More tax season "come ons"

[luke]

from the local radio - HRB will prepare your tax return for $49 (FORM 1040EZ) - How many non-1040EZ filers will this ad "trick"?
A Used car dealer (JD Byrider) has been advertising for over a month, "bring in latest pay stub and let us give you as much as $4500 towards a car - based on fact that "average" IRS return gets at least $4500"? Good Grief!
There really IS a difference between illegal and unethical (and sometimes just plain old SLIMEY!)

[Gary]

What!

You don't know what you are talking about. H&R Block does charge $49 for a 1040 EZ. This does not include the state return. Where do you get your information?

[Snaggletooth]

Advertising

He probably heard it on local radio like he says, and probably heard it correctly. And it is a typical commercial advertisement - advertising a product for a low price. No one has lied or engaged in false advertising.

I think the impact was that they are advertising a simple product applicable to some customers in hopes of attracting other customers. I think he's right, but still can't connect this to false advertising. There is a gas station with a tall sign on our interstate that advertises cheap gas prices - today it reads $2.399. Only 87 octane sells for that price, 89 octane sells for $2.50 and 92 octane sells for $2.64. If you drive a Porsche or some other high-performance car you can expect that you are not going to be able to pump the advertised price.

We should know the nature of advertising and not flinch unless false statements or made, or some outfit goes beyond "puffing their wares." For example, on my letterhead is a caption which says "...the ultimate in personal service." It is not unusual to see a TV commercial from a bank with a smiling face that says "Our Bank is interested in YOU."

There are such things as false advertising but in our world, none of the foregoing examples have crossed the line.

[Gary]

Be Realistic

Of course, when a gas station advertises cheap gas, it will be for the lowest octane gas. If the reader doesn't realize this, he is naive. If H&R Block advertises a price for a 1040 EZ, someone with a schedule C shouldn't expect the same price. this is not false advertising.

[luke]

I never

said it was "false" advertising, but I do believe a lot of "non-sophisticated" tax clients WILL be lured into HRB to get the $49 return and will then get a more expensive return? Its also called "bait and switch" in the retail world. Didnt mean to step on anyone's toes, i was simply making an observation......