[CMOTD]

Our village pub has just been awarded "dining pub of the year" by Luxlife magazine. Apart from the fact that this magazine sprays awards around like confetti I find it hard to comprehend how they managed this as the pub has been shut for virtually the whole of 2020! It is a very good local and the food is excellent but hardly Michelin star standard.

This nonsense is getting out of hand, the world and his mother have an award scheme. I don't think I have ever been to a chip shop or Indian restaurant that wasn't 'award winning'. I am sure it is some sort of scam where they pay for their award by some organisation nobody has heard of.

[KensRedZed]

I think it's funny when a product says "limited quantity". What product is made forever? Nothing. When a slot car says "1 of 3,000 cars". Who's the governing body that keeps the manufacturer from making 30,000? If only 3,000 were made. Why does everyone in the world have one? And why are they in the "clearance" bin now?

Here's another one. A product no one has heard of is 40% off... 40% off of what? A price someone invented in their head? Usually these types of things are new inventions. No one is certain if it even works. Money back if not totally satisfied... right? 12-months later.

Why are some award winning "cars of the year" often in the service bay? Awards are nothing but empty sales pitches for those that are unaware.

I try and read customer reviews about things these days. But even that can be tainted.

[Gordon Steadman]

It all sounds as real as  'The guild of Master Craftsmen'

You pay the fee and thereafter you can show the crest and insignia on your letterhead, doesn't matter who you are so long as you pay!

Means bugger all.

[Nonfractal]

Dave Gorman does a very good deconstruction of the awards process. 
It might (or might not) surprise you to find out how many of these awards are paid for. 
Alan W

[Scuderia_Turini]

Agreed on the "Awards" for anything aspect.  At a college I used to work at, a new Principal arrived and the first thing she announced was that they wanted to celebrate achievements every month. So there was a mini graduation ceremony every month. Thankfully within a very few months it fizzled out because the students were complaining of elitism and de-motivation of the lesser mortals.
Marketing people (boo!) tend to love this kind of showing off and push awards ceremonies. Inevitably, the public have "woke" to the trivialisation of awards and things.  Actors/"luvvies" still seem to think it worthwhile though.

Leo