A Fool And His Money...

So the title of their article is a little crass but some of these insights are likely new to any but the most cost-conscious consumer. Nathan Birch at Cracked has written a great expose on the things that five common businesses do to trick you out of your money:

Bars keep the music loud so you drink instead of talk.

Grocery stores are designed to make movement as slow as possible. Skip the cart and just carry the basket to speed your way around.

Restaurants have all sorts of diabolical tricks, including weighted silverware and extruded plates to make your portion appear bigger.

The Mall is not your friend, unless you're trying to get extra exercise -- which you should be as it's never a bad thing and you can then look better in your myriad t-shirts -- they put like stores across the building from each other to ensure you have to pass by everything else on your way.

While we all know that casinos pump up the oxygen to keep you happy and high, who knew that their gaudy floors and low-hanging canopies were designed to keep your focus on the machines and tables?

Read their article for tons of other revelations about the underhanded world of sales -- Dickonomics: How 5 Everyday Businesses Trick You

photo courtesy of adamjinj (or something like that)