# Once-premium services which are now standard **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 27, 2019, 1:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-premium-services-which-are-now-standard/836151 "2019-06-27T13:19:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 1:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-premium-services-which-are-now-standard/836151/21 "2019-06-28T13:57:05Z")
In cars, there’s one that just made the jump recently: Rear-view cameras, which are not just standard but mandatory as of last year. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-premium-services-which-are-now-standard/836151/22 "2019-06-28T14:15:07Z")
> [@Hari\_Seldon](#): > > Cars come with a lot of features that were once extras: disk brakes, radial tires, automatic transmission, cruise control, seat belts. And this trend has continued more recently with more advanced safety features, like rear-vision cameras (which are now required on all vehicles), Vehicle Stability Control (VSC)/Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC), etc. I’ve seen this trend over the years as my wife has bought Subaru Outbacks in 2003, 2013, and 2019. In 2003, Vehicle Dynamics Control (VDC) was an option only on the highest trim level of the Subaru Outback. By 2013, it was standard on all Subarus. In 2013, Subaru’s EyeSight Driver Assist Technology (including lane keep assist, sway warning, adaptive cruise control, pre-collision braking, and pre-collision throttle management) was only a high-end option. In 2019, it is now standard on all models of the Subaru Outback, Forester, Legacy, and Ascent. In 2019, blind-spot detection and rear cross-traffic alert are standard on Subaru Outback Limited and Touring models, available on Premium models, and not available on basic models. I expect this will eventually become standard on all Subarus in future model years. In 2019, reverse automatic braking is standard on Subaru Outback Touring models, available on Limited Models, and not available on basic models. I expect this will also become standard on all Subarus in future model years. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Feldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lord_feldon/32/341_2.png) [@Lord\_Feldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Feldon)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-premium-services-which-are-now-standard/836151/23 "2019-06-28T14:23:15Z")
I think there were ISPs that charged for “extra” email addresses. ---
**Author:** ![zimaane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a3d4f5/32.png) [@zimaane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zimaane)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-premium-services-which-are-now-standard/836151/24 "2019-06-28T14:44:14Z")
Unlimited cellular data plans aren’t quite universal yet, but they are pretty common. I remember just a few years ago when our family plan had a monthly limit, and we were charged by the GB for any overage. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-premium-services-which-are-now-standard/836151/25 "2019-06-28T14:55:40Z")
> [@zimaane](#): > > Unlimited cellular data plans aren’t quite universal yet, but they are pretty common. > > I remember just a few years ago when our family plan had a monthly limit, and we were charged by the GB for any overage. In the early days, 10 cents a text after 100. My daughter blew through that by a wide margin. We could ge unlimited for $10/month. ---
**Author:** ![Grrr](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/grrr/32/146_2.png) [@Grrr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grrr)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-premium-services-which-are-now-standard/836151/26 "2019-06-28T16:10:56Z")
My car’s radio gets a handful of satellite stations. I’ve never signed up for their service. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 5:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-premium-services-which-are-now-standard/836151/27 "2019-06-28T17:12:34Z")
> [@zimaane](#): > > Unlimited cellular data plans aren’t quite universal yet, but they are pretty common. > > I remember just a few years ago when our family plan had a monthly limit, and we were charged by the GB for any overage. Remember the early days of the internet, when ISPs charged per minute? I remember my dad getting mad at me for spending too much time online and running up the bill. And there used to be software that would just log on, download your email, and immediately log off to avoid racking up too many minutes. ---
**Author:** ![WildaBeast](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wildabeast/32/6_2.png) [@WildaBeast](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WildaBeast)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-premium-services-which-are-now-standard/836151/28 "2019-06-28T17:28:26Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > Not at gas stations, where surcharges makes it difficult to comparison shop if you’re using credit since I have never seen the surcharge even displayed in the price sign let alone prominently displayed. On the other had, I do occasionally see “cash discount” prominently displayed in the sign. I wonder why. Around here stations will typically post two prices, a cash price and a credit price. Except for Arco – they post one price and then charge a flat $0.35 fee for debit cards and don’t accept credit cards at all. Debit cards are the one variable that makes it hard to comparison shop – some stations will give you the cash price if you use a debit card, others treat a debit card as a credit card (at least if you pay at the pump) and charge you the credit price. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-premium-services-which-are-now-standard/836151/29 "2019-06-28T17:39:33Z")
That does remind me that _very_ occasionally I will see cash price and credit flash alternatively on a sign, but the number of places I’ve seen that is fewer than 10 and it’s still hard to see which one you’re seeing. ---
**Author:** ![That\_Don\_Guy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/that_don_guy/32/538_2.png) [@That\_Don\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/That_Don_Guy)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-premium-services-which-are-now-standard/836151/30 "2019-06-28T18:34:31Z")
> [@racer72](#): > > I have noticed that a lot of retail establishments are charging to use credit or debit cards. I stopped at a small town gas station yesterday, they wanted $1 plus 10 cents a gallon more than the cash price for gas. Nothing new about this, at least in California; I remember gas stations charging more for credit card purchases 25 years ago. > [@The\_Vorlon](#): > > Despite it’s many faults, Taxachusetts gets one thing right–surcharges for credit cards and debit cards are illegal. Not to mention that it goes against the Terms of Service in the merchant agreement, but I suppose that they can be overlooked if no one squawks. In California, I have seen two ways around this. First, it’s not a “credit card surcharge,” but a “cash discount”; presumably, as long as the predominantly displayed price is the credit card price, this is not a problem - and I don’t think the people who wanted to ban the credit card surcharges had much of a problem with it either; I am under the impression the ban was to prevent “bait and switch” pricing where you see a low price, fill your tank, and are then told, “Oh, that’s the cash price.” Second, instead of a debit card fee, one restaurant I went to used to have a sign saying, “All transactions are subject to a 69c service fee - also, all transactions involving cash or credit cards will receive a 69c convenience discount” (i.e. “we’re charging you 69c if you use your debit card”). > [@Hampshire](#): > > Cable companies used to charge more if you wanted your channels in HD. > Do they still even do that or is it standard now? They still do. At least, mine does. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-premium-services-which-are-now-standard/836151/31 "2019-06-28T18:51:34Z")
I guess you can still buy a car without air conditioning, but I’m not too sure why you’d want to. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-premium-services-which-are-now-standard/836151/32 "2019-06-28T19:46:31Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > The gas station, and every other business that accepts cards, gets charged by the card company for each such transaction. > > It’s true that in many states the credit card companies managed to make it illegal for the businesses to explicitly pass this charge on to their customers. That doesn’t mean that the cost goes away, however. It just means that the business needs to charge cash and card customers alike extra to cover the cost. Sure, but there are costs associated with cash, and especially with checks. The cost with CC are somewhat higher than the costs with cash, but the extra business CC brings in more than makes up for it. So CC surcharges are stupid. OTOH, a sign that\* ask \*you to not use CC on sales under $10 is perfectly reasonable and I will honor it. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-premium-services-which-are-now-standard/836151/33 "2019-06-28T20:28:13Z")
> [@racer72](#): > > Many banking services. With my first checking account years ago, the account cost something like $5 or so a month plus a charge for each check. I had to buy the checks too. My first cash machine card cost me 45 cents for each use. A bounced check cost $25. Now my checking account is free including checks, my cash machine card is now a debit card that I can use just about anywhere and I have free overdraft protection up to $1500. That really is a bank-by-bank thing though. My bank charges a $12 account fee and $2.50 for using an ATM other than theirs. It’s possible to have these fees waived, by maintaining a minimum balance or by having enough direct deposits/ automatic bill payments - but getting the fees waived by maintaining a minimum balance was possible 35 years ago. ( and I still have to buy the checks) ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-premium-services-which-are-now-standard/836151/34 "2019-06-28T20:33:05Z")
The default Comcast package, at least in this area, includes Starz and all their subchannels at no extra charge. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [June 28, 2019, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-premium-services-which-are-now-standard/836151/35 "2019-06-28T20:38:18Z")
Texts/data are especially weird. Way back, before smart phones and before texting was popular, texts cost me $.02 to receive and .05 to send , and I could get “internet” on my flip phone for 5 month . Then texts became popular and went up to .50 to send or receive, and I could buy various packages so that it would be cheaper per text… Then smart phones came in and I could buy a certain amount of data per month, but I now had unlimited texts and minutes and I can use my phone in Canada and Mexico for no extra fee. ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2019, 2:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-premium-services-which-are-now-standard/836151/36 "2019-06-29T02:00:01Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > …My first car, a 1968 Plymouth, didn’t have a passenger-side side mirror. My 1985 Dodge Omni had mirrors on both doors, but the right-hand door, unchanged since 1978, didn’t have a nice little recess for the base of the mirror to fit into. ---
**Author:** ![robby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robby/32/11048_2.png) [@robby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robby)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2019, 2:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-premium-services-which-are-now-standard/836151/37 "2019-06-29T02:47:00Z")
> [@jnglmassiv](#): > > My first car, a 1968 Plymouth, didn’t have a passenger-side side mirror. Neither did my first two cars, a 1980 Volkswagen Rabbit and a 1985 Mazda GLC. I guess they figured your biggest blind spot was over your left shoulder. You had to manually adjust the driver’s side mirror, too. For that matter, the windows and locks were all manual, too. My first new car was a 1992 BMW 325is. It had mirrors on both sides that were electrically controlled, power windows, and power locks. But only a driver’s side airbag, no car remotes (key only), and no CD player (radio and tape deck only). ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2019, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-premium-services-which-are-now-standard/836151/38 "2019-06-29T02:52:13Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > Sure, but there are costs associated with cash, and especially with checks. The cost with CC are somewhat higher than the costs with cash, but the extra business CC brings in more than makes up for it. So CC surcharges are stupid. > > OTOH, a sign that\* ask \*you to not use CC on sales under $10 is perfectly reasonable and I will honor it. What if it’s a restaurant where everything cost less than $10? There’s a pretty decent place by me that does that and I rarely get food there since by the time I go get cash, I could just go home and grab something from the fridge. They also keep weird hours. I assume it’s more for tax evasion that they want to keep most of their sales in cash. ---
**Author:** ![Asuka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/dec6dc/32.png) [@Asuka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Asuka)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2019, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-premium-services-which-are-now-standard/836151/39 "2019-06-29T06:20:23Z")
I remember when movie theaters used to charge you extra for extra butter on your popcorn. Or at least maybe that was all my cheap movie theaters near for most of the 80’s and 90’s. All my local movie theaters now have the butter station in the open free to use. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [June 29, 2019, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-premium-services-which-are-now-standard/836151/40 "2019-06-29T06:45:49Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > What if it’s a restaurant where everything cost less than $10? There’s a pretty decent place by me that does that and I rarely get food there since by the time I go get cash, I could just go home and grab something from the fridge. They also keep weird hours. I assume it’s more for tax evasion that they want to keep most of their sales in cash. Costs associated with cash included a small charge for change, a charge for cash deposits over $10000, extra insurance, armored car service, and the cost of two people counting and recounting it after shift. Small sales like what you mention likely only have the last one. Since their sales tend to be under $10, it could be tax evasion, but since there are extra CC charges for average sales that small, they likely are mostly trying to evade those fees. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-premium-services-which-are-now-standard/836151.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/once-premium-services-which-are-now-standard/836151.md?page=3)