Paying an upfront sales charge might compared to running a 100 yard race from 5 yards behind the start line. The so called B Shares or Contingent Deferred Sales Charges. The fund company pays a commission to the agent, and then charges an additional annual expense to recover the commission that they paid. This might be compared to running a 100 yard race while carrying a 200 lb anchor. Salesmen like these funds because there are no break points.
Larger investors get no credit for their larger deposits.
Investors should hate them because the total cost of investing is the highest. If the investor sells before a specified time, he has a contingent sales fee deducted before he gets his share back. The so-called C Shares. Again, larger deposits get no reduction in fees. Over time this is a very expensive way to buy funds, unless the agent is providing truly heroic service levels on an ongoing basis.