Dumb products that actually ARE successful!

LouieAtienza · #1 06-10-2016, 08:16 PM

The thread on marketing flops got me thinking about this. remember when the PedEgg first came out. I thought, "oh, look, somebody took a worthless MicroFile to foot calluses." Pretty dumb... but it's sold millions.

How about the Slap Chop? Maybe Vince the ShamWow guy is totally convincing to some, but I really don't understand how that pile of junk can be so successful.

The lazy award has to go to Bounce dryer bar. I remember the commercial; woman says "That's one less thing I need to think about..." What? Putting a dryer sheet in the dryer? Really? Or just use Downy in the wash...

The worst have to be those stupid airplane pillows. Well, maybe they'd be OK if the darn seats would recline more than one degree back. It puts me at such an awkward position, I find it better sitting on it instead of the hard cushions on the sardine class seats. Yet you see many people buying them.

Steve DeRosa · #2 06-10-2016, 08:23 PM

FYI the ShamWow really works - bought a batch of them a while back, helped contain/mop up a few basement floods before we installed French drains last summer...

ageoftrilogy · #3 06-10-2016, 08:27 PM

Justin Bieber is an example.

LouieAtienza · #4 06-10-2016, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve DeRosa

FYI the ShamWow really works - bought a batch of them a while back, helped contain/mop up a few basement floods before we installed French drains last summer...

Full disclosure: I had the ShamWow set. Great for drying your car. Great for spills. Does NOT suck up red wine from under the carpet like in the infomercial (my brother and I tried and failed.) And if I had a doggy accident, I don't think I'd throw one in my washing machine and dryer, as Vince suggests!

We ordered the InVince-able spray for the bowling alley. Spray bottle works exactly as described... good. Powder mix looks like OxyClean. Made a strong concentrated mix, sprayed on stained ceiling tile... nothing. Sprayed again, waited one hour, nothing. Took ceiling tile down, sprayed, then toweled tile - ruined. The commercial made it look so easy!

LouieAtienza · #5 06-10-2016, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ageoftrilogy

Justin Bieber is an example.

Example of great marketing!

Basalt Beach · #6 06-10-2016, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LouieAtienza

The worst have to be those stupid airplane pillows. Well, maybe they'd be OK if the darn seats would recline more than one degree back. It puts me at such an awkward position, I find it better sitting on it instead of the hard cushions on the sardine class seats. Yet you see many people buying them.

I began using one 20 plus years ago after neck surgery due to a car accident. I've owned several over the years, (I'm on 35 to 55 flights a year) and it eliminates nerve pain in my neck from falling asleep with nothing to support my neck, so it works great for me. My better half uses one, along with several colleagues, all of whom fly quite often. Our biggest problem is leaving them in rental cars or hotel rooms which is probably why see so many people buying them.

cotten · #7 06-10-2016, 10:42 PM

Banjos.

cotten

Relax. Tomorrow we can pick on something you choose.

Fatstrat · #8 06-11-2016, 04:44 AM

I like the water hose that curls itself back up when the water is turned off. We bought one and it does actually work.

#9 06-11-2016, 05:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fatstrat

I like the water hose that curls itself back up when the water is turned off. We bought one and it does actually work.

Until it starts to leak.

Fatstrat · #10 06-11-2016, 05:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by A-Mac

Until it starts to leak.

Agreed. Not as durable as a regular hose.

CarryOn · #11 06-11-2016, 05:06 AM

How about that Head On headache roll-on thing? "APPLY DIRECTLY TO THE FOREHEAD!"

HHP · #12 06-11-2016, 05:33 AM

I was able to replace my Winston and Hardy bamboo fly rods with a single Popiel Pocket Fisherman.

Dru Edwards · #13 06-11-2016, 07:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HHP

I was able to replace my Winston and Hardy bamboo fly rods with a single Popiel Pocket Fisherman.

I first heard of that product a few months ago on Pawn Stars. IIRC the owner Rick loved it when he was a kid. Was it mostly marketed to kids?

HHP · #14 06-11-2016, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dru Edwards

I first heard of that product a few months ago on Pawn Stars. IIRC the owner Rick loved it when he was a kid. Was it mostly marketed to kids?

Not just kids but dimwits of all ages.

Puerto Player · #15 06-11-2016, 08:12 AM

For deer hunting... butt-out!

Actually love my retracting hose a lot. Great for certain things/places. No leaks yet!