Cards Against Humanity Has Made Over $54K Selling Nothing on Black Friday | Hacker News Reader

Cards Against Humanity Has Made Over $54K Selling Nothing on Black Friday

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Cards against Humanity has great marketing team, but I'm still pretty sure people are buying in because they think there's a chance they're getting something still.

There was that time recently that cards against humanity sold a box of literal bull shit, and then people were disappointed when they got just literal bull shit.

They don't ask for your address, there's no way they'll get anything.

I don't disagree. My point is people are not smart. =|

I buy things online all the time that are not physically shipped to my address

That's even in the FAQ:

But really, I’ll get something, right?

No, we’re not even taking your shipping address. All we have to offer is nothing.

I hope not, I'd be so disappointed if they tried to rob me of all that premium rate nothing I ordered! But I'm not too worried, I'm pretty sure they'll hold up their side of the deal, especially since they didn't ask for people's info.

>If I give you $5, what are you going to do with the money? That’s for us to know and you to find out. We’ll make the announcement soon.

This might be throwing people off. My guess is they are going to make some charitable donation.

It is extremely similar to John Oliver's Last Week Tonight spoof religion "Our Lady of Perpetual Exemption" for which they asked for cash donations for essentially nothing in return (and then donated the proceeds to charity).

Which kinda-sorta follows on from Colbert Super PAC which asked for donations to a Super PAC which did essentially nothing and then they too donated it.

CAH are in their right to do "whatever" with the money, but it wouldn't shock me if they donated it.

We were kind of right. The staff spent the money on mostly material things. Some made sizeable contributions to various charities.

They definitely are selling off of their fame (or notoriety) here. I could go out to the main street today and say "Hi all! I'm selling nothing for $5!" and I'd get nothing because I'm not Cards Against Humanity.

They must be living the Millenialist dream, get money for literally (not figuratively at all) doing nothing but asking for it.

I didn't buy into this, but honestly wouldn't feel bad for doing so. The people behind CAH donate a large amount of their money to charity and recently started a scholarship for woman in sciences.

In fact the last stunt they did like this involved selling literal bullshit to people. After the campaign ended they announced all profits from it went to a charity.

Exactly. The person above IS correct, they are selling this off of their reputation. But that reputation has many people believing that they will either do something funny OR donate to charity, and that is win/win.

Millenialist?

They raised $71,145 and announced they're spending money with a list of items they're buying:

http://cardsagainsthumanity.com/blackfriday/

And if you missed out on this phenomenal deal, you can experience it retro-vicariously through the magic of The Archive:

https://web.archive.org/web/20151127130402/https://store.car...

This... raises as many questions for me as it answers.

> Because the greatest Black Friday gift of all is buying nothing. We’re offering that for the rock-bottom price of $5. How can you afford NOT to seize this incredible opportunity?

Great salesmanship.

It would be even better if they had it as $10 crossed out, 50% sale price: $5

Or $0 crossed out? Given that's the recommended retail price of nothing?

Given that they raised prices during one black friday, crossing out the $0 and charging $5 would be apropos.

Several of the commenters here are missing the point.

Cards Against Humanity has had an anti-black friday "gimmick" for at least one or two years now, and this is keeping with that tradition.

One of their black friday sales was to raise the price of the game. Next year, they'll have a different gimmick.

You've explained it completely, yet I still don't see the point from the customer's perspective. "Haha I just gave a company $5 for nothing!".. What?

I find pleasure in mocking consumerism.

https://www.facebook.com/MitchellWiggs/videos/10156258219585...

It's possible many people were previous supporters of Cards Against Humanity, and those who gave $5 assumed that the money would be likely be used for something, other than shore up their coffers.

It sounds reminiscent of the "I am rich" app[1], and even more to the apparently apocryphal copycat "I am not stupid" (which was presumably sold for US$1.99)

[1] See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Am_Rich

They are selling an experience and a story to tell. $5 and you have a funny story to tell when CaH comes in in conversation. It also makes you part of a group of "ironic" CaH customers. Similar to buying prestige by buying a luxury good when there is a cheaper equivalent.

Marketing today is all about identity, authenticity and defining oneself.

Today? It's been that way for the better part of a century.

If by some nearly inconceivable series of events one found oneself in a situation where one thought it would be socially beneficial to say they gave $5 to CaH for nothing, one could just say that regardless of whether it's true.

Totally baffled at any/all articles and discussion of this by anyone who's familiar with their modus operandi. It's CaH. Either they're going to donate it, or do something awwbsurdacomical, and all they need is your name and email to keep you in the loop as the black frijinx ensue. Yadda yadda.

Isn't this either very border line or even illegal in the US (genuinely asking)? - I thought every contract between 2 parties required an exchange of something, so money can't be traded for nothing, but maybe I'm wrong.

Edit: getting downvoted, not sure why, explanation would be helpful

Probably not any different than just donating to a GoFundMe fundraiser. It's not actually a deductible charitable donation, and you're receiving nothing in return.

I believe that crowdfunding platforms solved exactly the legal issue behind that. I have no idea about the details but I imagine that 1. they take care about taxes and similar, and 2. someone you're donating money in exchange of being part of the cause, whatever this legally means.

What I'm asking is specifically related to the term "nothing", which (I think) can only have a single interpretation.

Crowdfibding sites to not handle income taxes, only sdles taxes where relevant. They only withhold CC fees and their fees.

It just means the buyers could easily get a refund. It's not illegal.

Similarly, technically minors can't enter into commercial contracts except for life necessities. So if an <18 buys a car, they could return it whenever they want. Whether they'd have to pay something for its use/damage is debatable.

Interesting, thanks.

>So if an <18 buys a car, they could return it whenever they want. Whether they'd have to pay something for its use/damage is debatable.

Can you go more into detail on that or tell me what law says that? Does that mean I (17/US) could walk into Walmart, buy a shirt, wear it for 6 months and expect a full refund?

He said except life necessities, which a shirt probably is part of.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Capacity_(law) It's a very general legal principle, so how it applies varies jurisdiction to jurisdiction (and probably case by case since it may not be codified clearly). Look under infancy, and minors and contractual capacity.

Chances are, a dealership won't sell a car to someone <18 for this reason. Used car/private sellers are taking a big chance if they do.

You wouldn't be able to come back more than depreciated value. Minors aren't permitted to destroy stuff for free.

IANAL but I don't see how it could be illegal.

There's no misrepresentation. Both the "buyer" and the "seller" know what is going on and agree.

Give an illegal action A, a seller could sell a service that does A. If you buy A, it doesn't make it legal just because both you and the seller know what is going on and agree.

You seem to understand the basics of contract law. However you seem to miss that cases are decided by people and not robots, and judges have a great deal of legal flexibility.

That being said, if someone did threaten to sue I highly suspect that CAH would refund the $5 since even a single lawyer's letter costs more than the entire case is worth.

It is likely being sold as a service.

There is no contract—it's a gift.[1]

That probably also means it's not income and will be tax-free.[2]

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gift_(law)

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gift_tax_in_the_United_States

Thanks, that explains.

If that's true, why is Kickstarter legal?

Kickstarter is different because you usually get something in return, and this was the essence of my original question. Anyway, I think gift is the answer, which I didn't know.

There is no contract -- no binding agreement saying the donor will give CAH money, and CAH will give them nothing.

But that just means contract law doesn't apply -- it doesn't make it illegal.

So long as there is no misrepresentation on the part of CAH they're in thoroughly legal waters. It's just a donation drive.

How do you suppose that charities work?

"Sometimes buying nothing is better than buying Cards Against Humanity. This is one of those times."

I ask for nothing every year and I never get it.

is it possible that no one has paid anything and then they're just posting these numbers for attention?

Given how well Cards Against Humanity did in their last stupid sales like that (their first Black Friday was Everything Costs 5$ More!, on another occasion they sold shit, literally shit in a box) I think those numbers are 100% real.

Cards Against Humanity is always doing something crazy. When they sponsor the Accidental Tech Podcast and instead of a sponsor read, they have John Siracusa review toaster ovens.

I love the idea and kudos to CaH for nailing the against-the-wind trend. However one questions came to mind. Is that legal? Can someone actually sell "nothing" without calling it a donation?

In Buddhism, nothingness or emptiness is actually a "thing".

And a "thing" is nothingness

The Nothing was a great enemy to Atreyu.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088323/

When I had a brief interest in Buddhism, I looked into the local zen center. Which had a convenient list of prices. Quite high prices as I remember.

The Cards Against Humanity people are selling nothingness at a comparative bargain. Could almost be one of those old zen stories:

"Give me 5 dollars and you'll get nothing."

"Ok! 5 bucks right here. Wait! Why are you walking away? Where is it?"

"Your money was always surrounded by nothing. You gave me the money and nothing remained."

At that moment, the mark was enlightened.

Nice. If they're smart, they'll donate it all to Oxfam. That, or post InstaPix of spending it on hookers and blow.

Readin the headline I kind of expected that it would be going to a worthwhile cause, but no.

Wow some people are stupid.

> I kind of expected that it would be going to a worthwhile cause

They do have posted:

> If I give you $5, what are you going to do with the money?

> That’s for us to know and you to find out. We’ll make the announcement soon.

So it may yet be. And it may not.

Played it for the first time at a Thanksgiving dinner yesterday. It's everything I had heard and it is offensive. It's also an absolute blast to play with the right people.

Oh Karlee (blush)

Great marketing!

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