Pokémon GO Black Friday debacle, Are misleading PokéCoins ads baiting the Community?
Pokémon GO’s Black Friday deal, which kicked off recently, is causing quite a stir in the community, and it’s not for reasons one might expect. Niantic and Pokémon GO advertised the deal, promising players double the PokéCoins on select purchases made through the Pokémon GO Web Store. However, the reality of the promotion isn’t sitting well with players, and here’s why.
The issue at hand isn’t as straightforward as it seemed. The deal does offer double PokéCoins, but there’s a catch, it’s not on the total amount of PokéCoins. Instead, the deal only doubles the bonus PokéCoins. This means the additional PokéCoins you get on top of your purchase are the only ones being doubled, not the entire amount of PokéCoins you receive. So, if you were expecting your entire purchase to be doubled, you’re in for a surprise.
This distinction has led to accusations of false advertising. The promotion’s wording led players to believe they would receive twice the total amount of PokéCoins, whereas only the bonus PokéCoins are being doubled. It’s a classic case of expectations not matching reality, leaving many players feeling fooled.
Here’s what the official post said:
“Trainers, Celebrate Black Friday with bountiful deals on PokéCoins! Double your bonus PokéCoins per purchase on PokéCoins bundles over $20 when you purchase on the Pokémon GO Web Store. You could earn up to 2000 bonus web store PokéCoins on select web store purchases! This sale is only available from now until November 27, 2023, at 11:59 p.m. PST. Limit one purchase per PokéCoin bundle per customer.”
You can get 2× PokéCoins on select Pokémon GO Web Store purchases—but this deal ends tomorrow at 11:59 p.m. PST!https://t.co/w4Xe6Oandm pic.twitter.com/yKp8vd4uuw
— Pokémon GO (@PokemonGoApp) November 26, 2023
Upon closer examination, the phrasing “double your bonus PokéCoins” is where the confusion arises. It implies that the bonus portion of the PokéCoins is what’s being doubled, not the entire purchase. However, the way the deal was initially marketed didn’t make this clear, leading to the current discontent among players.
It seems like it’s not raining PokéCoins after all. This situation highlights the need for transparency and clarity in advertising, especially in a community-driven game like Pokémon GO. Players are calling for more straightforward communication in the future to prevent such misunderstandings.
