# I have been cordially invited to a complimentary dinner event **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 21, 2025, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-cordially-invited-to-a-complimentary-dinner-event/1021152 "2025-07-21T15:43:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![2\_More\_Bits](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2_more_bits/32/4148_2.png) [@2\_More\_Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2_More_Bits)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-cordially-invited-to-a-complimentary-dinner-event/1021152/1 "2025-07-21T15:43:48Z")
I just received in the mail a glossy, well-produced invitation to enjoy a free meal (the photograph of such are enticing!) and an “educational presentation” to be held at a local upscale restaurant. What are they selling, you ask? Time shares? Financial services? Nope. This: “Pain relief without the use of drugs or surgery.” I have no plans to attend so I was hoping one of you could tell me what I’ll be missing. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-cordially-invited-to-a-complimentary-dinner-event/1021152/2 "2025-07-21T15:47:07Z")
Does it require you to bring a spouse and/or a credit card? ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-cordially-invited-to-a-complimentary-dinner-event/1021152/3 "2025-07-21T15:47:15Z")
What you’ll be missing is an intense and unceasing sale’s pitch, and my bet is that it will be BEFORE you get your food so that you don’t get up and leave right after eating. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-cordially-invited-to-a-complimentary-dinner-event/1021152/4 "2025-07-21T15:48:44Z")
Will it require you and/or your spouse to sign a non-disclosure agreement? ---
**Author:** ![2\_More\_Bits](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2_more_bits/32/4148_2.png) [@2\_More\_Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2_More_Bits)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-cordially-invited-to-a-complimentary-dinner-event/1021152/5 "2025-07-21T15:49:22Z")
It sez I can bring a guest. ---
**Author:** ![2\_More\_Bits](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2_more_bits/32/4148_2.png) [@2\_More\_Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2_More_Bits)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-cordially-invited-to-a-complimentary-dinner-event/1021152/6 "2025-07-21T15:50:11Z")
Yes but what miracle are they selling? ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-cordially-invited-to-a-complimentary-dinner-event/1021152/7 "2025-07-21T15:50:16Z")
Is there a company name? ---
**Author:** ![2\_More\_Bits](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/2_more_bits/32/4148_2.png) [@2\_More\_Bits](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/2_More_Bits)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-cordially-invited-to-a-complimentary-dinner-event/1021152/8 "2025-07-21T15:54:33Z")
Good question. I didn’t even think to look. [Moments later] Oh, you’ll love this: Happy Valley Regeneration! Google tells me they are into stem cell therapy. I wonder why I was selected. I have no particular pain problems (knock on wood!) at the present. ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-cordially-invited-to-a-complimentary-dinner-event/1021152/9 "2025-07-21T15:55:29Z")
Is there free booze? I could sit through a hard sell marketing pitch about somthing I care nothing about, if the food is decent and the wine is free! ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 4:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-cordially-invited-to-a-complimentary-dinner-event/1021152/10 "2025-07-21T16:05:53Z")
Guy sits down at a bar, and hears someone say “That’s a great jacket you have.” He looks around, but there’s nobody near him. The bartender comes by and he orders a beer. Then he hears “Nice choice, I like their IPA.” He’s very confused, because there’s still nobody near him. The bartender comes back with the beer and the guy says “I’m hearing someone talk to me but there’s nobody here.” The bartender says “Yeah, that’s just the bowl of peanuts.” “They’re complimentary.” ---
**Author:** ![Raza](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/raza/32/213_2.png) [@Raza](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raza)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 4:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-cordially-invited-to-a-complimentary-dinner-event/1021152/11 "2025-07-21T16:08:27Z")
I can’t top the peanuts joke, but the Complimentary Dinner invite I get a few times a year is always for financial/retirement planning. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-cordially-invited-to-a-complimentary-dinner-event/1021152/12 "2025-07-21T16:10:55Z")
Are people ever actually ‘cordially’ invited to dinners that don’t turn out to be murder mysteries? ---
**Author:** ![Beckdawrek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/beckdawrek/32/3647_2.png) [@Beckdawrek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beckdawrek)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-cordially-invited-to-a-complimentary-dinner-event/1021152/13 "2025-07-21T16:21:36Z")
Only if Miss.Marple, Hercules Poirot or Jessica Fletcher are invited, too. ---
**Author:** ![SuntanLotion](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/suntanlotion/32/16165_2.png) [@SuntanLotion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SuntanLotion)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-cordially-invited-to-a-complimentary-dinner-event/1021152/14 "2025-07-21T16:30:20Z")
I was invited to one once. It was for a funeral service. ---
**Author:** ![Dag\_Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/439d5e/32.png) [@Dag\_Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dag_Otto)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 4:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-cordially-invited-to-a-complimentary-dinner-event/1021152/15 "2025-07-21T16:44:33Z")
> [@2\_More\_Bits](#): > > [Moments later] > Oh, you’ll love this: Happy Valley Regeneration! Google tells me they are into stem cell therapy. > > I wonder why I was selected. I have no particular pain problems (knock on wood!) at the present. Perhaps they want your stem cells. This restaurant isn’t near a clinic, is it? ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 4:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-cordially-invited-to-a-complimentary-dinner-event/1021152/16 "2025-07-21T16:59:34Z")
There are also hearing aid pitches to go along with retirement planning, timeshare selling and funeral service promotion at these “complimentary meal” functions. Anything short of a multi-course meal at an upscale steakhouse, I wouldn’t consider it. Lots of scammery in the stem cell therapy biz. “Free dinners” are part of the come-on. > **[People are 'desperately willing' to dump thousands of dollars on sham...](https://fortune.com/2024/06/15/stem-cell-injection-scam-treatments-costs-lawsuits-fda-warning/)** > > Stem cells are considered experimental for most uses, despite being marketed as a treatment for everything from autism and emphysema to sports injuries. > **[Attorney General Bird Secures Settlement Against Executive of Alleged Scam...](https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/newsroom/attorney-general-bird-secures-settlement-against-executive-of-alleged-scam-stem-cell-treatment-compa)** > > Iowa Department of Justice, Office of the Attorney General news releases. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 5:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-cordially-invited-to-a-complimentary-dinner-event/1021152/17 "2025-07-21T17:03:58Z")
If they ask for a credit card number for “I.D.” at the door, walk away. ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-cordially-invited-to-a-complimentary-dinner-event/1021152/18 "2025-07-21T17:05:25Z")
> [@2\_More\_Bits](#): > > Time shares Gotta be time shares IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 5:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-cordially-invited-to-a-complimentary-dinner-event/1021152/19 "2025-07-21T17:49:16Z")
> [@2\_More\_Bits](#): > > Oh, you’ll love this: Happy Valley Regeneration! Google tells me they are into stem cell therapy. Magical pain relief, Heinlein reference, likely fraudulent stem cell therapy…all this needs is a machine named after an Ayn Rand character and a promotional blurb by Peter Thiel and you have a perfect SiVal venture capital pitch! Stranger ---
**Author:** ![carrps](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carrps/32/2957_2.png) [@carrps](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carrps)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2025, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-cordially-invited-to-a-complimentary-dinner-event/1021152/20 "2025-07-21T18:21:05Z")
> [@Raza](#): > > I can’t top the peanuts joke, but the Complimentary Dinner invite I get a few times a year is always for financial/retirement planning. Yeah, I get them four or five times a year. Usually to be held at Ruth’s Chris Steak House. And I’ve been retired for ten years. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-been-cordially-invited-to-a-complimentary-dinner-event/1021152.md?page=2)