DEBRIS.COMgood for a laugh, or possibly an aneurysm

Avis, the car rental company, just sent me some official-looking junk mail that reads “Check Enclosed” on the outside. I am ever-wary of mail fraud so I eagerly opened the envelope. I was disappointed to find, inside, a real check for $2.50.

Of course, the scam is as real as the check. This isn’t a gift — if I cash the check, Avis will automatically enroll me in their “AutoVantage” program, which offers many great benefits I will never use, but for which I’ll be charged a monthly fee after a free introductory period.

My question to Avis is this: if AutoVantage is such a great deal, why do you have to pay me to enroll?