Christmas Bazaar Overstock

December's Fake Ad

by by Jay Forstner

posted 1/4/2013

The December Fake Ad was for the Christmas Bazaar Overstock Sale at the Birch Cedar Outlet Mall. The previous winner's name, "Thibodeau," was spelled out in the first letters of the ad copy. How well was it disguised? See for yourself: "You were very clever with the placement of the previous winner's name," wrote Linda Thibodeau. "I am that winner and I had to check several times before I found my own name."

Only 92 Fake Adders found the ad on page 76 of the December issue. "You got me this time," wrote David Collins. "I had to look through this month's issue six times looking for the name 'Thibodeau' before nearly giving up. But one ad seemed especially ridiculous. ... I might have to change my strategy and start looking for absurdity before rare letter combinations."

"This is my first time submitting an answer, though I've found the Fake Ad just a day too late a number of times before. Here's to hoping I win!" wrote Nishant Kheterpal. The Fake Ad Czar shares your enthusiasm, Nishant.

But fate decreed otherwise. Our random-drawing winner was Sandra White. She's taking her gift certificate to Zingerman's Roadhouse.

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To enter this month's contest, find the Fake Ad in the January issue and follow the instructions in the box at the bottom of the Back Pege. The Fake Ad always contains the name of last month's winner in some form.   

[Originally published in January, 2013.]