For only $500, you can live out your childhood fantasies!
Is it real? This can’t possibly be real. Is it safe to use? Is it legal This is real life. Elon Musk, an entrepreneur who has launched rockets and boring companies as well as Tesla electric vehicles, is now selling a flamethrower. The Boring Company is where he’ll be selling the flamethrower. It was his business that he founded to dig tunnels to relieve traffic congestion.
This is not a flamethrower, as its name implies. Instead, think of it as a propane torch or large lighter. It is certainly beautiful. It looks amazing, and it appears as safe as one would expect a giant lighter. In case of emergency, the website offers a $30 fire extinguisher. Boring Company claims that the extinguisher’s price is too high. Honesty is the best policy.
Everything about the Musk flamethrower is just weird. Yes, you will be taken to a checkout screen when you click on the pre-order button. It looks eager to receive your $500. There are a few disclaimers, some of which seem legitimate and others that seem strange. At checkout, additional taxes and shipping charges are added. This sounds legitimate. International orders may be subject to customs fees. That’s a good thing to know.
Then there’s this: “Before shipping,” aspiring flamethrower aficionados “will be sent a terms & conditions rhyme for review, acceptance” and “Mayn’t be used on Boring Company decorative laquered haybales or Boring Company dockside munition warehouses.” This seems like witty sales copy. Or product testing went horribly wrong. If something terrible happened, you don’t need to put disclaimers like these. Someone may be missing some eyebrows.
You can also pay $500 to verify that this is true. The flamethrowers will start shipping this spring. Just in time to enjoy the summer cookout season.