A conundrum

[NomoneyNohoney]

Why did a 'free cash withdrawals' ATM send me overdrawn? I love the idea of free cash, can't see how its a good business model, but if it makes me overdrawn I want nothing more to do with it.

[Mike4]

Why did a 'free cash withdrawals' ATM send me overdrawn? I love the idea of free cash, can't see how its a good business model, but if it makes me overdrawn I want nothing more to do with it.

I have to say I too have wondered about this, but that the trap lies in word "withdrawals" I suspect. There has to be 'something' from which to 'withdraw' the cash with no charge.

Its a bit like those department store offers long ago to "Refund the difference if you can buy it cheaper elsewhere". Some wag actually managed to buy it <whatever> cheaper elsewhere, and demanded the advertiser pay him the sum by which his purchase from elsewhere was lower.

Their ingenious response was there had a be a 'fund' in the first place from which to issue a refund. And has he didn't buy it from them in the first place there was no such fund... so he could shove it!

[jfgw]

I have similarly been ripped off with an All Day Breakfast. I got to the cafe early to get the best value but, even eating it fairly slowly, it only lasted half an hour.


Julian F. G. W.

[Watis]

I have similarly been ripped off with an All Day Breakfast. I got to the cafe early to get the best value but, even eating it fairly slowly, it only lasted half an hour.


Julian F. G. W.

I was similarly disappointed with the bottomless coffee cup. It's not pleasant walking around for the rest of the day in clothes soaked with coffee...

Watis

[bungeejumper]

Long ago, I heard of some chap who bought a chocolate bar whose label read: "If you are not completely satisfied by this product, please write to us and we will refund your purchase, plus postage".

So he wrote to the company and explained that he'd eaten the chocolate but he still hadn't been completely satisfied - in fact, he'd found room afterwards for a Big Mac and large fries with a milkshake. The company grumbled, paid up, and amended the wording on its packaging pretty damn fast.

BJ

[pje16]

I always thought that meant there was no charge for withdrawing cash
some places do charge for that
It is up to you to know how much you have in the bank... surely

[Watis]

I always thought that meant there was no charge for withdrawing cash
some places do charge for that
It is up to you to know how much you have in the bank... surely

You're right of course, but . . . this is 'Laughing Lemons'!

Watis

[pje16]

I always thought that meant there was no charge for withdrawing cash
some places do charge for that
It is up to you to know how much you have in the bank... surely

You're right of course, but . . . this is 'Laughing Lemons'!

Watis

Please explain the joke then

[Watis]

I always thought that meant there was no charge for withdrawing cash
some places do charge for that
It is up to you to know how much you have in the bank... surely

You're right of course, but . . . this is 'Laughing Lemons'!

Watis

Please explain the joke then

Against my better judgment, I'll take your request at face value rather than as a wind-up.

So, due to sloppy grammar, 'free cash withdrawals' can be interpreted in two ways: the intended 'there are no charges for withdrawing cash from this machine' - or 'your account won't be debited for the value of the cash you withdraw from this machine'. As a grammar Nazi, this has irked me for years.

In similar vein, if you're travelling into London on the Tube, don't forget to take a dog with you. For, as the signs say: 'Dogs must be carried on escalators'. No dog? Take the stairs.

Watis

[XFool]

I always thought that meant there was no charge for withdrawing cash
some places do charge for that
It is up to you to know how much you have in the bank... surely

You're right of course, but . . . this is 'Laughing Lemons'!

Watis

Please explain the joke then

Against my better judgment, I'll take your request at face value rather than as a wind-up.

So, due to sloppy grammar, 'free cash withdrawals' can be interpreted in two ways: the intended 'there are no charges for withdrawing cash from this machine' - or 'your account won't be debited for the value of the cash you withdraw from this machine'. As a grammar Nazi, this has irked me for years.

In similar vein, if you're travelling into London on the Tube, don't forget to take a dog with you. For, as the signs say: 'Dogs must be carried on escalators'. No dog? Take the stairs.

Yes but... IMO, this sort of thing is less about "grammar Nazis" and more about "Idiocy". (Could be much the same thing, of course.)

Not sure how funny that is.

[DrFfybes]

I was similarly disappointed with the bottomless coffee cup. It's not pleasant walking around for the rest of the day in clothes soaked with coffee...

Watis

The House of Marbles cafe in Devon used to do Medium or Large filter coffees, with free refills.

It was quite surprising how many people paid for the large.

Paul

[pje16]

So, due to sloppy grammar, 'free cash withdrawals' can be interpreted in two ways: the intended 'there are no charges for withdrawing cash from this machine' - or 'your account won't be debited for the value of the cash you withdraw from this machine'. As a grammar Nazi, this has irked me for years.

In similar vein, if you're travelling into London on the Tube, don't forget to take a dog with you. For, as the signs say: 'Dogs must be carried on escalators'. No dog? Take the stairs.
Watis

I have always loved that dog one - makes me smile every time
If anyonme really thinks 'free cash withdrawals' means giving way money,
I have met some idiots in my time, but that makes them go to the top of the class

[chrissyr]

I like the road sign (usually on country lanes) that states 'cats eyes removed' - is it a warning about the next village

[servodude]

I remember an English lesson in primary school where it was discussed that "Nothing works better than xxxxx" would never work as an advertising slogan because of the obvious
- everytime I see it used these days a bit of me winces

I suppose some might feel similarly to the appending of "with every packet of cornflakes" to signage calling for the "freeing" of high profile political prisoners - whereas I think that's held up quite well

[marronier]

Large posters in shop windows announcing "Sale " or " Everything must go " have always seemed meaningless. If the goods inside are not for sale or they are to be kept , then why stock them in the first place.

Punctuation or a lack can cause confusion viz. "No more whisky " ; " No, more whisky ".

[CliffEdge]

I always thought that meant there was no charge for withdrawing cash
some places do charge for that
It is up to you to know how much you have in the bank... surely

Usually you can find out your balance from the machine.

[jfgw]

Large posters in shop windows announcing "Sale " or " Everything must go " have always seemed meaningless. If the goods inside are not for sale or they are to be kept , then why stock them in the first place.

Then there are the ones that say, "Everything But Everything Must Go". Is this just to confuse illiterates? Otherwise, why bother? "There is No Necessity For Everything to Go" means the same thing and would be clearer.


Julian F. G. W.

[jfgw]

I bought some brake pads once where the packaging clearly advertised, "Asbestos Free". I looked in the box but I didn't find any free asbestos.


Julian F. G. W.

[stevensfo]

Some of my favourite things are eating the children and not using commas.


Steve

[servodude]

I always thought that meant there was no charge for withdrawing cash
some places do charge for that
It is up to you to know how much you have in the bank... surely

Usually you can find out your balance from the machine.

...if that machine involves strain gauges and you perturb the users calf muscles in a known way; but enough of that former life !

I heard a related joke from Jimmy Cricket once at a wedding

"I asked the girl at the bank to check my balance"
"So she gave a shove!"
"No..no.. I said.... I'm worried about the overdraft"
"So she shut the door behind me."

Now even if you don't imagine the pauses for comic effect between those utterances - it's honestly funnier written here than it was at the time

-sd