This is more a complaint against the way they choose to advertise, but I feel it is valid, none the less.
Blackwell Motors sent out ads which say you are a winner. A winner of what?
OK, so you scratch off three boxes, if they all say $20,000 you win. You are led to believe you have won $20,000. It seems like a scam, but the rules are very detailed, and they would not do that if it were not real. Ok. They say to call them, which I did. I just wanted to know if it was real. They were of no help. If you want a straight answer, look elsewhere. Since the phone number given on the ad is not the same for the company, I believe it is to a company that handles this ad promotion and not the company at all.
The lady said I had for sure won one of the prizes and to come in to see which one. They all seem to be a big deal:
$20,000 cash OR Mustang
Fully loaded Rhino
Up to $1,000 Gold Coins
50 inch Flat Screen TV
Since she was of NO help, I looked even closer at the rules. There is no way that everyone can be a winner, but this 'ad' would not work if even one person was told they were not a winner - so what is going on?
The odds for the prizes were as follows:
$20,000 cash OR Mustang 1:1,00, 000 (Not going to win that one)
Fully loaded Rhino 1:1,00, 000 (Not going to win that one)
Up to $1,000 Gold Coins 999,995:1,000, 000 (DING DING DING - We have a winner! This is YOUR prize!)
50 inch Flat Screen TV 1:1,00, 000 (Not going to win that one)
Look even closer (might need some reading glasses or a magnifying glass at this point) and you will see that the coinage you will receive will be anywhere from $1-$1,000. Given the current price of gold, the $1 coin you might recieve is either very tiny, OR they are NOT gold coins, but the $1 coins the US government has, which are gold in color.
I have an issue with this ad for several reasons:
1. They make it seem like you have won $20,000. No where do they explain on the ad that this only means you have won A prize, and not the prize. The wording is deceitful.
2. When you call, they are just as deceitful and will not answer a straight question. I live a long ways away, and the least they can do is answer my questions.
3. Gold in color is not the same thing as GOLD. Saying you will win gold coins when you get a $1 US coin is a flat out lie.
I know advertising in general is based on half truths and lies, but this one seems a little extreme. Bad business in my book.
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