drv@eisx.UUCP (10/14/83)
The other day I heard a radio ad for a white sale that touted: "Prices over 50%" I cannot decide if this means "over 50% off the regular price" or "up to 50% off the regular price". My first reaction was "over 50%" but when I heard it a second time, I began to think it was a slick way of wording designed to make the potential customer think he/she is getting a better deal than he/she really is. I'm not looking for an answer; just thought it was an interesting use (misuse?) of the language. Thanks--Dennis Vogel, ATTIS Labs, South Plainfield, NJ
decot@cwruecmp.UUCP (Dave Decot) (10/21/83)
Infuriating commercial phrases I wish they would ban: Nothing's better than X for stopping Y! No X is fresher! Nothing beats it for fighting Y! No W will give you a closer shave than X! All of these mean: Our product is not inferior! Aren't you impressed? I *am* more impressed when they say it's BETTER than any other brand, but they always say "leading brand". Sigh. ---------------------------------------- Dave Decot ..!decvax!cwruecmp!decot
gordon@trsvax.UUCP (10/24/83)
#R:eisx:-62300:trsvax:54100007:000:1949
trsvax!gordon Oct 16 16:28:00 1983
In reference to the article:
***********************************************************************
The other day I heard a radio ad for a white sale that touted:
"Prices over 50%"
I cannot decide if this means "over 50% off the regular price" or "up
to 50% off the regular price". My first reaction was "over 50%" but
when I heard it a second time, I began to think it was a slick way
of wording designed to make the potential customer think he/she is
getting a better deal than he/she really is. ....
***********************************************************************
(End partial quote)
Since this is an advertisment, I would interpret "Prices over 50%"
as meaning that nothing was discounted lower than 50% of (not off) the
original price. There is no implication that any prices were lowered,
in fact, the ad is correct even if there were thousand-percent price
increases on everything.
Similarly, I always get a laugh out of the cold medicine commercials
that advertise "up to 24 hours of relief", and I hope someone will
add "Guaranteed, your money back if it doesn't wear off within 24 hours
(side effects not included, of course)". They are well protected against
being sued, since it unlikely that if the product malfunctions and works
better than expected, the user would be inclined to sue. So far, I have
not found any warranties that try this trick, but it's very common in ads.
If I restate the claim to a store clerk ("Guaranteed to wear off in 24
hours, if it ever had any effect at all") they usually start to contradict
me, think a little, and change the subject.
Gordon Burditt
{microsoft,parsec!ctvax}!trsvax!sneaky!gordon
* UNIX is a trademark of AT&T *
* BIG MAC is a trademark of McDonalds
* Does anyone know whether "* UNIX is a trademark of AT&T" is claimed as a
trademark of anyone? Can I make a fortune if I start selling
"* UNIX is a trademark of AT&T" computers that run UN*X?dinitz@uicsl.UUCP (10/25/83)
#R:cwruecmp:-72800:uicsl:8600023:000:510 uicsl!dinitz Oct 24 10:38:00 1983 Don't forget: "No artificial additives!" That's just great, however, guar gum, carageenan, locust bean gum, "natural" colors and "natural" flavors are not artificial, but they are additives nonetheless -- and I don't want them in my cottage cheese. Even more evasive is: "No artificial preservatives!" Big deal! They can add anything else artificial they like, as long as it isn't a preservative. So BHA, BHT and sodium proprionate are ruled out -- but red dye #2 isn't. Isn't double-talk wonderful?