Consumer Safety & Awareness Part 31

Advertising Scams
(Part 5 – Deception Through Omission)


In a previous blog, we mentioned that advertisements are usually not long enough to include all aspects of a product. They certainly have no opportunity, even if they were foolish enough to want to, to include significant facts about similar competing items, except in a negative way.

Infomercials, though, many of which run 30 or 60 minutes in length, have sufficient time to provide such detail, yet somehow neglect to do so. In a half-hour commercial for an exercise machine, you may see 20 minutes of some healthy, robust individual using the product, always smiling, youthful, and sweat-free. The “host” continues to repeat the same fantastic reasons why this is the best toning, weight-loss, and muscle-building product on the market.

At no time are they any cautionary statements, except perhaps to check with your doctor to make sure you are healthy enough to use the machine. They do not expect anyone to do so, but their insurance carrier demands that such statement be included. Consider the disaster when someone is injured (and there always are injuries on any type of exercise equipment), and there had been no disclaimer. And what is not included in the ad is placed in the instruction book, with bright red stop signs and “caution” and other such labels.

Once you have purchased the product there is little chance of you returning it, and perhaps little opportunity to do so. Now that you have it you can be told of all the dangers to pets, children, and even healthy people cause by moving parts, heavy weights, sneezing while in motion, and… well any possible potential dangers.

Here are some warnings we found – try to discover what type of product they were on.

1. Remove wrapper, open mouth, insert muffin, eat. (OK, that one was obvious)
2. Use like regular soap, (See below, yes- you can peek)
3. This product is not to be used in bathrooms.
4. Do not climb over fence.
5. Please do not eat.
6. Do not use while sleeping.
7. Keep out of children.
8. May irritate eyes.
9. Do not use as earplugs.

Everyone always does ten of these. I decided to do nine just to be different.

Products that may really need to include precautions never put them in either their advertisements nor on the outside of the container. Probably the most famous warning is on computer software where the box has a warning not to open the package until you agree to the license for use agreement. The license can be found inside the box.

Also left off commercials is a list of other similar products that may perform better, be less expensive, more reliable, or healthier. It’s obvious why. Try to imagine a Pepsi commercial that states, “Store brand colas may be produced in our factory, have exactly the same ingredients and taste, yet cost half of what we charge.” Or perhaps this imaginary statement from a fast food restaurant, “Our ¼ pound hamburger averages 800 calories. It contains fillers, preservatives, and potentially other unhealthy ingredients. Eating this may lead to heart attacks, cancer, or allergic reactions.”

One can only wonder what an honest cigarette commercial might include. Now that the FDA can regulate contents, additives, and cigarette advertising, perhaps some honesty may appear. “If you smoke this product you have an 80% chance of becoming addicted. Continued use may lead to all sorts of unhealthy side effects. Breaking the smoking habit may be impossible. Since they cost so much you may land up a pauper, but your habit will still have you scrounging for something to smoke. But you’ll look cool.”


Answers:
1. Yes, a muffin
2. A bar of soap. Seriously.
3. A “Portable Bathroom Heater.”
4. Lion cage in a zoo,
5. A package of “Odor Eaters”
6. On a hair dryer.
7. Adhesive warning on a kitchen knife
8. On pepper spray
9. On a package of “Silly Putty”