To attract customers to any product, various strategies can be employed, and the more creative the ideas, the more attention they garner. Some ideas can even stretch the boundaries of logic, leading to outrageous and even dangerous promotions. That’s exactly what Max Motors did to sell cars.

In 2009, the company, based in Missouri, USA, presented one of the most unusual promotions: with the purchase of a car, customers would receive a gift voucher worth $450, which could be exchanged for an AK-47 assault rifle.

While the offer might seem bizarre, what’s even more surprising is the unprecedented customer response, leading many to criticize the company owner, Mark Moller, particularly from anti-gun organizations. They argued that the promotion was encouraging violence within American society. Moller, however, dismissed these criticisms, stating that his motivation was his belief in the right to self-defense. He cited an instance where an American family was attacked by a gang due to their lack of weapons for protection. He also argued that the offer was promoting American industry, as the rifle, though originally Russian, was American-made, thus supporting both American cars and firearms.

Moller reassured the public that the promotion was not as simple as it seemed. Upon receiving the voucher, customers had to visit specialized, licensed gun stores to receive their rifles, in accordance with state firearm laws. He concluded by saying there’s nothing better than the smell of a new car mixed with the scent of gunpowder.

Some observers believe the motivation behind this promotion was a previous offer the company made, allowing customers to choose between a handgun or gasoline for their vehicle. They discovered an 80% preference for handguns, which prompted the shift from handguns to assault rifles.