As Seen On TV: The Commercialism Spammer

As Seen On TV: The Commercialism Spammer

I noticed the other day one of those 'Perfect Pancake' pans. I thought, 'Are people really that lazy to perfect something as simple as a pancake?'. I mean, yes, I would enjoy a perfectly stacked pile of pancakes, but they're going to be eaten within a matter of minutes! Truthfully, I would see this pan only really being used in an Ihop.

Personally, when I see As Seen On TV product, I approach it with a lot of skepticism. As much as I like my life to be easier, I don't think we need a whole lot of these contraptions. Is society really becoming so dependent upon production lines that will eventually no longer be self sufficient?

I agree that some of these inventions are ingenious, but do we really need them? To quote from an article I recently read from Thought Catalog.

"We’ve been led into a culture that has been engineered to leave us tired, hungry for indulgence, willing to pay a lot for convenience and entertainment, and most importantly, vaguely dissatisfied with our lives so that we continue wanting things we don’t have. We buy so much because it always seems like something is still missing."

So to fill in the gap, we buy, buy, buy! One main reason As Seen On TV products are so appealing is that they promise to provide convenience.

Save a buck:

I find the As Seen On TV commercials extremely funny. That's probably why I consider their products a joke. Unless you want to laugh at your own expense, here are a few products I consider unnecessary:

The Stealth SSA:

This product is basically an amplifier, while making it look like you're wearing a Bluetooth headset. The thing is, would you really wear this everywhere you go? Like, for example sitting down at the table. If you did it would look pretty rude. Also, what if you have difficulty hearing in both ears? Now you're wearing two "Bluetooth headsets" and just look silly while doing so. I think hearing aids are a smarter step and just skip this product altogether.

Slushy Magic:

I've read a couple of reviews before actually commenting on this one. I assumed that the cubes were a one-use thing, rather, they are these gel ice-cubes that you reuse over and over again. I have a problem with the the constant shaking to getting your slushie. You'd end up with a cool drink and tired arms.
Get a slushie machine or just go and buy a slushie at your local super market, provided that they have any. Or to be super cheap, take ice-cubes and use a blender!

Old Brooklyn Style Lantern:

Lets face it, this product is just for show and nothing more. I really like this design and the old fashioned look, but you can get a similar LED lantern for about the same price or less in the camping section at Walmart.

Alternatives to As Seen on TV products:

Sometimes ASOTV products are great and should be bought, other times there are better alternatives. Here are a few products I felt should be reconsidered and/or swapped for something else:

Pillow Pets, Pillow Pet Dream Lights, Tummy Stuffers:

I agree that it's a unique idea for a stuffed animal to also be a pillow, backpack or nightlight, but these and other similar products are only out to get your money because of the Pillow Pet craze. Disney Pillow Pets anyone?
You can easily buy any other stuffed animal and I bet you that a kid somewhere will sleep on it like any other pillow. I have one friend who did just that when he was a kid.

Wuggle Pets

This is basically stuffing your own stuffed animal, that's it. If you wanted a real special experience for stuffing your own animal, there's Build-A-Bear Workshop, or even just sewing your own stuffed animal (for people who are old enough to play with needles, scissors, and sewing machines!).

Pocket Hose

For $20, you can buy a much longer hose for the price of this retractable one.
The only problem I see with this product is what this material is made out of. It looks and feels like it's some sort of fabric, and fabrics tear. If there's a rip, your hose won't be at its full potential.
Also, another flaw I possibly see is the expand/contract feature. If after so many uses, the hose doesn't retract? You're now stuck with a plain regular hose now. Think of it as an elastic band, it won't stretch back to its previous form after so many stretches.

Will you buy?:

Really weigh the pros and cons when buying ASOTV products. Ask yourself 'Will I be able to use this product in more ways than one?' 'Is there an alternative way to get this result without this product?' And most importantly, 'Do I really need this item?'

What do you think? Are As Seen On TV items a joke? Do you have any As Seen On TV items you love/hate?