourne is too much! And no I'm not even talking craft beer. For less than the price of a pint I can get a 6 pack of similar tasting beer from ALDI!

    Went out the other night and my beer cost more than my Parma & chips!

    • Timothy-Mineworker on 19/04/2017 - 21:40

      crime agaisnt humanity, should be Parma, Chips and a Beer combo

  • [Deactivated] on 14/04/2017 - 20:47
    +2

    Anything that isn't on Ozbargain.

  • freakatronic on 14/04/2017 - 20:49
    +8

    Melbourne real estate.

    • diazepam on 18/04/2017 - 12:25

      what about Sydney then?

      • freakatronic on 18/04/2017 - 13:10
        +1

        It's more expensive, so it must be worth more ;)

  • c0balt on 14/04/2017 - 21:33
    +5

    Most the things I buy from this site as I don't end up using them.

  • Cleremy on 14/04/2017 - 22:41
    +8

    Buying a cheap item to save money, only having to replace it in short order with the higher-priced equivalent anyway.

    Speeding fines. Taxation. Interest/Usury.

    • Cusack on 16/04/2017 - 09:52
      +1

      Guilty about scrimping on the first buy,only to buy the proper thing later

  • cardboardbox on 14/04/2017 - 23:00
    +2

    Cocktails.

  • dylan345 on 15/04/2017 - 00:15
    +5

    Sunglasses only to lose or break them……… my fault really but damn!

    Drinks at clubs.
    Gifts for people who don't appreciate them.
    Chinese electronics that seem cheap at the time.
    Friends that say "Promise I'll pay you back next week" but never do even when you ask nicely a month later and they are clearly cashed up.
    Crappy Internet VPN.
    Cheap portable aircon unit.
    Anything nike brand.
    Globe brand skate board shoes.
    Gym cancellation fees when I was a loyal active member but forced to move away for work.
    Warhammer models
    trading cards only to have friends steal the good ones that would be worth money today.

    • releasethekr4cken on 15/04/2017 - 11:57
      +3

      Some of these sound pretty personal haha

    • try2bhelpful on 15/04/2017 - 12:43

      Absolutely on the Sunglasses. I get Serengetis, 'cause once you go Serengetis you don't go back to normal ones; but I either lose them or drop then on the ground and break a lens. Now I have a bunch of frames with one working lens and one smashed one and even more cases where I've lost the glasses. The frames are never twice the same so I can't even build a new pair out of two old ones - arghhhh.

      • Meconium on 15/04/2017 - 14:56

        What makes serengetis so good? Never heard any hype about them

      • PJC on 15/04/2017 - 15:22
        +1

        I bought our son-in-law authentic Bollé sunglasses from this eBay store, and they have good prices for Serengeti.
        http://www.ebay.com.au/usr/thequeenofshades?_trksid=p2057872…

        • try2bhelpful on 15/04/2017 - 17:18
          +1

          It is hard to describe but they are just so "clear". They remove the glare but don't make the world look "dark". Hard to describe but go and try a pair on and look at the world outside from the door. When the last DFO sale was on the Bolle store was having a 50% off the lowest price, which brought some very nice Serengetis down from $400 to roughly $130. If you are in Melbourne I would recommend the Bolle store in Wellington St Collingwood; this is their outlet store and you can get some really good deals on Sunglasses. We got some "scratch and dent" Bolle glasses for $50. There was no impairment to the visibility on the lens and they make great glasses for the car.

          http://www.factoryoutletshopping.com.au/Directory/229/Boll__…

        • releasethekr4cken on 15/04/2017 - 18:31

          @try2bhelpful: Just sounds like polarized glasses to me.

        • PJC on 15/04/2017 - 18:32

          @try2bhelpful: Thanks. I got him a pair of these for $38.49 + Postage:-
          https://www.eyekit.co/sunglasses/bolle-sunglasses/bolle-life…

        • try2bhelpful on 15/04/2017 - 18:53

          @releasethekr4cken: Try them and then make up your own mind.

        • Jicby2 on 17/04/2017 - 16:45

          @try2bhelpful:
          Seconding Serengeti having the best lenses. The "clear" part comes from having glass lenses which are visually superior to plastic lenses but not many companies use them because they are a heavier material and do break more easily. They used to have a Serengeti collection with their propriety lenses but in plastic if you don't mind trading a bit of clarity for more shatter-resistance…

          And not just polarized glasses @releasethekr4cken - photochromatic too! Makes a big diff

          Edit: If you want plastic Seregenti lenses, look at their Sport range and anything that says Polarised PHD lens. PHD for them basically means polycarbonate lenses - that'll solve your breakage issue

        • try2bhelpful on 17/04/2017 - 17:01

          @Jicby2: yeah, we have a pair of the plastic lenses we use as car glasses as well. I agree they don't have the "clarity" of the glass lenses. I just need to be more careful with the glass ones. The problem is when you drop them on something uneven. The other bugbear is the screws tend to undo and the lens falls out. Need to remember to do regular maintenance.

        • Jicby2 on 17/04/2017 - 17:04

          @try2bhelpful:
          Loctite is your best friend when it comes to loose screws…and a handy keychain screwdriver!

        • try2bhelpful on 17/04/2017 - 17:11

          @Jicby2: Yeah, we have a set of jeweller's screwdrivers, just need to remember to do this regularly. The people from Bolle have been really helpful in the past by giving us extra screws but I really should go on ebay and buy extra.

        • PJC on 17/04/2017 - 17:29

          @try2bhelpful: When my wife bought spectacles at SpecSavers I asked for some screws and they gave me about 8 in a tiny bag.

        • try2bhelpful on 17/04/2017 - 20:43
          +1

          @PJC: Specsavers are pretty good. They've repaired my glasses a few times when they've lost screws or the arms have got bent.

  • Cluster on 15/04/2017 - 00:46
    +7

    Kitchen devices that claim to save you time and money, but get used only twice and then take up room. Noodle makers, smoking guns, siphon guns, etc.

Login or Join to leave a comment
Login Join