---
title: The Bait, The Switch, and The Facepalm
description: Businesses must maintain trust and transparency; promising free forever and then charging later betrays customers. Learn the importance of honesty in business practices.
image: https://thoughtsbrewing.com/hubfs/Brewed%20Down.png
---

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# The Bait, The Switch, and The Facepalm

 April 17, 2026

![Picture of Danielle Price Griffin](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/31045232924d123af765cd9b1925a9ce) [Danielle Price Griffin](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/author/danielle)

![Brewed Down](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/hubfs/Brewed%20Down.png)

Imagine promising something’s *“free forever”* and then sending a bill like a morally confused raccoon with Wi-Fi.

Not a great business strategy. More like a betrayal with a Mailchimp account.

As a business owner, I get it...costs change, life happens, inflation, well, *inflates*.

But when you build your brand on trust, you don’t get to pull a Scooby-Doo mask reveal halfway through and shout, *“Surprise! It was capitalism all along!”*

If your business model relies on manipulation, you end up being more *pyramid scheme with Wi-Fi* than useful model.

### Transparency isn’t optional.

- If you screw up, own it.
- If you pivot, explain it.
- If you say “free forever,” maybe don’t mean “until Q2.”

![Get the Full Pour](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Get%20the%20Full%20Pour.png?width=600&height=496&name=Get%20the%20Full%20Pour.png)

Refill your cup with the original post.

[Original Book Brew Post](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/book-brew-116-the-bait-the-switch-and-the-broken-trust)

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[Soft Skills](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/tag/soft-skills), [Business Development](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/tag/business-development), [Human Skills](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/tag/human-skills), [Personal Development](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/tag/personal-development), [Brewed Down](https://thoughtsbrewing.com/blog/tag/brewed-down)

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