These scams work because once you have made a reservation online, and have likely made other plans that depend on it, the service is now more valuable than what

These scams work because once you have made a reservation online, and have likely made other plans that depend on it, the service is now more valuable than what you agreed to pay for it. Thing is, nobody has agreed to anything yet, so you have just signalled your willingness to commit to that anchor price when you show up, now at a disadvantage because you have no other plan or way to get to a competitor, and they can pile stuff on until your complaining causes them opportunity cost against screwing other people. Making a decision takes effort and energy, meaning once you have done it, you have less if it to argue. Pretty much every online price for holiday or services I have seen has a %33 markup of "fees," "insurance," "deposits," above the sticker price. When someone renegs on a deal or tries to add "what about this one last thing," once you've committed, leave.