Well, obviously the answer is "Yes". Right?

Anyone who has ever tried to rent an apartment in Boston knows how painful the experience can be. You go on craigslist, or bostonapartments.com, and wade through hundreds of ads, trying to find an apartment that is 1) clean 2) bright 3) big 4) in a safe area 5) cheap.

You're unlikely to find an apartment that fits all five criteria.

Often, you'll end up responding to an ad put out by a local rental agency.

And, often, what was written in the ad is not what you end up seeing, once you go to look at the apartment(s).

Your average rental agent might not have any problem with that.

The practice of purposely misleading the consumer seems pretty standard to me and not at all out of the ordinary. So what’s all the fuss about? Advertisers as a whole have perfected the art of underestimating the general public and cashing in on our naive predilections and unconscious desires. Isn’t the whole goal of marketing to convince us that we are in desperate need of some completely useless stuff? And that purses, cars, creams and lotions all have the power to dramatically enhance and alter our lives? So why can’t I say Gramercy when it’s really Murray Hill? 550 square feet, or 650 square feet? Is there really a difference? And, yes, the ad said $2,400, but the market moves and today its $2,700. What’s the problem?

(Replace Gramercy / Murray Hill with "South End" and "Roxbury", and it fits.)

Obviously, the "problem" is, Mr. Rental Agent, that saying "cozy" when you mean "small" and "near public transportation" when you mean "3 miles walk", is one thing. Saying "two bed" when one of them is the living room, is borderline. And, saying "$2,400&8243; when you mean "$2,700&8243; is wrong.

I have to agree with the agent, however. Every once in awhile the city or newspapers go on a rampage, stringing up the rental agencies by their necks, as if they were embezzlers or child molesters. The crime doesn't fit the punishment.

More: Imposters (sic) - By Brian Carter, New York Press