Image courtesy of

Know that story about the guy who supposedly invented subliminal advertising, where they would flash secret messages faster than the eye could perceive and get you to buy more Coke and such? Besides being shown to be completely ineffective, the guy who "discovered" it actually made the whole thing up as a gimmick to get more business for his marketing research company. [WSJ] (subscription-free link)

Know that story about the guy who supposedly invented subliminal advertising, where they would flash secret messages faster than the eye could perceive and get you to buy more Coke and such? Besides being shown to be completely ineffective, the guy who “discovered” it actually made the whole thing up as a gimmick to get more business for his marketing research company. [WSJ] (subscription-free link)

Want more consumer news? Visit our parent organization, Consumer Reports, for the latest on scams, recalls, and other consumer issues.