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ArishMell · 70-79, M
The word is slang for illegal practices, so something cannot be a "scam" if legal.
It can though be sharp practice close to the law, e.g. made to look as if benefiting the customer but really to benefit the supplier. Supermarket "loyalty" or "club" cards come into this category.
The supermarkets are full of tricks: "BOGOF" offers, enticing sweets displays next to the tills, the scent of freshly-baked bread wafted over the bakery products, apparently random re-arranging of sections, washed and waxed fruit, large numbers of ranges of goods but limited choice in each range, "piped music",
etc. All legal but designed to make you spend more, and spend less discriminately, than you'd intended.
A lot of modern IT equipment too: devices like 'Alexa', systems like Google and sites like Facebook are all legal, but for [i]their [/i]benefit much more than yours as user.
It can though be sharp practice close to the law, e.g. made to look as if benefiting the customer but really to benefit the supplier. Supermarket "loyalty" or "club" cards come into this category.
The supermarkets are full of tricks: "BOGOF" offers, enticing sweets displays next to the tills, the scent of freshly-baked bread wafted over the bakery products, apparently random re-arranging of sections, washed and waxed fruit, large numbers of ranges of goods but limited choice in each range, "piped music",
etc. All legal but designed to make you spend more, and spend less discriminately, than you'd intended.
A lot of modern IT equipment too: devices like 'Alexa', systems like Google and sites like Facebook are all legal, but for [i]their [/i]benefit much more than yours as user.
