Dave and Buster’s Power 5 Lineup

How many times do you think this Dave and Buster’s commercial for its Power 5 lineup ($5 drinks, $5 bites and five free games) says the number five?

Well, by our count it’s at least 20, leading us to take a wild guess that this number is something the company wants us to remember.

Dave and Buster’s website provides a similar message, while reassuring consumers that the deal has “No catch, no gimmicks.”

Sounds like a great deal, right? Don’t pick up that Skee-Ball just yet. There’s an important caveat hidden in the fine print at the end of the TV ad.

This disclaimer explains that “D&B rewards members get 5 free games with the purchase of a $20 or more power card.” While membership is free, spending $20 or more is not. So the five “free” games are not, in fact, free. And the number consumers need to remember isn’t five but rather 20, as in they need to spend $20 to qualify for the so-called free games.

It’s also worth noting that on the company’s website, there is even more fine print, which states, among other things, that you cannot play the same game twice within the five free games. So if you have a favorite game at Dave and Buster’s, you can only play it once without having to pay more. The fine print also reveals that virtual reality, specialty or crane games aren’t eligible.

In addition, according to the fine print on the homepage, you can’t get five free games at all if you happen to visit on a Wednesday, when Dave and Buster’s advertises games are half off. Where is this disclosed in the TV ad? Nowhere.

Dave and Buster’s did not respond to TINA.org’s request for comment.

In case you’re wondering, companies advertising free services that actually come with strings attached is all too common. Whether it’s for shipping, home pest inspections, product returns, taxes or even breakfast, TINA.org has documented countless cases of products and services deceptively marketed as free.

The bottom line

Unfortunately, this is yet another reminder that many “free” offers actually do come with a catch or gimmick. Consumers should always look to the fine print to see the full information about a deal.

Find more of our coverage on free claims here.