Cow Maintenance Charges

The New York Times' Frugal Traveler recently wrote about the fees and surcharges that are typical of airlines, hotels, and car rental companies. I've always felt that some industries get away with deceptive tactics while other industries, like the toy industry where I have worked for many years, behave far more ethically despite the criticism we receive.

The Frugal Traveler sums it up best by pointing out that

The confusion begins on the rental car Web sites, where most companies start out giving you a base rate that is rendered utterly useless by a random assortment of “concession fees” and “facilities charges” and “bus cost recovery fees” (not to mention taxes). It’s as if the price tag on a carton of milk covered the liquid alone, with refrigeration cost, cow maintenance charges and expiration-date ink-recuperation fees added at check-out. (emphasis mine)

Read the full article here.