Clark - 4:43 pm on Jan 28, 2008 (gmt 0)

They should charge you for doing them a favor and using their service? Are you kidding? It's no wonder we keep getting shafted by monopolies. There are too many people out there not thinking things through.

Want to add HBO, there's a "setup fee" in order to buy extra service from the cable company.

Want to join a health club? There's a setup fee.. Why? So you can buy their services...and pay the annoying sales guy a commission for making the signup process more difficult and slimy.

The mom and pop's wouldn't do this and couldn't get away with it. People have gotten so used to it that they pay it without complaint and even suggest it to a monopoly like google. Oy vey.

Imagine if your mom and pop grocery store or restaurant charged you a setup fee to come in and buy groceries or lunch? This is not much different.