# car key promotion---how it works **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 30, 2009, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-key-promotion-how-it-works/501508 "2009-06-30T19:43:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![VOW](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/vow/32/3043_2.png) [@VOW](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VOW)\ **Post date:** [December 14, 2012, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-key-promotion-how-it-works/501508/41 "2012-12-14T19:30:37Z")
All the keys we’ve ever received in those dingbat promotions look like blanks, with no cuts made to them. Just for giggles, Hubster went to the dealership with one of those keys. Before he could even get CLOSE to the car in question, he had to listen to the song and dance from several sales people. Worse yet, we received indicators our credit had been checked out several times by the dealership! To buy the vehicle, the dealer owner told Hubster his payments would be around $700 a month, and he “wouldn’t live long enough to pay it off.” Hubster’s 63! When we’re in the market for a new vehicle, three guesses where we WON’T be going! ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![Cheshire\_Human](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Cheshire\_Human](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheshire_Human)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2012, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-key-promotion-how-it-works/501508/42 "2012-12-16T04:02:22Z")
> [@JKilez](#): > > Would you really want to stick your key into a car from XXX Motors? You do not know where that chassis has been. 😃 Just wear an XXXXX brand condom, and XXXX your [del]dick[/del] key off. One extra X in each case. You’ll be fine. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![nion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c5a1d2/32.png) [@nion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nion)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2012, 6:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-key-promotion-how-it-works/501508/43 "2012-12-16T06:40:06Z")
I’ve often wondered about these. Every one I’ve got (as best as I can recall) was supposed to give me a chance to start the car. AFAIK all new cars have chips in the ignition key. I’d think it would be insanely obvious if you had the winning key for that reason alone. All the ones I’ve got had skinny cheap plastic fobs that showed no signs of being chipped. ---
**Author:** ![Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nunzio_Tavulari)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2012, 7:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-key-promotion-how-it-works/501508/44 "2012-12-16T07:30:53Z")
> [@nion](#): > > AFAIK all new cars have chips in the ignition key. I’d think it would be insanely obvious if you had the winning key for that reason alone. I assume that the key unlocks the door. ---
**Author:** ![nion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/c5a1d2/32.png) [@nion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nion)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2012, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-key-promotion-how-it-works/501508/45 "2012-12-16T07:32:45Z")
> [@Nunzio\_Tavulari](#): > > I assume that the key unlocks the door. As I mentioned, the advert said the key was meant for the ignition. ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [December 16, 2012, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-key-promotion-how-it-works/501508/46 "2012-12-16T14:29:22Z")
I normally throw those keys in the trash without a second glance but I got one of [these](http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/3339/img20120423204744.jpg) electronic key/keyfob combos attached to a promotional paper a few months ago and wondered how they could afford to send those out, so I cracked it open to find [this](http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/8099/img20120423204807.jpg). No electronics, the 4 little discs taped to the inside provide some resistance and make the rubber buttons pop back out after you push them. ---
**Author:** ![Exapno\_Mapcase](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/exapno_mapcase/32/1051_2.png) [@Exapno\_Mapcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Exapno_Mapcase)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2013, 4:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/car-key-promotion-how-it-works/501508/52 "2013-05-03T16:07:50Z")
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