# "Prices so low we can't advertise them!" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [July 28, 2005, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prices-so-low-we-cant-advertise-them/314619 "2005-07-28T18:38:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [July 29, 2005, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prices-so-low-we-cant-advertise-them/314619/21 "2005-07-29T16:51:29Z")
> [@Phase42](#): > > Manufacturers – mainly “prestige” or upper-tier brands – understand that price is a big factor in creating an image. Exactly. I’ve read a study on this done on Scotch Whiskey. Most people have a minimum price in mind as well as a maximum for the product. If it’s too cheap, the assumption is that it is not of the quality the customer is looking for. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2005, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prices-so-low-we-cant-advertise-them/314619/22 "2005-07-30T04:37:42Z")
> [@ouryL](#): > > Some states require that items advertised must be available to be sold at the price advertised for a reasonable amount of time and a reasonable number of items. Of course, what is reasonable is debatable, but one or two is not. Of course, if you don’t disclose a price, you are exempt. I thought bait-and-switch (which I think is what you are describing) was illegal everywhere. As I understand it if a store advertises item-X at a given price it matters not if they only have one in stock. If they tell you that they are out of the item they must give you a rain check for the item at the price advertised. That said I do see ads that say “While supplies last” and we all know airlines will sell two cheap seats on a plane while the rest are overpriced so it seems there is wiggle room here. Perhaps an attorney will shed some light on this. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/prices-so-low-we-cant-advertise-them/314619.md?page=1)