Infomercial Failures

I have been reading a few blogs recently (Kristina and Brittany) that have really got me thinking about infomercials and their evil ploy to make their products appear so phenomenal that you just HAVE to have it!

Then I thought about the many As-Seen-On-TV products that I have tried and then been extremely disappointed. I like to think of myself as a practical and realistic person. So how do I get sucked into buying this crap!

Here is a list of my disappointing infomercial experience's:

#1. Memories Direct Scrap booking supplies

I got sucked into this one when I first became a nurse and worked a lot of nights. I couldn't sleep one night and I didn't have cable/on demand movies. So I ended up watching this infomercial and getting all excited about the different papers, and stickers, and embellishments. After about 30 minutes of the repetitious images I just had to have it. So I ordered one... 8 weeks later they gave me 4!! And they charged me for it! So I had to call them which wasted at least an hour of my life fighting with the people (when you ACTUALLY call to order these items it is a button system.. for this press 1, for that press 2.) Apparently I had hit a wrong button or something. So they refunded half my money... but I was able to keep all 4. However, the paper seems all faded and ugly colors. The album books are also hideous and cheap. The embellishments are cheap and the alphabet stickers are all the same font. It is 3000 pieces all right... 3000 pieces of CRAP!

(P.S. if you too are suckered into wanting one of these kits, they are no longer available. Apparently they had some problems and are now on a SCAM website. But you could always just let me know (or leave me a comment) and I could send you some myself. I still have 2 intact kits!)

#2. Space Bags.

I live in a Condo... and storage space can be somewhat slim. So I saw a infomercial about this and just HAD to have it! I ordered the standardized set. It took 3 1/2 months to come to my house. I forgot I had even ordered them by that time. Plus shipping and "handling" has increased from the standard 5.99 to 9.99.

They are about as flimsy as a large zip lock bag. They sometimes work, but if you get a hole in them it renders them useless. Pretty expensive for a zip lock bag. It's hard to create a good seal with the vacuum hose (at least with my vacuum) and they seem to deflate easily. Which defies the whole storage issue. Why oh why did I buy??

#3 Dryer Balls.

Chris saw these puppies in the As Seen On TV section of Bed Bath and Beyond. Which in my opinion could be changed to "Useless crap you don't need" section, but somehow... that might be bad for business. $10 down the tube because I still use fabric softener, and dryer sheets. I have never noticed a static problem with my laundry. The clincher for us buying them was the increase in drying time... which they failed miserably. So they are like throwing spiny tennis balls into the dryer. Haven't noticed any difference.

#4. Sham-WOW!

I was at the Utah State Fair when Chris and I watched a demonstration of ShamWow. A guy we were watching it with asked us if we wanted to split the cost (since you got 2 lg and 2 small) so we could take 1 of each. So we did. It was only $12. And the product actually works pretty well. However, I don't use it very much and the cloth just never quite looks the same after you have used it once. But I guess it does the job! Not a complete waste. I think it would come to more use if I had a boat...

#5 Nads.

I actually wanted this product for quite some time and had seen the infomercial at least about 4 different times. I actually found it at Rite Aid or Walgreen's... some drug store. So I bought it and got all excited to have smooth, baby soft legs. The funny thing is... the advertisement said it doesn't hurt at all (not even I really believed that!). However, it hurts like HELL! I did about 3 strips and was like... this is ridiculous to put myself through that much pain. I was bleeding from the pores of of the sites I ripped my hair (and small amounts of flesh) off. Plus it is sticky and messy. And the jar wasn't cheap. Give me a razor any day.

#6. Hercules Hooks. These babies aren't half bad. They do hold up large picture frames and my mirror in my living room. However, after you have put it in the wall... and then decided you don't like where it is... it leaves a hole (think push pin hole x10) in your wall that you have to end up needing to Spackle and retouch. Plus, they never seem to really work the same after you have used them once. Also if you wiggle them at all, they become loose and don't work properly. So if you do ever purchase these... make sure when your ready to insert that you are REALLY SURE that is where you want it. Or else you've created more work than you wanted.

Some other products I have heard that are not effective is The Snuggie a "backwards robe" or "blanket with sleeves" (according to Kristina) and the Ped Egg (according to Nicole).

The only semi decent thing I have purchased which happened to be on an infomercial is the George Foreman "Lean, Mean, Fat Reducing, Grilling Machine!" AKA George Foreman Grill. I Now have one with Removable and DISHWASHER SAFE plates. Can I just say that thing used to be a BEAST to clean and now I just rinse and pop them in the dishwasher. I am a fan of this product!

However... 1 out of 7 is not good odds. I must learn from my experiences. The next time an infomercial is on, I will be wise to change the channel.