Ask HN: Why is the American business environment so scummy?
I don't know if it's the recency of my Asia experience (though I can say the same vs. my South American experience), but the way the American business environment works seems exceedingly scummy, especially towards end customers.
A few things that make express this opinion:
1) The explosion of tipping culture, already discussed extensively on HN. I contribute one absurd example: paying an invoice for a kitchen renovation, of $18k, I was asked for a tip. On an 18 thousand dollar bill.
2) I bought a house and immediately started receiving ungodly amounts of spam, many carefully crafted as official documents, attempting to make me buy some service, like property tax protesting, flood insurance (giving the impression it is mandatory!), filing for certain exceptions with the county (none of them are feasible, but they will charge for filing), it's like there is a host of parasites scouting public transaction records to try and extract money out of new homebuyers in a borderline criminal way.
3) Buying a car, I eventually gave up. Dealers playing all sorts of games, much worse when I last lived in the US, since market heated up and MSRP became a fantasy. I had a salesman laugh on my face when I asked if a certain car went for $XX, "no man, it's $XX + $15k in markup, because this car is hot right now!", then requesting a "deposit" (aka bribe) to get the car for a "special price".
4) It's impossible to obtain upfront pricing from gyms. Impossible. Some Crossfit gyms used to have it, now all have a popup asking for your data so they can upsell you shit. I HATE upselling especially when done in a non-graceful, exploitative way. And these mother**s take your phone number and never stop spamming you even when you declined all communication. Anytime Fitness is a repeat offender.
5) Tried to rent a temp apartment from Blue Ground, which was attractively priced ("hey we are cheaper than AirBNB!") at $1950 (same retail price). Upon clicking the ad, filling out the form data, etc. they add a cleaning fee of $550 (seriously) plus $500 pet fee, plus other parking and "service fees", bumping the price to $3500.
6) Constant pushing (which seems to have gotten worse over the previous six years) of extended warranties and service plans. It's everyfucking where now, even Target pushes a "protection plan" on a $49.99 microwave.
Upselling and hidden fees have always been a feature of America's economy but the situation seems to have deteriorated so much that I feel like I am surrounded by criminal business entities trying to scam me.
What specifically led the business environment in America to become this way?