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5 votes
Call now and you will get, not one, but two headsets for the low, low price of $19.95. that's right, the second set is free, you only pay shipping and handling. also with your order, you will receive a three-month subscription of beats magazine at no cost to you! just simply enroll in auto bill pay, sign up for one year, and your first three months are free! what fallacious technique is being used in the above ad?

User TantanQi
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1 Answer

5 votes

Final answer:

The ad uses a 'bait and switch' fallacy by advertising a second headset as free, but adds extra costs for shipping, and requires a year-long magazine subscription commitment for the 'free' three-month trial.

Step-by-step explanation:

The advertisement uses a fallacious technique known as the 'bait and switch' strategy. The ad hooks the customer with an offer of a second headset for 'free' but introduces additional costs via shipping and handling. Furthermore, it presents the Beats magazine subscription as complimentary but obliges the customer to enroll in an auto-bill pay program for a full year to access the initial three months for 'no cost.' This can mislead customers into believing they are getting more value than they actually are.

The advertisement employs the fallacious 'bait and switch' strategy, enticing customers with the promise of a free second headset while concealing additional costs like shipping and handling. The seemingly complimentary Beats magazine subscription is misleading as it necessitates enrollment in a year-long auto-bill pay program for the initial three months to be truly free. This deceptive tactic misguides customers, creating a false impression of receiving greater value than the actual offering. The intentional omission of crucial cost details exploits customer expectations, ultimately compromising transparency and trust in the advertised promotion. This strategy raises ethical concerns, emphasizing the importance of consumer awareness and vigilance in the face of misleading advertising practices.

User Ahei Cheng
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