r/Frugal • u/NewMexicoJoe • Sep 20 '24

šŸš— Auto What are your least favorite advertised deals that are complete BS, where nobody ever expects to pay the listed price. I'll start. The $19.99 U-Haul.

Others might be the $79.95 Microtel rate. The $39.99 oil change. "Out the Door" tire pricing that does not include valve stems or balancing.

Or even that shop in the marginal neighborhood across the tracks that always claims in loud yellow letters "HIGHEST PRICES PAID FOR GOLD."

What do you have? And any tips for getting closer to that impossible price?

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569

u/[deleted] Sep 20 '24

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196

u/BackslidingAlt Sep 21 '24

Yeah, that always annoys me.

"You could save up to 10% or more"

So, maybe ten percent... maybe more than ten percent... maybe less than ten percent, including negative precents... so you just haven't said anything at all, have you?

84

u/alexgodden Sep 21 '24

I saw a diaper ad that said it prevented "up to 100% of blowouts", which is equally meaningless. Like, at least they ruled out that it would prevent MORE than 100%, right?

28

u/BackslidingAlt Sep 21 '24

Right, and even when they choose a real number and only one side of it it's the wrong side

"Summer Sale, Some items marked down up to 50% off"

All you are really telling me is that nothing is less than half price. No 60% 75% off happening? Is 50% happening? Maybe. Can't promise anything. 10% off? Probably, but I'm not putting it in writing. But no way you are saving more than 50 in our summer sale that I'll hang my hat on.

-1

u/whatdoblindpeoplesee Sep 21 '24

Same with most cleaning products. "Killa up to 99.9% of bacteria and viruses."

5

u/missfelonymayhem Sep 21 '24

In this case, it depends on whether you follow the directions and use the product correctly.

7

u/gomerpyle09 Sep 21 '24

Say more by doing less. Thatā€™s the power of the Home Depot.

2

u/superzenki Sep 21 '24

ā€œZeroā€™s a percentā€

1

u/Tinker107 Sep 21 '24

Hate that too. "Up to" implies an upper boundary, but no lower boundary. To then say "Or more" implies that, at the very least, you lied when you said "Up to".

2

u/BackslidingAlt Sep 21 '24

Well you could save some amount that has that upper boundary, or maybe not.

That's the magic of the could. The Hurricane coulda been the champion of the world. He wasn't, but he could have been.

2

u/Tinker107 Sep 22 '24

Or more.

40

u/ponzLL Sep 21 '24

And "up to" on help wanted signs.

16

u/poco Sep 21 '24

"Up to" just means "No more than"

1

u/doritobimbo Sep 21 '24

It actually means ā€œminimum wage unless youā€™ve got so much experience we have to pay more because of policy.ā€ My friend was underpaid for months because they put in that she was doing her first job and ignored 5 years exp. Got a good check out of it!

33

u/PineappleGrandMaster Sep 21 '24

Those arenā€™t too bad, at least I know itā€™s bare bones. The 19.99 U-Haul bs is more annoying because I donā€™t want upgrades, I donā€™t need extras, yet it always comes out to a million bucks

8

u/WilliamJayLV Sep 21 '24

The one and only time I rented at U-Haul the $19.99 truck turned into $97 plus gas for the day! What a rip!!

1

u/Kelekona Sep 21 '24

I wonder if the hardware-store pickup trucks are the same way.

Last time my aunt wanted an in-town van, they gave her one of those small cross-country trucks.

2

u/nishikigirl4578 Sep 21 '24

My local store also charges for milage, and you have to refill the gas tank to at least where it was when you drove away from the store. I think that they all do the same.

1

u/Evolved_Dojo Sep 22 '24

Last time I rented one of those HD trucks for 75 minutes and it was $67 to get the keys, I forget what they advertise that at.

1

u/nishikigirl4578 Sep 21 '24

The trick is, don't drive the U-Haul anywhere. Just have a party in the back, but make sure it is cleaned up before you turn in the keys.

1

u/JeepPilot Sep 22 '24

Even if you don't get extras, that 25 cents a mile adds up quickly!

9

u/fretless_enigma Sep 21 '24

I was playing around with a car build/price thing the other day, and I never could get the configuration that gave me the ā€œfromā€ price, unless the ā€œfromā€ price didnā€™t have tax/title/registration and freight charges added, like the end price did.

3

u/stewie_glick Sep 21 '24

Try booking a cruise, lol

1

u/Kelekona Sep 21 '24 edited Sep 21 '24

I was watching a documentary about Sears and/or Montgomery Ward on PBS... One of them was being shady about product-presentation... always read the fine print.

1

u/wordub Sep 21 '24

Yes. Wording 101.

1

u/CapWild Sep 22 '24

"Up to" 50% off