Has Anyone Really Ever Bought Something From an Infomercial?

Question

Alleshiea: Good reading, it reminded me of something from stand up comedy. Thanks

Sissi Vie: NO WAY! I've never heard of that one. Never.

Answer 1

No, but god they suck me in sometimes.... Like if im sick in bed and i cant find the remote, ill just watch the whole add, and in the begining im like this is so annoying, what a stupid idea!

And by the end im in a bit of a zombie state going "yeah you know what, i could really use a wooden door stop with a motion detector on it, how am i even living without one?"

Although im not sucker enough to actually buy it.... lol

Answer 2

I am embarrassed to admit: Jake's Buns & Thigh Rocker... what a hunk'o'junk and a waste of money!

However, there are some good infomercials out there... but just dont by them off of the TV, check it out online at ebay or amazon... Often you can try out that gizmo for much much better price. The good infomercial products out there usually end up in stores. For instance, Ive see many useful & nifty tools/gadgets/gifts at Bed Bath & Beyond stores... Like some tupperware set thing, or those silicon baking pans...

Buying from an infomercial in my opinion puts you at risk of getting screwed. Online, you have documentation, in stores you have real local customer service. Its just easier & more secure that way.

Answer 3

Heya Wickwire...

Yes, I have purchased items from informercials several times.

I've found that probably 80% of the time, the items are worthless and nothing even CLOSE to what they boast about on the infomercial.

For instance, I purchased a FlavorWave Oven. It uses convection, microwave and ultraviolet light (or something to that affect) to cook food. It's supposed to make frozen foods quicker and easier to cook and it's supposed to cut time in half.

I purchased one for 3 payments of $33.95.

I always TRY to ask multiple questions about the item(s) I'm about to purchase so I understand the full realm of what I'm about to buy. Keep in mind, (if you're considering purchase from informercial) that the number that you call is usually just a call center. This means that these employees are hired to answer calls about numerous products from numerous manufacturers and they are NOT educated about each product. They simply follow a script.

If you're wanting more information about a product you're considering ordering, you can call the number provided on TV and ask them for their customer service number.

The one downfall to that, however, is that the customer service numbers are almost always regular long distance numbers and not 800 numbers like the one you call to order from. Sometimes they have an e-mail address or website too so you can ask questions that way.

At any rate, for the FlavorWave I bought, I received it in a few days after ordering. OF COURSE! there's a few key pieces of info they don't tell you. In my case, they did not tell me that the highly specialized light bulb that helps with the cooking process and is in the top of the unit only lasts so many hours. Once that light bulb burns out, you cannot get a simple replacement bulb. They've created the product to where you'd have to buy the ENTIRE top to the oven in order to replace the bulb. Well, the entire top is the "BRAINS" of the machine. They've bolted the bulbs in. There's also no way to clean the bulbs if grease or other food particles reach the top area.

So, needless to say, I rarely use the oven because I'm not about to buy an entire top for it that can cost as much as the entire unit itself.

I'd say that I've pruchased maybe 6 or 8 items in my lifetime from informercials and have known maaany family members and friends who have purchased from informercials as well and they're usually a lot of talk and not that great of products. There have been a choice few that have been worth it, but weeding out the bad ones is a pain in the meantime.

Answer 4

I haven't ordered anything from an infomercial, but I've bought things at the store that are 'as seen on TV'. I love to check out what they have, some of the things are pretty neat and I can check out what I'm getting.

Answer 5

I am absolutely immune to them....and to any advertising on TV. I would never buy a product just because it's advertised every 6 minutes on television.

There are a few commercials I enjoy (like Geico insurance - funny - love that little gecko). As for the rest of them I either mute the TV or simply ignore them.

Answer 6

Yes I did. I bought a complete bedroom set.....Beautiful bedspread, shams, bed skirt, three throw pillows and two sets of drapes with tie-backs for a fantastic price. So beautiful and obviously worth much more. All in a wine red color. I love them! I've also bought a couple of things that I promptly sent back as they weren't what they appeared to be on TV.

Answer 7

Infomericial are aired under a red flag. Red flags mean this is something that we can't get rid of through school projects to 1) rip-off friends and relatives. 2) There's a chance you'll buy so we'll get off the air and you can get back to your antiquated western movie.3) You were passing through from one of the buy-on-TV outfits and you may stop here. 4) your credit card has just been paid off and needs to be initialized.

H@#% No, I don't buy anything from Telleys (Phone or Vision)

Answer 8

No but my father buys so much off infomercials that he forgets what he's bought and ends up with two of them.......and I get one. I've got pasta machines, Showtime Rotissery, some kinds of knives, an inversion machine........and more.

Can you believe? How the heck can you buy something and forget you have it? We know it's NOT Alzeheimers! We've had him checked for that!

Answer 9

Yep- Showtime Rotisserie - great buy :-) and love it

Bare Essenuals - also great buy

Ultimate Chopper - never received it, and got no refund. Reported the company to BBB

I, too, like to visit the store "As Seen On TV" ...they have some neat things

Answer 10

Saw it on an infomercial and bought it at Walmart. Not saying what it was though. Not as good as it looked.