Dark Pattern Parking Services and Fees

Photo courtesy photos-public-domain.com

The latest trend in paid parking is that you must pay using your cell phone.  This practice of not providing an alternative method, such as a lot attendant or a machine to collect payment is quite annoying.  This is especially true when you need to install an app to make the payment.  I currently have 5 different parking apps because everybody seems to have their own app.  Text-based and web interfaces aren't much better, often requiring account creation, two-factor authorization, and credit card information gathering, just to park in a lot.

The worst part of the practice of phone payment is the service fee that is added above and beyond the posted rate.  This is an ABSOLUTE BULLSHIT hidden fee.  When there is no other option or method to pay, the posted price should be the total price charged.  Please, parking folks, stop this dark pattern and just post the entire rate, including any service fees.

Philly Pretzel Factory Fail

Dear Philly Pretzel Factory,

Counting 1/2 pretzel as one serving is bullshit.  Man-up and increase the serving size to one pretzel.

This is What is Wrong with The U.S. Medical Care System

The thesis of this blog post is that the problem with the medical system is that it is impossible for consumers to make informed decisions when it comes to medical costs.  This is an honest-to-god conversation I just had with a durable medical equipment supplier.  I could tell you the name of the company, but I am sure you could have a similar conversation with almost any supplier.

Supplier:  Hello sir, I am calling to see if you would like us to send out the medical supplies that your insurance company allows you to refill.

Me:  Perhaps, how much do they cost?

Supplier:  Oh, don't worry, we will bill your insurance company.

Me:  I am sure that you will, but I would like to know how much they are going to cost.

Supplier:  I don't have that information. 

Me:  You are trying to sell me supplies and you don't know how much they cost?

Supplier:  I am not trying to sell you anything.  This is just a call to see if you want us to ship out the supplies.

Me:  Of course you are trying to sell me something. What do you mean that you aren't selling me anything>  You are planning to send a bill to my insurance company for purchase of your products.

Supplier:  Sir, perhaps you should call your insurance company to find out how much the supplies cost.

Me:  How will my insurance company be able to tell me what YOU intend to charge me for these supplies?  You can't even tell me that.  I want to make an informed decision before I make a purchase, not after I get the bill.  How can I compare your prices to other suppliers?
Am I naive in assuming that the real answer is that they will charge the maximum amount that my insurance company will cover?  

Supplier:  Oh, you can go on Google and see how much they cost.

Me:  That will tell me how much other people are charging for their product, not how much you are charging for your product.

Supplier:  Sir, do you want me to ship these supplies or not?

Me:  I don't think so.  Not without pricing information.

Supplier:  I have noted that on your account.  Thank you and have a wonderful evening.

  "I didn't spend six years in Evil Medical School to be called "mister," thank you very much."

Off Target: Evil Marketing Trick #582

I was curious how much I would actually be saving when I saw this sale price:

When I lifted up the tag to see what was beneath it, would you believe that the answer was nothing?:

Uncool, Target.

Evil Marketing Trick #672: Package Labelling

Can you guess what the first ingredient is in Log Cabin Original Syrup? Click here to find out.

Witholding Options

It's tax time and I am frustrated again. The most frustrating part of doing taxes every year is Intuit's Turbo Tax. This company is nefarious and devious in their ways. Each year they manage to raise the Bar of Evilness. In this year's product, they attempt to trick you into letting them use your personal tax information for their own devices. Why do I say they try to trick you? Because instead of saying "click here if you want to allow us to use your tax return information to spam provide you with other fantastic offers" it says "click here to allow us to show you more options to get your refund". I'm not making this stuff up. Of course you are tempted to check the box. Who doesn't want more options? Who wants to "miss anything"? I bet most people will click on the box, and then it disappears before they even have time to realize what they have done.



Here is another blogger who more rants eloquently about the situation.