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Author Topic: Who watches infomercials? David Stambaugh Film God Posts: 4021 From: Eugene, Oregon Registered: Jan 2002 posted 06-30-2009 10:13 AM                        quote: quote: David Stambaugh -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- I mean who among us has stumbled onto a DualSaw infomercial and not felt a compelling need to buy one. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Did you? The infomercial made me think seriously about why I must need one of those things, but I resisted and did not buy one.  |  IP: Logged Evans A Criswell Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1579 From: Huntsville, AL, USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 06-30-2009 10:51 AM                        I laugh at the infomercials most of the time. They're always demonstrating some gizmo that does something really, really impossibly well in their "demonstrations". Oh, and it's just 19.99. Then, but wait, there's more, we'll also give you this other little thing and this other little thing. These are not available in stores! My logic is this: If the gizmo worked as well as they said it did, some smart large company that already has the power to market stuff and get it in stores would have already done it, and consumers would prefer it over the competition, and the product would be successful. So, it gives me the idea that the product really does not work as well as they say it does, or if so, not for long. The product is likely to be very cheaply made and not durable because for 19.99 you're not going to get an $80 quality whatever it is.  |  IP: Logged James Westbrook Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1133 From: Lubbock, Texas, Usa Registered: Mar 2006 posted 06-30-2009 01:21 PM                     Eckerd / CVS pharmacy used to have a end cap on one of their aisles which had products "as seen on TV," where some of the infomercial-sold items would be displayed. The only infomercials worth watching the first time around was the Time/Life music cds, even when they made the ambiguious demonstration why the cds should sound better than the same songs in your vinyl collection using scratchy records in their demo. I own the Fabulous 50s set, though I bought them at Sams Club, not through Time Life.  |  IP: Logged Bill Enos Film God Posts: 2081 From: Richmond, Virginia, USA Registered: Apr 2000 posted 06-30-2009 01:47 PM                     The Ron Popiel rotisserie cookers have been reviewed favorably in several magazines. A friend ordered one from the infomercial and something broke the second or third time he used it. He called the number provided and they sent a replacement by next day shipment along with a pick up tag for the busted one. The replacement has worked as described in the ad for 5 years and it gets used at least a couple times a month.  |  IP: Logged Tim Reed Better Projection Pays Posts: 5246 From: Northampton, PA Registered: Sep 1999 posted 06-30-2009 05:13 PM                       quote: Louis Bornwasser Infomercials and daytime network TV are the reasons people who are in hospitals get well and leave. Now, that is the funniest thing I've heard in a long time!  |  IP: Logged Chris Hipp Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1462 From: Mesquite, Tx (east of Dallas) Registered: Jul 2003 posted 06-30-2009 06:18 PM                     Most of the products that sell well in direct response ads do end up in stores. Oxiclean was only sold on Tv at first but now you can get it at any grocery store or home improvement store. I imagine it can be quite difficult to get the fine folks at Wal Mart to place an order for 10 millions units of a product to sell nationwide that still hasn't sold at all. Most infomercials are the same 5 or 6 minute block played over and over, so I will stop and watch a little bit sometimes. The last infomercial I can remember watching and actually being interested in the product was for something called the master multi tool or something like that. I is a saw/chisel, but used an oscillation motion (imagine the saw they use for lobotomies.) Of course I found another product just like it at a store for about a third of the price. I think most product aren't worth it, but there are a few good ones on tv ads. I bought some sham wows at the fair last year and they do work well, but they are far from the miracle towel Vince makes them out to be.  |  IP: Logged Rick Raskin Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1100 From: Manassas Virginia Registered: Jan 2003 posted 06-30-2009 07:13 PM                     My son found a package of those German engineered chamois in his trunk. They are from before the Sham Wow hype and had cost him a whopping $1.00.  |  IP: Logged Jesse Skeen Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1517 From: Sacramento, CA Registered: Aug 2000 posted 07-02-2009 11:41 PM                     This is the best infomercial ever: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m9SbwjRF3gA  |  IP: Logged Kevin Carpenter Film Handler Posts: 1 From: Philadelphia, PA, USA Registered: Jun 2009 posted 07-02-2009 11:46 PM                     I didn't like infomercials that much, although the Magic Bullet was always entertaining... I did, however, really enjoy the show Pitchmen on Discovery. It was interesting to see how pitchmen pitch a product to make it sell.  |  IP: Logged Kurt Zupin Jedi Master Film Handler Posts: 989 From: Maricopa, Arizona Registered: Oct 2004 posted 07-03-2009 12:37 AM                     Also when the George Foreman grill first got started it was only available via Infomercial. Now you can buy one any where and every where. If you watch the show "Pitchmen" They explain why your getting the extra things and why the price tag of 19.99. Its a great show and actually gives you some insight into the whole process.  |  IP: Logged Phil Hill I love my cootie bug Posts: 7595 From: Hollywood, CA USA Registered: Mar 2000 posted 07-03-2009 12:40 AM                  Between the infomercials and eBay I'm headed to the poor house...  |  IP: Logged Luke Anderson Film Handler Posts: 25 From: Spokane, Wa Unites States Registered: Jun 2009 posted 07-03-2009 09:49 PM                    I've been telling friends and family for years that "Next year I am only buying Christmas presents from Infomercials." Might be kind of fun actually to give or recieve a TV product, it's gotta be more fun than opening a package of underwear or a new scarf. -Luke  |  IP: Logged Mark Lensenmayer Phenomenal Film Handler Posts: 1605 From: Upper Arlington, OH Registered: Sep 1999 posted 07-03-2009 11:53 PM                     I'm finding most of the informercial products at places like CVS & Walgreens drug stores, Target or Meijer stores, but almost always at the same price as on TV. Big advantage of this is that you don't have to worry about those outrageous shipping and handling charges. I picked up those upside down tomato things and they seem to be working out OK. BUT, Home Depot made an similar thing from a bucket and a sponge. I'm going to try that next year. The only place I've seen infomercial stuff discounted was at JUNGLE JIMS store in Cincinnati. They were about 25% off there. I picked up this inside windsheild cleaner thing for my Dad. (If you ever get to Cincinnati, you MUST check out JUNGLE JIMS...absolutely amazing, but that's a whole other topic.)  |  IP: Logged Matt Young Film Handler Posts: 36 From: Kearney, NE, USA Registered: Jun 2009 posted 07-04-2009 01:56 PM                        best infomercial ever. It's a Billy Mays mitty putty commercial "dubbed" with a more "soothing" voice Billy Mays Dub  |  IP: Logged

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