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The whole purpose of marketing is to make a product desirable and to give the customer something that fulfills their needs, but I think it's fair to say that these big companies don't give a sh*t about you.

The marketing techniques on display here are not designed for building trust, repeat business, and goodwill, they are shameless attempts to squeeze as much cash as possible out of unwitting consumers! From dishonest product packaging and clever ads designed to manipulate, to hidden disclaimers and barefaced lies, it's really quite shocking how low some big brands will go for an extra few bucks.

We here at Bored Panda have compiled a list of the worst false advertising offenders, so you know what to look out for in the big, bad world of cut-throat capitalism. Scroll down below to check them out for yourself, and let us know what you think in the comments!

#1

Just As I Suspected At Starbucks - At Every Place I've Worked, All Have Said They Recycle. None Do

Just As I Suspected At Starbucks - At Every Place I've Worked, All Have Said They Recycle. None Do

NealSnow Report

#2

I Was Wondering Why I Seem To Go Through Deodorant So Fast. This Is Brand New, Never Been Used (Labels Removed)

I Was Wondering Why I Seem To Go Through Deodorant So Fast. This Is Brand New, Never Been Used (Labels Removed)

CHESTER_C0PPERP0T Report

#3

Quaker Oatmeal Advertises 35% Less Sugar, But In Reality They're Just Selling 35% Smaller Portions - But For The Same Price

Quaker Oatmeal Advertises 35% Less Sugar, But In Reality They're Just Selling 35% Smaller Portions - But For The Same Price

AthleticNerd_ Report

#4

If You Think You Can Read It From The Top Shelf, You're Wrong

If You Think You Can Read It From The Top Shelf, You're Wrong

down-to-mars-girl Report

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nadineducca avatar
Nadine Ducca
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Seeing this fallacy makes me really mad because I live in Barcelona and we have excellent olive oil. >:-( That a company would do this and in such a surreptitious way with dark letters against a dark background makes me shake my head. And they have the balls to call themselves "Iberia."

davide9111 avatar
Davide Amadori
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Welcome to the fancy world of fake european quality goods, have you ever heard about "parmesan" instead of parmigiano? Now with more polymers!

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Lotta Roos
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

By your lastname I'm guessing Hungary, and I think it's a EU law, we have it in Sweden too.

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Grumble o'Pug
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It took me a long time to see that dark print. That's scammy!!!

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Anne Turner
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Thanks for the tip. Could see nothing about sunflower until I turned my screen out of the autumn sun...

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Teresa Taylor
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The words “Premium BLEND” should be a dead giveaway. 100% anything will never have the word “blend” on the labeling. This is misleading, but not illegal. It clearly states it is a “blend” and clearly states what that blend is. Unfortunately they chose to emphasize the more marketable ingredient. I’ll bet if you look on the back, where they have to list ingredients by volume, the Sunflower oil will be first, then “may contain canola/safflower oil” or something like that, and finally olive pomace oil and extra virgin olive oil. The product probably contains enough EVO to give it some color and nothing more. Welcome to America where this is perfectly legal, because it’s up to the consumer to read the fine print. No ethics in advertising. 😡

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Penny Bundy
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Wow - such a deliberate effort to mislead (LIE) to consumers is purely evil! I will NEVER buy an Iberia brand product and I plan to let them know!

a_hope avatar
A. Hope
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

They are not breaking FDA regulation. PREMIUM BLEND is listed on big letters and stands out enough so consumers can read it easily, just with that they are covered. Also that information is on a typeface bigger than the typeface used on EVOO and Sunflower. The usage of the dark color might trick consumer’s minds, but is not against FDA regulation. Check out BERTOLLI extra virgin olive oil class action lawsuit settling for $7M. For years they were putting “product of Italy” on their labels, when in reality their oils were coming from any place (like Greece or Morocco.) but Italy. I’m forever loyal to Goya Extra Virgin Olive Oil and they new Goya Unico exclusive from Spain.

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Sharon Ingram
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

In their defense (can’t believe I said that) it DOES say blend.

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Suzi Gauthier
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even the olive oil that says it's olive oil is usually mixed oils. You have to look for the American Olive Growers label.

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Janice Seagraves
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Most olive oil in America doesn't have very much olive oil in it. How are companies allowed to do this?

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Peter Pahk
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If you know EVOO, u know this ain’t it. Color is not right And it clearly says blend. Lol. EVOO is never blended.

libby6 avatar
Stargazer66
Community Member
3 weeks ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It says PREMIUM BLEND on the red label. Blend means a mix of more than one thing. They're telling you it's not pure olive oil.

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Blue Banana
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At least they are owning up to it, albeit in a difficult to read manner. In Australia, there has been recent incidences of olive oil being blended with cheaper vegetable oils and being sold as pure olive oil.

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Robert Knabe
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Final score is not 22l. Anyone can quickly estimate that if it were a 70 ounce bottle any estimate 30 ml per ounce you have 2100 ml. Stating 2000 ml for 68 ounces looks accurate. S

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Louise Brigance
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

There are no regulation on olive oil imports that mandate how much olive oil is really in the bottle. I would suggest getting the olive oil produced in California as it is ALL olive oil. It's good stuff, too.

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Jeannine Brenna
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I bought what I thought was apple cider vinegar. A closer look at the label showed APPLE CIDER (flavored) VINEGAR.

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Sara Kate MacFarland
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Nothing beats real, 100% olive oil! I am less than 5' tall and have a terrible time getting things off of top shelves....sometimes I even use my cane to "hook" them and then they come tumbling down and if I'm not quick enough to catch them (fortunately not often) land in my face or on my head. That said....when said product is finally down where I can read the label, it says something like this, I (rudely) leave it on a lower shelf! 68 ounces of fake olive oil is heavy and hard to catch....after being hit by it, I am not a happy camper.

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Elizabeth Butler
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

At least they admit it....I read about a project to test many brands of extra virgin olive oil that did NOT label but DID dilute with cheaper other kinds of oil.

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Roy Powell
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The first ingredient is always the one that has the most in the bottle — at least more than half — and in this case, probably 90%.

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Andrzej Raczynski
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

it does say "blend" though, so this one isn't too "FUstupidconsumer" to me.

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Arran Walker
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It does say “premium BLEND”, plus the information is technically there on the front of the label. Gotta actually read those labels....

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#5

These Smoothie Packets. Easy To Make, Just Add The Entire Smoothie

These Smoothie Packets. Easy To Make, Just Add The Entire Smoothie

FredChocoBear Report

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Nadine Ducca
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

LMAO! So what the hell is in the packet? Just sugar? Oh, and I love how they point out that strawberries "are an excellent source of vitamin C", as if their product contained any!

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#6

This Is Next Level

This Is Next Level

Pyatnica Report

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Mark Smallman
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

But it does have the "size" 300ml clearly on the front so you could at least make a comparison compared to other brands.

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#8

Seriously? Contradictory At Its Finest

Seriously? Contradictory At Its Finest

jkrow17 Report

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#9

This Balloon

This Balloon

cybergrub Report

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Martti Laurson
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is physically impossible. That would mean, the printed area did not expand at all.

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#12

I Was Misled

I Was Misled

roniza Report

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albo avatar
Al Bo
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I don't agree with this one on the list. For those unaware, that center mechanism is to help squeeze the tube appropriately (whether or not it maximizes emptying it in the end it's unknown). I'm not familiar with this brand but have used others, and the packaging (usually a cardboard back) would've made it clear that about that shell.

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#13

Make Up Your Mind Tide

Make Up Your Mind Tide

valifay Report

#14

Family Friend Hired Spongebob For A Birthday Party. On The Left - What Was Promised, On The Right - What Appeared (A Man Covered In Sponges)

Family Friend Hired Spongebob For A Birthday Party. On The Left - What Was Promised, On The Right - What Appeared (A Man Covered In Sponges)

toss_my_potatoes Report

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Nadine Ducca
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Even though it's definitely NOT what has hired or expected, I think the guy did a pretty good DIY job with the costume.

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#15

"You're Gonna Pay For That Free Coffee, Aren't You?"

"You're Gonna Pay For That Free Coffee, Aren't You?"

GallowPlaceholder Report

#17

Includes A "Private Balcony." Is Just A View Of The Wall Of The Next Building

Includes A "Private Balcony." Is Just A View Of The Wall Of The Next Building

Jagokoz Report

#18

The "Cancel Uninstalation" Button Is In Green

The "Cancel Uninstalation" Button Is In Green

tiltedlens Report

#19

Bought Some “Floam” Like Substance For My Daughter For $5. Just Wow. She Cried

Bought Some “Floam” Like Substance For My Daughter For $5. Just Wow. She Cried

chagoscifres Report

#20

It's Illegal Not To Have A Link No? Let's Write It In White

It's Illegal Not To Have A Link No? Let's Write It In White

antokop Report

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#21

The Amazing Spider-man

The Amazing Spider-man

RichDufresne Report

#22

The Color Of "Up To" Makes It Almost Impossible To See From A Distance, Especially With Glare. Thanks, Old Navy

The Color Of "Up To" Makes It Almost Impossible To See From A Distance, Especially With Glare. Thanks, Old Navy

CivilizedPsycho Report

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RaroaRaroa
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

By now, if we see these signs we should automatically know there's an "up to" there somewhere. My kid has been able to spot the "up to"s since she was about 7. I'm probably raising her a bit too skeptical, but better than being too gullible.

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#23

Inside The Package Of A Drone My Parents Got Me For Christmas

Inside The Package Of A Drone My Parents Got Me For Christmas

burningriverallstar Report

#24

Disguising Ads As System Warnings In The Operating System Is Truly A**hole Design

Disguising Ads As System Warnings In The Operating System Is Truly A**hole Design

jimoconnell Report

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birdhouse
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I clicked on one that said it was a Microsoft update at work and walked away as it said it would take 30 min to install. To my surprise when I got back it was a screen that said "Chicks with d***s" and said if I don't give money for them to uninstall it wouldn't stop. I was a little upset as the "Chicks" d**k was bigger than mine.

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#25

Thanks, I Feel So Special And Cozy Now

Thanks, I Feel So Special And Cozy Now

leokennis Report

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Anouk
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Awwww. That's so lovely. I'd far prefer to come and unsubscribe personally - with a baseball bat - anyway.

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#26

Oh, Thanks! Wait... What?

Oh, Thanks! Wait... What?

SoySauce_McGiggles Report

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Randy Inbred
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is this meant to be a joke tip for a waiter/waitress? If so it's incredibly bad taste. Those guys work their asses off for little money, no benefits and little job security. They rely on tips for their livelihood. Wonder how the creator of this gem would feel if someone replaced the cash in his wallet with a few of these?

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#27

Only A Little Misleading

Only A Little Misleading

kingalex711 Report

#28

You Have To Click "No" To Continue The Uninstall

You Have To Click "No" To Continue The Uninstall

whatthehellisplace Report

#29

The Mug That Won't Fall Over

The Mug That Won't Fall Over

GallowBoob Report

#30

This Cup “Full” Of Candy

This Cup “Full” Of Candy

tapdawg Report

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Sree S
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This has happened to me once. Trashy Easter treat baskets... I like the basket tho. Its a very nice basket!!

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