False advertising is the practice of making false or exaggerated claims in commercial advertising. It can be illegal and unethical, and can include bait-and-switch tactics. Regulations have increased and stores now include notes on advertising to combat the practice.
False advertising, sometimes referred to as false advertising, is the practice of making claims or representations in commercial advertising that are false, grossly exaggerated, or not substantiated by the advertised product or service. While false advertising may indicate that something was done accidentally, false advertising is typically reserved for intentionally false or incorrect advertising. This may include print advertisements, television and radio advertisements, offers made over the Internet, and virtually any other type of advertising available.
While not always illegal, false advertising can often push the boundaries of moral or ethical behavior. Advertising is the practice, equal parts art form and sales, of popularizing a new or existing product in an effort to make it attractive and desirable to consumers. The ethical responsibility of advertising is often viewed by customers and consumers as honesty, and when people feel that an advertisement has misled them or outright lied to them, the response can be strongly negative.
During the massive popularization of print and television advertising in the 20th century, there were few regulations and laws around what could be claimed in an advertisement. False advertising could be used to make false or unsubstantiated claims about a product. This type of advertising could be seen in products such as tobacco, with cigarette companies claiming that smoking could help people with asthma. Today, advertisers and manufacturers are expected to remain honest in advertising, and while the truth can still be stretched at times, it is at least more accurate.
A particularly popular and aggravating form of fairly deceptive advertising is the procedure known as a bait-and-switch. This practice typically takes the form of running an advertisement for a product at a significantly reduced price, but stocking only a very small supply, perhaps only one, of that product. When customers come in looking for the advertised product, the decoy, they are told it is already out of stock and are then offered a different, more expensive similar product, the switch. This behavior was especially common as a practice on major holidays and weekends when consumers would search ahead for the best deals and go to a store specifically for a single advertised item.
In an effort to combat the practice and re-establish good faith with customers, many stores now include a note on their advertising for certain products at a certain price stating the minimum number the store will have. While this number may still be low, it at least ensures that customers have a good chance and are aware of shortages and availability. With the advent of the Internet and greater freedom of information among consumers, manufacturers and advertisers have had to limit false advertising to avoid angry responses from online communities.
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