4 ms·

It's really basic contract law stuff. Here in Sweden, if the amount isn't clearly presented, there's no agreement to pay the specified amount, so there's no co

It's really basic contract law stuff. Here in Sweden, if the amount isn't clearly presented, there's no agreement to pay the specified amount, so there's no contract and no obligation to pay-- an agreement becomes binding because of the reasonable expectation of a party on the counterparty. I don't understand American contract law, since I even see ideas like changing agreements, which are completely contrary to the very notion of a contracts as I understand it, so it's nice that something is done about these strange practices. I don't understand how it's come to this point though. That courts have been willing to tolerate things that aren't in the contract (i.e. changes to contracts), provisions that aren't clear, etc., and complex and strange provisions even in contracts of adhesion and things presented to consumers.

LorenPechtel 2y ago
Mostly it comes down to the fees being presented at the end rather than at the beginning. You have to follow the process through to the end to figure out what it would cost which makes price comparisons much harder. Occasionally this is unavoidable--shipping charges. If they simply pass through what UPS charges, fine. Otherwise, they should be listed up front.
- impossiblefork 2y ago
  Ah, I'm thinking about EULAs etc. where people claim the right to change the agreement at any time etc. With regard to shipping charges, don't you choose your shipping options and get to see the price before buying?
  - Dylan16807 2y ago
    Yes it's before buying, but the problem is that it's after almost everything else.
  - foobarchu 2y ago
    You do before purchase, but generally not as part of the storefront product listing. That necessitates the seller already knowing where you'll be shipping it to, and that's traditionally the last step before purchase (whether that's best or not I can't say). Sales tax is also usually added in at the very end, again because it depends on where the buyer is. The difference here is that the "hidden junk fees" are just extra money they charge, with no real defence. For example, Ticketmaster loves their arbitrary "convenience fee", Airbnb was long known for "cleaning fees" (though they've improved here), etc. These are things that the seller knows they're going to charge beforehand and clearly they do this purely to trick our brains into thinking things are cheaper.

LorenPechtel 2y ago

Mostly it comes down to the fees being presented at the end rather than at the beginning. You have to follow the process through to the end to figure out what it would cost which makes price comparisons much harder. Occasionally this is unavoidable--shipping charges. If they simply pass through what UPS charges, fine. Otherwise, they should be listed up front.

impossiblefork 2y ago
Ah, I'm thinking about EULAs etc. where people claim the right to change the agreement at any time etc. With regard to shipping charges, don't you choose your shipping options and get to see the price before buying?
- Dylan16807 2y ago
  Yes it's before buying, but the problem is that it's after almost everything else.
- foobarchu 2y ago
  You do before purchase, but generally not as part of the storefront product listing. That necessitates the seller already knowing where you'll be shipping it to, and that's traditionally the last step before purchase (whether that's best or not I can't say). Sales tax is also usually added in at the very end, again because it depends on where the buyer is. The difference here is that the "hidden junk fees" are just extra money they charge, with no real defence. For example, Ticketmaster loves their arbitrary "convenience fee", Airbnb was long known for "cleaning fees" (though they've improved here), etc. These are things that the seller knows they're going to charge beforehand and clearly they do this purely to trick our brains into thinking things are cheaper.