Decoding the Burger King BK Crown Card Offer

A Burger King sign caught my attention this weekend when I was pumping gas. Being the credit nerd that I am, I immediately ran across the street to get some photos for further investigation. The sign  said, "Bad Credit? No Credit? New BK Crown Card. Pay Now, So You Can Eat Later." Click to enlarge the photos below.

What the heck is Burger King trying to do here? A quick internet search showed that the BK Crown Card is nothing but a re-loadable gift card for Burger King purchases. It has nothing to do with "bad credit" and isn't a credit card. Read the BK Card FAQ (PDF).

For a re-loadable gift card, the terms of this deal are actually pretty good. There is no maintenance fee or expiration date, and Burger King will replace the card if lost or stolen. But I have a major problem with the way Burger King is marketing this offer.

By saying "Bad Credit? No Credit?" the Burger King card is posing as a deal that would require a credit check and that would in turn be something that could help boost your credit history. The ad makes it seem like the BK Crown Card is a real credit card. Someone who is already struggling with their credit would be very tempted to "apply" for this card, not realizing that is just a gift certificate in disguise.

What do you think? Is this Burger King ad misleading? Share your feedback in the comments section below.

Comments

[Justin]

Ah, come on. It's supposed to be funny. Laugh.

i would laugh at anyone who thought that and then i would punch them in there teeth

[ISawThatAndWasWonderingTheSameThing]

I saw that and was wondering the same thing