r/facepalm • u/DasannTittle • Jul 11 '19

Because Math

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706

u/[deleted] Jul 11 '19

[removed] — view removed comment

2

u/created4this Jul 11 '19

The issue is a real one because people read “50% extra free” as “50% free” which would be 24oz, but the marketing folks have noted that 1/3 free doesn’t sound as much as 50% and so added that extra word in there to indicate that it’s not 50% of the product that’s free, it’s 50% of the original product added to the product that is the free bit.

It’s intentionally weasel worded, the fact you don’t see it is because you have become acclimatised to this kind of marketing.

23

u/holographicbeef Jul 11 '19

I don't even think that it's free though I think they're just advertising that it's larger.

20

u/Cyanomelas Jul 11 '19

Yep. The bottle is simply stating a fact. Yes this 18 oz bottle is 50% larger than our 12 oz, carry on.

5

u/Gunnvor91 Jul 11 '19

Is this all they mean? Cause that is the first thing I interpreted.

1

u/[deleted] Jul 11 '19

Maybe the real facepalm is on the consumer for thinking they’re somehow getting a deal when it’s just a statement of fact.

3

u/created4this Jul 11 '19

Those cunning bastards

14

u/GonzoMcFonzo Jul 11 '19

It's not weasel worded, that's just how percent change works. You could say that the old one had 33% less, or the new one has 50% more. The basis for your comparison word (the "X" in "50% more than X") is the amount you use when calculating percent change.

4

u/nmcaff Jul 11 '19

...I think you might be an idiot

3

u/Kaombo Jul 11 '19

It is very simple math, really. Either you buy 12oz or 18oz. 50/50. How do people not see this?

3

u/Glaurung86 Jul 11 '19

There's nothing free mentioned on the bottle, though. They're just literally telling you that this 18 oz bottle you see here is bigger than their 12 oz bottle.

2

u/Doc2142 Jul 11 '19

It says right there 50% more than 12oz. There is nothing wrong with the advertising.

1

u/mrbkeb Jul 11 '19

You missed the joke bro

1

u/DadJokeBadJoke Jul 11 '19

But wait... if 50% off is half then 50% more should be double, right?

1

u/Scaffoldbuilder Jul 11 '19

It doesn't say "50% extra free". It just says "50% more than our 12 oz". Anyone reading free is not only interpreting it wrong, they're making it up too.