As Ed Perkins discusses in his latest column, watch out for hotels advertising “lowest rate guaranteed” and stores proclaiming “lowest price guaranteed.” They’re often rigged with so much exclusionary fine print that it’s often near impossible to get a company to live up to what you thought was its promised.

Instead, when you read you read a “lowest price” sign, perform this neat cognitive trick: imagine that it says, “pure promotion.”

“When it comes to ‘lowest rate’ guarantees, read the fine print” [SFGate] (Thanks to Philip!)

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