Bored Panda
75 Marketing Tricks That Backfired Spectacularly

75 Marketing Tricks That Backfired Spectacularly

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Brandy loyalty is a win-win for companies and customers alike. And yet, honest and transparent companies that sincerely put their customers’ wants and needs first are rare. Much more often, you’ll come across greedy business owners who will do anything it takes to trick consumers into buying their products or services.
However, eagle-eyed customers can spot shadiness, shrinkflation, false advertising, and manipulative marketing from a mile away. Our team at Bored Panda has collected examples of the most egregious and infuriating practices that companies use to deceive customers, and we hope you’re taking notes.

#61 The $20 Toilet Paper My Auntie Bought (On The Right) On Amazon Compared To A Normal Roll (On The Left)

A person holding a large single toilet paper roll next to a small multi-pack, illustrating infuriating marketing practices.
25points

#62 Good One, China

A disappointing ice cream bar that looks nothing like its package, an example of infuriating marketing practices.
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25points

#63 Hmm

A box of cereal being weighed on a kitchen scale, highlighting misleading marketing practices regarding product quantity.
25points

#64 This Used To Be A Premium Ice Cream

A pint of Haagen-Dazs mint chip ice cream with a close-up of the label showing a typo in chocolaty, a marketing practice.
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24points

#65 Powerade Is Using Shrinkflation By Replacing Their 32oz Drinks With 28oz And Stores Are Charging The Same Amount

Powerade bottles, a blue Mixed Berry and a red Fruit Punch, exemplify marketing practices that infuriated consumers.
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23points

#66 This Is Theft If You Ask Me

A package of Choco Chips cookies with only two small cookies inside, illustrating infuriating marketing practices.
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23points

#67 Not Only Did My Box Of "90" Treats Have Only 75 Candies, But Also Only 1 Sour Patch Kids

A large box of Maynard's 90 Fun Treats next to many small individual bags, demonstrating infuriating marketing practices.
23points

#68 Dominos Australian Large

A person's hand covering a small pepperoni pizza in an open box, illustrating misleading marketing practices.
20points

#69 An Entire Row Of Fake Brands

A row of generic soda brands like Club Cola, Right, and Monsoon Dew, an example of infuriating marketing practices.
19points

#70 New Hershey's Bottle Just Dropped

Two Hershey's chocolate syrup bottles of different sizes but the same price, illustrating infuriating marketing practices.
19points

#71 With A Sprinkling Of Oregano

A Dr. Oetker Ristorante Pizza Prosciutto box showing a delicious pizza, next to a much less appealing frozen pizza, exemplifying marketing practices.
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17points

#72 Anything To Save A Buck I Guess

A partially unwrapped chocolate bar with visible wafer lines, showcasing misleading marketing practices.
17points

#73 This Box Of Mostly Sticks With Some Matches In It

An open box of Redbird matches with many matches spilled out, illustrating potentially misleading marketing practices.
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17points

#74 The Size Of The Packaging vs. What You Actually Get. I Swear It's Getting Worse

A Kellogg's Corn Flakes box next to a clear bag filled with only a small portion of cereal, illustrating infuriating marketing practices.
14points

#75 Don’t Let Them Win!

A collage of vintage and modern advertisements, highlighting various marketing practices.
These companies use clever marketing to trick you into buying their products. They link their brands to things you know and love, and feature trustworthy people to make it seem safe.
9points
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