# What optional things do you always get? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [February 18, 2014, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-optional-things-do-you-always-get/681621 "2014-02-18T14:46:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 10:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-optional-things-do-you-always-get/681621/41 "2014-02-20T10:50:39Z")
Cruise control. I’ll probably never buy another vehicle without it. I haven’t flown in years, but if I ever have to again I’ll go first-class or business class. I’ve had enough of cattle-car class for one lifetime. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 12:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-optional-things-do-you-always-get/681621/42 "2014-02-20T12:28:17Z")
Blue cheese dressing. (WTF was up with that, anyway? There was a time, years ago, when many restaurants dinged you for an extra quarter for blue cheese dressing. Did anyone ever back down and switch to Italian?) ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-optional-things-do-you-always-get/681621/43 "2014-02-20T12:30:01Z")
> [@Doctor\_Jackson](#): > > Sprinkles on ice cream. Nuts on ice cream. But I never get the big waffle cones. Guacamole on the side of tacos. ---
**Author:** ![SprungFromCages](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f17d59/32.png) [@SprungFromCages](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SprungFromCages)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 2:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-optional-things-do-you-always-get/681621/44 "2014-02-20T14:22:52Z")
Concert seats - get as close as possible to the stage. I’ve shaken hands with Victor Wooten and clapped Springsteen on the back using this strategy. Of course, I go to maybe 1-2 shows a year tops. Sports - super close seats not worth the premium, in my opinion, especially outdoors in big stadiums. ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-optional-things-do-you-always-get/681621/45 "2014-02-20T14:33:07Z")
Fast chargers for batteries whenever possible, especially Ni-MH. I’m looking for a fast charging USB battery pack. The best solution I can come up with is get a power tool battery, and a converter to USB power (there’s one being crowdfunded). ---
**Author:** ![bump](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7c8e57/32.png) [@bump](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bump)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-optional-things-do-you-always-get/681621/46 "2014-02-20T15:37:30Z")
> [@AaronX](#): > > Fast chargers for batteries whenever possible, especially Ni-MH. If you go over the ability to charge a cell in less than an hour (\> 1C), you’re probably doing internal damage to it. In other words, a charger that can charge at 2000 mAh per hour is way overkill for a AAA battery(~800 mAh capacity), and probably the most you would want for an AA NiMH battery(~2000-2500 mAh capacity). ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-optional-things-do-you-always-get/681621/47 "2014-02-20T15:46:38Z")
That’s what I heard. But my fastest charger takes at least 2 hours. How about Li-ion batteries? Power tool batteries can charge in 30 mins. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-optional-things-do-you-always-get/681621/48 "2014-02-20T16:19:47Z")
Powerplay on the Powerball ---
**Author:** ![Missy2U](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3bc359/32.png) [@Missy2U](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Missy2U)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-optional-things-do-you-always-get/681621/49 "2014-02-20T16:46:06Z")
At “real” restaurants, extra salad dressing. If I’m ordering something that comes with gravy, I ask for extra gravy. If I’m getting a cheeseburger, extra cheese. If it’s a Mexican restaurant and I’m getting cheese quesadillas, I ask for chopped tomato in them too, and guacamole - they arleady come with sour cream. 😃 At fast food restaurants it depends - McDonald’s is extra Big Mac Sauce and Cheese on my Big Mac and extra tartar sauce on the Filet O Fish, Arby’s is extra cheese on the Beef and Cheddar, Burger King is extra cheese and pickles on my Whopper Jr., Taco Bell I always get guacamole and sour cream for my Mexican Pizza, Subway I always ask for extra vinegar for my Spicy Italian sub. At any restaurant/gas station/convenience store where I’m buying a drink, heavy on the ice. I don’t travel so I don’t have any examples there (hotels, rental cars, etc.), I’ve never bought a new car so no examples there (although I do have heated seats in the used mini-van we bought a few years ago - that I’d definitely get again - I LOVE my heated seats!) Hey **kayaker** , I don’t eat Blue Cheese Dressing but I do remember some restaurants charged more for it back in the day - and my mom would always change her order to Creamy Garlic fi there was an upcharge. I have no idea if any restaurants still do that - I will have to find out! ---
**Author:** ![jrsone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f0a364/32.png) [@jrsone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jrsone)\ **Post date:** [February 20, 2014, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-optional-things-do-you-always-get/681621/50 "2014-02-20T16:47:29Z")
Late check out at hotels. ---
**Author:** ![Luk3112](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a9adbd/32.png) [@Luk3112](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Luk3112)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 4:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-optional-things-do-you-always-get/681621/51 "2014-02-21T16:19:48Z")
Garlic Mayonnaise. > [@AaronX](#): > > I’m just wondering what optional additions are good value for money, as well as curious about what people always spring for. It doesn’t have to be a separate item, it might be a deluxe version of the same thing. Things like: > Insurance on rental cars? > In car navigation? > Upsizing your fast food meal? > Extended warranties? > SSDs? > Exit row seats on airplanes? > Late check-out? > Octane 98 petrol? > Soy milk in your coffee? > > For me, I always get pocketknives with locking blades. Normal blades seem too dangerous now. I try to get power screwdrivers with torque control. And I’m a sucker for backlit keyboards. > > I know extended warranties are supposed to be a money grab, but my 1 year 4 month old iPhone just developed a problem, and I’m glad I got AppleCare. ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [February 21, 2014, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-optional-things-do-you-always-get/681621/52 "2014-02-21T16:30:54Z")
The “girlfriend experience” ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2014, 7:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-optional-things-do-you-always-get/681621/53 "2014-02-22T07:44:05Z")
If you’re going to get an epilator, get a cordless waterproof one. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-optional-things-do-you-always-get/681621.md?page=2)