If there ever is an example of capitalism in America, it is convenience fees. These are fees for the convenience of having to pay bills online. Back in the old days, the only way to pay a bill was to send it through the mail. Today, with the invention of the Internet, people can pay their bills from anywhere. So why are we being charged for this? Is it costing them any extra money to accept your money from the internet, instead of the mail? Are we paying just simply because its easier on us?
A good example of paying convenience fees is having to choose between a car that has a hard top and one that has a soft top. A convertible obviously cost more if it has to use the extra steel or plastic to use on the whole section of the car. But to replace it with cotton and fiber is obviously the less expensive way. Anyone who knows anything about cars knows that buying a convertible with a rag top is more expensive than a hard top. You are paying for the convenience of just pressing a button than having two people lift the top off.
Convenience is just another way for the companies to get more money from you. It should not make a difference between which way you pay your bill, as long as it gets paid. Convenience fees should be eliminated from every website and illegal because it is obviously a way for the companies to get more money from you.