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

156 points| kevindeasis | 10 years ago |techcrunch.com | reply

67 comments

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[+] bpicolo|10 years ago|reply
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.

[+] giarc|10 years ago|reply
>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.

[+] noobermin|10 years ago|reply
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.

[+] chipperyman573|10 years ago|reply
They don't ask for your address, there's no way they'll get anything.
[+] tux3|10 years ago|reply
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.
[+] gamesbrainiac|10 years ago|reply
> 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.

[+] personjerry|10 years ago|reply
It would be even better if they had it as $10 crossed out, 50% sale price: $5
[+] balls187|10 years ago|reply
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.

[+] ianstallings|10 years ago|reply
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?
[+] joeld42|10 years ago|reply
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.

[+] will_pseudonym|10 years ago|reply
Today? It's been that way for the better part of a century.
[+] baddox|10 years ago|reply
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.
[+] lips|10 years ago|reply
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.
[+] ecesena|10 years ago|reply
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

[+] LordKano|10 years ago|reply
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.

[+] Scoundreller|10 years ago|reply
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.

[+] systoll|10 years ago|reply
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.

[+] nicksergeant|10 years ago|reply
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.
[+] landryraccoon|10 years ago|reply
If that's true, why is Kickstarter legal?
[+] theseoafs|10 years ago|reply
How do you suppose that charities work?
[+] SN76477|10 years ago|reply
It is likely being sold as a service.
[+] such_a_casual|10 years ago|reply
"Sometimes buying nothing is better than buying Cards Against Humanity. This is one of those times."
[+] glxc|10 years ago|reply
is it possible that no one has paid anything and then they're just posting these numbers for attention?
[+] Khao|10 years ago|reply
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.
[+] scarface74|10 years ago|reply
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.
[+] jstoiko|10 years ago|reply
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?
[+] kordless|10 years ago|reply
In Buddhism, nothingness or emptiness is actually a "thing".
[+] honestcoyote|10 years ago|reply
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.

[+] username223|10 years ago|reply
Nice. If they're smart, they'll donate it all to Oxfam. That, or post InstaPix of spending it on hookers and blow.
[+] collyw|10 years ago|reply
Readin the headline I kind of expected that it would be going to a worthwhile cause, but no.

Wow some people are stupid.

[+] dizzyviolet|10 years ago|reply
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.