Is anyone else bothered by the common advertising claim
“Nothing works better than (product name)”
That always makes me think that it would be better to use nothing than to use their product.
Why don’t they say “No product works better than ours” or something similar, although I admit I can’t easily find something as concise.
Along the same lines, products/services are sometimes described as “second to none”. That one makes me think “next to nothing”.
This can rank right up there in my list of “advertising phrases I hate” with “UP TO X% better than. . .” Meaning, it’s maybe 50% than the competitor, but maybe no better at all. They don’t seem to realize that “up to” means “maybe not at all”. Or maybe they know that most people don’t realize that. That possibility makes me sad. 
Ooooh yes, OP, that is stupid advertising - I too always think “I’ll use nothing then, it’s cheaper”. The other one that gets me is the dangling comparitive … like the car parts shop near where I live that has signs like “Bigger range!”,“Lower prices!” and so on. Than who or what? Your competitors? Than you used to have? Than you’ll have next week?
I’ve always hated: New Look! Same Great Taste! As if most people would notice someone changed the damn packaging art and immediately conclude it must taste completely different. How dumb do they think people are? On second thought…
We like to shop at Overstock.com, but are continually bugged by the way they display their prices. “$75 … compare to $95.” Well yeah, compared to $95, $75 is less. It’s all less that $3 zillion. Where is the $95 coming from? Out of thin air? Why should I trust you that the $95 has merit. Who came up with this mysterious $95?? Thanks, no, I’ll just take my $75 and compare it to something that, you know, HAS MEANING.
“No other food is more effective in reducing cholesterol”. If any food were more effective in reducing cholesterol, it would have to be other by definition, since x¬>x for any x… so “other” is redundant.
I also have mild conniptions over “foot pedal”, though I suppose people get confused about head pedals and hand pedals all the time. :dubious:
Whenever I see the “UP TO X% better than. . .” claim, I am immediately reminded of a Monty Python spoof ad for the Welsh Martial Art of Llap-Goch, which (the ad claims) “will allow you to sleep with any number of women*”
*As long as you realise that “Zero” is also a number. 
“Nothing works better than X” is major advertising weasel-speak. Here’s why:
Let’s take a produce such as toothpaste. Now, most toothpastes are basically the same. Detergents, some fluoride, and a fresh minty flavor to cover up the fact that you’re putting soap in your mouth. All toothpastes are made of just about exactly the same stuff. So, all toothpastes are just about the same level of effectiveness.
Which is why “nothing works better than X” is weasel language. If they’re all about the same, then no one toothpaste is better than any other, because they’re all equal. They’re telling you that there’s no difference between other products in the same line and their product, and to make that claim, they don’t have to actually prove anything. If they were to claim that their product is actually “better” than another product, then they’d have to have hard data.
That’s also why all companies like to say that their product is “the best.” If they’re all about the same, then they’re all “the best”. It’s when you start saying that your product is “better than X” that you have to back up your claim.
What’s even better is when they offer “Up to 75% . . . OR MORE!”
There’s a law firm that advises “you’ll pay pennies on the dollar” of your tax debt if they represent you to the IRS.
I alway think, “um…99 pennies is a substantial amount.”
Not quite right. You can say “nothing is better” if all products are the same. However, if you say “Our product is the best,” the FTC requires you have data to back that up. You’ll see few ads where anyone claims to be the best at anything.
The bigger weasel word in ads is “virtually,” which means “not really.”
Heh. This reminds me of wording I see in real estate ads all the time. It’ll say something along the lines of “minutes from schools and shopping”, which always makes me think, yeah, I, for instance, am “minutes” from Baltimore. Granted, it’s 150 minutes, but it’s still ‘minutes’. :rolleyes:
Because being concise the most important thing. I laugh at commercials when they use language like this, but it’s still clear what they mean.
Any time I see things like this I am reminded of Jokeaday.coms little tagline.
Contact us and experience our world class customer service, piss poor is a class right.
LOL, yeah, exactly – I used to hear ads for homes in the Pocono Mountains, “only 90 minutes from NYC”.
They always seemed to leave out “by ICBM” :eek:
I always buy the other leading brand. Everyone compares their products to that, so it must be pretty damned good.
Everywhere is walking distance if you have the time.
Thanks, Steven!
Several movies have featured a fictitious film studio called “Miracle Pictures,” with the slogan “If it’s a good movie, it’s a miracle!”
50% more free
So since none of it was free last time, I still have to pay for all of it.
25% MORE
than our 6 oz. size
Really! Did your design engineers confirm this for you? If your so proud of this why is the last bit in small light lettering.