Person Asks “What Has Absolutely No Real Reason For Being So Expensive?”, And 54 Folks Online Deliver

Many people, many minds. Especially when it comes to something as important as money and pricing. At different moments in our lives, we sometimes believe some things are way too expensive, and then a situation may come when we feel like Shakespeare's King Richard claiming: "My Kingdom for a horse!"

In fact, every person has their own ideas about what is cheap, what is expensive and what should actually be cheap but at the same time, for some reason, costs as much as a private jet. You definitely don't need to be a PhD in economics to form your own mind on this.

There's a popular thread on Reddit where people try to figure out which things are actually too expensive for no particular reason. It is really popular with more than 22.3k upvotes and over 18.3k comments.

BoredPanda made a curated list with the most popular and witty opinions for you. So feel free to scroll down and have a good time reading, watching and of course commenting. After all, as we have told before: many people, many minds...

More Info: Reddit

#1

Insulin

Since this is getting unexpected visibility, editing to add: Don't forget to check for manufacturers' Patient Assistance Programs, pharmacy discount cards, and goodrx.com for ways to bring the price down (in the U.S.)

Image credits: gorosheeta

#2

Jane_Flowers69 told:
Dental care.

magikot9 agreed:
Me: breaks bone

Insurance: we cover that.

Me: breaks tooth

Insurance: sorry, but you didn't buy our Premium Bitey Bones package.

Image credits: Jane_Flowers69

#3

-eDgAR- said:
College textbooks.

I had a professor that was really against the college textbook industry and said it was a huge scam, so for the class I took with him he used a textbook that he wrote and provided a PDF version of it for free to all of us.

lilephant replied:
I had one require a book that he wrote himself….. but it wasn’t free and actually was similar in price to others. Ironically he was my ethics professor.

Image credits: -eDgAR-

#4

I honestly can't believe that nowhere in this post as of right now can EDUCATION be found. Now, college doesn't have to be free, but recently the prices have gone through the roof and based on this post, it seems to have been normalized.

Image credits: AnonymousMemeing

#5

emik7133 said:
Diamonds. Complete scam.

ThePlooker answered:
Yeah, I came to say this. Ya beat me to it. If it wasn't for DeBeers, diamonds would be about $20 per carat.

Image credits: emik7133

#6

knockfart told:
Funerals

ur_canadian_brudda replied:
Hi, I install and maintain headstones for a living. Preplan and PREPAY FOR THAT SH*T. Or at least make a will. It saves so much arguing later.

Almost nobody wants a gazillion dollars spent, but for some reason grieving peeps always feel like the $5500 casket that gets buried seems like a better deal than the pine box.

Image credits: knockfart

#7

Because of inflation at the moment it feels like everything. Why do I have to pay so much for food? Why is the gas so expensive? How will I keep sustaining my car? Will my wife and I ever own a home? It’s debilitating man

Image credits: terequiro

#8

Gr8_Ape_7 said:
NFT.....its a monkey

imvital replied:
You misspelled “money laundering”

Image credits: Gr8_Ape_7

#9

splitting_bullets said:
Housing. Everyone needs one, birth rates are predictable, people are better utilized when housed and not struggling too much

Unsteady_Tempo answered:
The lack of affordable housing is the consequence and failure of cities/counties not being more proactive in creating zoning laws that would require more density in new construction, fewer short term rental permits of non owner occupied homes, and limits on for-profit ownership of more than a few single family structures.

Image credits: splitting_bullets

#10

shadysamonthelamb wrote:
The grocery bill is killing us. I feel like I get 5 things and somehow it's $50.

Dear_Program6355 replied:
You get to buy things?

I step in a supermarket, buy nothing, and somehow I've spent $50.

Image credits: shadysamonthelamb

#11

Glasses! I saw an interview on 20:20 or some news show and the brand name frames rep they were talking to, when asked why they charge so much for things that cost so little to produce, roughly responded “the glasses are worth what people are willing to pay for them ??‍♂️”

Image credits: CozyReader881

#12

Feminine hygiene products.

There is no reason to spend 30 bucks a month for something that isn’t even my choice.

I don’t want to bleed for 7-10 days . If I could I would just rip out my ute**s.

Edit: for all the people out there suggesting me stuff thank you but I don’t need it anymore. I got the IUD 3 years ago and I hardly bleed. I just use a panty liner now and it’s super cheap. This was just how much I use to spend back when I bought pads and tampons (I had to use both …. Very heavy flow )

Image credits: notafoetoallenpoe

#13

DanTheTerrible wrote:
E-books.

OneGoodRib answered:
Oh that's a good one. I get that just because it's a digital item that doesn't mean the author and publisher shouldn't make money off it, but it makes no f**king sense for the ebook to be $2 less than the hardcover. There's significantly less costs to the publishers with ebooks, why do they cost so much?? It's so f**king annoying to go on Amazon and it's like "$36 new hardback, $30 new paperback, $28 ebook, $10 used hardback". Why would I want the ebook when it's that expensive?! And I saw this as someone who is incredibly low on space for books and who doesn't even mind reading ebooks.

Image credits: DanTheTerrible

#14

thotkeys told:
Xyrem. It can be absolutely life-changing for people with narcolepsy. However, most insurance doesn't cover it, and the out-of-pocket cost is about $6k for a 1 month supply.

Inevitable-Effort186 agreed:
My poor baby sister took Xyrem for a couple years. Completely stoped her seizures but the taste made her almost vomit every time ): also I don't remember it being expensive? I think we were on assisted state insurance then.

Image credits: thotkeys

#15

pghreddit wrote:
Hearing aids.

Zelda_cat22 agreed:
As an audiologist, I 100% agree! Unfortunately the prices are the way they are due to two problems. One is most clinics “bundle” services. This is mostly because insurance doesn’t like to pay for our testing or rehabilitation/counseling we provide. Also-if you’re a small clinic the manufactures that make the hearing aids sell them at a higher price to you. For example, a small office might pay $1,500 for a pair of hearing aids. Whereas Costco, who can buy a lot more, only pays $100 for the same hearing aids. Its sucks because to become an audiologist you have to get a doctorate. You go through all that schooling just to end up “selling” hearing aids. One of the biggest reasons why I’m not practicing right now.

Image credits: pghreddit

#16

ReeG said:
Canadian internet and mobile plans

trentonl commented:
Rogers that

Image credits: ReeG

#17

PH0T0Nman said:
Adobe Products.

It’s a massive scam that they switched to a monthly fee as it’s killed any incentive for them to make meaningful improvements and they kill or buy up any competitors

_Dague_ replied:
Someone tweeted about pirating Photoshop and Adobe liked the tweet. They are well aware they have the most pirated product, but they know if they become an industry standard they can make their profits off companies buying 20 licenses at a time at $10 a month. They aren't concerned with amateur photographers stealing Lightroom.

It wouldn't surprise me if Adobe was releasing the cracked versions online to get more people using their products. Several other companies have adopted that business model of giving out a freeware version and then charging businesses for the premium.

Image credits: PH0T0Nman

#18

[deleted] said:
Having a roof over your head.

frederick_ungman answered:
Heck..just replacing a roof is crazy expensive. $21,000 for mine.

Image credits: [deleted]

#19

slyblueisblu told:
Theatre tickets. Stop being snobs and let us poor folk experience live Broadway shows too please

It seems a big part of the “value” of items like this is the expense keeps the r**f-r**f away.

There’s a comedian in the UK who jokes about how he now has a posh wife now so they go to expensive restaurants “for the ambience”. He eventually figured out what ambience was…. A lack of poor people being around.

Aloonatron answered:
Another fun bit from that routine is him asking for ketchup in a posh restaurant, so the waiter brings out a small discreet dish, which he samples, and then says “that’s great, I’ll have a bottle please.”

Image credits: slyblueisblu

#20

Buying and/or selling a house. There are so many people with their hands out that literally push paper and make a few phone calls. Total scam

Image credits: ProposalVegetable230

#21

moonflower19 wrote:
BRAS!

[deleted] answered:
Ask any man in your life to be your bra. I know I'd walk around all day holding my wife's t**s.

CrazyCatDog04 agreed:
Can confirm, I asked my partner to do this and haven't had to wear a bra in years

Image credits: moonflower19

#22

Being healthy. Eating right cost more, gym and exercise time money time and commitment. This should be encouraged and supported not dragged down with extra cost.

#23

Drugs. They say it's to pay for R&D but there were meeting minutes leaked from a big pharmaceutical company where they were like how much should we charge for this drug? $20? How about $50? Why not $100? Why not $300??? So they went with $300/pill.

#24

zzzz_bbbb said:
Everything associated with weddings.

meaganannmorrison commented:
This was my first thought too, trying to plan a wedding within an actual budget is HARD

Image credits: zzzz_bbbb

#25

Running for office in America.

The cost to run a successful campaign in America for virtually any state level or higher political office is simply unattainable for the common person and prices out anyone but the ruling class of oligarchs and those with connections to it. Sure there examples of candidates outside the typical wealthy and ingrained political establishment, but they are the rare exception, not the rule.

With US House races costing over $2 million and Senate races costing over $16 million the average person, no matter how well educated and how well qualified, is automatically eliminated without a vast amount of personal wealth or connections to the individuals, corporations, and parties that do hold that power. So the halls of congress and the seat of power is never filled with our best and brightest, but instead those with the wealth to attain that power and the conviction to maintain that status quo at virtually any cost to the people.

#26

majorpanic63 wrote:
College textbooks. Complete scam. Shameful

beachesandhose answered:
I’ve been incredibly lucky that almost every one of my grad school textbooks has been available online in full through my university’s library. I remember in undergrad that was NEVER an option and books could get up to like $350 a piece. Insane

#27

Life itself

Image credits: MercilessIdiot

#28

the-alchemist11 wrote:
Panera

I426Hemi answered:
A girl I dated about a decade or so ago worked at a Panera and asked me to come have lunch with her once. I though Panera was just a cutesy little coffee and sandwich place and had an actual moment of "what the f**k is going on" when I saw the prices vs what you get.

Image credits: the-alchemist11

#29

m100896 wrote:
Curtains and blinds.

popjunkie42 admitted:
Yes. Why? One of the bad secrets of owning a home. Rugs are expensive as hell as well.

Image credits: m100896

#30

ConfusingSpoon commented:
Human skeletons, there are billions of us and millions die every day. Why the $5,000+ price tag.

Edit: I known at most its just a couple hundred thousand a day but bones do be pricey.

BillionTonsHyperbole replied:
This man has a bone to pick with the human remains market.

Image credits: ConfusingSpoon

#31

Down_Low_Too_Slow told:
Shaving razors

unoriginal5 answered:
I noticed even Dollar Shave Club, who was supposed to revolutionize the market, is on the shelf next to Gillette with the same high capacity cartridge at the same price. I switched to a safety razor, and buy 50 blades that last a week for $15.

m19honsy was curious:
You use 50 razors a week!! How many times you shave exactly.

Image credits: Down_Low_Too_Slow

#32

Fresh fruits and veggies in comparison to a McDouble

#33

MiaLedger wrote:
Starbucks

7 dollar drinks are crazy

Senpai59210 answered:
I feel like the type of people who buy Starbucks regularly are the type of people who aren't concerned about the price of their drink

Image credits: MiaLedger

#34

mildewmoisturizer told:
Legos

nikon78698 commented:
What do you mean? $630 for the titanic is a steal…..

frozenuniverse added:
I dunno, it's a bit rusty by now, I don't think I'd pay $630 for it after all that time underwater

#35

Xendarq's opinion:
Nintendo Switch games

nousername808's answer:
Any proprietary Nintendo games never go down in price. Like Mario for wiiU is still $69 in 2022.

Image credits: Xendarq

#36

ExtensionAnybody467 commented:
Modern Art, like, wtf how does a boulder cost $2M!?

MagentaLea answered:
Easy just title it Tax Evasion.

jbergcreations commented:
Also actual boulders that aren’t art, if you want some rocks in your yard those things are expensive but someone found it for free in the wild and didn’t have to feed it or anything until it got to your house

#37

Vanatru told:
Bottled water

trevg_123 answered:
Get a water bottle and refill it, price takes a deep dive toward zero. You’re paying for the convenience, plus the inconvenience of adding trash to the planet

Image credits: Vanatru

#38

Taxes. Most of the money we “give” to our government either disappears or gets pissed down the drain. If the government cannot responsibly spend OUR money, then they really have no business handling it at all.

#39

NishantWubaluba told:
Popcorn in movie theatre.

[deleted] answered:
Anything in the theatre is expensive honestly lol

#40

HodorsAB***h told:
“Designer” clothes, like, it’s a plain white top with a logo for £800 wtf

sprunk_bois disagreed:
That’s where I’m gonna have to disagree with you. What you are generalizing might be true but most designer clothes, while might not be worth their price to the penny, are still made with high quality material and a lot of designer products are hand made which would make them more expensive. Like the $700 Gucci watch I have is made with very good fabric and high quality silver. Also the Gucci wallet I have is made also with high quality fabric and real Italian leather. I could keep going but my point is that some products might be what you described but most aren’t and there’s a reason they’re that price

zigojacko2 commented:
It's got nothing to do with the materials used and purely the fact you are paying for the recognized brand... ?

Image credits: HodorsAB***h

#41

Housing prices in major cities. Shops are closed, alot of things are moving online, people are leaving and houses are vacant. Why are prices going up.

#42

Gas. It is a scam

#43

Oh, I’ve got one. Delivery apps. Specifically when the restaurant I ordered from last night charged me $1.50 to have NO cheese on my sandwich.

#44

kungfookate said:
Lobster. So much work for so little meat. You have to wear a bib to eat it in case the carcass squirts at you. You have to use tools and your own strength to even get at the edible part. Then when you finally pull your sore, red, wet fingers out with that precious tiny morsel, it doesn't even taste good enough on its own that you then have to dunk it in butter.

beetlehunterz answered:
Back in the day lobster used to be considered poor people food.

DerpNinjaWarrior commented too:
This us why I stick with lobster rolls. Which are still overpriced.

#45

Vegas charging a $50 resort fee on top of your nightly rate

#46

Sofas or "Couches" for others. A basic timber frame with some fabric and cushions on it and I need to get a loan out to afford one.

#47

Anything with some guys name on it.

#48

bobbyray89 wrote:
Jeeps

AVgreencup answered:
Amen. And it's not like they're even worth it. I'm an FCA tech, and I bought a Hyundai cause I got every single option and more for like 20k less.

Image credits: bobbyray89

#49

PlayStation 5. Moderately better graphics it the only upside to getting it. Way too overpriced.

#50

rickman12 wrote:
Indian food. Don’t get me wrong, it’s delicious. But why so expensive?

Ancient-traveller commented:
It's very Labor intensive and spices are expensive. I know an Indian who wished he could open a Chinese or a Thai restaurant, but no one would buy from him.

#51

SkyfangR wrote:
anything made by Apple

MrHaxx1 disagreed:
The Apple USB-C to 3.5 is by far the best value DAC on the market for $10.

And the M1 MacBook Air is literally one of the best laptops on the market, and it's well below $1000.

And considering the longevity of iPhones, they're not that expensive either. Though they certainly aren't cheap.

#52

Living in New Jersey

#53

Being born and living. You get out of this cradle od warmth and safety only to end up in this ugly and dangerous world, there's already a price given to your arrival, your worth is judged day after day, years after years, you end up having a great life, not one where you have all the things you want, only to end up retiering, get a meager check each month and then die, which you will have prepared in advance because dying also has a cost.

#54

cactus_thief said:
Skiing! Equipment has no right to be as expensive as it is, and lift ticket prices can be atrocious.

puns_n_irony commented:
You’re vastly underestimating the operating cost of even a small ski resort/mountain/hill.

Many go under because they don’t have the money to operate even at the rates you’re complaining about.

Equipment is expensive because 1) low production volumes, 2) extensive R&D, 3) exotic materials like carbon fiber and exotic metal alloys (on higher end products).

The only area I will totally agree with is outerwear prices, those are a racket.

from Bored Panda https://ift.tt/liAO30j