Thanks for Nothing – Spring 2026

Every few months we spotlight offers from companies that are real head-scratchers, are actually less generous than they appear, are just plain outrageous, or may simply elicit a chuckle. Here’s the latest crop.

CapitalOne Shopping Rebates

We recently wrote about CapitalOne Shopping rebates (see story) that left out a whole bunch of important information. But, we saved the best for last.

If this were your regular supermarket, getting two-percent back up to $1,000 in rebates might be a somewhat attractive offer on first blush. But think about it for a minute.

*MOUSE PRINT:

This offer is for a one-time purchase only. So to get back the maximum advertised rebate of $1,000, one would have to spend $50,000 at Stop & Shop, and gift cards are excluded. How disingenuous can this company be? Thanks for nothing, CapitalOne Shopping.

Degree Deodorant

Over the years, deodorant brands have made various dryness and long-lasting claims. It was quite a milestone when some claimed 24-hour protection. Then it morphed into 48 hours. And 48 hours of protection soon became 72 hours. And now, the latest — 96 hours of protection.

*MOUSE PRINT:

This suggests if you put on this deodorant/antiperspirant on Monday, you don’t have to apply it again until Friday. So no showers for you Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Come on, how disingenuous.

And one more thing. Their old claim was “5 in 1” referring to five benefits it conferred like wetness protection, odor control, fast absorption, etc. They have now changed the claim to “5X” which most people would interpret as providing five times the strength or protection. What they really mean is that it (still) provides five types of protection. Thanks for nothing, Unilever.

Crazy High Prices

For many products and brands, prices have just gotten completely out of control. Here are three examples where the sellers must think high prices don’t matter.

Almost $28 for four razor blades? Thanks for nothing, Gillette, I don’t care how good those blades are.

They are charging $6.99 a pound for turkey and it is frozen? I don’t care where it was raised and even if it was spoon-fed all-natural grain every day. Who in their right mind is going to pay over $100 for a frozen turkey, when most supermarkets sell conventionally raised birds for 69 cents a pound at Thanksgiving time? Thanks for nothing.

Lastly, will anyone buying a $130,000 Rolex watch really be interested in using a coupon code to save money? Thanks for nothing, Rolex.