I’ve started watching a little more television, which means more commercials. I can’t help but notice that the fine print on some commercials is rather.. amusing? Hypocritical? We Tod Edd? Ok that last one was a horrible, horrible aqua team reference.
But still not as horrible as some of the commercials I’ve seen though. Here’s my top five contradictions, which are somewhat paraphrased but with the meaning intact:
5: On a commercial for a law firm- “This is a paid advertisement, not an endorsement”
How can you tell someone to use a service without endorsing it? I thought that was basically what an endorsement WAS.
4: The General says- “Down payments as low as 59 dollars” Fine print says- “Average down payment $125”
Maybe there aught to be a rule that you have to advertise your average result rather than the exceptional one?
3: Time Warner- “Get a year of broadband Roadrunner for $29.99 a month, and get 50 dollars when you switch from DSL.” This one I had to actually visit the site to find the fine print; offer requires you also accept one of their other service packages with it.
2: Another law firm claims great things in it’s commercial; the bottom of the screen however informs the user that the firm actually acts as an intermediary, assigning you with a lawyer they “Do not claim to be board certified”
You so sure you want them to handle your case? Its almost like a staffing agency for lawyers.
1: Advare- It’s an asthma medication; though you may not be able to tell considering the side effects include “Increased risk of death or hospitalization due to asthma”
This one here’s the biggest contradiction I’ve seen yet. Why would you take a medication that WORSENS your symptoms as a side effect? If you are already suffering from something that could hospitalize you or kill you; I’d assume you would want to take something that reduces your chances of that.