"As Seen on TV" Product Mania
June 7, 2009 6:26 PM Subscribe
Do you order, or have you ever considered ordering, or are you curious about the quality of "As Seen on TV" exclusively marketed items?
Here's the deal. I was brought up to be very critical of television, particularly "home shopping." After much resistance, I bought my wife a Ped-Egg that she had talked about wanting (because I found it in Wal-Mart) and it turns out to be a very useful product that, in both of our opinions, was well worth the money.
Obviously, most of these products are junk that I've seen new at fleamarkets for 1/3 the price, but I'm wondering now if there are any other "As Seen on TV" products that people have bought and are happy with?
Or conversely, have you purchased an "As Seen on TV" product and been sorely disappointed that it didn't perform as advertised?
I've been thinking about this academically for a while, and I'm interested in hearing first-hand experiences...and also if there's a great and wacky product that I'm missing out on.
Here's the deal. I was brought up to be very critical of television, particularly "home shopping." After much resistance, I bought my wife a Ped-Egg that she had talked about wanting (because I found it in Wal-Mart) and it turns out to be a very useful product that, in both of our opinions, was well worth the money.
Obviously, most of these products are junk that I've seen new at fleamarkets for 1/3 the price, but I'm wondering now if there are any other "As Seen on TV" products that people have bought and are happy with?
Or conversely, have you purchased an "As Seen on TV" product and been sorely disappointed that it didn't perform as advertised?
I've been thinking about this academically for a while, and I'm interested in hearing first-hand experiences...and also if there's a great and wacky product that I'm missing out on.
I've ordered a few things, mostly been disappointed. Somehow it's turned out that I've had one decent product followed by one cruddy product, and so forth, so I haven't seemed to learn my lesson yet. Sigh. Writing this comment depressed me - I like to think of myself as a savvy consumer! I guess once in a while I have a weakness, though.
So... I got the pasta pot with a built-in strainer in the lid. Great idea in theory, but in practice, it was poorly made and the top didn't fit easily into the pot. So that meant you were trying to jimmy it into place while the damn pot was boiling hot. That soon went in the trash.
Fortunately, that was only a few bucks. A huge waste of money was some dumb cleaning device called the Steam Buggy. Gawd, the first link on Google is a complaint site, so that should tell you what you need to know.
One item I've been very happy with is the Smart Spin storage system. It has three different sized Tupperware-type containers, but they all use just one size of lid. And the storage unit itself is good. I also bought the Miracle Blade knives and have been happy with them (though I wouldn't be surprised if there were better, cheaper options).
Most recently I bought Space Bags. Again, great idea, very crummy design. One tore after just one use. Total P.O.S. Since I have a balcony, I was intrigued by the idea of the Topsy-Turvy tomato plant, but reviews indicate it's of pretty crummy construction (surprise).
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 6:38 PM on June 7, 2009
So... I got the pasta pot with a built-in strainer in the lid. Great idea in theory, but in practice, it was poorly made and the top didn't fit easily into the pot. So that meant you were trying to jimmy it into place while the damn pot was boiling hot. That soon went in the trash.
Fortunately, that was only a few bucks. A huge waste of money was some dumb cleaning device called the Steam Buggy. Gawd, the first link on Google is a complaint site, so that should tell you what you need to know.
One item I've been very happy with is the Smart Spin storage system. It has three different sized Tupperware-type containers, but they all use just one size of lid. And the storage unit itself is good. I also bought the Miracle Blade knives and have been happy with them (though I wouldn't be surprised if there were better, cheaper options).
Most recently I bought Space Bags. Again, great idea, very crummy design. One tore after just one use. Total P.O.S. Since I have a balcony, I was intrigued by the idea of the Topsy-Turvy tomato plant, but reviews indicate it's of pretty crummy construction (surprise).
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 6:38 PM on June 7, 2009
The Maxiglide hair straightener is the most incredible product in existence. It does exactly what it says. But I've heard the Instyler is crap.
Space Bags are a cool idea but they break after one use, and the whole point is that they're reusable.
I've heard Mighty Putty works really well.
I love the One Sweep broom.
Those green bags for keeping vegetables fresh work, too.
Almost none of the exercise doo-dads is legitimate.
I've tried lots and lots. My dad used to run a direct-mail catalog that sold all of that crap. Nowadays you can watch Youtube reviews of pretty much anything. Basically, anything that's too good to be true (Tone up in just 15 minutes a day! Hear people talking forty feet away!) is too ridiculous to be true. But anything that's just an interesting improvement or tweak on everyday stuff (the broom, for example) is worth trying. If they don't tell you and you can't figure out how it works from the commercial or common sense, it probably doesn't. And many things are good ideas but are poorly made, like the Space Bags. So, in conclusion, try it. In spite of what they tell you in the commercials, you can get most stuff in stores (Bed Bath & Beyond, mall kiosks, etc).
posted by thebazilist at 6:42 PM on June 7, 2009
Space Bags are a cool idea but they break after one use, and the whole point is that they're reusable.
I've heard Mighty Putty works really well.
I love the One Sweep broom.
Those green bags for keeping vegetables fresh work, too.
Almost none of the exercise doo-dads is legitimate.
I've tried lots and lots. My dad used to run a direct-mail catalog that sold all of that crap. Nowadays you can watch Youtube reviews of pretty much anything. Basically, anything that's too good to be true (Tone up in just 15 minutes a day! Hear people talking forty feet away!) is too ridiculous to be true. But anything that's just an interesting improvement or tweak on everyday stuff (the broom, for example) is worth trying. If they don't tell you and you can't figure out how it works from the commercial or common sense, it probably doesn't. And many things are good ideas but are poorly made, like the Space Bags. So, in conclusion, try it. In spite of what they tell you in the commercials, you can get most stuff in stores (Bed Bath & Beyond, mall kiosks, etc).
posted by thebazilist at 6:42 PM on June 7, 2009
I worked for such a company almsot 10 years ago. Answering phones, then processing returns. I got to try several different items, and see which things got returned. There were definitely certain things that sucked - that didnt really work at all.
Other things were great. I still have a few of the knives, and they really can cut almost anything. And I still have a few of the CDs.
It really depends on the product. If I could glean any rule from my limited experience, I would say, the simpler the product, the more likely it would work (knives, CDs, rhine-stone applicator, vegetable chopper). the more complex, the less likely (convection oven, anti-aging chemistry, step machine)
posted by Flood at 6:46 PM on June 7, 2009
Other things were great. I still have a few of the knives, and they really can cut almost anything. And I still have a few of the CDs.
It really depends on the product. If I could glean any rule from my limited experience, I would say, the simpler the product, the more likely it would work (knives, CDs, rhine-stone applicator, vegetable chopper). the more complex, the less likely (convection oven, anti-aging chemistry, step machine)
posted by Flood at 6:46 PM on June 7, 2009
My wife has some of those Aqua Globe type-thingees (hers are green, not blue), but I don't think they've worked very well in her experience. As with many of these products, the most frustrating thing is that reviews are often all over the map. For the upside-down tomato plant thing, there are lots of four- and five-star reviews on Amazon... but also a ton calling it a piece of crap. (Indeed, if you want to read about "first-hand experiences," check out the AMZN reviews for just about any as-seen-on-TV product.) It can be pretty difficult to know if something is halfway decent without using it yourself.
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 6:46 PM on June 7, 2009
posted by Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell at 6:46 PM on June 7, 2009
Seconding the MaxiGlide, now that you mention it. I used to have thick, curly back-length hair, and that sucker was the only thing that could tame my mane. Unlike their claims, however, it took more than one pass to get my hair straight.
posted by litterateur at 6:51 PM on June 7, 2009
posted by litterateur at 6:51 PM on June 7, 2009
I've never bought an as-seen-on-TV product solely based on the commercial, but I can be swayed by word of mouth. The PedEgg commercial didn't interest me at all, but I've heard so many people raving about it that I always stop and waver when I see the display in the drugstore.
Similarly, I'd never heard of those sleeved-blanket dealies until reading this AskMe, and I am now the proud owner of one Slanket (which really is much nicer than the Snuggie, but fewer people have heard of it, so I often have to explain that it's "like the Snuggie").
posted by Metroid Baby at 7:01 PM on June 7, 2009 [1 favorite]
Similarly, I'd never heard of those sleeved-blanket dealies until reading this AskMe, and I am now the proud owner of one Slanket (which really is much nicer than the Snuggie, but fewer people have heard of it, so I often have to explain that it's "like the Snuggie").
posted by Metroid Baby at 7:01 PM on June 7, 2009 [1 favorite]
As an aside, and you probably are already aware of this but the "does this thing work or not" segments are pretty much ubiquitous on local news shows. I see them on my local news all the time and they are pretty informative. Plus they're all over the internet, obviously.
posted by dead cousin ted at 7:04 PM on June 7, 2009
posted by dead cousin ted at 7:04 PM on June 7, 2009
This is a tough question because all these products arent made by the same company, have the same quality, have the same return policy, etc. Its like asking "Hey, how are things at Sears?" The guys in the craftsman section might disagree with the girls in the petite section.
That said, I bought the Fishpen as a gag gift. Its build quality is pretty lousy and its just as ridiculous as the commercial makes it out to be but I got a lot of mileage out of my George Foreman grill.
posted by damn dirty ape at 7:26 PM on June 7, 2009
That said, I bought the Fishpen as a gag gift. Its build quality is pretty lousy and its just as ridiculous as the commercial makes it out to be but I got a lot of mileage out of my George Foreman grill.
posted by damn dirty ape at 7:26 PM on June 7, 2009
My mom used a credit card I gave her to order something by phone from asseenfromtvproducts.com (with hypens). Two days later there was a suspicious charge on that account and I had to close it and get a new one. #@#^%
posted by @troy at 8:03 PM on June 7, 2009
posted by @troy at 8:03 PM on June 7, 2009
The only item I can speak for is P90X, which is pretty much as advertised: a difficult but effective program.
posted by contrariwise at 8:06 PM on June 7, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by contrariwise at 8:06 PM on June 7, 2009 [2 favorites]
I don't call infomercial numbers or anything like that, but they inevitably show up retail (we even have an as seen on tv store in a local mall). Products I have enjoyed and still use include the Foreman grill, the Pedegg and several exercise videos (the beachbody.com products are excellent, and worth every penny, but don't order from them as they are a bit shady with credit card charges---read reviews, know what you want, and buy them off ebay). It's like anything else, you research, read the reviews etc and you know what you're getting :)
posted by JoannaC at 8:08 PM on June 7, 2009
posted by JoannaC at 8:08 PM on June 7, 2009
--I have a Slanket: Love it to death. In fact husband has one now, and we gave one to each of our moms. Saw the Snuggie in a store-- the quality sucks. But the Slanket couldn't be better.
--I have one of these "My Place Cozy" lap desks for my laptop, bought at Bed Bath & Beyond. I like it; quality is about what you'd expect for $19 and it's a boring gray color; but the cup holder is great. It fits a 13"-ish laptop and a mousepad just fine if I have the mousepad partially slid under the edge of the computer. The matte texture helps keep the laptop from sliding around. The light is kind of silly, for me at least. It's fairly bright but I've never used it and it tucks away under the edge of the desk easily enough. I'd recommend buying this in a store though, so you can open the box and make sure the styrofoam inside the padding is glued down all the way. It's a much better price than other lap desks out there, a good size, and has more practical features than most of them, in my opinion.
--I have a Ped Egg. Love that too, very useful. Husband even uses it. Then he leaves it full of his nasty foot-shavings laying around on the living room tables but that's beyond the pervue of this question.
--Bought a Spountin, based on a glowing comment in another askme thread a while back. It turns your faucet into a drinking fountain on demand. It's decent quality and I'm sure it would be useful for many people but my plumbing has low water pressure so it's mostly ineffective in this house.
--Just bought some of those plant watering globes today. Haven't used 'em yet but they're pretty.
--I have the Dryer Balls and they've been working well for about 5 months now. A good alternative to dryer sheets, which I had to stop using due to an allergy. The balls work well to soften laundry, but don't always kill all the static. And they make a satisfying thumping noise in the dryer.
--I also have the Topsy Turvey tomato planter; just bought it last week. Can't give any comments on that because I broke the tomato plant's stem as I was planting it and it died due to my ineptitude. So now I have the planter, full of dirt, hanging in my yard but nothing growing from it. It's not particularly attractive.
... Reading back thru my post makes me sound like one of those dotty little old grandmas that sits around & orders every junky gadget that shows up on the TV screen. I swear I'm not! I don't even have a TV! Some of the products are nifty and I've found all of them in stores like Target or Bed Bath and Beyond.
posted by cuddles.mcsnuggy at 8:10 PM on June 7, 2009 [2 favorites]
--I have one of these "My Place Cozy" lap desks for my laptop, bought at Bed Bath & Beyond. I like it; quality is about what you'd expect for $19 and it's a boring gray color; but the cup holder is great. It fits a 13"-ish laptop and a mousepad just fine if I have the mousepad partially slid under the edge of the computer. The matte texture helps keep the laptop from sliding around. The light is kind of silly, for me at least. It's fairly bright but I've never used it and it tucks away under the edge of the desk easily enough. I'd recommend buying this in a store though, so you can open the box and make sure the styrofoam inside the padding is glued down all the way. It's a much better price than other lap desks out there, a good size, and has more practical features than most of them, in my opinion.
--I have a Ped Egg. Love that too, very useful. Husband even uses it. Then he leaves it full of his nasty foot-shavings laying around on the living room tables but that's beyond the pervue of this question.
--Bought a Spountin, based on a glowing comment in another askme thread a while back. It turns your faucet into a drinking fountain on demand. It's decent quality and I'm sure it would be useful for many people but my plumbing has low water pressure so it's mostly ineffective in this house.
--Just bought some of those plant watering globes today. Haven't used 'em yet but they're pretty.
--I have the Dryer Balls and they've been working well for about 5 months now. A good alternative to dryer sheets, which I had to stop using due to an allergy. The balls work well to soften laundry, but don't always kill all the static. And they make a satisfying thumping noise in the dryer.
--I also have the Topsy Turvey tomato planter; just bought it last week. Can't give any comments on that because I broke the tomato plant's stem as I was planting it and it died due to my ineptitude. So now I have the planter, full of dirt, hanging in my yard but nothing growing from it. It's not particularly attractive.
... Reading back thru my post makes me sound like one of those dotty little old grandmas that sits around & orders every junky gadget that shows up on the TV screen. I swear I'm not! I don't even have a TV! Some of the products are nifty and I've found all of them in stores like Target or Bed Bath and Beyond.
posted by cuddles.mcsnuggy at 8:10 PM on June 7, 2009 [2 favorites]
I ordered Bare Minerals after being mesmerized by the infomercial, and was more than satisfied--this was before similar mineral makeups showed up on drugstore shelves, and I still think it's the best of all the competitors I've experimented with.
I want a Big City Slider Station so badly, but I haven't ordered one. Instead, I'm patiently waiting to see it show up on the "as seen on TV" endcap at Target.
People rave about Proactiv skin care products, which have a heavy infomercial presence.
Space Bags, as noted, do not do what it says on the tin.
posted by padraigin at 8:11 PM on June 7, 2009
I want a Big City Slider Station so badly, but I haven't ordered one. Instead, I'm patiently waiting to see it show up on the "as seen on TV" endcap at Target.
People rave about Proactiv skin care products, which have a heavy infomercial presence.
Space Bags, as noted, do not do what it says on the tin.
posted by padraigin at 8:11 PM on June 7, 2009
I am a total sucker for these things. I do buy them at a brick-and-mortar so I can return them when I come to my senses. I kept:
-the Magic Bullet. It has ground my coffee every day for 2 years and still works beautifully. It also makes my husband's smoothies with no problems.
-the onion slicer thingy. I'm clumsy, and making home-style hash browns is less bloody with this thing
-the Space Bags. I got mine at Costco and Target. My husband has used the same travel ones for 5 years at 6 trips a year and no rips. Maybe the newer ones are crap?
posted by dogmom at 8:16 PM on June 7, 2009
-the Magic Bullet. It has ground my coffee every day for 2 years and still works beautifully. It also makes my husband's smoothies with no problems.
-the onion slicer thingy. I'm clumsy, and making home-style hash browns is less bloody with this thing
-the Space Bags. I got mine at Costco and Target. My husband has used the same travel ones for 5 years at 6 trips a year and no rips. Maybe the newer ones are crap?
posted by dogmom at 8:16 PM on June 7, 2009
Slight derail -- padraigin, I saw the Bit City Clider Station at Bed Bath & Beyond a couple of weeks ago.
On topic, my partner will see something and "buy it for me honey!" And that means, I get to go digging around on the 'net. We've had mixed experiences. Some stuff from HSN was rather good. I think that we paid too much for the Bowflex, but as far as construction it's been fine. The space bags were great for moving, but yeah they broke. That bummed me out. She's spotted a few other things that were just too uncertain. Generally if the bulk of reviews out there are negative, I'm not going to get something sight unseen.
I wouldn't judge quality from yard sale/flea market sales. instead it seems like a lot of stuff that either were gifts (that seemed like a good idea) or personal pampering (that seemed like a good idea) but aren't used. The foot bathes and things that you have to take time out and stop *doing* whatever in order to use.
I agree with thebazilist above, that if the product isn't too complex and functions in a way that seems reasonable, it is a safer bet.
posted by Librarygeek at 8:27 PM on June 7, 2009
On topic, my partner will see something and "buy it for me honey!" And that means, I get to go digging around on the 'net. We've had mixed experiences. Some stuff from HSN was rather good. I think that we paid too much for the Bowflex, but as far as construction it's been fine. The space bags were great for moving, but yeah they broke. That bummed me out. She's spotted a few other things that were just too uncertain. Generally if the bulk of reviews out there are negative, I'm not going to get something sight unseen.
I wouldn't judge quality from yard sale/flea market sales. instead it seems like a lot of stuff that either were gifts (that seemed like a good idea) or personal pampering (that seemed like a good idea) but aren't used. The foot bathes and things that you have to take time out and stop *doing* whatever in order to use.
I agree with thebazilist above, that if the product isn't too complex and functions in a way that seems reasonable, it is a safer bet.
posted by Librarygeek at 8:27 PM on June 7, 2009
Best answer: My mum, who's been dead for over 10 years, used to love the home shopping channels. She had always loved shopping but was very ill and frail the last couple of years of her life, and she enjoyed TV shopping immensely. She used to give me things she had seen and some of them were very pretty/useful. I still have a "Duzzit" that must be 20 years old and it will put up hooks on surfaces where nothing else will work.
I've bought "as seen on tv" items -- like litterateur , not from TV -- and most have performed as advertised. I very much like the Aqua Globes. The "Buttonneer" works very well with certain kinds of fabrics and is lousy with others. The "Mighty Breeze" fan has been very welcome when we were camping without power. We would have never been able to move some furniture without the "Moving Men Sliders". The George Foreman grill and Aerobed started their product cycle as TV products. I have both and find both useful. One thing I should have researched before I bought was a solar powered "Auto Vent". If I'd read reviews I would have found out that they're useless. If I'd thought at all, I'd have realized that the tiny solar panel couldn't possibly generate enough electricity to power the size of fan that would be required for the job.
There was/is, I believe, a certain snobishness that deprecated TV shopping. But really, how much different is it really from online shopping? It's as if the déclassé advertising for TV shopping infects the shopper reduces his/her taste, intelligence, and social standing.
posted by angiep at 8:28 PM on June 7, 2009
I've bought "as seen on tv" items -- like litterateur , not from TV -- and most have performed as advertised. I very much like the Aqua Globes. The "Buttonneer" works very well with certain kinds of fabrics and is lousy with others. The "Mighty Breeze" fan has been very welcome when we were camping without power. We would have never been able to move some furniture without the "Moving Men Sliders". The George Foreman grill and Aerobed started their product cycle as TV products. I have both and find both useful. One thing I should have researched before I bought was a solar powered "Auto Vent". If I'd read reviews I would have found out that they're useless. If I'd thought at all, I'd have realized that the tiny solar panel couldn't possibly generate enough electricity to power the size of fan that would be required for the job.
There was/is, I believe, a certain snobishness that deprecated TV shopping. But really, how much different is it really from online shopping? It's as if the déclassé advertising for TV shopping infects the shopper reduces his/her taste, intelligence, and social standing.
posted by angiep at 8:28 PM on June 7, 2009
Slight derail -- padraigin, I saw the Bit City Clider Station at Bed Bath & Beyond a couple of weeks ago.
Bless you. My mom is in town and she loooooves to buy crap like this for me. Someone's having tiny hamburgers for dinner this week! Maybe! If it isn't a total piece of crap!
posted by padraigin at 8:34 PM on June 7, 2009
Bless you. My mom is in town and she loooooves to buy crap like this for me. Someone's having tiny hamburgers for dinner this week! Maybe! If it isn't a total piece of crap!
posted by padraigin at 8:34 PM on June 7, 2009
I forgot, I also have these EZ Combs hair accessories from Target. Can't believe these haven't been made before: They hold the hair up incredibly well and are easy to use once you get the hang of it. I look forward to other companies stealing the design & using a more sturdy material though (plastic or hard rubber or somesuch), since the wire teeth bend & get misshapen a little too easily.
posted by cuddles.mcsnuggy at 8:46 PM on June 7, 2009
posted by cuddles.mcsnuggy at 8:46 PM on June 7, 2009
Best answer: Slight derail, but if you're interested in the history behind informercials and the products they sell, I recently read a book called But Wait! There's More! by Remy Stern that was fascinating. Also check out Pitchmen, on the Discovery Channel, which is a reality show that follows that shouty guy Billy Mays and that British guy Anthony Sullivan as they pick new products to endorse.
posted by sugarfish at 9:07 PM on June 7, 2009 [2 favorites]
posted by sugarfish at 9:07 PM on June 7, 2009 [2 favorites]
We have what is basically the equivalent of the Slap Chop, and we use it for almost every meal we cook. Granted, these things have been around for a while before the Slap Chop itself, but I guess it still counts. It works great, but the blade on ours is getting a bit dull now.
posted by joshrholloway at 9:10 PM on June 7, 2009
posted by joshrholloway at 9:10 PM on June 7, 2009
This is sort of tangential, but you might get a kick out of the Discovery Channel show, "Pitchmen," which follows Billy Mays (the loud guy with the super-black beard and blue shirts) and Anthony Sullivan (the bland mild-mannered British guy) as they try out new products that are pitched to them, which in they in turn create commercials for.
It's an interesting look at the industry, although when it's over it sort of feels like an infomercial in and of itself. And Billy's antics are not for everyone, although I certainly get a kick out of him.
posted by TheSecretDecoderRing at 9:24 PM on June 7, 2009
It's an interesting look at the industry, although when it's over it sort of feels like an infomercial in and of itself. And Billy's antics are not for everyone, although I certainly get a kick out of him.
posted by TheSecretDecoderRing at 9:24 PM on June 7, 2009
The only item I can speak for is P90X, which is pretty much as advertised: a difficult but effective program.
I'm curious -- effective for what, exactly?
posted by ludwig_van at 9:38 PM on June 7, 2009
I used Proactiv for years without seeing any difference (I was in high school at the time, and my mom was convinced by the commercials).
Smooth Away is absolutely miserable. It might work for some people, but not me -- the skin came off before the hair did, and my legs were speckled with blood oozing from each pore. It looked about as charming as it sounds.
My roommate has a PedEgg and loves it, but I don't understand what makes it any better than a pumice stone, which I use and like just fine.
I absolutely love my George Foreman grill. I've used a couple different models, but my current (and favorite) is the one with removable plates.
posted by booksandlibretti at 10:11 PM on June 7, 2009
Smooth Away is absolutely miserable. It might work for some people, but not me -- the skin came off before the hair did, and my legs were speckled with blood oozing from each pore. It looked about as charming as it sounds.
My roommate has a PedEgg and loves it, but I don't understand what makes it any better than a pumice stone, which I use and like just fine.
I absolutely love my George Foreman grill. I've used a couple different models, but my current (and favorite) is the one with removable plates.
posted by booksandlibretti at 10:11 PM on June 7, 2009
I have ordered several of these products at one time or another. Before I order, though, I make sure to check the reviews at InfomercialRatings . They seem to have unbiased reviews from real consumers.
posted by tzuzie at 10:41 PM on June 7, 2009
posted by tzuzie at 10:41 PM on June 7, 2009
My experience with Aqua Globe is that it "works", but only for two or three days, which is how often I have to water the plant in the first place.
I also have space bags. They haven't ripped, but they don't squeeze down nearly as much as in the commercials.
posted by dirigibleman at 10:52 PM on June 7, 2009
I also have space bags. They haven't ripped, but they don't squeeze down nearly as much as in the commercials.
posted by dirigibleman at 10:52 PM on June 7, 2009
My mom has bought a few things. The only thing I ever thought was somewhat useful was the Vidalia Chop Wizard. For most cooking, I'll just cut my one onion myself. But for things like meatloaf or stuffing, which require heavy duty chopping of several ingredients, it's handy, and it works pretty well.
posted by kingjoeshmoe at 11:16 PM on June 7, 2009
posted by kingjoeshmoe at 11:16 PM on June 7, 2009
My sister bought the Magic Bullet. It is really quite good for smoothies. But my blender is better.
posted by fifilaru at 11:58 PM on June 7, 2009
posted by fifilaru at 11:58 PM on June 7, 2009
The only item I can speak for is P90X, which is pretty much as advertised: a difficult but effective program.
I'm curious -- effective for what, exactly?
Exercise
posted by fifilaru at 11:59 PM on June 7, 2009
I'm curious -- effective for what, exactly?
Exercise
posted by fifilaru at 11:59 PM on June 7, 2009
Best answer: Definitely, the best thing I ever bought "as-seen-on-TV" was my Flowbee. I've used it several times a month, giving haircuts to myself, my brother and other family members, for more than 5 years now. The optional Flolwbee Super Mini Vac vacuum motor source finally started shooting sparks from its brushes a month ago, so the last 4 or 5 times I used the Flowbee, I've connected my Hoover vacuum cleaner as the suction source, via the included Flowbee universal vacuum hose adapter. (If I'd known how well the Hoover works as a vacuum source when I order the Flowbee, I probably wouldn't have ordered the Flowbee Super Mini Vac - accordingly, I'm in no hurry to fix/replace it.) After hundreds of haircuts, I'm still waiting to change the Flowbee blades, although I do oil the blades a tiny bit before and after each use. Most of the time, I cut my hair, or that of other family members, directly after a shower, when the hair has been washed and rinsed clean, "towel dried," and combed through minimally - the hair is relaxed and soft in this condition, and that has probably helped the blade life of the Flowbee, but it also allows the cut hair to be effectively (and "coolly") dried by the vacuum action of Flowbee system, as the hair is cut. Everyone whose hair I've cut enjoys this method of drying their hair, and several now use their vacuum cleaner to "cool dry" their hair, instead of "baking it" using hot air dryers - I think this is generally far better for hair, than blow driers, and is wonderfully refreshing, particularly in the summer.
I do some minor "touch ups" around the ears of male family members with a scissors or a Wahl clipper, to follow the ear shapes, and/or "clean up" stray neck and ear hair, after the basic Flowbee cut is complete. Stray trim hair can be quickly be cleaned up in seconds, just by turning on the Flowbee and vacuum again, and making a quick "vacuum" pass over the neck and ears, once any "non-Flowbee" touch up trimming is done - there's never any cut hair on the floor, or the person getting the haircut, once I'm done.
Our family has straight or slightly wavy Caucasian hair - the Flowbee system isn't really effective on tightly curled, or "ethnic" hair, or deeply waved hair. But if you have acceptable hair types, the thing works just "as-seen-on-TV," lasts better than most appliances I've ever owned, and has saved me thousands of dollars in barber costs.
But the real beauty of the Flowbee is that it takes about 3 minutes to get it out, cut my hair, and put it away, and I haven't wasted a single minute sitting in a barber shop/salon waiting chair, reading old magazines in more than 5 years! Because I use the same set of vacuum spacers and the same motions each time, every hair cut is accurate and precise, and I learned to get the exact same results each time within the first 2 or 3 haircuts I gave myself; overall, I get the consistent, easy haircuts I always wanted, and never have to "break in" a new stylist, or hope that a new person cutting my hair will get it right.
posted by paulsc at 12:03 AM on June 8, 2009 [2 favorites]
I do some minor "touch ups" around the ears of male family members with a scissors or a Wahl clipper, to follow the ear shapes, and/or "clean up" stray neck and ear hair, after the basic Flowbee cut is complete. Stray trim hair can be quickly be cleaned up in seconds, just by turning on the Flowbee and vacuum again, and making a quick "vacuum" pass over the neck and ears, once any "non-Flowbee" touch up trimming is done - there's never any cut hair on the floor, or the person getting the haircut, once I'm done.
Our family has straight or slightly wavy Caucasian hair - the Flowbee system isn't really effective on tightly curled, or "ethnic" hair, or deeply waved hair. But if you have acceptable hair types, the thing works just "as-seen-on-TV," lasts better than most appliances I've ever owned, and has saved me thousands of dollars in barber costs.
But the real beauty of the Flowbee is that it takes about 3 minutes to get it out, cut my hair, and put it away, and I haven't wasted a single minute sitting in a barber shop/salon waiting chair, reading old magazines in more than 5 years! Because I use the same set of vacuum spacers and the same motions each time, every hair cut is accurate and precise, and I learned to get the exact same results each time within the first 2 or 3 haircuts I gave myself; overall, I get the consistent, easy haircuts I always wanted, and never have to "break in" a new stylist, or hope that a new person cutting my hair will get it right.
posted by paulsc at 12:03 AM on June 8, 2009 [2 favorites]
I have bought a Gopher grabber at the ASOTV store and it works fine. I once bought a RevoStyler; it's a hairbrush that rotates and when it hits a tangle, stops so it doesn't get caught in your hair... it was worthless. It was meant to help straighten hair, and as someone with naturally curly hair, I found it didn't work at all. A friend bought Mighty Putty and it didn't even hold up for a week. I love my PedEgg. Another friend has found the Smooth Away useless.
My mom has an older, big round George Foreman grill that's meant for family-sized cooking (as opposed to just one or two items) and she loves it.
I tend not to buy this stuff unless I see a lot of great reviews (and few bad reviews) of them somewhere, or if Good Housekeeping or another reputable company reviews it positively. Also like many other people, I don't buy them from TV.
posted by IndigoRain at 12:16 AM on June 8, 2009
My mom has an older, big round George Foreman grill that's meant for family-sized cooking (as opposed to just one or two items) and she loves it.
I tend not to buy this stuff unless I see a lot of great reviews (and few bad reviews) of them somewhere, or if Good Housekeeping or another reputable company reviews it positively. Also like many other people, I don't buy them from TV.
posted by IndigoRain at 12:16 AM on June 8, 2009
I'm curious -- effective for what, exactly?
There's a link to Beachbody's P90X site in my original comment, but it's a 12 disc exercise program that covers all major muscle groups and is peppered with fairly intense cardio routines. I found it to be effective for both weight loss and adding muscle tone.
posted by contrariwise at 5:02 AM on June 8, 2009
There's a link to Beachbody's P90X site in my original comment, but it's a 12 disc exercise program that covers all major muscle groups and is peppered with fairly intense cardio routines. I found it to be effective for both weight loss and adding muscle tone.
posted by contrariwise at 5:02 AM on June 8, 2009
I can't believe I forgot the Handy Switch. That thing changed my life. We rent an old house. For some reason, the living room does not have any overhead light that's hardwired into the wiring, nor is there an outlet that's hardwired to a switch. So we either had to leave a lamp on all day so we could see our way into the house when we got home, or trip over the cat trying to make our way to a lamp in a dark room. The Handy Switch changed that. And the thing really works. We tried it from outside of the house and it worked a good 50 feet away.
posted by dogmom at 5:07 AM on June 8, 2009
posted by dogmom at 5:07 AM on June 8, 2009
The Clapper has been around forever. That's gotta mean something.
*waits for some wiseacre to come along and define something*
posted by orme at 5:19 AM on June 8, 2009
*waits for some wiseacre to come along and define something*
posted by orme at 5:19 AM on June 8, 2009
On the plus side: I'm on my second George Foreman and use it several times a week. I have the Magic Bullet and it's okay, but not spectacular. My sister looovves her Sham-wow.
On the minus side: My mother bought the thing that functions like both tongs and a flipper and it broke in 10 minutes. My space bags all got holes within the first few uses. My son used Proactiv and it worked for 6 months, then stopped working completely. The dermatologist told him that is a common occurrence. I bought the Buxton organizer purse and while the design was fantastic, the purse looked cheap and started falling apart with a few weeks.
I'm hoping I get a ped egg for my birthday!
posted by Breav at 5:48 AM on June 8, 2009
On the minus side: My mother bought the thing that functions like both tongs and a flipper and it broke in 10 minutes. My space bags all got holes within the first few uses. My son used Proactiv and it worked for 6 months, then stopped working completely. The dermatologist told him that is a common occurrence. I bought the Buxton organizer purse and while the design was fantastic, the purse looked cheap and started falling apart with a few weeks.
I'm hoping I get a ped egg for my birthday!
posted by Breav at 5:48 AM on June 8, 2009
Response by poster: There was/is, I believe, a certain snobishness that deprecated TV shopping. But really, how much different is it really from online shopping? It's as if the déclassé advertising for TV shopping infects the shopper reduces his/her taste, intelligence, and social standing.
Angiep, this sort of perception is the thing that fascinates me the most, what the significance of the "As Seen on TV" label is, or how we view products differently when pitched by that TV spokesperson voice.
Thanks for the insights!
posted by mrmojoflying at 6:42 AM on June 8, 2009
Angiep, this sort of perception is the thing that fascinates me the most, what the significance of the "As Seen on TV" label is, or how we view products differently when pitched by that TV spokesperson voice.
Thanks for the insights!
posted by mrmojoflying at 6:42 AM on June 8, 2009
The Bassomatic worked as advertised. ;)
Really, some of those things are fine. It's just a way to break into a market for someone who is not an established seller. Recently I have used the keep fresh food bags and the Topsy Turvy tomato planters and both work well.
posted by caddis at 7:30 AM on June 8, 2009
Really, some of those things are fine. It's just a way to break into a market for someone who is not an established seller. Recently I have used the keep fresh food bags and the Topsy Turvy tomato planters and both work well.
posted by caddis at 7:30 AM on June 8, 2009
Breav: "On the plus side: I'm on my second George Foreman and use it several times a week."
I'm on my third -- now with waffle plates! I love it so much, I didn't even consider it to be an As Seen on TVer. (The first one died because someone left it plugged in overnight; the second one was tossed when the non-stick coating started to flake off.)
posted by The corpse in the library at 7:53 AM on June 8, 2009
I'm on my third -- now with waffle plates! I love it so much, I didn't even consider it to be an As Seen on TVer. (The first one died because someone left it plugged in overnight; the second one was tossed when the non-stick coating started to flake off.)
posted by The corpse in the library at 7:53 AM on June 8, 2009
There's a link to Beachbody's P90X site in my original comment, but it's a 12 disc exercise program that covers all major muscle groups and is peppered with fairly intense cardio routines. I found it to be effective for both weight loss and adding muscle tone.
Well, I don't want to cause too much of a derail, but I asked because I looked at the web site and it sounds very silly and like a waste of money. And "adding muscle tone" doesn't mean anything. Thanks for clarifying though.
posted by ludwig_van at 8:16 AM on June 8, 2009
Well, I don't want to cause too much of a derail, but I asked because I looked at the web site and it sounds very silly and like a waste of money. And "adding muscle tone" doesn't mean anything. Thanks for clarifying though.
posted by ludwig_van at 8:16 AM on June 8, 2009
In two separate cases, I have pinpointed the moment I realized I could not date someone long term to the realization that they buy stuff off TV. Specifically, weird gadgets that they think will actually work. (Buying, say, compilation cds could just indicate poor taste in music.)
posted by snofoam at 8:29 AM on June 8, 2009
posted by snofoam at 8:29 AM on June 8, 2009
I am on my third OneSweep broom. Those things are great for pre-mop scrubbing when the kids have been creative in the kitchen or the cat's been ill all day while you were out and are fine for regular sweeping too.
I also have, and love, the Debbie Meyer Green Bags. A friend bought a no-name knockoff and it seems they didn't work for her at all, but the originals been great for produce in my house, especially leafy greens and bananas (not so great for avocados and only minimally helpful with tomatoes).
I had and used one of those veggie/onion choppers for a while and enjoyed the convenience, but it just wasn't sturdy enough. Also had the stovetop grill-on-one-side, griddle-on-the-other and used it regularly until the non-stick coating started flaking off. I'd like another of those, actually.
My ex's neice swore by Proactiv, but it did nothing for either the ex or me. Different skin types, maybe.
I am at a loss for why anyone would buy ShamWow instead of a chamois. What makes it different/better?
I haven't actually ever bought anything off the TV, but it does seem like it's just a lower-barrier way of entering the market.
posted by notashroom at 9:14 AM on June 8, 2009
I also have, and love, the Debbie Meyer Green Bags. A friend bought a no-name knockoff and it seems they didn't work for her at all, but the originals been great for produce in my house, especially leafy greens and bananas (not so great for avocados and only minimally helpful with tomatoes).
I had and used one of those veggie/onion choppers for a while and enjoyed the convenience, but it just wasn't sturdy enough. Also had the stovetop grill-on-one-side, griddle-on-the-other and used it regularly until the non-stick coating started flaking off. I'd like another of those, actually.
My ex's neice swore by Proactiv, but it did nothing for either the ex or me. Different skin types, maybe.
I am at a loss for why anyone would buy ShamWow instead of a chamois. What makes it different/better?
I haven't actually ever bought anything off the TV, but it does seem like it's just a lower-barrier way of entering the market.
posted by notashroom at 9:14 AM on June 8, 2009
OKAY! So mom indulged me with a trip to the store to buy a Big City Slider Station this morning, and TINY BURGERS FOR LUNCH!!!!!
It works pretty well. It basically steams the patties in their own juices, which is all well and good if you season the meat (I used Montreal Steak seasoning and worcestershire sauce), but you won't get that Maillard reaction crust on the outsides. Also, if you use a higher fat content meat (I used 90/10 ground beef) you're probably looking at a potential grease fire from the juices bubbling over unless you're meticulous about the scoops of meat you put into each compartment.
Of course if you don't buy it directly from the company you don't get all the WAIT THERE'S MORE that they throw in for your trouble. But you do get it right away, and you don't have to find a place to store your probably-useless-anyway onion slicer.
It's easy to use, cooks super-fast, and wasn't hard to clean. I recommend it to anyone with tiny burger needs. Yay, Billy Mays!
posted by padraigin at 2:20 PM on June 9, 2009
It works pretty well. It basically steams the patties in their own juices, which is all well and good if you season the meat (I used Montreal Steak seasoning and worcestershire sauce), but you won't get that Maillard reaction crust on the outsides. Also, if you use a higher fat content meat (I used 90/10 ground beef) you're probably looking at a potential grease fire from the juices bubbling over unless you're meticulous about the scoops of meat you put into each compartment.
Of course if you don't buy it directly from the company you don't get all the WAIT THERE'S MORE that they throw in for your trouble. But you do get it right away, and you don't have to find a place to store your probably-useless-anyway onion slicer.
It's easy to use, cooks super-fast, and wasn't hard to clean. I recommend it to anyone with tiny burger needs. Yay, Billy Mays!
posted by padraigin at 2:20 PM on June 9, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
This way, I can return if need be, or exchange, and I don't have to worry about accidentally signing up for a mailing list, or a series of products I neither want, nor need.
And yes, the PedEgg works nicely.
In answer to your question, I've been a fan of Hercules Hooks.
posted by litterateur at 6:34 PM on June 7, 2009 [1 favorite]