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Electrasol: Get 3 Years Free*

Electrasol free tabs for three yearsThe ad is pretty clear: when you buy a select Whirlpool or KitchenAid dishwasher, you get three years-worth of Electrasol dishwasher detergent free.  The slightly smaller print says, “Get up to 3 Years FREE*” [Emphasis added] [Parade magazine, April 9, 2006]

*MOUSE PRINT: “3 year supply equals six 85 count canisters.”

That would give you enough dishwashing tablets for 510 loads. Some medium to large families probably have to run the dishwasher at least once a day, so over a three year period, they would require 1095 tablets.  This offer, despite the “3 year” promise, would provide only enough dishwasher detergent for less than a year and a half.

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American Express Clear: No Fees of Any Kind*

American Express Clear

American Express has a new credit card called “Clear.” The primary benefit of the card is that there are “absolutely no fees of any kind.”

*MOUSE PRINT: Buried in the terms and conditions is the additional 2% fee they tack onto transactions made in foreign currencies: “Transactions in Foreign Currencies: Transactions made in foreign currencies are subject to a conversion rate. Foreign currency conversion rate is base rate plus 2%, as described in the Cardmember Agreement.”  [AMEX website, April 13, 2006]

To their credit the list of fees they do NOT charge is impressive: late fees, annual fees, over-the-limit fees, balance transfer fees, cash advance fees, dishonored check fees, wire transfer fees, stop payment order fees, and statement copy fees.

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News: Sprint Settles Deceptive Ad Case with NYC

The New York City Department of Consumer Affairs announced yesterday that it settled a lawsuit it had filed against Sprint and Nextel over misleading advertising of cellphone plans. Consumer Affairs alleged that Sprint used fine print footnotes to change the meaning of the primary claims being made by the advertisement.  In particular, while Sprint boldly advertised “All incoming calls are free”, the mouse print indicated there was either a 10 cent per minute charge or a monthly fee associated with the service.  With respect to another claim, “Nationwide long distance included. Every minute, every day,” the fine print indicated certain circumstances when a 25 cent per minute long distance charge would apply.

Sprint Nextel will pay the city $295,000 to settle the case.  In its press release, Sprint denied breaking any NYC advertising laws and said, “DCA never contested the truthfulness of the Sprint or Nextel advertisements…”

Hmm.  It looks like Sprint’s press release may have been missing an asterisk and footnote about how it defines the word “truthfulness”.

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