• About
  • Credit Card Basics
  • Mortgage Basics
  • $40K Challenge
  • Aunt Doris
  • Grandfather Says
  • Privacy
  • Archives
  • Insiders

Len Penzo dot Com

The offbeat personal finance blog for responsible people.

Why I Refuse to Get Upset By Subtly Deceptive Advertising

By Len Penzo

Last weekend I was lured to an online calendar website with the following promise: “Everything up to 60% off!”

Sixty percent!

While I was visiting there I found a calendar that was on sale for $13.49 — $1.50 off the regular price of $14.99.

Now, after taking a couple of minutes to do the math, I became a bit put off because, let’s face it, that’s only 10% off — not 60%.

That’s when I realized the website had pulled a fast one on me.

The advertisement said everything was up to 60% off. And there’s a big difference between “up to 60% off” and “60% off.”

The truth is, if I had paid closer attention, I wouldn’t have fallen for one of the oldest advertising tricks in the book, which is why I really can’t be too upset. They got me fair and square.

Besides, I like pulling fast ones myself; I always have.

When I was about eight-years-old, I woke up early one morning and put salt in the sugar bowl. I’ll never forget watching my dad spit his first gulp of coffee that day all over the kitchen table.

As a dad, I love pulling pranks on my kids too. Of course, now that they’re both teenagers, being a successful prankster isn’t as easy as it used to be. The days of watching them jump out of their pants after they open an envelope of “rattlesnake eggs” are long gone.

Years ago, an old girlfriend and I bought a lottery ticket after the jackpot had reached some ridiculous sum. No, I can’t remember exactly how big the grand prize actually was — but let’s just say it was a billion bucks. Or so. Whatever it was, it had to be an enormous figure because as we all know, playing the lottery is a sucker’s game.

Needless to say, I knew we were going to lose before we bought the damn ticket, but I was determined to get my dollar’s worth anyway.

The next morning, while I was at the table eating breakfast and reading something called a newspaper (if you’re under 30, ask your parents), I went into action.

“Hey, look!” I said to my flame, feigning mild surprise. “Here are the winning lottery numbers. Get our ticket, Sweetheart, and let’s see if we won!”

“Yeah right!” she said. “We never win anything.”

“You’re probably right, but let’s see.”

And with that, my girlfriend grabbed our lottery ticket off the counter and then waited for me to read her the winning numbers.

Of course, instead of reading the actual winning numbers printed in the newspaper, I began announcing our ticket numbers which, unbeknownst to her, I had written down while she was still sleeping.

“16,” I said.

“Yes.”

“27.”

“Uh huh.”

“31.”

“Yes!”

“Really?”

“Yes.”

“Then we just won $5,” I said.

“Good, keep going.”

“32.”

“Shut. Up!”

“That ticket’s gotta be worth at least $100!” I said.

“I know!”

By now it was obvious that my girlfriend was completely duped. So much so that I immediately considered fessing up and begging forgiveness — but I quickly came to my senses.

“45.”

This time my steady just looked at me and smiled.

“I said ’45.'”

“Yes!”

“No way!” I said. “If that’s true we’ve probably won at least $10,000.”

With an almost maniacal laugh, my girlfriend gave a one-word reply: “Way!”   At this point in the ruse, I swear to you that her brown eyes had turned emerald green and, if I’m not mistaken, her pupils morphed into dollar signs.

I decided to double down on the deception. “If you’re pulling my leg, I’ll …”

“I’m not pulling your leg, Len. Look –”

“Whoa! Are you crazy?” I said, raising the newspaper up to shield   my eyes from our “winning” lottery ticket. “Don’t show me that ticket now. For God’s sake! You’ll break our string of luck.”

I then gave my girlfriend, one last dramatic stare before I called out the last number, phrasing it as a question for added effect. “Forty-nine?”

And with that, my girlfriend was, without question, the happiest girl on Earth. Unfortunately, that only lasted for about 200 milliseconds.

Then reality set in.

Before I knew it, she had grabbed the newspaper out of my hand and was checking the real lottery numbers for herself.

A few seconds after that, I was wearing a half-eaten bowl of Cap’n Crunch atop my head.

I know what you’re thinking: In the end, was the milk-and-cereal bath you received really worth it?

Oh yeah.

Photo Credit: Jerry Paffendorf

Related Posts:
  • My Ketchup Taste-Test: Upset! Guess Which Brand Topped HeinzMy Ketchup Taste-Test: Upset! Guess Which Brand Topped Heinz
  • 100 Words On: Runners and Pedestrians Who Refuse to Use Sidewalks100 Words On: Runners and Pedestrians Who Refuse to Use Sidewalks
  • Why Everyone Should Get Financially Naked BEFORE Marriage — Not AfterWhy Everyone Should Get Financially Naked BEFORE Marriage — Not After

16 Comments November 28, 2012

Comments

  1. 1

    Matt says

    That’s a good wheeze!
    Where I work, we recently sent one of our admin girls into town to the local branch of the Royal Bank of Scotland to change a scottish ten pound note. Completely unnecessary as Scottish notes are perfectly legal tender in England ๐Ÿ™‚ Easy fodder really, as the same girl thinks Hitler was australian…

    Reply
    • 2

      Len Penzo says

      “Hitler was Australian…”

      Now that’s funny, Matt! ๐Ÿ™‚

      Reply
  2. 3

    Lance@MoneyLife&More says

    Haha that is a great story. I considered buying a power ball ticket but decided against it. It is fun to dream though… although captain crunch baths probably aren’t quite as fun.

    Reply
  3. 4

    Dominique Brown says

    I can imagine you laughing so hard at your then girlfriend as you troll’d her on the winning lottery numbers.

    Reply
  4. 5

    PK says

    At least no one will believe you when you win the Powerball, eh?

    Reply
  5. 6

    krantcents says

    I love to put people on too, but the consequences are usually more harmless. I usually do not put people on about money, you can see the consequence with the cereal.

    Reply
  6. 7

    Crystal @ Prairie Ecothrifter says

    You’re so lucky you only ended up with a bowl of cereal on your head! I think my husband would have had physical pain to deal with…you don’t mess with a money girl about money… ๐Ÿ˜‰

    Reply
  7. 8

    Charlene says

    Loved this! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Reply
  8. 9

    Lola says

    I have a feeling we now know why the girl in this story is an “ex”. Funny story though!

    Reply
  9. 10

    AverageJoe says

    I thought you were about to tell me the calendar was 60% off because it only included 40% of the days….

    Reply
    • 11

      Len Penzo says

      Hey now … I do all the comedy here, Joe. ๐Ÿ˜‰

      Reply
  10. 12

    John@MoneyPrinciple says

    Nice one! Having kids is real fun though.

    Mine still fall for some of my little tricks and occasionally they get me back. And their friends also suffer!

    It’s sometimes quite educational but we say that we have kids in order to embarrass them as teenagers because they sure as hell embarrassed us when they were younger. So we are just getting our own back – and probably ensuring that we won’t end up in a nice care home!

    Seriously though jokes and humour are what keep us all sane and I don’t think that has ever changed.

    Reply
  11. 13

    Derek Knight - Freeat33 says

    Couldn’t help but notice you aren’t with her anymore? What happened! Maybe it ended with the bowl of cereal on your head?

    Reply
    • 14

      Len Penzo says

      Almost.

      Reply
  12. 15

    Adam Kutner says

    I’m totally with you here, but a suggestion to first time or newly initiated pranksers, always start while the subject is at least 10 feet from a knife or other weapon, and does not have a history of seeking revenge while you are asleep…

    Reply

Leave a Reply to Derek Knight - Freeat33 Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Question of the Week:

How old were you when you bought your first home?

View Results

Loading ... Loading ...

Recent Posts

  • 5 Things To Consider Before Buying Home Insurance
  • What Is Tissue Engineering?
  • Grandfather Says: Run, Run, Rudolph!
  • Great Tips and Strategies for Successful Mortgage Refinancing
  • 14 Kitchen Hacks for People Who Can’t Cook
  • How Much Gold and Silver Should People Own?
  • Black Coffee: Smiling Faces and Reassuring Voices
  • Expecting the Unexpected: Managing Finances When You Become Disabled
  • 100 Words On: Why Buying in Bulk Is Not Always a Smart Idea
  • The Importance of Creating Professional Invoices for Your Business

Disclaimer

This site is for informational and entertainment purposes only, and the content herein should not be mistaken for professional financial advice. This website accepts advertising in the form of monetary and other compensation; as such, topics of discussion are occasionally influenced by these advertisers. Occasionally, some articles may also include affiliate links, meaning, at no additional cost to you, this blog earns a commission if you click through and make a purchase (for example, as an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases). Remember, you and you alone are responsible for the decisions you make in life, so please contact an independent financial professional for advice regarding your unique personal situation.

Popular Now:

  1. 1. Sneaky Pizza Delivery Fees Are Here to Stay (and Why It’s Your Fault)
  2. 2. Debt Elimination: The Pros and Cons of Dave Ramsey’s Baby Steps
  3. 3. Drop the Guilt: How to Splurge Without Beaking the Bank
  4. 4. How to Find a Low-Priced Plumber Who Won’t Rip You Off
  5. 5. 11 Retirement Saving Tips for Twentysomethings (& Older Folks Too!)
  6. 6. 16 Extreme Ways to Increase Your Monthly Savings
  7. 7. Why I Prefer a Spreadsheet to Track Expenses and Manage My Finances
  8. 8. The 13 Most Important Items to Keep In a Fireproof Safe
  9. 9. Be Careful, Priceline Users: Name a Wrong Price and You May End Up in Jail
  10. 10. Len Penzo dot Com: Celebrating 10 Years and 10 Million Page Views!

All-Time Most Popular:

  1. 1. 19 Things Your Suburban Millionaire Neighbor Won’t Tell You
  2. 2. Dear Friend: Here Are 41 Reasons Why I’m NOT Lending You the Money
  3. 3. Why Your Expensive Luxury Car Doesn’t Impress Smart People
  4. 4. If You Can’t Live on $40,000 Annually It’s Your Own Fault
  5. 5. 21 Reasons Why Corner Lots Are for Suckers
  6. 6. 4 Smart Reasons Why College Isn’t for Everyone
  7. 7. 18 Fast Facts About Social Security Numbers
  8. 8. My Ketchup Taste Test: Upset! Guess Which Brand Topped Heinz
  9. 9. Why I Prefer a Spreadsheet to Track Expenses and Manage My Finances
  10. 10. Here’s a Simple Trick for Getting Credit Card Interest Charges Waived

Copyright © 2019 Len Penzo dot Com · All Rights Reserved · Designed by Nuts and Bolts Media

Copyright © 2019 ยท Penzo on Genesis Framework ยท WordPress ยท Log in