18+ Dirty Tricks Businesses Don’t Want You To Know

Your Phone Is Destined To Die

"Planned obsolescence" refers to the design of some items, such as vehicles or electronics, to wear out over time. If you're reading this on a smartphone, it's likely that it's just a few years old. You're not alone if you've observed that your phone's operating system become sluggish after a while. It appears that this happens to most things and there’s a reason for it…You may realise that it freezes and fails more frequently after a few years. Companies keep things fresh on the market by making them only useful for a few years. If your phone is in good working order, you may not need to spend $1000 on a new one. You're more likely to overspend if your phone is damaged or operates slowly.Image Source / Pexels

Your Check Engine Light Doesn’t Light Up

Now usually, you wouldn’t actually want your engine check light to flash up, as this often means something dreadfully costly. However, if the check engine light does not turn on when you start a used vehicle, be cautious. It’s quite often known that people can be dodgy when it comes to selling cars, and you ought to know the reason.Some shady secondhand car dealers may turn off the light to divert attention away from vehicles with engine issues. The dashboard lights should flash on when the automobile is turned on; if they don't, it might mean something is wrong. So next time you go to buy a secondhand car, make sure you pay attention to this tip to avoid being conned.Image Source / Edmunds

Food Packaging Tricks

Have you ever opened a bag of food or a premade sandwich and before opening thought to yourself, "This looks terrific!" only to discover more air or cardboard inside? It is hard not to stomp your feet in these moments and write an angry email. Some corporations employ clever packaging to make certain goods look larger than they actually are, giving the impression that you're getting a better deal.Many individuals have been disappointed by false packaging on anything from cookies to sandwiches to pretzels. Are you sick of marketing gimmicks? Purchase an apple instead; at the very least, it will not deceive you. Or, try to feel your packaging to see how much is truly inside what you are buying so that you are not disappointed.Image Source / The Guardian

Universal Deals

When looking for fantastic offers, such as unlimited minutes on cell phone service, you may notice what appears to be a price drop when purchasing a higher tier plan. What you may not understand is that your "hot offer" is likely to be the same one that tens of thousands of other people are enjoying, and it’s a completely normal offer.Combining multiple mobile plan options, such as unlimited data or free minutes, may appear to be a good deal, but the rates assure that you're paying roughly the same as you would for what you really use. Think about this tip next time you are looking at upgrading your mobile phone, as it may save you some money down the road.Image Source / Pexels

Clever Posters

Have you ever entered a restaurant only to be welcomed with a mouth-watering poster of a high-priced meal? This is clever positioning that makes you unconsciously consider what you'll order. Most people would just search up the menu before going to a restaurant and already know what they want to order… but for those few that don’t…When you're hungry, you're more receptive to subtle suggestions, which is exactly what these brilliantly coloured posters - without price tags - are banking on. They want you too look, desire and feel that food in your mouth and then suddenly you want to buy it, even without looking at the astronomical prices of whatever restaurant you are in.Image Source / Pinterest

Cheaper Nowhere Else

This is a common ruse employed by large box companies, particularly those that offer technology or appliances that may be obtained in a variety of locations. The salesperson will discuss an item, highlighting all of its characteristics and benefits in order to improve your impression of it and make it enticing. They’ll answer whatever questions you might have in a positive light.The cherry on top is a special offer available just at this store, and it's only for a short time. "You won't find it cheaper anywhere else" is a frequent closing line that relies on the fact that many customers will not take the time to search around and compare costs at multiple other businesses. Obviously, this isn’t always true and more often than not you can find it cheaper elsewhere.Image Source / Pexels

Description of Bottled Water

The nutritional value of bottled water is low when compared to tap water. In reality, a number of corporations were fined a few years ago for selling bottled water at premium pricing when it originated from taps in their bottling factory. Now that is a complete hox and they should be held accountable for lying about where their water is coming from.Water from exotic locations, such as the Fiji Islands or chilly mountain springs, is marketed for thousands of times the price of the same quantity of water at home - and if you buy "enhanced" waters with vitamins and electrolytes, expect to pay much more. Keep in mind that drinking fountains are completely free wherever you may happen upon one.Image Source / Pexels

Impulse Selling

Impulse selling relies on the consumer making an emotional decision rather than considering the purchase and making a rational decision. It creates a feeling of urgency in the sales process, giving the customer the impression that time is running out to seal the purchase and that the item is in high demand. The way that impulse selling can be done is different depending on what business you are at.This is emotional manipulation on the seller's part, with the goal of overwhelming the consumer and convincing them to buy before the joy of making a big purchase wears off. By putting customers on the spot, they are not given the chance to properly weigh up their options as to whether or not the purchase is beneficial to them, more than often it is not.Image Source / Pexels

Bundle Prices

This is a common practise among magazine and newspaper publishers and you’ve probably noticed it if you real a lot of media. It entails providing you with various options, including a paper version of the magazine, an online alternative, and a "bundle" of both print and online information. The secret is that the "bundle" is generally the same price as the paper version alone.Although it appears that you are receiving a free internet membership, you are actually paying for two different copies of the same material. Furthermore, producing web material does not cost the publisher a lot of money - at least not each individual who purchases the online information. Before you commit, think about how you'll consume your material.Image Source / Pexels

Greenwashing

It does not cost much to label your firm as "environmentally friendly," but it may have a big influence on how people perceive you, especially now that "going green" is such an important subject and should naturally be what all businesses are striving to do. This might indicate that the firm promotes recycling or that they've started employing more environmentally friendly chemicals or goods in their manufacturing facilities.It's not expensive to display a "environmental scorecard," and because the requirements are hazy at best, this "greenwashing" is typically simply a green sticker and a recycling reminder. It feels quite deceptive that companies are going down this route merely for popularity rather than actually caring about the environment or their impact on it. There should be more regulations on this.Image Source / Sprout Video

Buffet Layout

It is hard to concentrate on the layout of all-you-can-eat buffets because once you are there you just want to pile your plate up high. However, if you have been a few times you might have noticed that all-you-can-eat buffets follow a predictable pattern: salad, vegetables and starches, dinner rolls, and then the main course—meat. Nearly all of them follow this pattern.The reason for this is that it encourages you to fill your plates with lower-cost foods, leaving only a little piece of the meal for the main course. Restaurants rely on customers consuming a lot of carbs and bread to keep their food costs low. Otherwise, if they placed their mains first, there might be a lot of these dishes going to waste, which are the most expensive.Image Source / Pexels

Out of Business

You may have noticed that certain shops seem to be closing all of the time, but they never seem to get there. You’ll especially notice these kind of businesses on run-down highstreets. They'll lock the doors, reopen with a new brand name and sign, and then put up the "going out of business" signs swiftly. Eventually you will walk down the road and say “I thought that was meant to be closing?”.This deceives you into believing that the product is only available in a limited quantity at a steep discount, tempting you to buy stuff you don't need just because the deal was so fantastic. Now, it’s hard to be able to tell if a business is actually going out of business or if they are just saying it to get a sweep of their stock. A bit of research behind the business might solve this issue for you.Image Source / Pexels

Charity Donations

You may be requested to round up your amount to the next whole dollar or make a one-time, three-time, or five-time donation to a business-sponsored charity. Sometimes you are put on the spot with these ultimatums and you feel like a bad person if you don’t want to round up the little cents between the next dollar. However, think carefully next time.While these donations aren't directly applied to the company's bottom line – they're given to the charity of the company's choice – they are used as a budgeting line item and assist in decreasing the company's tax burden. What's your best bet? Simply make a direct donation to the organisation of your choice or through a reputable site.Image Source / Pexels

Food Mislabelling

If you're looking for an option that folks with particular health concerns can eat, labelling products "gluten-free" or "saturated fat-free" is a wonderful way to go. It is incredibly important that these foods are labelled correctly due to intolerances and allergies and can lead to bad press or even a lawsuit if something goes tragically wrong.However, some businesses take advantage of current dietary trends by slapping labels on products that are already naturally gluten-free or fat-free. This food mislabelling allows them to charge a higher price and sell more stock without changing the product itself. While it is not actually illegal, and is not unlawfully selling, it feels almost deceptive that they would put the prices up.Image Source / Pexels

Recurring Charges

Most people have automatic direct debits or standing orders that will come out of their bank accounts each month, as they are easier. When you sign up to a membership or purchase a deal on your mobile phone, take a closer look at the payment periods. This is information that not a lot of people knew about paying monthly on their goods, devices or services.You may be requested to pay every four weeks rather than monthly if you have a recurring payment for a subscription or service. Even if your subscription is on a month-to-month basis, shaving days off your monthly payment adds up over time - to the tune of a full four-week period every year! So instead of making 12 payments per year as you would per calendar month, you are making 13.Image Source / Pexels

Small vs Big Tiles

While at the grocery store it can become hard to concentrate on anything as it often feels like an overstimulation of the senses. However, next time you are there pay extra attention to the flooring that’s used. The tiles at your neighbourhood grocer's store may be smaller than normal, causing the cart's wheels to spin quicker over the gaps.You may be wondering what the point of this is and how it is a dirty business hack. Well, this gives the impression that you're moving quicker through the aisles than you actually are, and you'll slow down correspondingly. You'll spend more time in the supermarket aisles, giving you more opportunities to buy items at the lowest possible price. Result for the grocery giants!Image Source / Relay Floor Systems

Mannequins in Dress Up

Sometimes its hard to not notice the very strange clothes that the mannequins wear in clothing stores and there’s a reason for that. Some retailers may dress the mannequins with unattractive clothing in the hopes that their human-like forms will make them more appealing than goods on hooks or shelves. Not many people know about this trick and it’s time to let people know.These ugly garments can find a new home with an unknowing buyer with the proper accessories. If you're not sure how an item will look on you, or if an individual piece appears to be off, simply try it on. Just beware that just because an item looks good on a mannequin it doesn’t always look good on an actual person and that there are deceptive in their placement.Image Source / Pexels

Product Placement

Many items are put at eye-level for adults while shopping in supermarkets; while they may be popular, they may also be items that the grocer can sell with a very large profit margin. You could be better off choosing from the highest or lowest shelf, where the items that are more inconspicuous and are probably worth more for your money. Keep on saving where you can!Brightly coloured cereals and snacks should be avoided at all costs; many businesses arrange them at eye level for youngsters in the hopes that they would ask mum for the goodies, or just pick them up themselves. This is why it is so hard to take youngsters grocery shopping and more often than not they get left at home while the chores occur.Image Source / Pexels

Credit Card Hack

It is unknown if all major credit card companies do this, but one major credit card provider here in the US is definitely guilty. One thing they did (and maybe still do) to attract clients was to give 0% APR for the first year. People would take advantage of this and move all of their debt to their new Discover Card, which they then would "conveniently" not send the first month's charge.If you miss even one payment in the first year, your APR will increase to 29.95 percent, according to the fine print of the deal. Loads of the calls that are then received are from new customers, who would then throw a fuss because they never received their bill, and it was put down to the customer’s responsibility to know when their first bill was due to be paid. This feels illegal!Image Source / Pexels

Cancelling Memberships

It is often known that we eventually ca get fed up with our memberships, especially gym ones. Sometimes it is especially hard to actually get out of these memberships, which doesn’t feel right at all. Corporations can make it difficult to terminate your membership or subscription, it is extremely inconvenient.To cancel your plan, sometimes you may need to phone or even schedule a meeting, according to and firms purposefully hide the cancellation option in the most difficult-to-find location. If you are unlucky, you might get hit with a contract that you won’t be able to get out of early, so you have to stay on and pay bills you don’t want to pay, for services you don’t want to use. How shady!Image Source / Pexels

Boozy Tricks

If a restaurant is out of what you ordered and think they can get away with it, they may serve you inferior beer or liquor. Some bar workers had been advised to use house vodka instead of goose or Belvedere in mixed cocktails since the customers wouldn't notice. I guess, it is not against the law depending on the way they are advertising it, but it is definitely wrong.A manager at one of these establishments once refilled an empty bottle of the most expensive Sauvignon Blanc ($300) with the cheap house stuff, inserted a dummy cork, and handed it to a customer. Even if the consumer didn't notice, it was still really messed up and sketchy. This one would definitely be against the law as the customer is not getting what they paid for.Image Source / Pexels

Moving Locations

Even though this one is more prevalent in France, it will definitely have some upstanding internationally. In France, it is difficult to dismiss or lay off staff so when huge corporations need to clean house, they relocate the office to a new site far away from the present one. Now more often than not these new locations that have relocated to are totally impractical for a lot of the workers they host.They lower the office capacity from 50,000 to 30,000 seats in the process, estimating that many workers will resign rather than endure a 4-hour trip... “Totally you still have your job if you want, we are not laying you off," says the official statement, "but I need you in the office every day... If you don't like the new location, you can quit...”Image Source / Pexels

Fake Detectives

If ever you are in debt, you may get cold calls from many debt collectors trying to chase you about your repayments. Debt collectors will contact you from a number that seems like it belongs to a respectable law enforcement organisation when you Google it. It's essentially a faked caller ID that uses the fax number of a legitimate firm.The 'detective' will threaten arrest and sling names of local judges about. When you get through to your credit provider, the debt collector will pretend that he or she is unaware of the 'detective' who left the message, but will gladly let you pay your bill. This feels like a way for these debt companies to remain unconnected from the harsh and invasive detectives they have.Image Source / Pexels

Untrusty Locksmith

It is not known whether this is an industry wide trick but it something to be aware of in case it ever happens to you. An old locksmith used old, worn-down pins to rekey locks, which caused the locks to cease operating prematurely—without sharp pins, the lock jams or the key stops working. He'd then wait for the eventual call to replace them, rekey them with good pins, and call it a day.This might earn you an additional $65 each customer, which depending on how mnay times he did it, would be a generous profit that he is making. It turns out that another reputable provider repaired a number of the locks that he’d fixed and filed a complaint with the relevant regulation boards. Even though it may not ever happen to you, it is something to be aware of definitely.Image Source / Pexels

Lawnmowing

There are several ways that lawn maintenance companies take advantage of naïve customers. Firstly, they will double the state tax on monthly payments (instead of being 6 percent, it will be 12 percent). They charge double for "double-cuts" when the grass is a little thicker in areas than usual without informing homeowners. So, if you agreed to pay $50 each mowing, the monthly statement states that each visit will cost $100.They never ask; they just do it and charge twice as much (in most cases, it's just a small "patch" of the yard with taller grass, not the entire yard). Once a week, they're meant to mow. However, without informing clients, they begin mowing every five days, which means they are paid every five days. It might be something that you make note of for future reference!Image Source / Pexels

Booking in Advance

Bet you didn’t know this con about rental firms that specialise in holiday rentals. When you are looking for the perfect condo/house for your next holiday you might want to bear this in mind. They will indicate on their website that a specific condo/house is available, but when you contact, they will tell it is now unavailable or that it was just booked lately.Then they'll attempt to sell you another location that's like $50 extra per night, counting on visitors' desperation to simply say oh okay and rent it. Now you know this tip though you won’t be one of the unlucky few that fall this trap and say yes while on the phone. Make sure that if this ever happens to you, you say no thank you and continue on your search for the perfect holiday home.Image Source / Pexels

With Child

Now, out of all of them, this may be the most inconsiderate business trick. At a firm that marketed baby and expectant mother products, they had a return and repair policy like anywhere would. As an employee, you quickly realise that you're actually returning a £300 pushchair to the manufacturer for 3–4 weeks. People misunderstood the phrase, believing they had 28 days to return their item while, in reality, they may go up to 28 days without a pushchair.They wouldn't allow their employees to give refunds while the original was being fixed, so there would be a constant stream of distraught mothers weeping over the phone, and they nearly invariably ended up spending another £300 on a new stroller. It was a really soul-crushing experience. Hopefully the firm has since been reported for their policies and procedures and are able to improve their turn around times for repairs and replacements!Image Source / Pexels

Bestsellers

Next time you are in a book shop, remember this! The 'best-sellers' lists aren't based on the amount of books sold to customers. They're dependent on the quantity of books the distributor has sold. So, if someone like... Bill O'Reilly... wanted to say he had the best-selling book in America, his publisher could order a million copies of the book at a heavily reduced rate through a third-party clearinghouse (like, .50 cents a book).The clearing house may then resell those books at a deep discount to Books-a-Million, Barnes & Noble, and other retailers, which is why certain writers, such as Bill O'Reilly, are usually in the bargain bin. Even if no one purchased the books at the store, the distributor can still record that 1 was sold. So those must read books that you think might change your life… yeah… they probably stink.Image Source / Pexels

Elderly Homes

If you or a family member is a resident of one of these facilities, go over the bill line by line every month. Because these people are elderly and receiving care, they frequently ignore invoices, or they are maintained in the facility's records and may be accessed 'upon request,' so they aren't sent out, and they frequently demand 'auto-deposit' from a bank account for their services.Some people have had to deal with this with their grandparents. One person was dealing with this with their grandma, who has memory problems, and she's getting taxed for treatments she doesn't need. She was being billed for two monthly cable packages at one time in her single room apartment, which has two cable jacks, one on either side of the room. This type of scamming should  be illegal!Image Source / Pexels

Prescription Madness

I think we can all agree that prescriptions are ridiculously expensive unnecessarily. However, sometimes people are put into precarious positions where they have to reconsider how much they are spending every month on their pills and some people aren’t getting their money’s worth. For example, someone had a $50 prescription that they had to get monthly and take one tablet per day.She spoke with her doctor and was given permission to take it every other day rather than every day to save money (which shouldn’t have to be the case anyway!). When she went to pick up her prescription, she was charged $100 for the same number of tablets since they would last her twice as long. Make sure that doesn't happen to you, always double check what it is exactly you are paying for.Image Source / Pexels