Business ProfileforPetit Four Films LLC

On 7/22/2022, BBB contacted the business regarding their advertised products on their website. The business advertised photography packages including free drone services on sale that never ended. Each sale ran concurrently so the price will look like a sale, however the packages are the actual price offered. The business also stated that they are "“The #1 Trusted Studio For Wedding Videography”. Superlative statements in advertisements can be proved or disproved through substantiation as required by BBB’s Code of Advertising.

The business advertised the following product on their website:

https://www.petitfourfilms.com/

“The #1 Trusted Studio For Wedding Videography”

“90 DAYS OR YOUR FILMS ARE... FREE!

You'll get your films much sooner than 90 days!

Nevertheless turnaround times are a mark on the wedding film industry. 

4 to 6 months is the industry standard and we've heard of studios taking up to a year.  Why risk it?  Once we get your music from you, or the wedding (whichever is later) we start working.  No need to rush it though.  If for some reason we need more time we will take it and issue a partial credit on the films portion of your package!”

“[NO PAYMENTS FOR 90 DAYS], $500 Off, Raw Footage and Live Streaming included in every package, Brides are Raving About Petit Four Films! Mention this Ad and Book between now and Friday 7/22

and you will receive up to $300 Cash Back! Click on the Website link above to learn about pricing, packages, watch more films, and see how our Award-Winning Studio can capture and create for you a stunning film to enjoy for a lifetime! Don’t miss out! This Amazing Offer Ends Friday 7/22!”

“Schedule Today

NO PAYMENTS FOR 90 DAYS!

FREE DRONE COVERAGE!

FREE $200 AMAZON GIFT CARD!

$500 OFF ALL PACKAGES!

Ends Monday 7/22!

(scroll down for pricing)”

“Schedule Today

NO PAYMENTS FOR 90 DAYS!

FREE DRONE COVERAGE!

FREE $200 AMAZON GIFT CARD!

$500 OFF ALL PACKAGES!

Ends Monday 7/25!

(scroll down for pricing)”

The BBB Code of Advertising States:

1. Basic Principles of the Code

1.1 The primary responsibility for truthful and non-deceptive advertising rests with the advertiser. Advertisers should be prepared to substantiate any objective claims or offers made before publication or broadcast. Upon request, they should present such substantiation promptly to the advertising medium or BBB.

1.2 Advertisements which are untrue, misleading, deceptive, fraudulent, falsely disparaging of competitors, or insincere offers to sell, shall not be used.

1.3 An advertisement as a whole may be misleading by implication, although every sentence separately considered may be literally true.

1.4 Misrepresentation may result not only from direct statements, but by omitting or obscuring a material fact.

9. Sales

9.1 The unqualified term “sale” may be used in advertising only if there is a significant reduction from the advertiser's usual and customary price of the products or services offered and the sale is for a limited period of time. If the sale exceeds thirty (30) days, advertisers should be prepared to substantiate that the offering is indeed a valid price reduction and has not become their regular price.

9.2 Time limit sales must be observed.

9.2.1 For example, products or services offered in a “one-day sale,” “three-day sale” or “this week only sale” should, as a general rule, be taken off “sale” and revert to the regular price immediately following expiration of the stated time.

9.3 Introductory sales must be limited to a stated time period, and the selling price should, as a general rule, be increased to the advertised regular price immediately following termination of the stated period.

9.4 Advertisers may currently advertise future increases in their own prices on a subsequent date provided that they do, in fact, increase the price to the stated amount on that date and maintain it for a reasonably substantial period of time thereafter.

9.5 If the advertiser, in good faith, decides at the end of the sale period to convert its sale price to a new regular price, it may do so if it no longer claims any savings.

9.6 The advertiser, in good faith, may decide to extend a time limit or introductory sale for a stated period. However, if that extension is for more than a short period of time, the advertiser must be prepared to substantiate that the offering is still a valid price reduction and has not become its regular price.

14. “Free”

14.1 An advertiser may use the word “free” in advertising whenever the advertiser is offering an unconditional gift. If receipt of the “free” product or service is conditional on a purchase:

14.1.1 The advertiser must clearly and conspicuously disclose this condition with the “free” offer (not simply by placing an asterisk or symbol next to “free” and referring to the condition(s) in a footnote); and

14.1.2 The advertiser must not have increased the normal price of the product or service to be purchased nor reduced its quantity or quality.

14.2 The “free” offer should be temporary; otherwise, consumers may view it as a continuous combination offer, no part of which is free. Thus, where it would otherwise confuse consumers, a product or service must not be advertised with a “free” offer in a trade area for more than six (6) months in any 12 month period. At least thirty (30) days must elapse before another such offer is promoted in the same trade area.

14.3 In a negotiated sale, no “free” offer of a product or service should be made where it would likely mislead consumers, such as where:

14.3.1 The product or service to be purchased usually is sold at a price arrived through bargaining, rather than at a regular fixed price; or

14.3.2 There may be a regular price but other material factors such as quantity, quality or size are arrived at through bargaining.

14.4 Offers of “free” products or services which do not meet the provisions of this section may not be corrected by the substitution of such similar words such as “gift,” “given without charge,” “bonus,” “complimentary” or other words which can convey the impression to the consumer that a product or service is “free.”

14.5 Because the consumer continually searches for the best buy and regards the offer of “free” products or services to be a special bargain, all such offers must be made with extreme care so as to avoid any possibility that consumers will be misled or deceived. Representative language frequently used in such offers includes:

“Free”

“Buy 1-Get-1 Free”

“2-for-1 Sale”

“50% off with Purchase of Two”

“$1 Sale”

“1/2 Off”

“Gift with Purchase”

Literally, of course, the advertiser is not offering anything “free” (for example, an unconditional gift), or 1/2 free or 2 for 1 when making such an offer, since the consumer is required to purchase a product or service in order to receive the “free” or “2 for 1” item.

14.6 Whenever such an offer is made advertisers must make clear at the outset all the terms and conditions of the offer.

28. Objective Superlative Claims

Superlative statements in advertisements about the tangible qualities and performance values of a product or service are objective claims for which the advertiser must possess substantiation as they can be based upon accepted standards or tests. As statements of fact, such claims, like “#1 in new car sales in the city,” can be proved or disproved.

On 8/4/2022 the BBB spoke with business and asked if the business is willing to address the advertising concerns. The business's focus was with removing business reviews. After sending multiple letters to various emails approved by the business, asking for the business to address our concerns  we have not heard from the business.  As of 8/15/2022 the advertising issues have not been addressed.