Marketing products and double speak? What do you think?

[Code54]

The other day I picked up a can of motorcycle chain lube at the dealer. When I got home I looked at it a little closer and noticed the can is 13oz but it says it is a full 17ozs.

That made no sence to me (nor some friends) so I emailed the company that makes it and I attached the response below. Does anyone else find this odd and misleading?

 

[4570Man]

The simple answer is fluid ounces and ounces as weight aren’t the same measurements.

 

[ponytug]

That fails my sniff test. If it contains 17 full ounces, that can't be 13 net.

I think that the legal term is a "misstatement of fact".

All the best, Peter

 

[RustyA]

So if a 12 fluid ounce of Coke weighs 10 ounces. Obviously chain lube weighs less than one ounce per fluid ounce. It's a math thing.

 

[bcp]

17 fluid ounces is a volume measurement.

Net Wt. 13 ounces is a weight measurement.

Bruce

 

[ericm979]

It might be correct. 1 fl oz of water = one ounce of weight (roughly). But chain lube is lighter than water so 17 fluid ounces could be 13 weight ounces.

I was curious so I went out to the garage and checked. All the spray petrochemicals there are measured in weight except the can of chain lube, which is in volume.

 

[old and tired]

Right behind the 13 oz. on the can is: 369 GRAMS (weight not volume)

It would be the same if they posted behind the 17 FLUID oz; 502.75 milliliters or 0.5 liters!!!

 

[Cub 7275]

Lol. Full 17 fluid ounces is the volume of the can or of the liquid inside? How much is actually chain lube and how much is propellant? Is the 17oz measured in the pressurized state or at atmospheric pressure?

A fluid oz of water weighs 1.043 oz. Oils are around .85 specific gravity so 17 fluid oz of oil would convert to around 15.07 oz by weight.

Seems the "17 fluid ounces" is a meaningless marketing number meant to overstate the amount of product you are actually getting.

 

[Code54]

Seems the "17 fluid ounces" is a meaningless marketing number meant to overstate the amount of product you are actually getting.

That is sort of my take on it. It is just something they throw on the can so it looks better than it really is. I really was not concerned if I was buying a 13oz, 15oz or 17oz can. Just give me the honest amount of product I am receiving like everything else. If I really wanted your brand and it was 14oz and not the 15oz can a competitor makes, I still would have purchased it because I believe it is a better product. Just be straightforward and 100% transparent.

 

[MAX-24-Dean]

They didn't do themselves justice, they should of clearly explained it in thier response to you. Weight vs volume, did any one say confusion is not a good response?

And it's thier "improved formula", what ever that means. I'm sometimes puzzeled when it comes to marketing statements.

If it helps any, I use a similiar motorcycle chain lube with the same confusing labeling.