Here, courtesy of MSN.com is a listing of 29 things that used to be free. Do you remember when they were free? Can you add any others?

http://moneycentral.msn.com/content/Saving...02.asp?GT1=5809

 

ATM use has me steaming! I am paying $1.50~$2 in fees everytime I have to use the ATM! WTF? I was thinking, when I go to the grocery store and use my checkcard to buy groceries I always notice the cash-back option. Does anybody know if a rate gets tacked on for this?

 

Customer service used to be included in the cost of doing business. Most of the examples shown in this link are processes that companies have "pushed back to the consumer".

For this very reason I REFUSE to use the self service check out lines at my local super market (Giant Food) or at Home Depot. While waiting in the long line because they only have three cashiers I am just waiting for a management type to come up to me and point out that the self service check out has no line. I would love to point out the obvious reason. Where will it stop? First Shoppers Food Warehouse had a bagging our own groceries. Now they have us checking our selves out. Pretty soon they will have us stocking the shelves, and then unloading the trucks. Where will it STOP?

I am conflicted about this trend. Yesterday I saved a considerable amount of time by using my E-Z Pass while driving home from my mother's house. In the process, I put several toll both attendants out of work in the process. Short of getting gas in the state of New Jersey where it is illegal to pump one's own gas, I can not tell you the last time I interacted with a gas station attendant or cashier. Again, how many people have had jobs displaced? Where will it stop?

Perhaps, we should consider web based technology to vote directly on issues therefore eliminating the need for Congress people and Senators. Now that could be an improvement that would benefit us all?

What are your thoughts about pushing services back to the consumer level like self check in at airports?

 

Free things in my life right now:

Air at my local gas station or at my bicycle shop.
ATM card at my bank.
Parking at the Sheridan, Wyoming airport. International? Domestic? Long Term? 15 minutes? All free.
Parking in downtown Sheridan. They took out the meters a few years ago.
Water at the movies (but cups are $0.25).
Coffee refills at every restaurant in town.
Water at every restaurant in town.
Backpacking permits and many car camping permits in Big Horn National Forest.
Fishing--for Wyoming kids under age 14. For me it is "free" too since I bought myself (and my sons) lifetime licenses.
Tire changes at my Bridgestone dealer. Buy snows there and they'll swap winter for summer and summer for winter as long as the snows last.
Coffee at my Honda dealer. Free car wash with every service call at my Honda dealer.

That's for starters.

 

Free coffee @ the Honda dealer.

Free lattes @ the Lexus and M-B dealers

This is Seattle, after all.

My ATM use is free if I use Key machines.

My favorite freebie? Booze - if I luck out and get an upgrade flying.

 

George, the cash-back option in the grocery store has been free to date

On topic, ATM use is free for me unless I'm at a different bank's machine. See above

Self checkout sucks. Tried it numerous times, always end up with some sort of problem and the machine going epileptic on me requiring, you guessed it, human intervention. No more of those for me. It's slower than the humans.

 

Years ago, when you wanted phone service, or additional phone service around here, you called up New York or New Jersey Bell and ordered it. That was all it took. Generally there was an installation charge and the monthly charge once the item was installed or service started.

Today, for the same phone service or additional service you call Verizon and order it. Today there is a $7.50 order writing charge. Imagine that, a charge for writing the order. This charge is over and above the installation charge and monthly service charge, it is a charge for the service rep to whom you are talking just to write up the order. I suppose I've gotten used to it now, but the first time I was told that I was offended. Imagine a doctor's office charging the patient for making an appointment, or a car dealer charging you for talking to a salesman.

I find this, once free of charge activity, disgraceful.

 

I agree. Just went through some similar bs when we moved. $90 to move our phone service 8 miles. Same number, no technician visit necessary. Flick a few virtual switches. $90.

Funny how my cable service didn't charge me to move or add and subtract services for the same move. I thought the breakup of the phone monopoly was touted as being good for the consumer?

 

Back in the days before they made big money, professional athletes (particularly baseball players) used to sign autographs for free.

Now that they make big, big money, they charge for their autographs.

 

Interesting topic . Matt, I use the self-checkout wherever and whenever I can find them. I hate waiting, so for me it's all about convenience. Once you master those things you can breeze in and out in no time flat. As far as ATM fees...they are free if I use my bank. Of course, when traveling I can't do that. I guess it's the price of convenience. I would much rather pay 2 bucks to get access to cash than to have to go inside a bank, fill out a withdrawal slip (does anyone memorize their account number?) and stand in line. Furthermore, I get access to my cash anywhere in the USA and Canada by whipping out my ATM card.