Gimmick

A “gimmick” is a trick or device used to attract business or attention. One of the new used car sales companies promises you can pick your car up at a giant car vending machine. This is a bit of a “gimmick,” but it’s a staging ground for car pickups. You won’t actually get your car out of a giant car vending machine – the company is just saying that to attract attention – so it’s a bit of a “gimmick.” Commercials usually have some type of “gimmick,” and the products seldom work exactly as they did on the advertisement.