# “Deceptive” Product Names **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 15, 2019, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceptive-product-names/843470 "2019-11-15T03:07:30Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![KlondikeGeoff](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3e96dc/32.png) [@KlondikeGeoff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KlondikeGeoff)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2019, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceptive-product-names/843470/41 "2019-11-18T00:58:05Z")
When, when I was stationed in Japan in 1947 There was a popular soft drink. I don’t have the Japanese character for it, but it was pronounced “Cow piss” Really. When the Occupation GIs showed up and head that, they would burst out laughing to the chagrin of the Japanese. After a while, they began to laugh at it too when it was explaned. My War Bride wife still laughs about it when the subject of soft drinks is broached. I never dared taste it. ---
**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:** [November 18, 2019, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceptive-product-names/843470/42 "2019-11-18T01:06:21Z")
I heard the Chevy Nova sales South of the border were dismal. GM had figured projected sales in Mexico to be robust. Then they found out that in Spanish, Nova means, “It won’t go,” ~VOW ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2019, 1:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceptive-product-names/843470/43 "2019-11-18T01:09:29Z")
> [@VOW](#): > > I heard the Chevy Nova sales South of the border were dismal. GM had figured projected sales in Mexico to be robust. > > Then they found out that in Spanish, Nova means, “It won’t go,” > ~VOW [Not really true](https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/chevrolet-nova-name-spanish/). ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2019, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceptive-product-names/843470/44 "2019-11-18T02:21:58Z")
> [@KlondikeGeoff](#): > > When, when I was stationed in Japan in 1947 There was a popular soft drink. > > I don’t have the Japanese character for it, but it was pronounced “Cow piss” Really. > > When the Occupation GIs showed up and head that, they would burst out laughing to the chagrin of the Japanese. > > After a while, they began to laugh at it too when it was explaned. My War Bride wife still laughs about it when the subject of soft drinks is broached. > I never dared taste it. You must be thinking of Calpis which is still a very popular drink in many varieties in Japan. I’ve known about it (though never tried it) for decades and have never thought or heard cow piss. From Wikipedia: “Calpis (カルピス Karupisu) is a Japanese uncarbonated soft drink, manufactured by Calpis Co., Ltd. (カルピス株式会社 Karupisu Kabushiki-gaisha), headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo” [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calpis](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calpis) Here’s The Osmonds doing a commercial for it: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG4UolgV-SI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG4UolgV-SI) and I do hear of bit of cow piss in this reviewer’s video:[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMBSORhBP7M](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMBSORhBP7M), but she’s pronouncing it wrong. ---
**Author:** ![MacTech](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MacTech](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MacTech)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2019, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceptive-product-names/843470/45 "2019-11-18T02:27:08Z")
Maine Coast potato chips are made in Canada… …they were _originally_ made in York, Maine, but were bought out by Humpty Dumpty (another brand started in Maine) and then the company moved to Canada ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2019, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceptive-product-names/843470/46 "2019-11-18T12:22:30Z")
> [@Jackmannii](#): > > An industrial supply company in Indianapolis once called itself [“The House of a Million Screws”](https://www.flickr.com/photos/shushmuckle/32970840513). Likewise, I spend many evenings at [House of 1000 Beers](http://houseof1000beers.com/). There are 40-43 draft beers and enough unique bottles/cans to easily hit 1,000. Not deceptive. ---
**Author:** ![kitap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b9e5f3/32.png) [@kitap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kitap)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2019, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceptive-product-names/843470/47 "2019-11-18T12:43:04Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > What about Chili’s? I don’t eat there a lot, but I don’t recall ever actually seeing chili on the menu. They have it; we were just there and my dad got a bowl. There used to be a candy bar called the Chicken Dinner Bar. It was a chocolate covered peanut roll. ---
**Author:** ![markn\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f9ae1b/32.png) [@markn\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/markn_1)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2019, 9:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceptive-product-names/843470/48 "2019-11-18T21:06:34Z")
I bought some Pocari Sweat and was disappointed to learn that it has very little sweat in it. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2019, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceptive-product-names/843470/49 "2019-11-18T21:32:38Z")
Well, there’s always Ayds diet candy from the 70s. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2019, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceptive-product-names/843470/50 "2019-11-18T22:12:31Z")
> [@VOW](#): > > I heard the Chevy Nova sales South of the border were dismal. GM had figured projected sales in Mexico to be robust. > > Then they found out that in Spanish, Nova means, “It won’t go,” That’s not true. However, the Mitsubishi _Pajero_ is marketed in Spain and the Americas as the _Montero_ because _pajero_ is slang for “masturbator” in Spanish. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2019, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceptive-product-names/843470/51 "2019-11-18T23:32:31Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Well, there’s always Ayds diet candy from the 70s. Haha, diet candy. Although as an old-timer I kind of get my back up when I hear people talk about how stupid it was for them to name it “Ayds.” I can certainly understand why “calpis” would sound like “cow piss” but then I grew up in the time and place of “Pussy Cow.” Oh sure, supposedly the actual words were “Go see Cal,” but frankly I have listened to some of those things on Youtube and it still sounds like “Pussy Cow” to me. ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2019, 3:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceptive-product-names/843470/52 "2019-11-19T03:00:18Z")
Chick-O-Stick, Chicken Bones and Circus Peanuts candy. No chick, no chicken and no peanuts. 😛 Not a brand, but pupu [cue snickers] either on a platter or served instead of a meal or even better a starter before the REAL food. You know you’re at a good Hawaii party when they advertise heavy pupus and your plate weighs a couple of pounds with nothing skewered with a toothpick! 😃 ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2019, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceptive-product-names/843470/53 "2019-11-19T03:07:28Z")
> [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](#): > > Haha, diet candy. Although as an old-timer I kind of get my back up when I hear people talk about how stupid it was for them to name it “Ayds.” > > I can certainly understand why “calpis” would sound like “cow piss” but then I grew up in the time and place of “Pussy Cow.” Oh sure, supposedly the actual words were “Go see Cal,” but frankly I have listened to some of those things on Youtube and it still sounds like “Pussy Cow” to me. “here’s Cal Worthington and his dog Spot!” only thing is the “dog” was some animals from cal’s private zoo he had for a while in the 70s … his son runs it and you still see the commercial with him and the animals but the son comes on and runs down a car list although I always heard his car lot was a clip joint … ---
**Author:** ![robardin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/43a26b/32.png) [@robardin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/robardin)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2019, 1:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceptive-product-names/843470/54 "2019-11-19T13:07:00Z")
> [@lingyi](#): > > You must be thinking of Calpis which is still a very popular drink in many varieties in Japan. I’ve known about it (though never tried it) for decades and have never thought or heard cow piss. From Wikipedia: “Calpis ( Karupisu) is a Japanese uncarbonated soft drink, manufactured by Calpis Co., Ltd. ( Karupisu Kabushiki-gaisha), headquartered in Shibuya, Tokyo” [Calpis - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calpis) > > Here’s The Osmonds doing a commercial for it: [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG4UolgV-SI](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gG4UolgV-SI) and I do hear of bit of cow piss in this reviewer’s video:[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMBSORhBP7M](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DMBSORhBP7M), but she’s pronouncing it wrong. I’ve seen it for sale in many supermarkets in NYC with a large Asian population, and have it in my fridge right now, in fact. The mango flavored one is my favorite. It’s imported to the USA under the name “Calpico” for I’m guessing this exact reason. ---
**Author:** ![Kron](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kron/32/12444_2.png) [@Kron](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kron)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2019, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceptive-product-names/843470/55 "2019-11-19T18:27:01Z")
> [@slash2k](#): > > For many years, there was a bar in downtown Topeka, Kansas, called The Office. One of those here in Gillette, Wyoming as well. ---
**Author:** ![lingyi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@lingyi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lingyi)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceptive-product-names/843470/56 "2019-11-20T03:17:29Z")
Candy - Hot Tamales, Wonka Everlasting Gobstopper, jawbreakers Drinks - Monster, Diet Coke (diet soda, but NOT Coke!) ---
**Author:** ![Filbert](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/filbert/32/3433_2.png) [@Filbert](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Filbert)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 8:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceptive-product-names/843470/57 "2019-11-20T08:45:38Z")
One last drinking establishment- I used to live in a university town with a nightclub called ‘bed’. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceptive-product-names/843470/58 "2019-11-20T15:02:40Z")
[The Lakes, Nevada.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Lakes,_Las_Vegas) Exists entirely within Las Vegas. The only lake is artificial. They planned two lakes, but never got around to building the second one. > [@](#): > > Economy > Citicards, a subsidiary of Citibank, located its main Payment Processing Center here in 1985, as the centerpiece of The Lakes community. The United States Postal Service has since created two ZIP codes to handle the large volume of mail involved. In an effort to avoid having the negative connotation of credit card payments going to Las Vegas, these ZIP codes have been assigned the place name The Lakes, Nevada. Citibank transitioned the center to mortgage processing in the late 2000s, and closed the facility in 2014.[1] The town’s ZIP codes begin with 88, which would normally indicate southern New Mexico. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2019, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceptive-product-names/843470/59 "2019-11-20T16:43:50Z")
Mt Pleasant, PA has the zip-code 15 **666**. Pleasant, huh? Original home of [Helltown Brewing](https://www.helltownbrewing.com/). Kind of cute; **Helltown** has released collaborative beers with Greensburg’s **All Saints Brewing Company**. ---
**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:** [November 24, 2019, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceptive-product-names/843470/60 "2019-11-24T16:24:53Z")
I’ve seen TV ads for “Stitch Fix.” Hey, GREAT! Some bright person will do my mending! I am really good at mending, but by the time I sit down at the sewing machine andvdig out all the accoutrements necessary, my kids have outgrown the damned clothes! So this is actually a brilliant idea! Not. It’s a personalized clothes-shopping service. Shit, if my neck wasn’t so messed up, I could start a mending service. Too bad the cool name “Stitch Fix” is taken… ~VOW [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceptive-product-names/843470.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/deceptive-product-names/843470.md?page=4)