If it was by force, it wouldn't be weasely, would it? But here's a little list: eminent domain used to forcibly buy out property (and, more important, land at a good location), then a big private property sprouts there (a stadium, or mall or whatever); credit card trickery (anyone can google out stories how a $50 debt can rise into thousands); cash rebate (which is, at net value, a free loan from the buyer to the seller); banks taking money off your account within minutes after a debit card purchase, but dragging their feet for at least a day (or days) when you deposit a check; various deposits you have to make (when leasing an apartment, when starting a phone line for the first time); you pay them to check your credit history, but they never pay you to check theirs, etc etc.


Dragan, re: eminent domain, it is deplorable for a private company to use the govt to forcibly buy out property from others.

I wrote a letter to Walmart a while back (which I'm sure went straight to the trash can), ripping them for enjoying the benefits of a primarily free economy, and yet turning around and appealing to govt force to gain further advantages.

As angry as I get about govt intrusion into the market place, I get even angrier at companies that do not act responsibly. (And you can put BP in that same category).