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!
This post may include affiliate links.
Just As I Suspected At Starbucks - At Every Place I've Worked, All Have Said They Recycle. None Do
Hopefully this is an area that has single stream recycling. Everything goes to the same facility, then it gets sorted. Collection costs are lower, but processing costs are higher.
This is disgusting. Just take a reusable cup and wash it. The fad for coffee drinking is so huge now the number of cups dumped must be astronomical.
I'm not understanding the issue here. The can is labeling all the things that can be recycled by putting it in that can. Obviously someone is not listening and putting lids in there. But, when it gets to the recycling facility and get dumped on a conveyer belt, there are worker that will pull those pieces out that can't be recycled and they'll wind up in the actual trash. Also not sure why it says no lids. I would think those are recyclable, unless maybe it's coated in some kind of plastic resin.
How about no. Not in every country there's a line with slaves that do that. And also Trump should let some holes in that wall otherwise you won't have any slaves in a generation
Load More Replies...I Was Wondering Why I Seem To Go Through Deodorant So Fast. This Is Brand New, Never Been Used (Labels Removed)
The best solution here is to stop buying all that gunk that you put under your arms. Get a deodorant stone, and it will last you for years if you get a large one. I've been using one since the 80s, and quit wasting so much money. After you have used it for a long time, you could do without anything for months, and still not have any odor, because you have already killed off all of the bacteria. Seriously, you can't beat a deodorant stone.
Load More Replies...not to mention the waste of plastic. There should be regulations, to cut down on waste because the oceans are a steaming tidepool of trash
We need legislation that makes excess packaging illegal. Our planet cannot afford this garbage anymore!!!!
WOW!!!! It's sad how expensive c**p is, and to find out you're getting screwed at the same time with a lot less product you've believed you've paid for!!! When will companies STOP screwing the little people? Maybe I'll invent an antiperspirant myself!! Best they won't like that!!
Quaker Oatmeal Advertises 35% Less Sugar, But In Reality They're Just Selling 35% Smaller Portions - But For The Same Price
You'd be surprised how often this happens with medications and supplements. Read those labels! (Or how something that is marketed for women is just painted pink and is more expensive or the same price but less product-hello razor companies...)
regular - 12 g sugar / 43 g product = 27.90 g sugar / 100 g lower - 6 g sugar / 31 g product = 19.35 g sugar / 100 g difference/100 g = 8.55 g ~ 30% less that original
It’s 28% less per serving yet 50% less sugar, so yep, it’s true. This shouldn’t be on the list...
well, technically that means 35 % less sugar then, they are not wrong but at the same time, soooo very wrong
The blog Consumerist used to keep a "grocery shrink ray" watch. Corporations started really agressively doing this around 2006, when the recession started. They also raised prices 3x faster than inflation. They didn't stop or make products bigger since, they have kept doing it more agressively since they figured out they can f**k with their stuff and we still have to buy food and deodorant.
I mean, it's gotten to the point were packaged foods aren't enough to eat, but they cost more than they used to. If you're poor and you don't have time to make food for lunches you're just paying twice as much money to starve.
Load More Replies...If You Think You Can Read It From The Top Shelf, You're Wrong
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."
Welcome to the fancy world of fake european quality goods, have you ever heard about "parmesan" instead of parmigiano? Now with more polymers!
Load More Replies...Shouldn't this be illegal though? What if someone reacts to sunflower oil? Why are these companies allowed to do such?
By your lastname I'm guessing Hungary, and I think it's a EU law, we have it in Sweden too.
Load More Replies...Thanks for the tip. Could see nothing about sunflower until I turned my screen out of the autumn sun...
Load More Replies...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. 😡
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!
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.
These Smoothie Packets. Easy To Make, Just Add The Entire Smoothie
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!
it contains "Sugar, Corn Syrup Solids, Nonfat Dry Milk, Xanthan Gum, Natural and Artificial Flavors, Sodium Citrate" so I guess it's like a thick shake powder
Load More Replies...hmm... serving suggestion - put in a glass! genius!! I've been holding them in my hands all these years!
Yup!! Just sugar in that packet people!!! Hence why I choose to make my own fresh smoothies....No-one needs a bunch of sugar in their diets....
Ha!...like a packet of dehydrated water. But who would buy this if they read the label???
So... What am I paying for? Preservative packet for a freshly made smoothie??
You porvide the actual food and we'll provide the non-edible garbage!
This Is Next Level
But it does have the "size" 300ml clearly on the front so you could at least make a comparison compared to other brands.
Sorry, but did you not feel the big hole in the bottle when you picked it up? Actually, this is clever packaging. When you remove the label (or punch through it) you have a bottle that is easier to grasp and hold onto with wet hands in the shower. It perfect for small hands, large hands and arthritic hands. The bottle has to be larger in size than others of comparable volume to account for the uniqueness of the handle effect. Very clever marketing tool if they would package it properly. The machinery to shrink wrap with the hole exposed probably is not cost effective.
Load More Replies...A good reason to check the price per 100ml on the shelf label (if your supermarket does that) and not just the overall price.
You think that it would cost more to manufacture the bottle then it would be just to give you the more product
Should be able to tell there’s a hole there just by holding the bottle. The label is thin and cannot make it feel solid. It’s deceptive by sight, though. Labels shouldn’t cover up stuff like this.
It probably costs them more to have a weird bottle like that manufactured than it would cost them to give you the full amount of product.
Cold Beer
agreed, if you fall for this one, you probably don't need more beer
Load More Replies...I like this one tho- it just seems more fun and clever and not really trying to get one over on you.
Seriously? Contradictory At Its Finest
That was brilliant, lol. I wish I could upvote more just for pure wit! XD
Load More Replies...Thank God you can use it indoors AND outdoors! And those ghost batteries make it so easy to carry.
This Balloon
This is physically impossible. That would mean, the printed area did not expand at all.
That was exactly wat I was thinking. Btw is it just me or does it look like a yellow Megamind wearing tiny sunglasses???
Load More Replies...That's actually quite amazing. How did they keep that little spot of the latex from expanding ?
They just turned the balloon around and drew the tiny face with a black sharpie pen! Easy peasy.
Maybe they drew the face on while the balloon was inflated and then let the air out to get the first photo and then re-inflated and tied for the second photo
Fake Hair To Make You Swipe Up
Not really, such a trick would p**s me off, as i'd feel tricked, so i'd never buy them because of it...
Load More Replies...reminds me of that jealousy joke. "Honey, I found no hair on your shirt. Who's that bald b***h ?!"
Behold the fuckery of Facebook and Instagram ads. I've grown so sick of being absolutely BOMBARDED with ads that I don't just skip them anymore, I intentionally report every single ad as inappropriate in a couple of taps, because f**k Facebook
Oh my god, I hate these new Instagram ads!! Instagram, YouTube, bored panda and many other sites never used to have ads
I see stuff like this on a lot of websites. They make you think you're hitting the arrow for the next page, but it's really an ad.
On BP site, sometimes I can't tell the post entry from the ads.
Load More Replies...Wow, That’s A Good Deal! Oh...
as if anyone would safely be able to read print that small whilst driving - what a con!
$24.00 per hour times 8 hours is... $192.00 for the day, divided by A TOTAL RIPOFF!!!
This is why I don't live in the city, and don't visit unless drastically necessary. $12 bucks for 1/2 hour. When was the last time you could get anything done in less than 1-2hours. Plus the fact it takes you 15 minutes to walk to nd from the parking lot.
In southern Spain, city of 50.000 people, 1 hour 2 € (2.5 dollars). And it´s a bit expensive
I Was Misled
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.
In this case, I agree. It is almost impossible to find two tubes of super glue with the same dispensing method, and this just looks like another variation. You can tell the front piece is attached in a way meant to be pushed in. It helps control the flow better.
Load More Replies...Surely the cost of the extra packaging must balance out, or outweigh the cost of actually just filly the frickin' bottle? I mean really - how much can it cost for that extra tiny little squirt of glue or shampoo or washing liquid or whatever - compared with all the stupid 'clever' rip-off packaging needed to screw over the customer??
Honestly, this package probably solved problem of this kind of glue, the cyanoacrylate glue at 4 grams size is quite enough for normal use, you can't keep the remained glue in its original package after it was opened for few week
The amount is usually shown on the label. I never rely on the size of the package. I look at the label. Too many people simply don't read labels. Is it that difficult?
We spell it "a lot" but why isn't it "alot" like we spell "already" not all ready? Weird
Load More Replies...0.14oz/4g is logically the small tube. The plastic case makes no sense unless it is theft prevention.
It makes a lot of sense. People who don't realize that 4g is only a tiny amount of glue, like those that don't know the weight of one ml glue and therefor don't know the relations, will buy the bigger box instead of the probably close-by smaller bottle. Yes, it's correct that there's the amount printed on, which is why it's not ILLEGAL. But it's still a*****e-y because it misleads the buyers into giving more money for more unnecessary plastic. Not illegal, but immoral.
Load More Replies...Just weight the entire package and check if it is fair with the net weight
Make Up Your Mind Tide
And one is dermatologist tested, the other one is dermatologist recommended :D
I guess that means that a dermatologist tested it, but doesn't recommend it?
Load More Replies...If you start with 100, 25 is 25% of 100, meaning 125 is 25% more. However, if you start with 125, 25 is actually 20% of 125. The person doing mathvertizing that day hadn’t had their coffee. Either that, or one is a counterfeit.
The 25% bigger is just slightly bigger. But the weights and volume are the same!
Probably ready to change packaging. That way when it goes back to their regular size, you'll be getting less. Sneaky bastards.
Read the fine print...it says "vs. 2.95 L (100 OZ). The difference between the two bottles is that one is for "he" washing machines, and one is not.
Family Friend Hired Spongebob For A Birthday Party. On The Left - What Was Promised, On The Right - What Appeared (A Man Covered In Sponges)
Even though it's definitely NOT what has hired or expected, I think the guy did a pretty good DIY job with the costume.
Yea I would hire the one on the right to the one on the left. Honestly.
Load More Replies...Had we not used the bogus pic to advertise, I would've said he did a pretty good job with the sponges. False advertising is not cool.
"You're Gonna Pay For That Free Coffee, Aren't You?"
Translation: "Now we'll charge $1 for that free coffe you took here till yesterday."
Maybe they got it for free, but are turning a profit by selling it to you?
I'd consider this a joke. The $1 is just as big as the rest of the letters so it's not really that misleading.
Not to mention the fact it uses the word "selling" before you get to the word "free". It's obviously a joke.
Load More Replies...Technically...
it makes a face! The face you make when you were lied to... ABOUT PIZZA :O
There are three types of pepperoni on the pizza, one of them large. There are three slices of the large type, but many more slices of the other pepperoni under the cheese.
Actually, after a second take it seems like someone removed all the smaller pepperonis.
Load More Replies...Includes A "Private Balcony." Is Just A View Of The Wall Of The Next Building
Personal opinion: I don't think buildings should be that close together.
That looks like a real flooding hazard for rain. Is there some kind of drainage system?
The "Cancel Uninstalation" Button Is In Green
Almost as annoying as Adobe installing McAfee without asking you or giving you an op out.
Load More Replies...well if that aint not no double negative I aint not never unimpressed!
What annoys me most is how they try to get you to install toolbars on your browser when you click "quick installation" - you always have to carefully go through "custom installation"!
oof i hated avast! it was so annoying and never found the viruses i had so i just uninstalled it
You are always to read carefully the printed area. Social ingeneering, is called.and is developed for you to do want they want you to do.
Bought Some “Floam” Like Substance For My Daughter For $5. Just Wow. She Cried
If that is the same stuff I bought my nieces, you add water, let it soak, and the beads expand. It is supposed to be a tactile thing.
This is played with as is, right out of the package.
Load More Replies...It's Illegal Not To Have A Link No? Let's Write It In White
Past email marketer here. It’s not illegal to hide the text, but it will increase your likelihood of the email being punted to a spam folder. This one actually looks like someone forgot to change the link styling. Likely, based on how light the other text is, this was copied from another email with a dark background. This is more of check your damn work problem than anything.
It's not illegal at all. However, they'll be quickly identified as spam by major email service providers.
The Amazing Spider-man
LOL Looks like he wasn't properly submerged (aside from the colors fading).
It's in too small a container! Put em in the bathtub for a day- it'll work
You can see where the water wasn't on those tiny parts. :)
Load More Replies...You're supposed to completely immerse it in water. You left the head and hand out.
oh my word this is funny... looks like those extreme body builders! ha
The Color Of "Up To" Makes It Almost Impossible To See From A Distance, Especially With Glare. Thanks, Old Navy
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.
I always assumed whatever I want isn't gonna be on sale. They're never as "blowout" as they say.
Load More Replies...as a retail employee, it's obnoxious to see signs like this. Too often, I will have to answers questions along the lines of "the sign says $3.99" but the pants say $10.99, so which is it?" and I have to explain to them that there is a little wording next to the $3.99 that says "and up" or I have to explain that there is little words that say "Up to" next to the percentage off... it never fails... every.single.shift.
Inside The Package Of A Drone My Parents Got Me For Christmas
That's not a disclaimer. That's an admission of guilt. They flat-out lied on the packaging, and to cover their a*s they put this little piece of paper inside. That's some b******t right there.
Wouldn't this be seen as an admission of guilt in court too? With a good lawyer anyway.
Load More Replies...It was inside the package though. They didn't "fess up" until they already had your money.
Load More Replies...Disguising Ads As System Warnings In The Operating System Is Truly A**hole Design
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.
I had a simalar thing happen to me. I was on an app, which was free, and occasonaly had adds. So this one add comes on that says my phone has a virus and I should follow these steps to save my data. 1) install SuperEvilAntivirusApp 2) run SuperEvilAntivirusApp 3)done! I just deleted the original app which had this ad and problem solved!
On my old Samsung tablet I'd often get this thing that claimed I had a virus and told me to download a certain program to get rid of it. Then I used the security program I already had and it told me I didn't have any viruses on it..
unplug your computer take out the battery . the computer resets then run virus protection.
That's what happens when people think they don't need an antivirus suite. Even a free one is better than having your device hijacked.
Sadly, it's actually true... Firefox drains power MUCH faster than Edge.
Oh yeah. This appeared on my work computer the other day and gave me a laugh.
Thanks, I Feel So Special And Cozy Now
Awwww. That's so lovely. I'd far prefer to come and unsubscribe personally - with a baseball bat - anyway.
Unsubscribe links are only required on unsolicited emails that are trying to sell you something that are NOT (1) from the government, (2) from anyone running for political office or (3) from a charity. It sucks, but that's the law. What we need are new lawmakers.
I have had places say that I have unsubscribed, but I continue to get their emails. Mark as spam.
Load More Replies...Oh, Thanks! Wait... What?
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?
It is impossible to tell from this picture who did this. But I know that some religious groups have done this many times - they print fake money, spread it everywhere and if someone takes the money they see that it is just an advertisement about Jesus stuff.
Load More Replies...They're called "tip tracts". Bible verses on a phony bill. I'd set it on fire!
As a Christian, this is one of those heinous holier-than-thou moves that really pisses me off. Spreading the word is one thing but using this is just being cheap and selfish, and trying to cover it up by pretending to be pious.
I had a huge church group (15+ people) do this to me once. Designer handbags, tailored suits, diamonds you could choke on and they left me $0. Aren't "Christians" nice?
As a Christian, I am so sorry this happened to you. They should be ashamed. Christians are taught be generous and yet those disgraceful “Christians” are being hypocritical. I hope you never experience anything like this and again I apologize on their behalf
Load More Replies...If money is so worthless to that customer as they claim, the server would be happy to liberate it from them.
sure, there are things more valuable than money, but to obtain them you need to stay alive with food, clothing, shelter etc long enough to find those things....all that costs actual money!
And since the customer has already found Jesus, why do they need the money?
Load More Replies...Only A Little Misleading
You Have To Click "No" To Continue The Uninstall
Me neither. Would take me like a solid 5 minutes to try and understand it!
Load More Replies...I don't get this. Even if I was tricked by it (which, yeah, at least 60% chance I would be) I would just run the uninstaller again and do it right. What possible benefit could there be to doing it this way?
...read the small print....and then take 10 minutes to figure it out.
Are you sure you want to terminate the process to decommission the termination of the deinstallation of the uninstalled product? Or do you want the install to continue for this product and the uninstallation of related and unrelated products, which may include essential components of your operating system? Remember that the wrong choice may remove all saved and unsaved data, except data that may or may have not been cached with the installed product, which are still at risk of deletion. Be informed that the sponser of the installed and uninstalled software bears no responsibility for any loss of data or functioning. Please respond YES or NO within the next 30 seconds or default action will occur.
The Mug That Won't Fall Over
This one is not a scam of any sorts; the cup is not meant to be impossible to fall over, especially if you intentionally push it past its limits; it's simply supposed to keep standing if you accidentally nudge it, and I mean, lightly nudge it. I have one and it IS as advertised. Someone just made a stupid gif and the author included it here.
Technically, they are correct. The mug will not fall over. It must be pushed, tipped or moved by some outside force.
Do you work in advertising or litigation, by any chance?
Load More Replies...probably the surface... I tried it and this actually works (on certain surface)
So why does the gif for the mug cut to her face and not follow the mug to the table when she picks it up? 'Cause it's FAKE!
This Cup “Full” Of Candy
This has happened to me once. Trashy Easter treat baskets... I like the basket tho. Its a very nice basket!!
Oh I got it too but it was in a Christmas mug. Cheap a*s mug broke and the candy was old and stale. So, Merry Christmas to all...
Load More Replies...Expectations VS Reality
Those look like those plastic Easter eggs that you put candy inside of. How much did this sad thing cost?
It doesn't matter in wich country this things are sold. Some of them find loop holes for the rules and regulations and others simply catch as many clueless victims as possible. My take is catch some and do public lashings to discourage the rest lol
"We here at Bored Panda have compiled a list of the worst offenders" That's a nice way of saying you stole a bunch of content from reddit. Speaking of a*****e companies...
Still can't figure out why whenever I post a reply with a picture the reply dissapears, good God
Load More Replies...And this post is nonetheless one of them. The title says 25 pictures that... and there are way more than that. I did not knew why did I wasted so much time on a post with 25 pictures, untill I saw I was at picture 81 and still had hundreds to go. Nice move Bored Panda, nice move.
It doesn't matter in wich country this things are sold. Some of them find loop holes for the rules and regulations and others simply catch as many clueless victims as possible. My take is catch some and do public lashings to discourage the rest lol
"We here at Bored Panda have compiled a list of the worst offenders" That's a nice way of saying you stole a bunch of content from reddit. Speaking of a*****e companies...
Still can't figure out why whenever I post a reply with a picture the reply dissapears, good God
Load More Replies...And this post is nonetheless one of them. The title says 25 pictures that... and there are way more than that. I did not knew why did I wasted so much time on a post with 25 pictures, untill I saw I was at picture 81 and still had hundreds to go. Nice move Bored Panda, nice move.
