Infomercial products that are actually good?
September 11, 2024 1:27 AM Subscribe
Sleepless in suburban Virginia, I find myself channel surfing through infomercial after infomercial. I've never bought anything from an infomercial, but I'd have to say I'm tempted right now bc many of the products look/sound very inventive and useful. I'm keeping my credit card in my wallet for now, but my curiosity is still piqued: fellow mefites, have you ever ended up very happy with an infomercial purchase? How about, on the contrary, very unhappy?
Yes! I got a 3-for-1 deal on this flashlight a few years ago and they're still going strong. I can't say whether their specific claims are true (not a big flashlight-head, engaging with specs), but they are very good bright flashlights with long battery life. I like having one by each door in my house, and they're useful when the dogs need to go out at night.
posted by knotty knots at 1:54 AM on September 11 [1 favorite]
posted by knotty knots at 1:54 AM on September 11 [1 favorite]
I got The Amazing Ginsu Knife more than 40 years ago and it is indeed amazing, and still going strong. I use it on tomatoes, bread, and frozen stuff. I have never tried cutting tin cans or wood. Didn't get all the "but wait, there's more!" tools. Have no idea if the knives are still sold, and if so whether they still make 'em like they used to.
posted by evilmomlady at 4:10 AM on September 11 [2 favorites]
posted by evilmomlady at 4:10 AM on September 11 [2 favorites]
You might enjoy these videos from Epicurious in which a product design expert tests infomercial-type kitchen gadgets.
posted by staggernation at 4:48 AM on September 11 [4 favorites]
posted by staggernation at 4:48 AM on September 11 [4 favorites]
I was given a t-shirt folder that was bought off an infomercial and it does a great job at making t-shirts into neat rectangles. If I were someone who cared about their shirts being folded, I would use it all the time.
posted by The corpse in the library at 5:09 AM on September 11
posted by The corpse in the library at 5:09 AM on September 11
I will vouch for ove-glove knockoffs.
Also the super chamois, à la sham wow.
Hypothesis: the actual good informercial products spawn successful knockoffs and become generically available under many names at non-infomercial outlets.
posted by SaltySalticid at 5:43 AM on September 11 [4 favorites]
Also the super chamois, à la sham wow.
Hypothesis: the actual good informercial products spawn successful knockoffs and become generically available under many names at non-infomercial outlets.
posted by SaltySalticid at 5:43 AM on September 11 [4 favorites]
Forearm forklifts have that informercial
vibe & the $12 Harbor Freight knockoff was AMAZING for moving a heavy kitchen island up a long flight of stairs last week. Like, with the forearm forklifts moving the kitchen island was easier than moving any other big thing we moved including some heavy boxes.
posted by needs more cowbell at 5:55 AM on September 11 [10 favorites]
vibe & the $12 Harbor Freight knockoff was AMAZING for moving a heavy kitchen island up a long flight of stairs last week. Like, with the forearm forklifts moving the kitchen island was easier than moving any other big thing we moved including some heavy boxes.
posted by needs more cowbell at 5:55 AM on September 11 [10 favorites]
It's been awhile, but I bought a Sonicare toothbrush and a Tempurpedic mattress and am still using them 20 years later. Teeth are doing well and no more backaches.
posted by a humble nudibranch at 6:32 AM on September 11 [2 favorites]
posted by a humble nudibranch at 6:32 AM on September 11 [2 favorites]
Back in the mid-‘90s, I bought a HealthRider (remember those?) under the mesmerizing influence of an infomercial. I must have watched 20 of them before I purchased.
Once arrived, I used it almost daily for a couple of months. Then I discovered I could handily dry my lingerie on it that couldn’t go into a dryer. From there, it was a short hop to draping my not-quite-dry t-shirts over it. I continued to use the thing for exercise also.
After a while (maybe 5 or 6 months) it blended into the background and I didn’t notice it to use it, if you know what I mean.
We moved to a smaller place, and I sold the HealthRider via Craigslist. We occasionally missed the use of it, but not enough to moan about it. I don’t regret buying it so much as the cost of the thing.
posted by BostonTerrier at 7:06 AM on September 11
Once arrived, I used it almost daily for a couple of months. Then I discovered I could handily dry my lingerie on it that couldn’t go into a dryer. From there, it was a short hop to draping my not-quite-dry t-shirts over it. I continued to use the thing for exercise also.
After a while (maybe 5 or 6 months) it blended into the background and I didn’t notice it to use it, if you know what I mean.
We moved to a smaller place, and I sold the HealthRider via Craigslist. We occasionally missed the use of it, but not enough to moan about it. I don’t regret buying it so much as the cost of the thing.
posted by BostonTerrier at 7:06 AM on September 11
+1 on the Sham Wow. I purchased the Egg Cooker Pod and love it.
Whenever I am at the grocery store I make sure to check the "As seen on TV' area, usually an end cap. If I had a use for the product, I would not hesitate to purchase it. About 8 years ago(?) I purchased one of those ceramic non stick cookware set. I was sent the wrong set. I contacted them. They said to keep the set I had and they sent me a new, different set that I had actually ordered. Bonus two sets.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 7:08 AM on September 11 [1 favorite]
Whenever I am at the grocery store I make sure to check the "As seen on TV' area, usually an end cap. If I had a use for the product, I would not hesitate to purchase it. About 8 years ago(?) I purchased one of those ceramic non stick cookware set. I was sent the wrong set. I contacted them. They said to keep the set I had and they sent me a new, different set that I had actually ordered. Bonus two sets.
posted by JohnnyGunn at 7:08 AM on September 11 [1 favorite]
I got a "as seen on TV" Chop Wizard and it was terrible. The blades were dull, it was a little smaller than I thought so big onions didn't fit, and when I tried to force it the side piece of plastic popped out.
posted by Melismata at 7:10 AM on September 11 [2 favorites]
posted by Melismata at 7:10 AM on September 11 [2 favorites]
These ramen microwave bowls are bombproof. Almost impossible to scratch, you can microwave them for 5 minutes and the plastic is still grabbable. It's my go-to for canned soups and leftovers. And if you're low-carbing, the cooking area is roughly the size of a piece of bread, which makes a nice 90-second keto bread for sandwiches and similar. It also makes a sandwich-sized egg patty for egg sandwiches.
I've tried bigger more complicated tools, but the Veggetti spiralizer - the basic one that's like two cones - does the job fast and easy for almost anything you might want in a stringy format.
The youtube channel Freakin' Reviews does a lot of ASOTV/Shark Tank products, and I generally check there first before buying anything like that, especially for kitchen and cleaning tools.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:12 AM on September 11 [6 favorites]
I've tried bigger more complicated tools, but the Veggetti spiralizer - the basic one that's like two cones - does the job fast and easy for almost anything you might want in a stringy format.
The youtube channel Freakin' Reviews does a lot of ASOTV/Shark Tank products, and I generally check there first before buying anything like that, especially for kitchen and cleaning tools.
posted by Lyn Never at 8:12 AM on September 11 [6 favorites]
I have the flashlight knotty knots posted about and it IS amazing. Very bright, like you-could-do-surgery-in-the-field bright. It's always called THE TACTICAL FLASHLIGHT at home to differentiate it from lesser lights.
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 8:24 AM on September 11 [1 favorite]
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 8:24 AM on September 11 [1 favorite]
I was heretofore unaware of Forearm Forklights and WANT THEM NOW
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 8:25 AM on September 11 [3 favorites]
posted by I_Love_Bananas at 8:25 AM on September 11 [3 favorites]
I bought a ceramic nail file from an infomercial 30 years ago and still use it regularly.
posted by Lexica at 9:40 AM on September 11
posted by Lexica at 9:40 AM on September 11
I don't know if they actually advertise this on informercials but the Wad-Free does exactly what it says it will do, which is keep sheets and duvet covers from balling up in the dryer.
The sticky pads shaped like a paw print you're supposed to put in to catch dog hair absolutely do NOT work though, and neither do the fuzzy balls that are supposed to trap it in the washer.
posted by blnkfrnk at 10:04 AM on September 11
The sticky pads shaped like a paw print you're supposed to put in to catch dog hair absolutely do NOT work though, and neither do the fuzzy balls that are supposed to trap it in the washer.
posted by blnkfrnk at 10:04 AM on September 11
I would not buy anything from infomercials unless it's been through Freakin' Reviews (who mostly reviews "As Seen on TV" or similar type gadgets and tools), and frankly, more than half are junk.
posted by kschang at 11:50 AM on September 11
posted by kschang at 11:50 AM on September 11
This was waaaaay back in the 1900's, but I came home from having a few pops after work one night, saw a commercial for the Time-Life Collection AM Gold, and was just loaded enough to order it. I received a new CD packed with wuss rock classics every month or so for literally years. It was GREAT.
posted by dirtdirt at 12:32 PM on September 11 [5 favorites]
posted by dirtdirt at 12:32 PM on September 11 [5 favorites]
I inherited an Ove-Glove from my mom and it is amazing. We bought a Magic Bullet blender a couple of decades ago that worked just fine, but we didn't end up using very much.
Many drug and grocery stores have "As Seen On TV" sections. Our local Fred Meyer (Kroger) has some by the cooking gadgets. You might see some of the infomercial product there and be able to pick them up easily, and just as easily return them if you're not happy.
posted by lhauser at 5:25 PM on September 11
Many drug and grocery stores have "As Seen On TV" sections. Our local Fred Meyer (Kroger) has some by the cooking gadgets. You might see some of the infomercial product there and be able to pick them up easily, and just as easily return them if you're not happy.
posted by lhauser at 5:25 PM on September 11
Years ago I received Slap Chop and Graty for Christmas. They worked perfectly fine, but I wouldn't say they are any faster or easier than using a knife or regular cheese grater if you include clean up and put together/take apart time.
But they are a lot more fun!
posted by freakazoid at 5:09 AM on September 12
But they are a lot more fun!
posted by freakazoid at 5:09 AM on September 12
This was waaaaay back in the 1900's, but I came home from having a few pops after work one night, saw a commercial for the Time-Life Collection AM Gold , and was just loaded enough to order it.
Ha! I did the exact same thing - came home from the bar, saw the ad and purchased the collection. We're probably not the only ones that did it that way, imo.
posted by sundrop at 7:51 AM on September 13 [2 favorites]
Ha! I did the exact same thing - came home from the bar, saw the ad and purchased the collection. We're probably not the only ones that did it that way, imo.
posted by sundrop at 7:51 AM on September 13 [2 favorites]
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posted by BadgerDoctor at 1:36 AM on September 11