So I'm standing in line at the convenience store the other day waiting to pay for my gasoline and stale cup of thick coffee. There's a blue-haired lady at the register two people ahead of me with a cigarette hanging from the corner of her mouth. She is complaining about the price of cigarettes. She is complaining about the current price of gasoline. She's just complaining overall!
"You people think I'm made of money!?!?" she says,
"I'm on a FIXED INCOME!!!"
Then she reaches into her purse to pull out a ten to purchase $10.00 worth of scratch tickets.
Outside the C-Store, hanging in the window, is a large, flashing red sign announcing this weeks
'Jackpot' is
$163,418!!!
What are the odds of winning I think to myself.
Again, one day earlier in the Summer when the PowerBall Lotto was up over 20 million. There were actual lines in the same C-Store waiting to gobble up lottery tickets. $5 - $10 - $20 at a time. The lady working the register told me there were even a few who purchased 100-200 tickets at a buck a pop!
Yep, a Sucker and their Money.
Flash
BIG RED dollar signs at the people who need the money most, and have the least disposable income to spend on tickets. Then put into the tiniest print the astronomical odds of winning, on the backs of the tickets themselves. Yeah I see people reading the fine print all the time...
In this case, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) doesn't investigate. The 'profit' from the sale of these lottery tickets and scratch tickets go into the State coffers. Go figure....
But take Ed McMahon and Publishers Clearinghouse Sweepstakes, THEY get busted for selling magazine subscriptions. Words like 'misrepresentation' and fraudulent practices' are tossed around by the governing agencies. Too many people are subscribing to magazines they say.
They say too many people believe they need to subscribe to a magazine in order to win the Million Dollars! This is bad business practices and we must intervene.
I've entered the Publishers Sweepstakes. I've read the fine print too. Only differences between the two are one doesn't put money into the State coffers. And one doesn't cost anything to enter. Hmmm... How does that work exactly?
Do I take the high ground. Yes I do. But I also believe one can spend their money the way they choose to. I also believe in ethical marketing practices. But when does cutting-edge, hard selling ad copy stray from the term 'Marketing Practices' and forays itself into the 'unethical' domain.
Publishers developed a winning series of direct mail pieces. All approved by the legal departments, read and reread again to be sure they didn't cross the legal boundaries of fair play.
Still they were hung out to dry in Florida when it worked too well. Unethical??? I didn't believe it to be. Moral??? Hey it's advertising! Does your wife look like a Victoria Secret model when she jumps into a teddy??? Do you look like a Chippendale when you joined Bally's Health Club??? Or Gold's Gym???
Ever see the car commercial where the vehicle is driving underwater among the seaweed and being attacked by sharks??? Ever wonder what idiot would believe it's real and true??? Well they have a disclaimer on the bottm of the ad!!!
"This is a dramatization"!
Yeah, a 'Sucker' and their money...
What is the difference between requiring someone to pay-to-play a State sponsored lottery game and that of Publishers Clearinghouse just fill-out-and-enter to win no-need-to-buy anything. And oh yeah by the way, if you want a magazine here is a selection to choose from.
A famous saying, one which we all have heard states, "A sucker is born every minute". I didn't create the saying. It's been in existence a lot longer than us, except for maybe Rooster!
Is it right??? I don't know. Is it wrong? I don't know that either. It might say today, one is born every second. I do know they are there. And in large numbers!
I believe 'Suckers' are destined to lose their money in any event. It's their way. But I would rather see them lose it by subscribing to National Geographic, Men's Health, Discovery, or even the Oprah magazine! At least there, they will get something in return for the money they spend. And maybe learn something.
With the Lottery, the money's gone. And they just don't have the disposable income to waste on a pipe dream.
Wonder where the FTC is on that one???
Examples abound of 'Suckers' being parted from their money in many instances. Is it moral? Maybe not. But the State Government believes it to be sound business practices. More profitable than selling magazine subscriptions anyway...
Success and Regards... Mike
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