View Full Version : Enzyte Commercials - why are they still being aired?
Even though Steve Warshak has admitted (in vague terms) that enzyte is a scam, and has been sentenced to prison, (http://consumerist.com/2008/08/whos-smiling-now-enzyte-scammer-gets-25-years-in-prison.html) this useless product is still advertised on later-night TV. Granted that most shows I watch are DVRed so that I skip most commercials, there are still times I'm watching something live at night and can't skip over Enzyte Bob.
So, why the @!#?@! is it still being hawked?
YogSosoth
09-12-2011, 09:27 PM
Wow, I had no idea. Is the CEO the same guy as in the commercials?
Tom Tildrum
09-12-2011, 10:07 PM
Wikipedia has the story (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enzyte). Warshak was convicted of credit card fraud for improperly billing his customers, and the company went into bankruptcy. Someone bought the rights and is now selling it with slightly different advertising.
joebuck20
09-12-2011, 10:42 PM
Wikipedia has the story (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enzyte). Warshak was convicted of credit card fraud for improperly billing his customers, and the company went into bankruptcy.
I guess he's not sporting that famous shit-eating grin these days, then.
Bryan Ekers
09-13-2011, 01:31 AM
In prison, he's the Enzyte.
voltaire
09-13-2011, 01:59 AM
From the wiki:
His company, Berkeley Premium Nutraceuticals, along with other defendants, was ordered to forfeit $500 million.Holy crap, that's a lot of suckers!
To answer the OP, I haven't seen the commercials recently, but I imagine the new owners aren't making any claims, but are instead relying on all the previous marketing claims still ingrained in people's memories from the formerly incessant advertisements. Pretty devious, but hey...$500million - you can't argue with the results!
They are still using the phrase "male enhancement", which legally doesn't mean anything. :dubious:
Sailboat
09-13-2011, 08:19 AM
I've seen them aired recently. I kind of like the commercials; Smilin' Bob's smugness is so over-the-top it's hysterical.
If you read the link in the OP, apparently the main reason the scam made money was by requiring users to admit they were "underenhanced":
According to federal prosecutors the scam involved preying on customer's reluctance to admit that they had ordered the "male enhancement" pills. Customers ordered the pills, but were unable to cancel or get a refund. A former VP of the company testified that Warshak required customers to provide notarized documents from a doctor proving that they had small genitals in order to get a refund.
"That's gold, Jerry! Gold!"
Jackmannii
09-13-2011, 08:58 AM
I've seen them aired recently. I kind of like the commercials; Smilin' Bob's smugness is so over-the-top it's hysterical.What's semi-hysterical is the Google ad at the bottom of the page for Axe deodorant.
Guess we know who's buying that stuff.
Crotalus
09-13-2011, 09:16 AM
What's semi-hysterical is the Google ad at the bottom of the page for Axe deodorant.
Guess we know who's buying that stuff.Minor hijack: I have gotten the impression on this board that there is something amusing about Axe products. Can you explain that to me? I don't think I have seen any of their marketing.
Ferret Herder
09-13-2011, 09:40 AM
Minor hijack: I have gotten the impression on this board that there is something amusing about Axe products. Can you explain that to me? I don't think I have seen any of their marketing.
Axe is a line of scented body care products - body wash, deodorant, body spray (a dilute cologne), etc. They have very over-the-top ads aimed at young men, showing women figuratively and literally throwing themselves at men who use the Axe products. There also seems to be a correlation between how much of the product is used and how many women grab the guy. Encouraging stinky teen guys to use lots of body wash, a scrubber, and deodorant is good. Encouraging them to spray body spray all over after engaging in sports/BMX biking/etc.? Not so much.
runner pat
09-13-2011, 09:44 AM
Encouraging them to spray body spray all over after engaging in sports/BMX biking/etc.? Not so much.
I coach high school track/cross country. You should smell the bus after a meet. :eek: I'd rather be on a bus full of old women than smell that Axe crap.
drewtwo99
09-13-2011, 09:45 AM
People are suckers, what's new? I can easily believe it that people still buy this cap. It's sad but it will never change.
Steve MB
09-13-2011, 09:51 AM
Minor hijack: I have gotten the impression on this board that there is something amusing about Axe products. Can you explain that to me? I don't think I have seen any of their marketing.
Axe commercials are based on a ridiculously over-the-top portrayal of their product as a magic potion that will instantly turn women into rutting beasts.
Edit: Darn ninjas....
Bryan Ekers
09-13-2011, 10:03 AM
People are suckers, what's new? I can easily believe it that people still buy this cap.
Well, putting a hat on it may make it look taller.
drewtwo99
09-13-2011, 10:22 AM
Well, putting a hat on it may make it look taller.
My dear god! I think you just stumbled upon a whole new market of male enhancement thanks to my spelling error! Think of how many guys would pay for penis caps!
Kobal2
09-13-2011, 10:58 AM
My dear god! I think you just stumbled upon a whole new market of male enhancement thanks to my spelling error! Think of how many guys would pay for penis caps!
You want I should pay you to bust a cap in my penis ?! Nuh-huh ! :eek:
BrainGlutton
09-13-2011, 11:33 AM
I dunno. Same reason some men in this world, who can choose between laboratory-tested Viagra and powdered rhinoceros horn -- which has no lab-proven effectiveness, AFAIK, but does derive from something shaped more or less like an erect penis -- will buy the latter.
I mean, if you're gonna take that approach, eat a banana. It's cheaper, it's easier to get, it has potassium in it, and no endangered animal has to die.
Vinyl Turnip
09-13-2011, 01:15 PM
I dunno. Same reason some men in this world, who can choose between laboratory-tested Viagra and powdered rhinoceros horn -- which has no lab-proven effectiveness, AFAIK, but does derive from something shaped more or less like an erect penis -- will buy the latter.
When I'm CEO of Big Pharma, all the erectile dysfunction pills will be shaped like cocks. Maybe then we'll finally start seeing a little profit.
drewtwo99
09-13-2011, 01:21 PM
When I'm CEO of Big Pharma, all the erectile dysfunction pills will be shaped like cocks. Maybe then we'll finally start seeing a little profit.
Good luck getting a bunch of men to swollow your cocks!
When I'm CEO of Big Pharma, all the erectile dysfunction pills will be shaped like cocks. Maybe then we'll finally start seeing a little profit.
Good luck getting a bunch of men to swollow your cocks!
That's why they're gonna be suppositories -DUH!
Omg a Black Conservative
09-13-2011, 01:55 PM
I just want to say the bit about not giving a refund unless the customer obtained a notarized note from their doctor stating they had a small penis to be rather ingenious.
Vinyl Turnip
09-13-2011, 02:22 PM
Yes, it would be mildly clever if it were a joke.
drewtwo99
09-13-2011, 03:38 PM
Yes, it would be mildly clever if it were a joke.
Nice use of the subjunctive tense, Vinyl Turnip. Especially since you were using it to point out a rather heartless comment from OMGABC.
BrainGlutton
09-13-2011, 04:27 PM
People are suckers, what's new? I can easily believe it that people still buy this cap. It's sad but it will never change.
It will now! PM me your credit card number and I'll tell you how!
BrainGlutton
09-13-2011, 04:29 PM
Axe commercials are based on a ridiculously over-the-top portrayal of their product as a magic potion that will instantly turn women into rutting beasts.
And you know what?! The stuff doesn't even smell a bit like money!
MOIDALIZE
09-13-2011, 04:36 PM
I've seen them aired recently. I kind of like the commercials; Smilin' Bob's smugness is so over-the-top it's hysterical.
If you read the link in the OP, apparently the main reason the scam made money was by requiring users to admit they were "underenhanced":
"That's gold, Jerry! Gold!"
There's a series of infomercials I've seen that have "testimonials" from a bunch of hot chicks that are essentially saying "Yeah, I need a big ol' pecker inside me, and chances are you, the home viewer, don't have one, so if you want any shot at me, you better buy this crap we're selling."
I'm going to start selling sugar pills, and my advertisements are basically going to say "Only needle-dicked little faggots wouldn't buy my product. You're not a faggot, are you? Huh, faggot?" It's the logical next step.
Enderw24
09-13-2011, 04:46 PM
I mean, if you're gonna take that approach, eat a banana. It's cheaper, it's easier to get, it has potassium in it, and no endangered animal has to die.
Ray Comfort was right. Bananas are the perfect fruit!
Vinyl Turnip
09-13-2011, 04:58 PM
Nice use of the subjunctive tense, Vinyl Turnip. Especially since you were using it to point out a rather heartless comment from OMGABC.
He's still pissed about the notary fee.
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