# Best "As Seen on TV" -type product that really worked? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 11, 2014, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-as-seen-on-tv-type-product-that-really-worked/685899 "2014-04-11T22:43:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2014, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-as-seen-on-tv-type-product-that-really-worked/685899/61 "2014-04-14T03:09:49Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > The [Cool Touch Microwave Bowl](http://www.milkadeal.com/storage/32000/9896/249917f3251fd858ea7a7beaa824a77d.jpg). It’s just a ceramic bowl inside a plastic bowl, but it does exactly what it’s supposed to do (you can microwave the shit out of anything, but the outer plastic bowl stays cool enough to handle bare-handed). In a similar vein I bought a microwave cover - a plastic thing that goes over a plate you want to microwave - at a Seen on TV store about seven years ago for a Christmas present for my wife. (One of many.) She laughed at it. We’ve used it nearly every days since. She’s not laughing now. If George Foreman grills count, my daughter lived off them in college for a couple of years. ---
**Author:** ![california\_jobcase](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9d8465/32.png) [@california\_jobcase](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/california_jobcase)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2014, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-as-seen-on-tv-type-product-that-really-worked/685899/62 "2014-04-14T03:10:57Z")
No Costco 'round here, Coach. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2014, 3:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-as-seen-on-tv-type-product-that-really-worked/685899/63 "2014-04-14T03:21:35Z")
Saw a neat little USB dongle that evidently just connects to legit video streaming sites (Youtube, Netflix, Hulu, etc.) and puts them all behind one interface. Doesn’t do anything particularly special, but it’s marketed to folks who want to watch videos online but don’t know the legit sites from the bootleg or shady sites. No idea how well it works, but it was an interesting idea from a marketing standpoint. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2014, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-as-seen-on-tv-type-product-that-really-worked/685899/64 "2014-04-14T03:35:54Z")
> [@california\_jobcase](#): > > No Costco 'round here, Coach. Well I’ll be dipped. [Amazon sells it.](http://www.amazon.com/Kirkland-Signature-Stretch-Tite-Plastic/dp/B001UB74PC/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1397446440&sr=8-6&keywords=plastic+wrap) ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2014, 3:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-as-seen-on-tv-type-product-that-really-worked/685899/65 "2014-04-14T03:47:16Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > Saw a neat little USB dongle that evidently just connects to legit video streaming sites (Youtube, Netflix, Hulu, etc.) and puts them all behind one interface. Doesn’t do anything particularly special, but it’s marketed to folks who want to watch videos online but don’t know the legit sites from the bootleg or shady sites. No idea how well it works, but it was an interesting idea from a marketing standpoint. Unless you’re talking about something like ChromeCast or Roku which connect to your TV, I’m not sure I understand. I mean, if this is for your computer, I guess I get it, but it would be easier to just set up a website and give grandma the web address rather then trying to get this hooked up. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2014, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-as-seen-on-tv-type-product-that-really-worked/685899/66 "2014-04-14T07:54:07Z")
I imagine it pretty much was basically a website on the dongle. This is less for computer savvy people to buy their grandparents and more something for the grandparents to buy themselves. Seems it’d be easy enough just to have a portal page that keeps updated with links to content providers. ---
**Author:** ![interestingtwist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c5a1d2/32.png) [@interestingtwist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interestingtwist)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2014, 7:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-as-seen-on-tv-type-product-that-really-worked/685899/67 "2014-04-14T07:58:11Z")
**Grip N’ Go** works good for me. I drive all day long while working and this holds my phone up quite nicely as a screen mounted GPS. **Veg O Matic** is also useful. I eat a lot of salads and this saves me a lot of time chopping various vegetables. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2014, 12:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-as-seen-on-tv-type-product-that-really-worked/685899/68 "2014-04-14T12:17:09Z")
Moving Men are awesome. My back is quite grateful for them. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2014, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-as-seen-on-tv-type-product-that-really-worked/685899/69 "2014-04-14T12:52:30Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > Heh. I’ve always used the gallon Glad Lock bags for that same purpose. A trick my mom taught me way back when. Also very handy if you go backpacking or camping, as the bags will help ensure that you have dry underwear even if you get pounced by a thunderstorm. The wife and I joke that whenever the TSA opens our baggage to inspect it, they probably say “Oh good lord, one of _these_ people” and zip the suitcase shut again. Condoms will work to keep a pair of socks or undies dry too. ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2014, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-as-seen-on-tv-type-product-that-really-worked/685899/70 "2014-04-14T14:35:20Z")
The Ronco Showtime Rotisserie is a glorious machine that has served me well. ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2014, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-as-seen-on-tv-type-product-that-really-worked/685899/71 "2014-04-14T15:09:32Z")
The Ronco Rotisserie. Set it, and forget it! I never actually had one, but my mother in law makes the best roasted turkey breast on Thanksgiving with that thing. I wonder if I can still get one? ---
**Author:** ![Dorjan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dorjan/32/12440_2.png) [@Dorjan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dorjan)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2014, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-as-seen-on-tv-type-product-that-really-worked/685899/72 "2014-04-14T15:20:08Z")
I wonder too, or replacement parts. Mine is nearly a decade old now, and the outer plastic bits have started to get brittle. I have the timer knob safety-wired on, and the timer mechanism no longer works, so I can’t “forget it” any longer. 😉 Other than that, still runs like a champ! ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2014, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-as-seen-on-tv-type-product-that-really-worked/685899/73 "2014-04-14T17:35:22Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > Moving Men are awesome. My back is quite grateful for them. Seconded, though I got my set at Harbor Freight Tools for just a couple of bucks. I also found a can of aerosol leak sealer (basically rubber in a can) at an outlet store. I used it as a temprary seal on my roof until I can make permanent repairs. It seemed to work as intended. ---
**Author:** ![flight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bbce88/32.png) [@flight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flight)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2014, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-as-seen-on-tv-type-product-that-really-worked/685899/74 "2014-04-14T18:59:58Z")
Salad Spinners. They are the one piece of ASOTV kitchen gadgetry that I actually consider to be a valuable tool. I hate extraneous kitchen gadgets and am in a constant fight at home to avoid acquiring them, but this is one that has proven itself to be useful. ---
**Author:** ![Lacunae\_Matata](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/8491ac/32.png) [@Lacunae\_Matata](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lacunae_Matata)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2014, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-as-seen-on-tv-type-product-that-really-worked/685899/75 "2014-04-14T19:00:45Z")
Those 4 for $10.00 plastic filter cups are the only reason I can afford to use the Keurig coffee machine. Before trying them, I had the Official Keurig Over-Priced Permanent Filter Cup™, and it was okay until one of the kids lost the lid. I looked for another one, but found the cheap four-pack at the drug store before ordering from Amazon. In the past two years, I’ve bought one more pack due to breakage, but still cheaper than a single overly complicated OKOPPFC™. I buy K cups for company when they’re on sale, but my coffee addiction would cost me $5 or $10 per day if I used them for myself. ---
**Author:** ![Raguleader](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/258eb7/32.png) [@Raguleader](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Raguleader)\ **Post date:** [April 14, 2014, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-as-seen-on-tv-type-product-that-really-worked/685899/76 "2014-04-14T21:51:13Z")
> [@Ranger\_Jeff](#): > > Condoms will work to keep a pair of socks or undies dry too. I’ve heard that they used them during the Gulf War to keep sand out of rifle barrels. When I went to Kandahar many years after that, I was just expected to clean my rifle regularly. ---
**Author:** ![Doctor\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doctor_jackson/32/32_2.png) [@Doctor\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doctor_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-as-seen-on-tv-type-product-that-really-worked/685899/77 "2014-04-15T13:54:14Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > I’ve heard that they used them during the Gulf War to keep sand out of rifle barrels. When I went to Kandahar many years after that, I was just expected to clean my rifle regularly. This is my rifle this is my gun the rifle’s for shooting the other’s for fun. A condom on each will protect them from sand the rifle from windstorms the other, my hand. ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-as-seen-on-tv-type-product-that-really-worked/685899/78 "2014-04-15T16:15:17Z")
“Hercules hooks” worked much better than I expected. They don’t work if you are on a stud or a conduit, and I’ve never tried to hang anything heavy on them, but for hanging pictures or sculptures on a wall, they work great. ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [April 15, 2014, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-as-seen-on-tv-type-product-that-really-worked/685899/79 "2014-04-15T20:50:06Z")
My sister gave me one of those little hand-held carpet sweepers, about the size of a TV remote. I loved it, it was wonderful for quickly picking up small messes off a carpet, although I think its designed to sweep crumbs of a tablecloth. Just sweep it across the mess, and the bristled roller inside zaps the crumbs into the body of the machine. > **[Handy Sweeper](https://www.simplygoodstuff.com/fluppi.html)** > > Price: USD $5.95 ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2014, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-as-seen-on-tv-type-product-that-really-worked/685899/80 "2014-04-16T01:14:17Z")
> [@Raguleader](#): > > I’ve heard that they used them during the Gulf War to keep sand out of rifle barrels. When I went to Kandahar many years after that, I was just expected to clean my rifle regularly. We used them in Nam too. I was always amused when the FNGs would remove them from their rifle muzzles when I gave the “Lock and load” command. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-as-seen-on-tv-type-product-that-really-worked/685899.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-as-seen-on-tv-type-product-that-really-worked/685899.md?page=5)