When I’m booking air travel, it seems like the price goes up with every click. By the time I pay to check a bag or two, that “great deal” isn’t looking so, well, great.
So of course airlines are fighting the Biden administration’s “junk fees’” rule, which would make them show their fees upfront for checking bags, carrying on a bag, and changing or canceling a reservation.
Virtually every major airline (American, Delta, United, JetBlue, Alaska and Hawaiian) is suing to stop this rule. Yeah, and they probably don’t want you to know their checked-baggage fees are going up again (at least, for American).
It’s called price obfuscation, and I bet it’s happening in your online shopping carts all the time. You see one price when you hit “buy,” and as they tack on more fees, you’re less likely to notice them.
Concert tickets are some of the worst offenders, with service fees, order processing fees, delivery fees and facility charges.
The price obfuscation for concert tickets got so out of control, some states finally made Ticketmaster show “all-in pricing” — your actual ticket cost — instead of the ticket price you think you’re paying.
Hotels stays: Many hotels tack on a “resort fee” they claim is for amenities. Some local governments charge a tourism tax, too. It can add up!
Online shopping: That outfit was a good deal … until you saw the shipping and handling fees.
Are there certain numbers you never answer? If I see one that starts with the same few digits as mine, I know it’s likely a scam. That’s one of the tricks they use to get you since you’re most likely to answer if the number is vaguely familiar.
Side biz at your main gig: Amazon is using small businesses as delivery partners — think local coffee joints, florists or yoga studios. They say you can make up to $27,000 a year. Apply here.
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Did you get a text about a package from the post office or FedEx? Stop and think. This message could be a dangerous scam.
📦 If you see this trick online, it doesn’t work anymore: A Walmart shopper found the ultimate moving-day hack: Ordering 24 boxes online. Each box arrived individually packed in a Walmart delivery box with bubble wrap, basically doubling his single-box order for free. Someone at Walmart caught on, of course, and now they’ll be shipping box orders altogether.
Delivery drivers make the most money per hour working for which service: A.) Amazon, B.) FedEx, C.) UPS or D.) USPS?
Despite Tesla threatening price gougers with a $50,000 fine. Buying Elon’s $80,000 tank/truck meant agreeing to a contract that boiled down to, “I won’t resell this.” One dope had his delivery canceled when Tesla spotted him trying to sell it before it even arrived.
🍕 It’s all about the delivery: About 75% of resumes never get seen by a human, but who could ignore one attached to a hot pizza? Pizza Hut’s newest contest allows winners to get their resume printed on a pizza box and delivered to their dream employer. To enter, go to the Reszames site and get a slice of the action!
Smartphone thieves listen to steal drums: Police are warning about a rise in expensive cellphone thefts from front porches. Don’t be next: Track your package closely and request a signature upon delivery. If you’re not home, send it somewhere else, get a video doorbell, post a “You’re being recorded” sign or install a porch lockbox.
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Get to the point: Cut to the chase if you’re adding special instructions to your online order. If there’s a gate code, for instance, start the message with “Gate code 1234” (or whatever your code is). Often, those notes get cut short for the delivery person, so put the important stuff right up front.
Suddenly, I’m not hungry: Want unlimited grocery delivery from Amazon? That’ll be $99, in addition to the $139 annual charge for Amazon Prime. It works on orders over $35 from Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods and select retailers on Amazon.com. I’ll stick with Instacart.
This is so fly: Amazon Prime Air’s delivery drones have received Beyond Visual Line of Sight clearance to go nationwide in 2025. Pilots can operate them remotely, and drones can legally travel farther. Hopefully, this doesn’t turn into people skeet-shooting for “prizes.”
Pat Lawlor was happy to buy his first home — until he received a fake email from someone he thought was his escrow officer. Plus, closing apps doesn’t save iPhone battery, a flame-throwing robot dog, and Amazon’s new grocery delivery.
Jeff Bezos needs the money: Amazon’s new grocery delivery has hit the streets. For $9.99 per month, you’ll get free delivery from Amazon Fresh, Whole Foods, Rite Aid and a few local spots but only on orders over $35. You can get a free 30-day trial. Instacart is getting too expensive. Listen to this to learn how much.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
Opting for grocery delivery? It’s convenient, but be aware of the extra price.
Can’t peel yourself off the couch? Amazon Prime members, get a year of Grubhub+ for free and skip the food delivery fees. Go to amazon.com/grubhub, hit Activate Grubhub+, and sign in or make an account. After your first year, it’s $10 a month, so set a reminder to cancel.
We may receive a commission when you buy through our links, but our reporting and recommendations are always independent and objective.
🧾 The shake-down: Squatters took over a $930,000 NYC home and are suing the owners post-eviction, claiming they have a right to stay. Their proof? A sketchy lease and a $25 Shake Shack delivery receipt to assert squatter’s rights after 30 days.
🍩 I want a drone-nut: DoorDash is piloting drone delivery, starting in Christiansburg, Virginia. All you need is a clear two-square-meter spot on your property, like a driveway, and boom — it’s raining takeout. DoorDash says it plans to launch its drones in other U.S. cities this year. Phoenix next, please!
So you can stop looking out the window: The delay between you ordering your food on Uber Eats and your being able to enjoy it is about to get shorter. Uber is introducing a live location-sharing feature that should make connecting to your delivery person easier. Sweet.
