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25 Real Items Compared To Their Advertisements

Two images from /r/expectationvsreality
Two images from /r/expectationvsreality

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Published February 26, 2025

Published February 26, 2025

Life is full of surprises and disappointments. Everyone needs to start being more skeptical of ads that seem too good to be true, because many times, they are. Things are not always what they claim to be, which is sad but inevitable in life. Some brands have marketers that are a little too crafty and clever, and it shows. Whether it is a new gadget, fast-food item, or an article of clothing, everyone has been disappointed by something they purchased before.

Sometimes that burger comes out looking like it was made by a child, sometimes a piece of decor is way less appealing in person, and sometimes you just realize that the ad was totally AI a little too late. These moments are frustrating, but also kind of hilarious to see.

For everyone's sake, here is a collection of 25 images of products and items as they arrived, compared to how they were advertised. Some of them are super surprising.

That's not even close

(Source: Reddit)

Really chocolately

(Source: Reddit)

It's like a Russian doll situation

(Source: Reddit)

Not quite…

(Source: Reddit)

It's perfect

(Source: Redd)

It's so ugly

(Source: Reddit)

Hollow sandwiches

(Source: Reddit)

It's not very pretty

(Source: Reddit)

Cheesy

(Source: Redd)

No chocolate chips to be seen

(Source: Redd)

Where?

(Source: Redd)

Panera always disappoints

(Source: Reddit)

5 sticks?

(Source: Reddit)

All those blueberries…

(Source: Redd)

Not as sentimental as hoped for

(Source: Reddit)

That's terrifying

(Source: Reddit)

This is actually a win

(Source: Redd)

Yikes

(Source: Reddit)

It could have been so good

(Source: Reddit)

The hotel in the ad and in real life

(Source: Reddit)

Thanks, Reese's

(Source: Reddit)

Sad cookies

(Source: Reddit)

Happy birthday

(Source: Reddit)

Booo…

(Source: "":)

That's no fun

(Source: Reddit)

Tags: fails, expectation vs reality, mildly infuriating, reddit, the internet, social media, fail, hmmm, facepalm, diy fails, diy fail, diwhy,