A while ago, I saw a Duracell commercial and an Energizer commercial back to back.  Both of these companies told me that their battery lasted longer than their competitor's.  Both of them told me they had laboratory test results which proved their battery lasted longer than their competitor's.

Let me tell you something.  When you hear “laboratory tests” in a television commercial, it means nothing.  Of course they ran tests.  They ran some tests, and their battery lasted longer.  How much longer?  Are we talking hours here?  Probably more on the order of seconds.  They don't tell us, so it can't be anything worth bragging about.

If they both last about as long, perhaps one is cheaper than the other?  I checked - their price differs by pennies.

Here are two companies producing batteries which last for practically the same amount of time.  They both advertise their product on television, and both batteries sell for about the same price.

I have an idea.  If one of these companies were to stop advertising on television, they could take the extra money they would save on advertising and lower the price on their batteries a few nickels.

Pennzoil and Quaker State are the same way.  Both claim to be better oil than the other.  The price difference between a quart of Pennzoil and a quart of Quaker State is about four cents.
 

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