# Why Everything Costs 10x More Than It Should ๐Ÿคฏ **URL:** \ **Category:** Life Lessons & Experience\ **Tags:** tools\ **Created:** [December 24, 2025, 10:29pm UTC](https://onehack.st/t/why-everything-costs-10x-more-than-it-should/315363 "2025-12-24T22:29:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![RoohNooh](https://onehack.st/user_avatar/onehack.st/roohnooh/32/166257_2.png) [@RoohNooh](https://onehack.st/u/RoohNooh)\ **Post date:** [December 24, 2025, 10:29pm UTC](https://onehack.st/t/why-everything-costs-10x-more-than-it-should/315363/1 "2025-12-24T22:29:46Z")
# How Every Industry Quietly Rips You Off ๐Ÿ’ธ ## ๐ŸŽฏ **Dumb-Explanation** ```auto ๐Ÿ“ They save your info โ†“ โœจ Give it fancy name โ†“ ๐Ÿ’ฐ Charge you 10-1000x โ†“ ๐Ÿ˜‡ "It's complicated" ``` * * * ## ๐Ÿฆ Overdraft Fees ```auto ๐Ÿ’ต You have $100 โ†“ ๐Ÿ›’ Buy: $10, $20, $30, $80 โ†“ ๐Ÿ”€ Bank runs biggest first โ†“ ๐Ÿ’ฅ 3 overdrafts = $105 fees โ†“ ๐Ÿ“Š 9% of people pay 80% of all fees โ†“ ๐Ÿ’ฐ Banks made $15.5 BILLION/year (peak) โ†“ โš–๏ธ Navy Federal: $95M fine (2024) โ†“ ๐Ÿ”„ Still happening ``` * * * ## ๐Ÿฆ Where Loan Money Comes From ```auto ๐Ÿ™‹ You ask for $100k loan โ†“ ๐Ÿฆ Bank checks your credit โ†“ โŒจ๏ธ Types "100000" in computer โ†“ โœจ Money now exists โ†“ ๐Ÿ’ต You pay back + interest โ†“ ๐Ÿ’จ Original money disappears โ†“ ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Bank of England confirmed this โ†“ ๐Ÿคฏ Not a secret. That's how it works. ``` * * * ## ๐Ÿฆ Reserve Requirements ```auto ๐Ÿ“… Before March 2020 โ†“ ๐Ÿฆ Banks must keep 10% of deposits โ†“ ๐Ÿ“… March 26, 2020 โ†“ ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Fed says: "Keep 0%" โ†“ ๐Ÿ’ธ Lend everything โ†“ ๐Ÿ“Š Still 0% today ``` * * * ## ๐Ÿ’Š Aspirin At Hospital ```auto ๐Ÿ’Š Aspirin pill โ†“ ๐Ÿญ Costs: 2 cents โ†“ ๐Ÿฅ Hospital charges: up to $25 โ†“ ๐Ÿ“ˆ 1,000x markup โ†“ ๐Ÿ“‹ 50,000 items priced same way โ†“ ๐ŸŽญ All prices are made up ``` * * * ## ๐Ÿฅ Hospital Bill Game ```auto ๐Ÿค’ You get treated โ†“ ๐Ÿ“„ Bill arrives: $348,000 โ†“ ๐Ÿข Insurance "negotiates" โ†“ ๐Ÿ’ต Accepted: $50,000 โ†“ ๐Ÿค” Wait... they took $50k instantly? โ†“ ๐Ÿ’ก The $348k was never real โ†“ ๐Ÿ˜ฐ No insurance = you pay fake price โ†“ ๐Ÿ“œ 2021 rule: hospitals must post real prices โ†“ ๐Ÿ™ˆ Most still don't ``` * * * ## ๐Ÿฉบ Insurance Denials ```auto ๐Ÿ’ต You pay insurance for years โ†“ ๐Ÿค’ Finally need it โ†“ ๐Ÿ“‹ Submit claim โ†“ โŒ "DENIED" โ†“ ๐Ÿ˜ค You appeal โ†“ โœ… 81.7% of appeals WIN โ†“ ๐Ÿ“Š But only 10% of people appeal โ†“ ๐Ÿ’ฐ Insurance keeps 90% of wrongly denied money ``` * * * ## ๐Ÿ’‰ Insulin ```auto ๐Ÿ’‰ Insulin โ†“ ๐Ÿญ Costs to make: $2-4 โ†“ ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ US price: $300+ โ†“ ๐ŸŒ Other countries: 8-10x cheaper โ†“ ๐Ÿ“… 1996: $21 per vial โ†“ ๐Ÿ“… 2019: $275 per vial โ†“ ๐Ÿงฌ Same exact formula โ†“ ๐Ÿ’” 1 in 4 Americans skip doses โ†“ โ˜ ๏ธ Alec Smith died rationing at age 26 โ†“ ๐Ÿ“… 2023: $35 cap for Medicare โ†“ โณ Everyone else still paying $300 ``` * * * ## ๐Ÿ’Š Drug Middlemen (PBMs) ```auto ๐Ÿ’Š Drug company makes pill โ†“ ๐Ÿคต 3 middlemen appear โ†“ ๐Ÿ“Š They control 80% of ALL prescriptions โ†“ ๐Ÿ“‹ "We'll negotiate lower prices!" โ†“ ๐Ÿ’ต Take a cut โ†“ ๐Ÿ“ˆ Prices go UP not down โ†“ โš–๏ธ FTC sued all 3 (Sept 2024) โ†“ โณ Case ongoing ``` * * * ## โ˜ โ€œThe Cloudโ€ ```auto โ˜๏ธ Fancy name โ†“ ๐Ÿ’ป Actually: someone else's computer โ†“ ๐Ÿ“Š AWS = 17% of Amazon's revenue โ†“ ๐Ÿ’ฐ AWS = 60% of Amazon's PROFIT โ†“ ๐Ÿ“ˆ 37% profit margin โ†“ ๐Ÿ† Best business model in tech ``` * * * ## ๐Ÿ’ป Software โ€œSeatsโ€ ```auto ๐Ÿข Company needs chat app โ†“ ๐Ÿ’บ "$45 per person per month" โ†“ ๐Ÿ’พ What they do: save username โ†“ ๐Ÿ’ฐ Cost to add you: nearly $0 โ†“ ๐Ÿ“Š Half the seats never used โ†“ ๐Ÿ’ต Company still pays full price โ†“ ๐Ÿ”„ Repeat forever ``` * * * ## ๐Ÿช– Military Shopping ```auto ๐Ÿšฝ Toilet seat (1985) โ†“ ๐Ÿช Store price: $15 โ†“ โœˆ๏ธ "Military grade" for C-5 plane โ†“ ๐Ÿ’ต Billed: $640 โ†“ โ˜• Coffee maker (1984) โ†“ ๐Ÿ’ต Billed: $7,622 โ†“ ๐Ÿšฝ Toilet seat lid (2018) โ†“ ๐Ÿ’ต Billed: $10,000 โ†“ ๐Ÿ“ฐ Senator Grassley: "Doesn't pass smell test" โ†“ ๐Ÿ”„ Still happening 40 years later ``` * * * ## ๐Ÿช– Pentagon Audit ```auto ๐Ÿ“‹ Law: Must pass audit โ†“ ๐Ÿ“… Required since: 1990 โ†“ โŒ Times passed: 0 โ†“ ๐Ÿ—“๏ธ 35 years straight โ†“ ๐Ÿ’ฐ 2024 audit cost: $178 million โ†“ ๐Ÿ‘ฅ 1,700 auditors โ†“ โ“ Can't find: 63% of $3.8 trillion โ†“ ๐Ÿคท Response: "Working on it" ``` * * * ## ๐Ÿ’ฐ Lobbying Math ```auto ๐Ÿ’Š Drug companies (2022) โ†“ ๐Ÿ’ต Spent: $372 million lobbying โ†“ ๐Ÿ“ˆ Documented ROI: 22,000% โ†“ ๐Ÿงฎ $1 spent โ†’ $220 back โ†“ ๐Ÿ“Š Study: highest-return investment known โ†“ ๐Ÿ† Better than stocks, crypto, real estate โ†“ ๐Ÿ’ก This is why things don't change ``` * * * ## ๐Ÿ› Congress Schedule ```auto ๐ŸŒ… Morning โ†“ ๐Ÿ“ž 4 hours calling rich people โ†“ ๐Ÿ’ต Goal: $18,000/day in donations โ†“ ๐ŸŒ† Afternoon โ†“ ๐Ÿ“‹ 2 hours actual work โ†“ ๐Ÿ” Repeat daily โ†“ ๐Ÿ“„ Source: Leaked DCCC PowerPoint โ†“ โœ… Confirmed by Rep. Steve Israel ``` * * * ## ๐Ÿ› Does Voting Matter? ```auto ๐Ÿ—ณ๏ธ You vote โ†“ ๐Ÿ“Š Princeton studied 1,800 policies โ†“ ๐Ÿ“ˆ 20 years of data โ†“ ๐Ÿ”ฌ Result: โ†“ ๐Ÿ“‰ Your opinion = "near-zero impact" โ†“ ๐Ÿ’ฐ Donor opinion = policy โ†“ ๐Ÿ“„ Direct quote from study โ†“ ๐Ÿ˜ Not conspiracy. Peer-reviewed. ``` * * * ## ๐ŸŽ“ College Prices ```auto ๐Ÿ“… 1978: Tuition = X โ†“ ๐Ÿ“… 2025: Tuition = 14X โ†“ ๐Ÿ“ˆ 1,335% increase โ†“ ๐Ÿ“Š Regular inflation: 300% โ†“ ๐Ÿค” Why? โ†“ ๐Ÿ’ณ Government guarantees loans โ†“ ๐Ÿšซ Can't escape in bankruptcy โ†“ ๐Ÿ’ฐ Schools know you'll pay anything โ†“ ๐Ÿ“ˆ So they raise prices forever โ†“ ๐Ÿ›๏ธ NY Fed confirmed this cycle ``` * * * ## ๐ŸŽ“ College Admins ```auto ๐Ÿ“… 1987-2012 โ†“ ๐Ÿ‘” New administrators hired: 517,636 โ†“ ๐Ÿงฎ That's 87 per day โ†“ ๐Ÿ“Š For 25 years straight โ†“ ๐Ÿซ Yale today: โ†“ ๐Ÿ‘จโ€๐ŸŽ“ Students: ~5,000 โ†“ ๐Ÿง‘โ€๐Ÿ’ผ Administrators: 5,460 โ†“ ๐Ÿ“Š More admins than students โ†“ ๐Ÿ’ต Tuition: $62,000+/year โ†“ ๐Ÿ“ฐ News: "Why are young people broke?" ``` * * * ## ๐Ÿ“š Textbooks ```auto ๐Ÿ“– Textbook exists โ†“ ๐Ÿ”„ Students resell 7 times โ†“ ๐Ÿ˜ค Publisher profits once โ†“ ๐Ÿ’ก Solution: โ†“ ๐Ÿ“ Change 3 pages โ†“ โœจ "NEW EDITION!" โ†“ ๐Ÿ’ต $280 please โ†“ ๐Ÿ’พ Make it digital โ†“ โฐ Code expires in 4 months โ†“ ๐Ÿšซ Can't resell digital โ†“ ๐Ÿ˜ˆ Pearson CEO admitted this on record โ†“ ๐Ÿ“Š Result: 65% skip required books โ†“ ๐Ÿ“ˆ Price increase: 800% in 30 years ``` * * * ## ๐Ÿ  Real Estate Commissions ```auto ๐Ÿ  House: $400,000 โ†“ ๐Ÿšช Agent unlocks door โ†“ ๐Ÿ’ฌ "Nice light in here" โ†“ ๐Ÿ’ต Takes 6% = $24,000 โ†“ โš–๏ธ Jury verdict: "This is conspiracy" โ†“ ๐Ÿ’ฐ Fine: $1.78 BILLION โ†“ ๐Ÿ“‹ Settlement: $418 million โ†“ ๐Ÿค” Did fees drop after? โ†“ ๐Ÿ“ˆ Nope. Went UP to 2.40% โ†“ ๐Ÿ˜‚ lmao โ†“ ๐ŸŒ UK/Australia: 2% commission โ†“ ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ USA: 5-6% ``` * * * ## ๐Ÿ  Mortgage Reality ```auto ๐Ÿ  Buy $300k house โ†“ ๐Ÿ“Š Interest rate: 7% โ†“ ๐Ÿ“… Pay for 30 years โ†“ ๐Ÿ’ต Monthly: ~$2,000 โ†“ ๐Ÿงฎ Total paid: $719,000 โ†“ ๐Ÿ’ธ Interest alone: $419,000 โ†“ ๐Ÿคฏ Interest > house price โ†“ ๐Ÿ“… Month 1 payment breakdown: โ†“ ๐Ÿ’ธ $1,750 โ†’ interest โ†“ ๐Ÿ  $246 โ†’ actual house โ†“ ๐Ÿ“Š 87% goes to bank first year ``` * * * ## ๐ŸŽซ Concert Tickets ```auto ๐ŸŽธ Band says: "$100 ticket" โ†“ ๐ŸŽซ Ticketmaster adds: โ†“ ๐Ÿ’ต Service fee โ†“ ๐Ÿ’ต Facility fee โ†“ ๐Ÿ’ต Processing fee โ†“ ๐Ÿ’ต Order fee โ†“ ๐Ÿงพ Total: $128-$144 โ†“ ๐Ÿ“Š Fees: 28-44% extra โ†“ ๐Ÿ’ฐ $16.4 BILLION in fees (2019-2024) โ†“ โš–๏ธ DOJ sued May 2024 โ†“ โš–๏ธ FTC sued Sept 2025 โ†“ ๐Ÿ›๏ธ 40 states joined โ†“ ๐ŸŽฏ Goal: Break up Live Nation ``` * * * ## ๐Ÿ’ณ Credit Card Fees ```auto ๐Ÿ›’ You buy $100 thing โ†“ ๐Ÿ’ณ Swipe card โ†“ ๐Ÿ’ต Visa/Mastercard take 2-3% โ†“ ๐Ÿช Store raises prices 3% โ†“ ๐Ÿ’ต Cash buyers pay more too โ†“ ๐Ÿ“Š 2024 total: $111 BILLION โ†“ ๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡บ EU caps fees at 0.3% โ†“ ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธ US: 2-3% (10x higher) โ†“ ๐Ÿ›’ Costco negotiated 0.4% โ†“ ๐Ÿ’ก Proving normal rates are fake โ†“ ๐Ÿ’ธ Costs you ~$1,200/year in higher prices ``` * * * ## ๐Ÿ“Š The Cheat Sheet | ๐Ÿท Thing | ๐Ÿ’ฐ Real Cost | ๐Ÿ’ธ You Pay | ๐Ÿ“ˆ Markup | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | ๐Ÿ’Š Aspirin (hospital) | 2ยข | up to $25 | 1,000x | | ๐Ÿ’‰ Insulin vial | $2-4 | $300 | 75-150x | | ๐ŸŽซ Concert ticket | $100 | $144 | 44% fees | | ๐Ÿ’ณ Card swipe | fraction of ยข | 2-3% | โˆž | | ๐Ÿ  Agent work | few hours | $24,000 | lol | | โ˜ Cloud computing | low | 37% margin | printing money | * * * ## ๐Ÿ›ก Fight Back **๐Ÿฆ Banks** โ†’ Credit unions (member-owned) โ†’ [Chime](https://www.chime.com/) / [SoFi](https://www.sofi.com/) = no overdraft fees โ†’ Turn OFF overdraft โ€œprotectionโ€ **๐Ÿ’Š Medicine** โ†’ [GoodRx](https://www.goodrx.com/) = compare prices โ†’ [Cost Plus Drugs](https://costplusdrugs.com/) = Mark Cubanโ€™s pharmacy โ†’ Ask for generic (same drug, 80% cheaper) **๐Ÿฅ Hospital Bills** โ†’ ALWAYS request itemized bill โ†’ Errors found in 80% of bills โ†’ Negotiate everything (they expect it) โ†’ Ask for cash discount (often 40% off) **๐Ÿฉบ Insurance Denials** โ†’ APPEAL EVERYTHING โ†’ 81.7% of appeals win โ†’ They count on you giving up **๐Ÿ“š Textbooks** โ†’ [Library Genesis](https://libgen.is/) ๐Ÿ‘€ โ†’ [OpenStax](https://openstax.org/) = free + legal โ†’ Old editions usually identical **๐Ÿ  Real Estate** โ†’ Commissions are negotiable now โ†’ Ask for 1-2% buyerโ€™s agent โ†’ Flat-fee listing services exist **๐Ÿ’ณ Fees** โ†’ [Privacy.com](https://privacy.com/) = virtual cards that auto-cancel โ†’ Pay cash at small businesses โ†’ Ask about cash discounts * * * ## ๐ŸŽฏ The Point ```auto ๐Ÿ” All this info is public โ†“ ๐Ÿ“š Court records โ†“ โš–๏ธ Lawsuits โ†“ ๐Ÿ›๏ธ Government reports โ†“ ๐Ÿ“ฐ Leaked documents โ†“ ๐ŸŽฐ They bet you won't look โ†“ ๐Ÿ‘€ You just looked โ†“ ๐Ÿง  Can't unsee it โ†“ ๐Ÿ“ข Share it ``` * * * ---
**Author:** ![Ankit\_Gupta1](https://onehack.st/user_avatar/onehack.st/ankit_gupta1/32/155052_2.png) [@Ankit\_Gupta1](https://onehack.st/u/Ankit_Gupta1)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2026, 2:13pm UTC](https://onehack.st/t/why-everything-costs-10x-more-than-it-should/315363/2 "2026-01-01T14:13:22Z")
Amazing info and discussion. This is a huge series of scams after scams funded by easy digital money