Biggest As Seen on TV Disappointments of 2010
Filed under: Shopping, Video, Consumer Ally, As Seen on TV
I hate to call this column 2010's Worst of As Seen On TV products. It's so negative. It's so Grinchy. It's so exactly-what-I-mean.
Let's just say that the following infomercial products stand out -- and not in a good way -- among the dozens I've tested and reviewed since beginning this column in April.
The Product: Shake Weight
The Claims: Tones and firms arms in just six minutes a day
The Price: $20 in stores
I just received a long letter from Shake Weight talking about the exercise science behind this phallic looking, pumping dumbbell that claims to tone shoulders and arms in just a few minutes a day.
Of course, shaking two pounds of anything -- a pineapple, jug of milk -- for six minutes a day is bound to tone biceps and triceps and won't cost $20. When I tried the Shake Weight, which I found tedious as well as ridiculous, my neck seized up and hurt for days.
Granted, Shake Weight has received enormous national attention. But I think the product's pumping, throbbing, tongue-in-cheek (if you know what I mean) infomercial is the key to its success.
The Product: BarkOff
The Claims: Trains dogs to stop barking anytime, anywhere
The Price: $10 in stores
BarkOff is a palm-sized dog silencer that promises to stop Fido's barking with ultrasonic waves that only dogs can hear.
I tried BarkOff on Rosie, my cute but yappy dog who goes crazy when the doorbell rings. Not only did BarkOff not silence my dog, it made her mad and she barked at the gadget.
BarkOff didn't work on my neighbor's nonstop barker, either.
BarkOff claims to stop barking anytime, anywhere.
Evidently, anywhere but here.
The Product: Jupiter Jack
The Claims: Turns your car radio into a hands-free phone.
The Price: $5-$10 in stores
Jupiter Jack promises to turn any cell phone into a hands-free device, and any car radio into a wireless speaker. It is supposed to help motorists comply with local laws that prohibit drivers from playing with their cell phones while navigating the road.
Jupiter Jack, however, is an iffy gadget that overstates its ability when it puts "any" before phone and car.
I tested the Jupiter Jack on three cars. And it performed loudly and clearly on only one.
Will it work on yours?
Don't know. Can't tell. Which is why I say, "Hit the road, Jack!"
Let's just say that the following infomercial products stand out -- and not in a good way -- among the dozens I've tested and reviewed since beginning this column in April.
The Product: Shake Weight
The Claims: Tones and firms arms in just six minutes a day
The Price: $20 in stores
Of course, shaking two pounds of anything -- a pineapple, jug of milk -- for six minutes a day is bound to tone biceps and triceps and won't cost $20. When I tried the Shake Weight, which I found tedious as well as ridiculous, my neck seized up and hurt for days.
Granted, Shake Weight has received enormous national attention. But I think the product's pumping, throbbing, tongue-in-cheek (if you know what I mean) infomercial is the key to its success.
The Product: BarkOff
The Claims: Trains dogs to stop barking anytime, anywhere
The Price: $10 in stores
BarkOff is a palm-sized dog silencer that promises to stop Fido's barking with ultrasonic waves that only dogs can hear.
I tried BarkOff on Rosie, my cute but yappy dog who goes crazy when the doorbell rings. Not only did BarkOff not silence my dog, it made her mad and she barked at the gadget.
BarkOff didn't work on my neighbor's nonstop barker, either.
BarkOff claims to stop barking anytime, anywhere.
Evidently, anywhere but here.
The Product: Jupiter Jack
The Claims: Turns your car radio into a hands-free phone.
The Price: $5-$10 in stores
Jupiter Jack promises to turn any cell phone into a hands-free device, and any car radio into a wireless speaker. It is supposed to help motorists comply with local laws that prohibit drivers from playing with their cell phones while navigating the road.
Jupiter Jack, however, is an iffy gadget that overstates its ability when it puts "any" before phone and car.
I tested the Jupiter Jack on three cars. And it performed loudly and clearly on only one.
Will it work on yours?
Don't know. Can't tell. Which is why I say, "Hit the road, Jack!"
Gianluigi Guercia, AFP
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-19-2010 @ 12:04PM
vinnie said...
In the first place "Shake Weight" looks like it would do more damage than good. it looks like there would be a great amount of tension in the neck shoulder area. You would get more benefit if you just walked in place for the same amount of minutes using wrist weights.
Barkoff if you look at the infomercials the dogs are all paying close attention to someone off the screen. most likely a trainer telling them when to bark and when to be silent.
Finally Jupiter Jack, it probably depends more on the radio than the car. Even the bluetooth ear pieces are not compatible with all cell phones. The jupiter Jack people should research this and put the compatibility rankings on the package or display or website so that you wont waste your time. Of course another shortcoming of the Jupiter Jack is it has to be on a certain channel to work therefore you cant listen to you radio or other music and its not private.
Reply
12-19-2010 @ 9:28PM
elivebuy324 said...
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12-19-2010 @ 9:09AM
Clark Celmayster said...
Consumers are idiots and generally let the commercials or infomertials sell the product without any proof of its efficacy. There have always been snake oils salemen/women and morons who will buy the potion. In these cases they sould combine a couple of these products Barkoff and Jupiter Jack and come up with a new product -JackOff!!!!!!
Reply
12-19-2010 @ 9:23AM
TOM H said...
I WISH I COULD STUFF THE 19.95 CRAP THAT THEY HAWK ON TV INTO THOSE SELF ADDRESSED STAMPED RETURN ENVELOPES IN THE JUNK MAIL CRAP
Reply
12-19-2010 @ 1:52PM
Maggie said...
LOL, nice to see others' opinions about all the idiotic informercials on TV. My biggest grate? The offer of TWO products for the price of one (HURRY!) ... just pay additional shipping and handling. This shipping and handling fee is usually $6.95 on up. That means almost $14 on up for shipping! If they truly want to "give away" a second product why don't they package two of the same items in the same containerand charge ONE s/h fee? This is just another way to rip off the blind consumers who believe everything they see. Get these crooks off the air!
Reply
12-19-2010 @ 2:37PM
Laura said...
I wish I would have seen this before I bought Bark Off! It doesn't work at all! A total rip off!
Reply
12-19-2010 @ 7:06PM
Davidd said...
I tried jupiter jack and it worked great while the car was parked. When I tried using it while my car was in motion it stunk. It would fade out I would get humming and static. I took it back to my place of purchase and promptly got my money back.
Reply
12-19-2010 @ 7:22PM
Beth said...
I recently bought the kangaroo keeper at Walmart for 9.99 and while I like the idea behind the innovation, the smell (of mothballs) was horrible and never went away no matter how much I sprayed it with febreeze!!!
Reply
12-19-2010 @ 9:19PM
HIGH WOLFIE said...
MY VOTE FOR WORST RIP OFF- NU-WAVE OVEN - WOW THE INFOMERCIAL MAKES THIS SPACE-WASTER SEEM LIKE GOD'S GIFT TO COOKERY - WHAT A SCAM
Reply