1. NYT’s notorious “hard‑to‑cancel” subscription
The New York Times is repeatedly called out for making it unusually difficult to cancel a subscription.
"NYT is one of the worst and most famous offenders of making it hard to cancel your subscription." — cm2012
2. City‑level “junk‑fee” and all‑in‑price rules
NYC officials are pushing a rule that forces sellers to display total prices—including any mandatory fees—up front, targeting hidden subscription and service charges.
"The city is also targeting so‑called ‘junk fees’ that raise the final price of everything from apartments to sporting events, with a proposed rule that requires sellers to ‘advertise the total price for any good or service, including all mandatory additional charges and fees, up front’." — sxp
3. Hidden surcharges & the tip‑culture debate in restaurants
Many eateries add “living‑wage” or “service” surcharges that are hidden until the bill arrives, fueling frustration over deceptive fee‑shifting.
"3.5% Living Wage Surcharge added to each bill which allows us to provide the service you have always enjoyed!" — buzer
"restaurant owners trying to get their customers involved in their political whining." — sxp
4. Enforceability and jurisdictional limits of NYC’s rulemaking
The ability of a single city to set statewide‑impact standards raises questions about legal reach and practical enforcement.
"Generally when a seller in state X in the US sells to a buyer in a different state Y the consumer protection laws of state Y apply." — tzs
These four themes capture the core concerns of the discussion: the NYT’s subscription hurdles, the drive for transparent all‑in pricing, restaurant surcharge practices, and the legal enforceability of city‑level regulations.