We have a running game with our out-of-state friends; we stop at every Mexican place that says, “The world’s {insert adjective} margaritas!” In Chicago, that’s quite a game as you only have to get in a cab and drive up and down Lincoln before you’ve had a few too many.
My good friend Martin Waxman last week blogged about this very topic, but in terms of sweepstakes. You know that letter you receive that says, “The fact that you are now in possession of enclosed documents that are proof of your chance of becoming a prize winner is all but confirmed.”
There are many instances of this in our lives and some advertisers have been sued over extraneous words that can’t be proven (most know my favorite is “The Funnest iPod Ever”, mostly because “funnest” isn’t a word). But this is spin in it’s finest flair.
Martin is right; the excellent PR professionals will stop this practice through social media and honest and transparent communication and it will eventually trickle to the rest of our lives. Well, one can hope!