Unsightly cost for entertainment cables

When you purchase a cable for your HDTV, sound system, or just a standard power cable, did you pay too much?  When I go to a big retailer, and see an HDMI v1.3 cable for $80, I wonder how many people are actually buying it.  When my late mother was purchasing a home theater system just 4 months ago, she purchased one of these cables.  The minute I saw it, I told her to take it back, and purchase one from the internet.  The HDMI v1.3 cable from ebay she purchased for $5 is the same quality as the $80 one, it just doesn't have the branding as the one from a big retailer.

All electronic cables are inexpensive, so if you are paying over $25 for a cable under 9 feet, maybe it's time to explore ebay for electronic cables.  There are a few exemptions, however.  Optic cables can be expensive, and a high quality coaxial cable (over 25 feet) can be expensive.  Outdoor cables are also expensive, as the insulation is much thicker for the weather.