November 9, 2009

Here is a question.

I go to a diner, order an omelet, any kind of omelet, with egg white. Why does it cost about $2 more if it is made with egg white only?

As far as I know, the chef/cook cracks the egg(s) throws away the yolk and uses the whites only. They can use the yolks to make egg cream or whatever else. Why do I have to pay $2 extra for this item?

I don't think these are specially designed, more expensive eggs that have the whites!

Just another way we are being ripped off in everyday life.

In Europe I came across restaurants, not too many though where at the end of the meal they ask you how many slices of bread you ate, because they charge by the slice.

Wiener schnitzel is a breaded cutlet preferably made from veal. And it's really good.

Due to the high cost of veal many places make this thing from pork. If it is made really good you can't tell the difference. And because of this the restaurants don't advertise what meat is being used.

In Vienna some restaurants have large signs outside advertising the "real" Wiener Schnitzel from veal.

In New York I was in a restaurant where a woman ordered this and shortly after starting to eat she inquired of what meat was being used. Once being told by the reluctant waitress she was really very upset. She was from Israel and she was kosher. And, pork is anything but kosher. She said she had never in her life ate pork (at least not knowingly) and naturally she sent her plate back.

Another ripoff.

Why does a $39.99 per month cell phone costs about $50 by the time the monthly bill arrives? It is because of the taxes, various surcharges and the Federal Universal Service Fund that are slapped on to it at the end.

Now that we have this beautiful 40" HD television set we are making the most of it. But here comes the ripoff.

We are paying for the cable service, for the remote control, for the converter, for DTV, for a Basic Service before getting the Standard Service (or the other way around).

It just doesn't sound too right.

Now, the biggie!

Why is everything priced to $xx9.99?

Merchants probably think the buyers are so stupid that they only look at the first one or two or three numbers and don't see the end of the price tag. Therefore, an item that is $3,999.99 can be easily advertised as under $4,000. That's beside the point that by the time it's paid for taxes add on to it another $300 or so.

Whatever happened to $34.63, went out of style?