What do you find is overpriced and is there an alternative to it?

[Maciamo]

I was inspired by this video to start a discussion about things that are overpriced but that people still buy.

Evan mentions a few things that are particularly overpriced in the US, but rarely anywhere else. For example drugs (medicine) and university books (like $300 per book!)

Here are examples that are more universal.

Electronics and technology

• Printer ink : prices vary between €1,500 €10,000 per litre, which makes it vastly more expensive than champagne, Chanel n°5 (one of the most expensive perfumes), or even human blood! I've seen several YouTube videos that explain how printer manufacturers go even further to rob you by installing a software that tells the printer that the ink cartridge is empty even though it isn't. By opening the cartridges they found that there was about 20% of ink left. There are some hacks that allow you to circumvent that and use your cartridges longer but of course printer manufacturers regularly update their software to block these.
• Adobe Creative Cloud : there are also plenty of people complaining about Adobe's compulsory product subscription instead of just a one-time purchase.
• Apple products : why spend €1000 or €2000 for the latest iPhone when you can get a good Android phone for less than €300?
• Video games on Steam: you can get the same PC games on other websites like Eneba and Instant Gaming for a tenth of the price. Sometime it's even less than that. For example Civilization 6 costs €60 on Steam but about €2 on Instant Gaming. That's 30 times cheaper.

Food and drinks

• Bottled water : I used to buy some but tap water is just as good and hundreds of time cheaper. If yours has too much chlorine in it you can use a Brita filter.
• Food and drinks at the cinema : either don't buy them or sneak your own in your bag. Apparently in many countries you are allowed to bring your own food and drinks.
• Food and drinks in airports and in low cost airlines (like Ryanair) : there is an easy alternative; just bring your own food in your rucksack. You cannot bring your own water passed security but you can bring an empty bottle and many airports now have fountains to refill your bottle just after the security check.
• Drinks at the restaurant, especially alcohol. I don't drink alcohol anymore but I still object to pay €5 for a glass of water. However in many countries you can request free tap water.
• Nespresso pods : usually cost between 50 cents and €1 a piece (for one cup). Using ground coffee you can make a cup for 10 to 15 cents. It may not sound much but if you drink two cups of coffee per day you can save over €400 per year.

 

[ssha_cha7]

Somewhat of an oblique and impractical answer but Individuality.

Having lived in extreme communal or collective situations, the notion of individuality seems extremely inefficient. I'm not trying to debate anyone - there's a good reason for it. However my personal preference is to suffer the challenges of community, for instance, if it means not having to own my own personal everything.

And before I get called a communist, say more Rule of St. Benedict than Stalin

 

[Luso]

Starbucks.

Just buy a coffee machine and make coffee yourself…

 

[Duarte]

Hotel minibar.
Buy everything you need at the nearest supermarket, bakery or market. If you are only staying for a short time, buy at least enough water for your consumption in the room. Snacks in the basket over the minibar: Never. Find a space in the minibar to put the bottles you bought at the supermarket. Avoid consuming in places frequented by tourists. Always choose places where local residents consume and buy all there.

 

[Maciamo]

Starbucks.

Just buy a coffee machine and make coffee yourself…

I agree. I only go to cafés when I'm travelling and when I'm staying at a hotel. Usually I prefer staying at an apartment so that I can make my own breakfast or buy takeaway pastries at a good bakery but make tea or coffee for free in the apartment.

I've never understood why people would buy their coffee from an expensive café (Starbucks or other) near their home or workplace when they could just make their own coffee at home or at work. If it's just to have higher quality coffee then it's still better to buy a good coffee maker like a De'Longhi, which will pay for itself after a few weeks compared to buying everyday from Starbucks.

That brings us to another thing that is grossly overpriced: breakfasts at hotels. Staying at a three- or four-star hotel it is common to be charged 10 to 15 € per person for breakfast. Like low cost airlines they expect a lot of people to be lazy and to buy on the spot instead of buying from outside. Almost every time it is tastier and considerably cheaper to buy pastries at a bakery. Some international chains like Paul (now found in 47 countries) will let you eat there for just a few cents more compared to the takeaway price and many local café-bakeries do not charge anything extra to dine in. You could have a croissant or pain au chocolat for less than €1 each.

 

[Maciamo]

Starbucks prices have significantly increased over the last 10 years (2014 to 2024). That's in the US but I suppose that the trend is global.

 

[Southpaw]

I wouldn't recommend getting the cheap Android phones, you might have a lot of stuff in your phone and suddenly after 2-3 years your phone will break with no comeback possible. This happens to mid-range Android phone letalone the cheaper ones.

You'll pay the price in other ways. It's better to buy a decent Android phone or iPhone than go for cheap.

 

[Velo]

Big on the medicine part, it is why an ever increasing amount of people are starting to order from underground labs or pharmacies producing generics in Asia. Depending on the compound it could be even more than 10 times less expensive.