What Scott said.
In a similar vein, I've learned from traveling that there are usually 2 economies existing in every city I visit:
a. The local economy
b. The tourist economy
Examples:
1. On a recent trip to Budapest, we ate at several restaurants along the main road running through the city. Then one day, we decided to walk a couple of blocks from the main road and found that prices there were 1/2 the price of places on the main road.
2. During my last visit to Jamaica, I was quoted a $100 'airport transfer' fee for a taxi from my hotel to Montego Bay. I then walked 1 block off the main road and found a lot with taxis and shuttle buses. I asked the dispatcher for the fare to Montego Bay airport. He said: "It depends on the vehicle" For a private taxi, it's $40. For a 'shared van', it's $40 Jamaican. I asked him how much that was in U.S. dollars and he told me. $1.37. (We took the van). By doing a little research, our transfer fee went from $100 down to $2.74.
The mistake you made was ASSUMING that the $25 was the standard fee for all parking in the area. It isn't. Owners of parking areas can charge whatever they like. It's America. Just as you wouldn't buy a car at the 'sticker price", you should never have assumed that you couldn't get a better price on parking.
(Lastly, the only way it have been fraud is if the sign had said "Parking; $5" and then they charged you $25. Were you ripped off? No. That could only have happened if ALL of the parking areas charged $25 -- like in SF, where you can't park your car anywhere for less than $50/day. Now, that's a ripoff!
Edited: 6 years ago