I wouldn't say that they're in the wrong, but I would expect people to have some expectations about the quality, durability, and capabilities of a super cheap cable.
Overall, I don't think it's entirely unfair to expect people to pay $10-15 for a quality cable, especially since these modern cables are often expected to carry significant amounts of power.
The last time I bought an HDMI cable I checked local stores because I didn't want to pay shipping on a $5-10 cable. The cheapest cable I found was on sale for $20 or something. Turns out it's cheaper to go with Monoprice and pay shipping on a $4 cable than to get one on sale in real life.
On top of in almost every store when I balked at the prices of $30-70 the salesman would try to tell me that if I bought a cheaper cable it would be subject to interference and would not work well. Most people who aren't technical and don't know that's bullshit don't stand a chance. They listen to anyone they feel is an authority on the matter. "Surely the guy at Futureshop or The Source knows more about tech than I do, I should listen to him. I can't find a cheaper cable anyway."
The margins on TVs and such are apparently pretty low and the way that they make money is on the high margin accessories they push on you. They will give you a "deal" on the cables so it looks like it's working out in your favour but it's still a scam. Hook, line, and sinker. Because it's only $5[-100 over the price of the set, which is likely over $1000, most people will just go with it because it seems like a small price to pay to get the most out of their shiny new TV.
This is why you use monoprice.com. Every time you need a cable, you actually order 4. It's still 1/4 the price of buying it from a retail store, and then when a friend needs a cable for that new tv he just bought, you can hand him one, for 1/4 the price of what he'd pay in stores, and he thanks you, AND you've just paid for your own cables.
Really, just don't ever buy a cable in a store. Ever. Getting a TV? Plan it ahead of time. Buying new tech? Make sure you have the cables already.
We're talking about an average 20x price markup on these cables, and sometimes significantly more (network cables I'm looking at you!).
Knowing your options is the first step in not getting screwed.
Maybe they charge $30 for the cable as a signal that customers should be a little careful with it, even though it comes 'free' with an iPod/iPad/iPhone.
I think most people will gladly pay more for a better cable, but they'd like to pay something comensurate to the engineering effort, and production and material costs. The markup is insane (nearly $200 apparently).
One has to wonder if Monster and their retail partners would make just as much money selling them at $50, due to higher volume, with the added bonus of people not totally misleading everyone with the value proposition.
In this case, though, the owner is trying to sell the cheap cable. That's his schtick. He doesn't even sell the Monster (or whatever) cable. He wants everyone to know his digital cables are just as good, because hey, digital.
The fact of the matter is: Amazon's cables have such low-quality assurance on them, that they're untrustworthy now.
I think for cables specifically, Monoprice has created a good reputation and a good price. Unlike Amazon, who hides behind "marketplace sellers" and "comingling", Monoprice puts their own reputation on the line when they sell cables.
Ultimately, if Amazon wants to be a "marketplace seller", they can. But Amazon needs to do a much better job combating fake-sellers, low-quality products. I'm not even anti-Chinese or whatever, I'm fine buying cheap Chinese stuff as long as there's some long-standing brand name that is willing to take the reputation hit if things go wrong. (Ex: why I'm fine buying cheap Chinese goods from Walmart, but not fine with buying cheap Chinese goods from Amazon. Walmart does step in and take responsibility)
Otherwise, its just Alibaba Russian roulette with your stuff. Maybe things work, maybe things don't, maybe things will blow up your laptop. Maybe the 18650 cell will blow up in your vaping device and give 3rd degree burns on your face. Or the 18650 cells will create a garage fire burning down your new scooter. Etc. etc.
The problem is the distinct lack of brands and accountability on Amazon. If a Monoprice or Best Buy cable destroyed laptops or caused fires, we'd all blame Monoprice or Best Buy. But if an Amazon item does the same, we somehow don't blame Amazon, but some indistinct unnamed entity.
shit, if people pay that much for a 8P8C RJ-45 / copper shielded cable, imagine how much I can sell a $4.50 duplex LC/UPC singlemode fiber cable for if I wrap it in a fancy carbon fiber looking jacket. At least $13,995.
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