# Infomercials **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 27, 2002, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/infomercials/106009 "2002-04-27T21:03:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![LolaBaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@LolaBaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaBaby)\ **Post date:** [May 1, 2002, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/infomercials/106009/21 "2002-05-01T19:45:59Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by hillbilly queen \* > \*\* > :raises hand timidly: > > Instead of spraying and wiping like on the infomercial. > It’s spray, wait 5 mins. while it drips all over the place, wipe, repeat until the hair is removed or your skin turns red and itchy. > > I also got the electronic ab-belt. **OMG** that thing is great. After using it for 2 weeks, I lost an inch on my waist, and I can do this neat little trick where if you put your finger in my belly button, I can squeeze it real tight. 😃 \*\* _scratches off hair-removal spray from list_ _pencils in Ab-Belt_ Who cares about hairy legs when you’ve got ABS of STEEL? (I’m kidding, I still own razors) 😃 ---
**Author:** ![medstar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f07891/32.png) [@medstar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/medstar)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2002, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/infomercials/106009/22 "2002-05-04T02:38:57Z")
I ordered NADS off of television and I love it. I also bought the Cybersonic toothbrush and I like that as well. I bought the Cybersonic primarily because of the flossing head. I no longer have to strangle my fingers in order to floss. Does this mean that I remember to floss every day? Weeell . . . not exactly. But I’m working on that. ---
**Author:** ![Morgainelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Morgainelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgainelf)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/infomercials/106009/23 "2002-06-14T14:55:51Z")
I just popped into this thread because I wanted to look into buying the ab belt that **hillbilly queen** linked to. The link no longer works and I can’t find it anywhere on HSN. Have these products been taken out of the marketplace? Now that I think of it I haven’t seen any commercials for them lately. ---
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/infomercials/106009/24 "2002-06-14T17:43:34Z")
Try [http://www.asseenontv.com](http://www.asseenontv.com) They may not have the exact one I got, but there’s probably not much difference. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/infomercials/106009/25 "2002-06-14T18:14:18Z")
Regarding the ab belts, I thought I’d heard on the news that they were being pulled or investigated or something… wish I could offer a cite, but I can’t remember if I’d heard it on the radio or TV or read it on line somewhere… ---
**Author:** ![Phlosphr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/c68b51/32.png) [@Phlosphr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Phlosphr)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/infomercials/106009/26 "2002-06-14T18:25:13Z")
My class and I conducted a study last semester to see which infomercial/scam could get them enough money to buy the class all their books. We tried everything from Don Lapri informative ads in news papers to Matthew Lesko’s FREE MONEY… The class was an elective but I’ll tell you what; the group that used Matthew Lesko’s Free Money got $15,000 USD for the research they were conducting. Paid for all the bookS for each student for the sememster the rest was donated to the Department… CRAZY!!:smack: some actually do work… ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/infomercials/106009/27 "2002-06-14T18:38:48Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by FairyChatMom \* > \*\*Regarding the ab belts, I thought I’d heard on the news that they were being pulled or investigated or something… wish I could offer a cite, but I can’t remember if I’d heard it on the radio or TV or read it on line somewhere… \*\* FCM is right. They have pulled this item off the market. I don’t have a cite either, but it was on some ‘consumer beware’ type TV show. Apparently they do NOT work at all and some people were getting shocks and burns on their abdomen. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 6:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/infomercials/106009/28 "2002-06-14T18:43:17Z")
Actually, here’s a cite: > [@](#): > > Update: Electronic Ab Devices 5/8/02 (4pm) > Liz Crenshaw, Consumer Reporter > Crenshaw > ELECTRONIC AB DEVICES HAVE BEEN ALL THE RAGE. STRAP THEM ON, AND WITH NO WORK YOU CAN HAVE WASHBOARD ABS. TODAY THE FTC SAID, DON’T BELIEVE IT. > > TV Commerical > 600 sit ups in just 10 minutes with no effort. > > THE ADS ARE QUITE EYE CATCHING. ROCK HARD ABS WITH NO SWEAT. LOSE 4 INCHES IN 30 DAYS. 10 MINUTES WEARING THE AB BELT IS LIKE DOING 600 SIT-UPS. TODAY THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION CHARGED THREE OF THE TOP SELLING AB DEVICES WITH MAKING FALSE CLAIMS. > > Timothy Muris, FTC > Electronic ab belts sold on TV, on the Internet and in stores, won’t give you rock hard, washboard abs. They won’t cause weight loss, fat loss or inch loss or get rid of cellulite. And they don’t substitute for sit-ups, crunches or other forms of exercise. > > THE FTC HAS FILED COMPLAINTS AGAINST THE AB ENERGIZER, THE ABTRONIC, AND FAST ABS. THESE ARE THE SAME THREE DEVICES WE INVESTIGATED THIS PAST FEBRUARY. WE GAVE THE DEVICES TO VIEWERS WHO VOLUNTEERED TO TRY THEM OUT. NONE OF OUR VOLUNTEERS SAW THE RESULTS PROMISED IN THE ADS. > > With the increasing number of overweight, time starved Americans, it’s no wonder that ads that promise a perfect body and washboard abs, easily, effortlessly are attractive to say the least. But the ads are disappointing millions of consumers and costing them big bucks. > > THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION IS SEEKING TO PROHIBIT THE COMPANIES FROM MAKING FALSE OR DECEPTIVE AD CLAIMS AND IS SEEKING TO GET MONEY BACK FOR CONSUMERS ---
**Author:** ![LolaCocaCola](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7cd45c/32.png) [@LolaCocaCola](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaCocaCola)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/infomercials/106009/29 "2002-06-14T18:47:31Z")
And here’s another: > **[FTC Charges Three Top-selling Electronic Abdominal Exercise Belts with Making...](https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/press-releases/2002/05/ftc-charges-three-top-selling-electronic-abdominal-exercise-belts)** > > These are the types of claims the Federal Trade Commission has challenged in complaints filed in federal district courts against three widely advertised electronic abdominal exercise belts - AB Energizer, AbTronic, and Fast Abs. ---
**Author:** ![Morgainelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Morgainelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgainelf)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/infomercials/106009/30 "2002-06-14T18:49:46Z")
Yeah, but **hillbilly queen** can do neat tricks with her bellyl button!!! **I** want to do neat belly button tricks, too. No fair - just when I’m trying to get scammed, the government steps in and protects me. ---
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/infomercials/106009/31 "2002-06-14T20:07:10Z")
well, I have to admit, the thing is not pleasent to use. In order to get the results I did, I had to really crank the booger up. And I _do_ have a high pain threshold, so maybe I was getting electrocuted and didn’t know it. Don’t feel bad **Morgainelf** , I stopped using it for a week, and now I’ve lost my belly button powers. ---
**Author:** ![Max\_Carnage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/max_carnage/32/12775_2.png) [@Max\_Carnage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Max_Carnage)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2002, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/infomercials/106009/32 "2002-06-14T20:21:45Z")
but it \*worked[/] for real, **hillbilly**? I’d read those articles from the FTC before and figured they must be right, but an unsolicited testimonial carries a lot of weight (so to speak) in my book. Hell, if anything I could go for an electronic massage (unless anyone else wants to volunteer? anyone? no? sigh…) Back to the OP, I bought OxyClean and Orange Glo and I love that stuff. Especially the Power Paste. Gotta put some elbow grease into it, but it works better than anything else I’ve used for cleaning my tub and stainless steel sink. Then I use the OxyClean powder to clean my kitchen and bathroom floors. And the Orange Glo foamer for my stove and microwave. And my apartment smells all orangey afterwards! ---
**Author:** ![LolaBaby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/d2c977/32.png) [@LolaBaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LolaBaby)\ **Post date:** [June 15, 2002, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/infomercials/106009/33 "2002-06-15T07:43:32Z")
Oi, I was wondering why this was back up. I didn’t go spend my money fast enough, so I guess I’ll never own an Ab-Belt. Looks like I have to do it the old fashioned way… Yeah, riiight. :rolleyes: 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Morgainelf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/71e660/32.png) [@Morgainelf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Morgainelf)\ **Post date:** [June 17, 2002, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/infomercials/106009/34 "2002-06-17T12:43:50Z")
I bought OxyClean last week at the grocery store, and I have to say the stuff is awesome. I put some in my cats’\* litter box with some warm water and let it soak. It bubbled up the dried on scoopable litter for an hour, and I was able to rinse the whole mess away. It was awesome! I’ve also been using it as a laundry detergent booster because my baby’s skin is sensitive to bleach, and it is working very well. \*Yes, cats is plural. No grammarians, please. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/infomercials/106009.md?page=1)