Re: Jordans. Hmmm.....Never thought of it that way before, but that certainly seems to be breaking the same rule Google did. A purchase is required to win.

Edgar replies: So everyone not from MA and NH knows, Bob and David are referring to advertising for a furniture chain in Boston which promises all your furniture purchases during the promotion will be free if the Red Sox pitch a no-hitter between July 31 and the end of the season. Only purchasers can win.

Trust me, I wish the Mass. AG would go after them, but they won't (despite my adding an explicit section to their advertising regulations requiring a no purchase necessary option). The promotion was challenged years ago in court, I believe, but the SJC either declined to hear the case, or it was so ineffectively argued, the plaintiff lost there. The appeals court in 2008 said: "For substantially the reasons set forth in the motion judge's memorandum of decision, we affirm. As the judge recognized, the amended complaint is bereft of language alleging that any portion of the purchase price was paid in anticipation of the Monster Sweep rebate and, accordingly, the complaint was properly dismissed."

One issue was always since everyone's purchase was a different amount, what amount would a non-purchaser be entitled to. My answer was always, the average amount of all purchasers combined.