There's always something, isn't there? There's always a catch. The world is a tricky place. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is. If you're not on your game and you don't read the fine print, you stand a pretty good chance of being somebody's sucker.

It's all acutely true if you're a guy who doesn't do a lot of retail shopping in big, national chains, which describes me. If I can shop at a locally owned store, that's what I usually do. Things are less complicated there and, when you have an issue, you can talk to the man or woman who owns the business. They throw you an extra bagel or bone now and then, too.

Sunday, Jeffrey Schumacher was probably thousands of miles from the Sports Authority store in Towson. Sports Authority is based in Colorado and operates 462 stores in 45 states. Mr. Schumacher doesn't own the business but, as its chief marketing officer and chief strategy officer, I'm sure he's responsible for — and probably quite proud of — Sports Authority's current pre-Father's Day promotion.

Of course, if he reads this story, he'll probably declare mission accomplished: His company made a sale that otherwise would not have been made, and it saved $10 that otherwise would have sailed out the door with a sharper, more disciplined customer.

Me, I feel like a sucker.

This all started when I did something I rarely do — I responded to an advertisement that showed up in the mail. It was a colorful, pre-Father's Day flier from Sports Authority: Buy $100 worth of merchandise and get $25 off; buy $50 worth of merchandise and get $10 off.

All I had to do was bring an attached "ticket" to the store with me.

That sounded good.

But that's not exactly what the flier said, it turns out.

"Bring in this ticket to get a FREE $10 cash card when you spend $50 or more."

Of course, I didn't fully understand the deal until a few days later, when I got to the checkout counter with $51 worth of merchandise. I handed the cashier my "ticket" and expected him to take $10 off my purchase.

I don't usually go to the Sports Authority — I am not a frequent shopper of chain stores, and the phrase "cash card" is not familiar — but I figured I'd be saving 20 percent off the purchase. The $51 purchase would really be $41. Right?

Not right.

As the fine print indicated, I got a $10 "cash card" toward my next purchase. I'd have to make another purchase at Sports Authority to get my $10 bonus.

And there was a further catch: I had to use the "cash card" between June 6 and June 12 or the deal was off — a pretty narrow window of opportunity to spend more money at the store.

Here's where another one of my consumer failings appears in the story line: I didn't return to redeem the $10 "cash card" with another small purchase until June 13. And when I presented the "cash card" at the checkout counter, you'd have thought I'd tried to make my purchase with Monopoly money.

"You can't honor that card one day late?" I asked the young cashier.

The young cashier summoned the manager on duty. I then did what everyone familiar with the world of impersonal chain-store retail knows is a waste of time: I asked the manager on duty for $10 worth of dispensation.

No dice.

Of course, no dice.

The idea that the manager on duty in a chain store has any discretion seems quaint these days.

"You can have mine," I heard the customer in line behind me say. He had the same "ticket" I had brought to the store 10 days earlier — the start of this whole process. The well-meaning customer didn't realize, as I hadn't, that the ticket wouldn't get him (or me) an immediate discount, but only a "cash card" to be used within a week.

I thanked him and, after listening to the manager's mumblings about cash card expirations, I grumbled out of the store, kicking myself for getting suckered.

So much for chain stores and special offers. It's back to local retail for me.

I went to the Sunday farmer's market in Baltimore and bought what I wanted with no coupons, no fine print, all sales cash and carry, all items priced as marked. I even got two herb plants for the price of one, because the farmer happened to be in a good mood. I left there feeling pretty good myself. I just wish they could sell socks and sneakers the way they do tomatoes and eggs.

Dan Rodricks' column appears Thursdays and Sundays in print and online, and Tuesdays online-only. His e-mail is dan.rodricks@baltsun.com. http://www.twitter.com/MiddayRodricks.