Share your favorite infomercial
My earlier post got me looking at infomercials at work. I've already told you I'm mesmerized by the make-a-hot-pocket-out-of-anything commercial, but I also like this one on the Tater Mitts.
I can't explain why, especially since I almost never buy potatoes to cook at home, but the ease of peeling those darn potatoes makes me want to get some Tater Mitts (if not just for being able to say Tater Mitts repeatedly whilst giggling over the kitchen sink).
It also got me to thinking that I've only ever bought two things from an infomercial ever despite watching countless hours of such nonsense. What can I say? I'm easily entertained.
I know I'm not the only infomercial watcher out there and I know I can't be the only person who has ever bought something from watching those things so if you share your favorite infomercial with me and you tell me what you bought, I'll tell you what I bought. Deal?
By the way, just in case you find yourself buying far too many of these infomercial products that don't seem to work as promised, check out sites like CBS Channel 3 news investigator Andy Wise, Infomercial Watch by Stephen Barrett, or Good Morning America's Does it Work segments.
Comments
I watch very little tv, and it's been years since I've seen any infomercials, but I fondly (laughingly) recall the ones that Ron Popeil used to pitch for his various inventions. He had some kind of rotisserie oven in which he made "turkey jerkey'. Embarrassing to say that we watched that infomercial several times and never tired of it. But NO I've never bought any Popeil products. (And even if I had I'd never admit it.)
But Ron's best (or worst) con was a simple inflatable vinyl raft (the kind you'd lounge on and float around the pool). He tried to sell this as a contraption that you'd hang from your garage ceiling (like a childs swingset) and leave suspended in mid-air between your two parked cars. In this way it was a "DoorSaver" which shielded your one car from the opening doors of the other. And no, not $12.95!...not even $10.00!...if you call right now, I'll... :)
DD: oh geez, I don't remember that one. But I'm fond of Ron Popeil and his rotisserie cooker, too. I've watched that one a couple times.
Posted by: Terry | October 21, 2008 12:40 PM
I'd like to share my most hated infommercial.
My husband woke me up one morning and brought the laptop upstairs. He couldn't wait to show me the wonderful product he'd just seen on an infommercial and knew it would be the best purchase ever.
My darling husband had purchased EZ Crown Molding, a cheap strip of plastic that he thought would class up our abode.
He was so wrong. It did, however, wind up classing up our garbage can.
DD: Poor hubby. Infomercials should mostly be watched just for entertainment purposes... not for buying!
Posted by: AlisaBS | October 23, 2008 12:37 PM
Tater Mitts... why didn't I think of that?
Posted by: coffee | March 13, 2009 12:09 PM