Mouse Print* – Page 258 – Exposing the strings and catches buried in the fine print.

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Bank of Ipswich: No Strings Account*

August 8, 2008March 18, 2006 by Edgar (aka MrConsumer)

Finally, an advertiser is offering a product with “no strings attached.” The First National Bank of Ipswich is promoting a relatively high rate of interest for a local bank and is not requiring that you also open any other account to get the low advertised rate. Most people, however, do not qualify to get this deal. Why?

*MOUSE PRINT: “Minimum balance $100,000” [Boston Globe, 3/19/06]

And, since this is a national bank, it only offers deposit insurance from the FDIC (and not from Massachusetts). That means only deposits up to $100,000 are covered by the FDIC. Therefore, any interest you earn that remains in the account will be uninsured.

“No strings” ?

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Kohl’s: ‘Regular’ Price Defined Irregularly*

August 8, 2008March 18, 2006 by Edgar (aka MrConsumer)

This $119.99 luggage set is on sale for only $44.99 one day only. Wow, you save $75 off of the price that Kohl’s usually charges. Or do you?

*MOUSE PRINT: “The “Regular” or “Original” price of an item is the former or future offered price for the item or a comparable item by Kohl’s or another retailer.” [Kohl’s circular, 3/18/06]

Translation: Kohl’s has eight different definitions for what it means by the term “regular” price for an item:

1. The price that Kohl’s charged for that item in the past.

2. The price that Kohl’s will charge for that item in the future.

3. The price that Kohl’s charged for a similar item in the past.

4. The price that Kohl’s will charge for a similar item in the future.

5. The price that another retailer charged for that item in the past.

6. The price that another retailer will charge for that item in the future.

7. The price that another retailer charged for a similar item in the past.

8. The price that another retailer will charge for a similar item in the future.

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Office Depot: Get $5 for Recycling Ink Cartridges*

November 17, 2008March 18, 2006 by Edgar (aka MrConsumer)

Sounds like a pretty good deal: return a used ink cartridge to Office Depot, and they will take $5 off your next ink purchase.

*MOUSE PRINT: “excludes HP, Brother, Canon & Epson ink tanks…” That doesn’t leave many big brands other than Lexmark. [OD circular 3/12/06]

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