This is Alpha, the first-born, when he was 2YO.
This is Beta, the second-born, when he was about 2YO.
This is Gamma, the third-born, when he was about 18MO.
Sober Drinks
Oct
18
2010
I was enjoying my lunch at Buffalo Wild Wings last week, when my pleasant experience was interrupted by bad English.
No, not the band. Bad English in this case was a poorly-written menu.
Look at the phrase “alcoholic free lemonades”. Initially I was going to point out that your lemonade will not contain any drunk guys. And that’s still a valid point. I would prefer the term “alcohol-free lemonades” or “non-alcoholic lemonades”.
But “alcoholic free lemonade”? At least put a hyphen in there and make it “alcoholic-free lemonades”. As it is, it implies that if you are drunk, you get a free lemonade.
And it was at that point, when I was pondering the thought of free drinks for alcoholics, that I noticed there was a charge for the upgrade.
A-ha! The drink isn’t free – it costs you $0.75.
But wait – here’s your bonus section, it’s like two posts in one – it’s not really $0.75. It’s not even 75 cents. It is 0.75¢: 3/4 of a cent.
Noooooo! Menu writers of the world, please learn the difference between dollars and cents!!!
Otherwise, some wiseguy is going to come into your restaurant, give you a penny, and ask for a side salad. And legally, he’s right. You are offering (advertising) a side salad for .99¢
And you must fulfill the terms of your advertisements.
Look, I can substitute Buffalo Chips for half a penny.
I think boycotting BWW would be the wrong action here. I think the right action would be that everyone should go there and take advantage of their offers.
Bring a copy of the Federal Trade Commission Act which states that advertising must be truthful and non-deceptive, just in case they complain that they really meant whole cents not decimal cents.
Go to BWW and demand a side salad for 99/100 of a penny.
And ask for change.
But you, be sober in all things, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fulfill your ministry.
2 Timothy 4:5
This little article thingy was written by Some Guy sometime around 6:06 pm and has been carefully placed in the Marketing category.
October 18th, 2010 at 10:06 pm
I think we’re going there this week because they are donating a percentage of sales one night to our hockey association. I might order an alcoholic free lemonade for 3/4 of a penny. Just for kicks. Or maybe if I pay a full cent they’ll throw in some alcohol.
October 18th, 2010 at 10:27 pm
There’s a contracts law principle that says you can’t take advantage of an obvious unilateral mistake. So despite your acceptance of their offer, it wouldn’t be enforceable.
See, e.g., http://www.boyesturner.com/news-article.html?id=1094.
October 18th, 2010 at 10:32 pm
this is hilarious. you should send this into Jay Leno for his monday night “headlines”
October 19th, 2010 at 12:07 am
Hmmmm, maybe I should have you proof-read everything I write. You two are probably cringing every time you read a post.
October 19th, 2010 at 10:01 am
I’ll wait for your report on how that works out.
October 19th, 2010 at 10:59 pm
Who let the lawyer comment?
October 20th, 2010 at 6:53 pm
[…] unfortunately, I learned earlier this week that mistakes or misunderstandings in quotes and bids are not legally […]
January 18th, 2011 at 12:05 am
[…] now know that I won’t be able to win any money for deceptive advertising because it may be an obvious unilateral mistake. Plus I wasn’t really affected by […]