The fine print
I saw this ad yesterday:

It seems pretty straightforward. If I join their club, I get to use these other services for free. Then I got closer and saw the fine print:

What definition of “free” are they using, exactly?

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You are reading an entry from the Ironic Sans archive. This entry was posted on March 15, 2007 and is filed under
Advertising.



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[What is this?]
I saw this ad yesterday:

It seems pretty straightforward. If I join their club, I get to use these other services for free. Then I got closer and saw the fine print:

What definition of “free” are they using, exactly?
Posted by David at 8:59 AM | Permalink
Filed under:
Advertising
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Comments
Obviously, this is “free as in speech,” not “free as in beer.”
Posted by: Rockwell | March 15, 2007 9:29 AM
I am guessing there will be a huge initiation fee of some kind, plus an application fee. There are some private shooting ranges near me that have similar policies to keep out the “undesirables.” You should call them up and see what they have to say.
Posted by: DrFaulken | March 15, 2007 10:10 AM
Free: Without charge except shipping, handling, registration, licensing, application, administration, towel, and disposal fees.
That’s the kind of crappy advertising that will turn me off of a company. If they run ads like that you can only expect to be treated poorly while using their services also.
Posted by: Shawn | March 15, 2007 10:55 AM
If a shooting range is trying to keep out undesirables, I suggest that they shut down their whole operation. Then nobody with guns will be showing up wanting to shoot at stuff anymore.
Posted by: Ben | March 15, 2007 11:14 AM
If it’s anything like some of the “health clubs” in some of the seedier parts of Denver, you really, really, really don’t want to know what that asterisk implies.
Posted by: Stephen | March 15, 2007 9:02 PM
Free like the Sports Illustrated offers where the subscription with the “free” football phone costs five dollars more than the normal subscription.
Posted by: yellojkt | March 15, 2007 9:53 PM
It’s like the difference between a “gift” and a “free gift”. Sortof.
Posted by: art | March 15, 2007 10:12 PM
free as in “free tibet…with purchase”. have they no shame?
Posted by: hibiscusroto | March 16, 2007 3:17 PM