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Selling It

Marketers want their products and services to be noticed and applauded, but sometimes the attempt backfires. When it does, our eagle-eyed readers let us know, submitting examples of ripoffs, poorly worded ads, half-empty packaging, outlandish claims, and goofs that have made them laugh out loud.

September Smorgasbord

The promos for these foods and drink will make you stop and think. 

Frankfooter!
Thanks for clarifying, Ikea! Now we don’t have to worry about where to get all that mustard. (Submitted by Bruce Fernandez of Poway, Calif.) 

Table for Five
So the sixth person in your party gets to dine alone? (Submitted by Bob Waas of Ocala, Fla.)

Pasta Before Progeny
Way to set up some really unhealthy sibling rivalry. (Submitted by Debi Ziebert of N. Royalton, Ohio.)

School Spirit
This really isn’t the kind of “proof” you want your college student working on. (Submitted by Steve Robins of Cary, Ill.)

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Be on the lookout for goofs and glitches like these. Share them with us via:

  • Email: SellingIt@cro.consumer.org

  • Mail: Selling It, Consumer Reports, 101 Truman Ave., Yonkers, NY 10703

  • Social media: #CRSellingIt

Send us your funny ads and we might publish it here.

Editor's Note: This article also appeared in the September 2016 issue of Consumer Reports magazine.



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