People Are Fed Up With These ‘Luxury’ Add-Ons That Used to Be Standard — “Everything’s a Subscription Now”
If it feels like you’re getting charged extra for things that used to be included (and you’re somehow supposed to smile about it), you’re not imagining it.
A recent thread asked: What’s a “luxury” that used to be standard, but now we’re being charged extra for? These were the most popular answers, which I would say most of us can agree with…
“You don’t own it anymore” — the subscription creep is everywhere
One of the biggest themes was how companies have moved from selling products to selling access.
One person summed it up like this: “Use of software and hardware we purchased without a subscription.”
And another commenter shared a story that hit a nerve for a lot of people: after owning an Anova sous vide machine for years, the app changed and started pushing a subscription. They said the device still works (they just use the physical controls), but the company “succeeded in losing a repeat customer.”
Someone else put it more bluntly: “A subscription…for a cooking appliance…fml.”
The vibe was pretty consistent: if it’s a product sitting in your kitchen, it shouldn’t need to “phone home” to function.
Cars turning into microtransactions
A bunch of commenters zeroed in on modern cars — and the idea that features inside your vehicle can be locked behind recurring payments.
One person said simply: “anything in a car accessed by subscription.”
Another described getting hit with multiple subscription prompts and pushing back — and then suddenly being offered the features free for three years. Which… kind of proves the point.
And remote start came up a lot too, including someone who said their Mazda app flipped to subscription-only recently — and they’re not paying, period.
Airlines: pay more, get less
Air travel also got dragged hard — especially the feeling that ticket prices climbed back up, but the “included” stuff never came back.
As one commenter put it: “Almost everything when booking flights.”
People mentioned baggage fees, seat selection (especially sitting next to your spouse or kid), and shrinking legroom, basically the sense that economy now comes with a menu of upgrades just to feel normal.
Getting charged for the basics (and it’s not subtle)
This thread had a whole collection of “wait… seriously?” fees that feel like they exist purely because companies can get away with it:
- Paying extra to select your seat
- “Convenience fees” on payments (even when it’s the only payment method)
- Resort fees that charge you for amenities, whether you use them or not
- Tipping prompts everywhere — including online checkouts
- Paying for sauce packets
- Shipping “insurance” added at checkout like it’s your job to protect the shipment
One person called out the pure audacity of it: paying a mandatory “convenience” fee when an app is the only way to pay their rent.
Printers and “hostage” tech
Printers (especially HP) turned into their own mini-rage thread.
One commenter complained their “all-in-one printer doesn’t scan unless you pay for the monthly subscription,” and another responded with what a lot of people were thinking: “I’d say it’s HP.”
Someone else shared a workaround, bypassing the printer’s app and using a built-in Windows scan function instead, and people in the replies were basically cheering them on.
The hidden luxury: your time
One of the most popular answers wasn’t an item at all — it was time.
A commenter pointed out how basic errands and customer service now come with friction everywhere: fewer cashiers, long phone trees, chat support that doesn’t reach a human, and holds so long you start questioning your life choices.
Their point: companies save money, but you pay with your time.
Another person responded: “There is so much friction in everything now. It’s exhausting.”
Salon pricing that feels like a restaurant bill
A surprising number of people were furious about hair salons charging separately for things that used to be part of a normal appointment… like blow drying your hair after a cut.
One commenter said a stylist waited until their hair was already wet and cut to mention it would cost an additional $20 to blow dry, and they called it deceptive.
Another person described an itemized salon bill that included things like a towel fee and tool sanitation fee… and then the suggested tip was 30%. Their basic haircut ended up at $110 before tip.
The frustration around being charged extra for everyday basics isn’t new — and people have been sounding off about other “money traps” lately too. Many are also warning others about waste-of-money purchases they regret and why some travelers say Airbnb just isn’t worth the hassle anymore.
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