# Unfortunate product names **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 24, 2003, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfortunate-product-names/190565 "2003-07-24T05:37:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Drastic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Drastic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drastic)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfortunate-product-names/190565/1 "2003-07-24T05:37:09Z")
Recently, I was accompanying a friend grocery shopping. Walking down one aisle, something caught my peripheral vision, and I did a doubletake to the right. The snack product I saw: Planters Nut Poppers. I wondered briefly at the marketing department’s decision process, but then I realized–I had to buy one package solely for the purpose of taking its picture. I can’t see repeat business (it’s sort of a hybrid of stale-tasting cheetos-equivalents wrapped around low-quality peanuts), but any sale is a good sale I suppose. ---
**Author:** ![SnugTheJoiner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@SnugTheJoiner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SnugTheJoiner)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfortunate-product-names/190565/2 "2003-07-24T05:49:55Z")
I remember a VERY short-lived kitty litter product from about twenty years ago called Catch-It. When its name was spoken on the radio, of course it sounded exactly like “cat shit.” ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 6:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfortunate-product-names/190565/3 "2003-07-24T06:47:36Z")
I’ve always thought [Crack Creme](http://www.crackcreme.com/info.htm) is an unappealing name. ---
**Author:** ![Francesca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@Francesca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francesca)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 7:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfortunate-product-names/190565/4 "2003-07-24T07:52:11Z")
If your company’s name is Powergen and you open up a branch in Italy, you might want to think twice about your URL: **[www.powergenitalia.com](http://www.powergenitalia.com)** ---
**Author:** ![Muad\_Dib](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/35a633/32.png) [@Muad\_Dib](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muad_Dib)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 8:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfortunate-product-names/190565/5 "2003-07-24T08:04:39Z")
I have recently found in my shed a can of paint from the 40’s called RETARDO. Also, I have seen the books _Cooking with Pooh_ (a childrens cookbook with Winnie the Pooh) and _Games you can play with your pussy_ (I saw this in an old catalog many years ago [when I was too young to see anything wrong with the name], it is about games you can play with your cat). ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 8:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfortunate-product-names/190565/6 "2003-07-24T08:13:39Z")
Ah, but before you can cook with Pooh, you need the all-important Pooh Sterilizer that I saw advertised yesterday. (It’s actually a device for sterilizing baby bottles) ---
**Author:** ![TeaRoses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c37758/32.png) [@TeaRoses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaRoses)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 9:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfortunate-product-names/190565/7 "2003-07-24T09:44:43Z")
Well it’s not a double entendre like these but on the old Newlywed Game they were always giving away Amelia Earhardt luggage. And I was never surprised that they had to give it away. I mean what’s their slogan… “It gets on a plane and never comes back to you”? ---
**Author:** ![BlackLabel1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e5b9ba/32.png) [@BlackLabel1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BlackLabel1)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 10:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfortunate-product-names/190565/8 "2003-07-24T10:15:41Z")
The best place to find things like this is in Maxim magazine. They have a section called “found porn” which contains ads that arent so innocent. Recently they’ve had a smoke shop called “Cox Smokers,” a drink product called “Horlicks,” and a book with an old woman on the cover titled, “Doctor, I Have Trouble Swallowing.” The book was about an actual condition, but the look on the old womans face is priceless! ---
**Author:** ![pierre72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b2d939/32.png) [@pierre72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pierre72)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfortunate-product-names/190565/9 "2003-07-24T10:32:30Z")
Paul McCarney’s dear separted wife, Linda, brought out a range of vegetarian meat substitute products: Linda McCartney Mince Linda McCartney Sausages …and do on. Upon reading the packet, I always think “Ewwww! Why didn’t they just bury the poor woman?” ---
**Author:** ![pierre72](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b2d939/32.png) [@pierre72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pierre72)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 10:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfortunate-product-names/190565/10 "2003-07-24T10:33:38Z")
That first line should, of course, read “Paul McCartney’s dear departed…” Dunno why my fingers aren’t working today… ---
**Author:** ![F\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a183cd/32.png) [@F\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F_P)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 11:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfortunate-product-names/190565/11 "2003-07-24T11:13:13Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by BlackLabel1 \* > \*\* a drink product called “Horlicks,” \*\* Very common in the UK and, to be honest, I didn’t realise the double entendre until you just pointed it out. I guess when you grow up with these things you never notice. FYI: Due to an advertising campaign they ran a few years back “Horlicks” is now a polite and gentile expletive in the UK (like “Sugar” instead of “shit”) ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 11:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfortunate-product-names/190565/12 "2003-07-24T11:56:23Z")
Heck, in Massachusetts they still make **Squirrel Nut Zippers**. ---
**Author:** ![godzillatemple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/49beb7/32.png) [@godzillatemple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/godzillatemple)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 12:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfortunate-product-names/190565/13 "2003-07-24T12:01:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by F P \* > \*\*FYI: Due to an advertising campaign they ran a few years back “Horlicks” is now a polite and gentile expletive in the UK (like “Sugar” instead of “shit”) \*\* What, Jewish people aren’t allowed to use the word there? [Or did you perhaps mean “genteel”?] 😉 Barry ---
**Author:** ![F\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a183cd/32.png) [@F\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F_P)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfortunate-product-names/190565/14 "2003-07-24T17:09:15Z")
LOL! Y’know … now you mention it I’m not so sure. 😉 Good catch. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfortunate-product-names/190565/15 "2003-07-24T17:14:55Z")
I remember a candy bar called “Cherry Humps” (30 years ago). I only saw in in vending machines. ---
**Author:** ![seal\_cleaner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e274bd/32.png) [@seal\_cleaner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/seal_cleaner)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfortunate-product-names/190565/16 "2003-07-24T17:26:53Z")
Pschit - not sure of the spelling - is (or was) a soft drink in France. ---
**Author:** ![BurnMeUp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/91b2a8/32.png) [@BurnMeUp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BurnMeUp)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 5:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfortunate-product-names/190565/17 "2003-07-24T17:56:30Z")
I like the candy bar Mr. Big. They still sell them in certain places. It’s some huge choclate bar and it’s slogan is “when you’re this ig, they call you Mr.” ---
**Author:** ![Terrorcotta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/dbc845/32.png) [@Terrorcotta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terrorcotta)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 6:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfortunate-product-names/190565/18 "2003-07-24T18:00:17Z")
I made a quick check of [Engrish.com](http://Engrish.com) for Japanese products trying to use English words and found my favorite: 2% Human Water (bottled water) plus: First Kids Aid T-shirts Homo Soap Feel Up Magazine Creme Pain Pastry Geraid Wild Hair Slime For Men KaKa Crackers ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfortunate-product-names/190565/19 "2003-07-24T18:28:42Z")
I never understood Rent-A-Wreck. ---
**Author:** ![TeaElle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8491ac/32.png) [@TeaElle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaElle)\ **Post date:** [July 24, 2003, 6:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfortunate-product-names/190565/20 "2003-07-24T18:34:37Z")
I cannot believe that no one has mentioned the most embarassing product name in history: [Nads](http://www.nads.com/). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/unfortunate-product-names/190565.md?page=2)