Article created by: Simona Kinderytė

It is estimated that in 2021 an average person might be exposed to as many as 10,000 ads per day. It seems like a lot, but when you think about it, ads bombard us on social media, TV, billboards, and even inside our fortune cookies. We get so used to them that we don't even notice.

One would like to think that marketing and advertising should bridge the gap between the seller and the buyer; make people trust the product and encourage them to use it. But their words often sound too good to be true. And they often are. If you see a big sign yelling “Everything's 30% off”, it might be designed to make you miss the small line at the bottom where it says that the offer applies to a handful of selected items only. Congratulations, you've just encountered false marketing.

This time, we will check out a few 'sometimes ridiculous, other times alarming and infuriating' marketing techniques that evil businesses use to take advantage of us and manipulate customers into buying more stuff. Continue scrolling and see these examples for yourself!

After you're done reading, don't forget to check out this previous Bored Panda post with 30 pictures that companies do not want you to see.

This post may include affiliate links.

#1

New Cereal Box Is 11% Taller With 1.6% Less Cereal

Boxes of Very Berry Cheerios cereal displayed on a store shelf, highlighting marketing techniques and product labeling.

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    #2

    Man, That's Really Cheap... Oh

    People walking on busy city sidewalk and close-up of public parking sign with cost highlighted, showing evil marketing techniques.

    LuMo096 Report

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    #3

    Packaging For These Markers

    Set of colorful Faber-Castell markers and coloring books displayed on a store shelf with price tags visible.

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    #4

    I Have An Ad In My Fortune Cookie

    Fortune cookie with a hidden marketing message promoting TaxAct, illustrating evil marketing techniques used by businesses.

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    #5

    Bought A Chicken Pot Pie Thinking It Was The Size Of The Outer Tin Before Cutting Into It And Seeing This Monstrosity

    Partially eaten homemade chicken pot pie with vegetables in a foil baking dish showing misleading portion size marketing technique.

    ItRhymesWithFreak Report

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    #6

    So Basically Every Price

    Red starburst sign with text 99 cents or less and up, illustrating evil marketing techniques that confuse customers.

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    #7

    Imagine Cleaning A Fan So Well That You Uncover 2 New Blades

    Before and after images of an industrial fan, illustrating a visual example of evil marketing techniques in business promotion.

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    #8

    That Would Explain Why My Ankle Hurts

    Orange Ultra Fite kickball with black text, textured surface, and inflation instructions for 4-6 lbs pressure.

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    #9

    By Opening The Envelope For The License Agreement, You Agree To It

    Close-up of a Ferrari label with a warning notice, illustrating deceptive branding as an evil marketing technique.

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    #10

    Walmart Employee Here. We Were Given These Shirts Today. Walmart Profits Billions Off Of This Pandemic, Then Compares Their Sacrifice To WW2 Veterans

    Blue shirt with black graphic showing scientists, doctors, nurses raising a flag, highlighting deceptive marketing techniques.

    TehAwkwardOne Report

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    #11

    This “Dual” Camera Smartphone Doesn’t Have Two Functioning Cameras

    Close-up of hand removing gold phone back cover exposing internal components and SIM card slot illustrating evil marketing techniques.

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    #12

    False Advertising Should Be A Felony

    Tweet screenshot showing a user complaining about deceptive marketing tactics offering $50 flights that don’t actually exist.

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    #13

    Went In For The $1.99 Lunch Special. Sorry Sir, That Says $7.99 Lunch Special

    Handwritten lunch special sign on a tree at roadside illustrating evil marketing techniques in business pricing tactics.

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    #14

    The Mixed Signals Of This Shoe Sale Advertisement

    Close-up of $10 off discount ad on athletic shoes with fine print exclusion showing evil marketing techniques in business promotions.

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    #15

    Unremovable Ads On My $2,500 Samsung Smart TV

    TV interface showing sponsored ad for Angry Birds movie and TV Plus app, illustrating evil marketing techniques in digital media.

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    #16

    My Mother Recently Passed Away. This Morning I Thought I Got An Email From Her. Nope, Just A Spam Tabloid Naming Their Contact "Mom"

    Email contact screen showing a message from Mom with a Newser story, related to evil marketing techniques and business secrets.

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    #17

    This Packaging. Was Wondering Why It Ran Out So Quickly

    Skincare product bottle with pump dispenser on a speckled countertop demonstrating evil marketing techniques.

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    #18

    Walgreens Replaced Their Freezer Window Panels With Screens That Constantly Flash/Move And Don't Even Accurately Represent What's Inside The Fridge

    Freezer doors in a grocery store displaying various ice cream and meal options with illuminated marketing displays.

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    #19

    This Post Card Is Made To Look Like It’s From The Dealership. It’s Printed To Look Like The Information Is Smudged So That You Will Call Them

    Fake motor vehicle services notification letter warning of high-risk conditions, illustrating evil marketing techniques used by businesses.

    It’s a third-party warrantee company.

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    #20

    This "Avocado" Oil

    Bottle labeled as all natural avocado oil containing mostly canola oil, highlighting deceptive marketing techniques in product labeling.

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    #21

    Dish Network Sent Out Advertisements In Envelopes That Make It Look Like A Special Occasion Card

    Handwritten marketing message comparing DirecTV and DISH, illustrating an evil marketing technique targeting pricing strategies.

    Also, trying to manipulate people by making the cards look handmade by a child.

    Pie-Makers-Mistress Report

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    #22

    Sign The Contract Without Reading It Please

    Seal on plastic bag warning users they agree to end user license terms by breaking it, showcasing evil marketing techniques.

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    #23

    I Just Found 20 Tunisian Dinars (7.5 Dollars) On The Ground, Then After Opening It, It Was Just An Advertisement For Some Stupid Discount

    Hand holding a folded 20 currency note with hidden promotional message, illustrating evil marketing techniques.

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    See Also on Bored Panda
    #24

    This Website Hilariously Just Stretches The Pixels To Turn Regular Clothing Into "Maternity" Clothing

    Pregnant woman modeling maternity dress with printed polka dots, highlighting evil marketing techniques in fashion ads.

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    #25

    They Took Away The In-Store Signage To Force You To Download Their App

    Store aisle with repeated "Low Prices You Love" signs, illustrating common marketing techniques to influence shoppers.

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    #26

    I Just Got Ad In The Mail Disguised As A Hand-Written Letter. Address Is Covered So I Don't Doxx Myself

    Handwritten marketing letter and envelope shown, illustrating evil marketing techniques influencing customer decisions.

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    #27

    This Pamphlet I Got On My Door Making Me Not Want To Touch My Doorknob Until I Realized

    Ant control marketing door hanger with ants leading to a pest control advertisement showing a $75 off promotion.

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    #28

    This "Gold" Chalk That My Daughter Received As A Gift. White Chalk Spray-Painted Gold

    Hand holding a golden spiral object, illustrating creative evil marketing techniques used by businesses.

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    #29

    I Love Ads On My £250 Console That I Continue To Pay £6 A Month To Play On

    McDonald's Grand Big Mac ad displayed on a screen illustrating evil marketing techniques used by businesses.

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    #30

    Is That Really Free Delivery?

    Close-up of an advertisement with misleading free delivery offer illustrating evil marketing techniques used by businesses.

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    #31

    This Vending Machine Is 100% Sold Out. It Only Tells You That Items Are Sold Out After You've Put Money In/Used Your Card

    Red Coca-Cola vending machine offering beverages including Monster energy drinks and Dasani water, highlighting marketing techniques.

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    #32

    This Kettle Saves 70% Energy. As Long As You Need To Boil 70% Less Water

    Red kettle product packaging showing energy saving claim, illustrating evil marketing techniques some businesses use.

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    #33

    Nearly Didn't Notice The Cheapest Car Wash Program

    Red car wash price list displayed on a board, illustrating marketing techniques used by businesses to attract customers.

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    #34

    Chipotle Goes All-Out Advertising That For The Next Week Delivery Is Free, And Then Casually Makes The Delivery Menu Priced Higher Than The Regular One

    Comparison of menu prices illustrating evil marketing techniques in business pricing strategies for protein or veggie options.

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    #35

    Advertise Free WiFi But Make Sure The Customers Know The Procedure For How To Pay For It

    Sign showing free WiFi with a procedure requiring a purchase, illustrating evil marketing techniques by businesses.

    mauricewilliams455 Report

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    #36

    Retail Sign At H&M Today. The Small Line Is Hard To Read In Person

    Red $3 price sign in a store showcasing an example of evil marketing techniques used to attract customers.

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    #37

    I Got A Ticket. No, Just An Ad For A Tattoo Place

    Parking ticket placed on a car windshield illustrating deceptive evil marketing techniques used by businesses.

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    #38

    My School Has Vending Machines With Candy That Costs 1.50. They Conveniently Leave Off The 1 So It Looks Like It Costs 0.50

    Candy bars displayed behind clear glass in a vending machine, illustrating evil marketing techniques in product placement.

    Lopad_NotThePokemon Report

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    #39

    Who Thought It Was A Good Idea To Put An Image Of 7 Churros For The Sign Of 3 Churros

    Price comparison marketing technique showing one churro for 1.49 versus three churros for 4.00 to influence buyers

    Imhereforgiofilmsbro Report

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    #40

    Please, Just Stop Using Fake Money As Advertising

    Mailbox with foreign currency partially visible inside the slot, illustrating evil marketing techniques involving money.

    notbeatrizportinari Report

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    #41

    Got A Letter In An Envelope Which Said My Lease Was Terminated. Just Another Ad

    Partial mailer from car dealership promoting lease termination program, illustrating evil marketing techniques used by businesses.

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    #42

    How To Dissapoint Every Student On Campus

    Sign at University of Surrey library stating no hot food, illustrating deceptive marketing techniques businesses use.

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    #43

    Film Producers: "We Need To Advertise We Have Multiple CGI Dragons." Marketers: "Say No More"

    Dragon Kingdom DVD cover showing fantasy dragons and knights illustrating evil marketing techniques in business promotions.

    is_it_a_lie Report

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    See Also on Bored Panda
    #44

    This Advertisement Designed To Look Like An Amazon Package

    Packaging with misleading branding and a crowded promotional flyer illustrating evil marketing techniques used by businesses.


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