# What products on the market do you think are most overhyped? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 13, 2009, 1:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-on-the-market-do-you-think-are-most-overhyped/506282 "2009-08-13T13:39:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Evil\_Economist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/c89c15/32.png) [@Evil\_Economist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evil_Economist)\ **Post date:** [August 13, 2009, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-on-the-market-do-you-think-are-most-overhyped/506282/41 "2009-08-13T23:44:59Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > And my dad wore his Rolex for 40 years. He died before it did. > > Quality is worth paying for. The question is which products actually have some real quality to them, and which are just hyped. > [@DiosaBellissima](#): > > Are you, uh, sure your bro has a real Rolex? I just ask because my dad bought himself a fancy Rolex a few years ago and when he first mentioned buying it, I flat out told him he was stupid. “$10,000 for a freakin’ watch?\*\* IT’S A GODDAMNED WATCH. Who even wears watches anymore? What the hell is wrong with you?” > > Then I saw the watch. I, the non believer, was converted. Damn, that is one fine looking watch. Seriously. I mean, I still don’t think I’d ever spend that much money on a watch even if I had it, but it really is a thing of art. I’ve never seen anything in a store that looks anything like it. What blows my mind most is how freakin’ thin it is- it’s just tiny. I’ve seen those old, big, tacky and clunky Rolexes, but this one is so sleek and cool. Then you look at it and it operates so smoothly. I dunno, man, I have no idea how you couldn’t tell the difference. [I think it’s this one, for interested parties, but idk.](http://www.demesy.com/p/50713.html) I have a real Rolex, but once, on a trip to China, I bought a counterfeit version of the same model. The counterfeit was so good that I couldn’t spot any differences even holding them side-by-side. I bought the counterfeit 8 or 9 years ago and it still runs fine, and keeps accurate time. The real one cost me $7,000 and the fake one cost me something like $20. ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-on-the-market-do-you-think-are-most-overhyped/506282/42 "2009-08-14T00:04:21Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > Myself and the Mrs. were just laughing at the most recent one. Lady is at front door kissing her new boyfriend goodnight. He drives off in his car while jealous ex-boyfriend is hiding near by. Jealous enrgaged ex-boyfriend charges the door with weapon in hand and comes face-to-face with psycho ex in her front hallway. She simply presses the alarm button which chirps a couple times and the psycho enraged ex just turns tail and runs away. 😃 The way these services work starts out like in the commercial, they call the house to see if something is wrong. If you don’t answer they don’t call the police, first they call a list of 3-4 people you have designated to be called to see if it is a false alarm. Your neighbor, brother, ex-boyfriend, etc. (ex-boyfreind probably won’t answer). Then, and only then, if they they can’t get ahold of anyone, the police will be called. You aren’t getting help in 5 minutes unless you are able to answer the phone. If you are busy fighting off the intruder it could take a half hour or more before they decide to call the cops. They will find a fresh body though. ---
**Author:** ![River\_Hippie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/river_hippie/32/26_2.png) [@River\_Hippie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/River_Hippie)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-on-the-market-do-you-think-are-most-overhyped/506282/43 "2009-08-14T00:05:40Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > Somebody seriously needs to do a parody Brinks commercial where the nice but blandly inoffensive suburban home is being marauded by a horde of zombies. > > The pretty but blandly inoffensive wife can cower in fear while the handsome but blandly inoffensive husband presses the button for Brinks home security. The cute but blandly inoffensive Brinks operator can take the call and reassure them that Brinks is well prepared to deal with a suburban zombie apocalypse. > > Then the handsome but blandly inoffensive husband can confidently reassure the pretty but blandly inoffensive little woman that he has things well under control as she clings to his chest in relief that she has a strong husband who can take care of weak little her by buying a package from Brinks Home Security to protect her from a zombie apocalypse. > > Okay, so maybe that isn’t so funny, but everything’s better with zombies. Then the Brinks guys show up and they’re zombies too ! ---
**Author:** ![emcee2k](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7bcc69/32.png) [@emcee2k](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/emcee2k)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-on-the-market-do-you-think-are-most-overhyped/506282/44 "2009-08-14T00:34:06Z")
Really anything people use circular logic to justify paying more for: Why buy the more expensive brand? Because it’s better quality. How do you know that’s better quality? Because it costs more. Also, every time Apple releases a new product it’s just a rehash of something that’s been on the market for years. Then everyone goes nuts over it like it’s some new disruptive technology that’s going to change everything. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-on-the-market-do-you-think-are-most-overhyped/506282/45 "2009-08-14T00:37:16Z")
I think all luxury goods are overhyped-there is a law of diminishing returns, and something you pay 5 times the price for, is usually not 5X as good. As for BMW-if you tuned the suspension of a regular car (by adding special springs, links, and shock absorbers) you could come close to the handling of a BMW. Most passenger cars suspensions are tuned for a comfortable ride, not performance. I will concede (however) that BMWs have excellent brakes (because they use huge discs and bigger pads). German drivers drive fast, and need good brakes for stopping. American cars (which rarely see speeds above 60 MPH) can get by with smaller brakes. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-on-the-market-do-you-think-are-most-overhyped/506282/46 "2009-08-14T00:53:41Z")
What’s amazing to me is many luxury car makers don’t seem to care about reliability. I guess they figure if you pay $40k for the car you can handle all the repair bills. Same is true for car magazines - not much talk about reliability when they review cars. ---
**Author:** ![MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c0e974/32.png) [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MPB_in_Salt_Lake)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-on-the-market-do-you-think-are-most-overhyped/506282/47 "2009-08-14T00:57:15Z")
Anyone else kind of blown away that people are willing to shell out 7 or 8 bucks for a frozen pizza??? For just about the same money, I can go get a freshly made pie at any one of several different places. (I am usually a one or two topping kind of guy— I dont go for the 27 different exotic toppings bit) For me, frozen pizza is OK for the occasional times when getting a real pizza is not an option (at 3 am for example) but even then, paying over 8 bucks for a “gourmet” frozen number would never cross my mind… ---
**Author:** ![Justin\_Bailey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/justin_bailey/32/8792_2.png) [@Justin\_Bailey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Justin_Bailey)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 1:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-on-the-market-do-you-think-are-most-overhyped/506282/48 "2009-08-14T01:36:36Z")
> [@MPB\_in\_Salt\_Lake](#): > > Anyone else kind of blown away that people are willing to shell out 7 or 8 bucks for a frozen pizza??? I have never paid more than $5 for a frozen pizza. ---
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 1:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-on-the-market-do-you-think-are-most-overhyped/506282/49 "2009-08-14T01:37:34Z")
Cables. I hereby offer 6 small nations, sexual favors to every company employee, and 1 billion dollars to anyone that can prove to me their $1000 audio cables are functionally (that is to say, has a quality change that is detectable with unaided human senses) better than any I can get from Newegg for $5. That said, for game systems I do buy first party cables, but that’s more for “company loyalty” reasons than anything else. Okay, a little over the top, but still. ---
**Author:** ![TheMadHun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/53a042/32.png) [@TheMadHun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheMadHun)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-on-the-market-do-you-think-are-most-overhyped/506282/50 "2009-08-14T02:27:29Z")
> [@Hampshire](#): > > Dyson vacuum cleaners. Yeah they look different and come in zany colors, but do they work better? No. They just cost 4x as much. I gotta agree with you. They always start off saying “I was playing with regular vacuums and wondered why they immediately lost suction” Well, that must be on a bench test, because all the vacs I’ve ever owned had suction when completely full of dirt. The problem at that point is that if the bag is full then running it pushes dust out the exhaust, but it still has plenty of suction. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 2:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-on-the-market-do-you-think-are-most-overhyped/506282/51 "2009-08-14T02:46:49Z")
> [@SirRay](#): > > Tresemme is upscale? I didn’t say upscale shampoos. None of the ones I listed are very pricey. They’re lauded as being better than they are, hence “overhyped.” ---
**Author:** ![salinqmind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3ec8ea/32.png) [@salinqmind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/salinqmind)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-on-the-market-do-you-think-are-most-overhyped/506282/52 "2009-08-14T02:56:18Z")
When I conk out in front of the TV and wake up at 3 a.m., every other listing on the TV program guide is “YOUR BABY CAN READ”. Teaching your infant to read is somehow going to make him/her more successful in life.:rolleyes: Look, when you (or your nanny) push Baby out the door of your McMansion in his/her Rolls Royce of strollers, I think “YOUR BABY IS POTTY TRAINED” is more important than if the baby can absorb “Heart of Darkness”. ---
**Author:** ![Tibby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tibby/32/17030_2.png) [@Tibby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tibby)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 11:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-on-the-market-do-you-think-are-most-overhyped/506282/53 "2009-08-14T11:38:20Z")
> [@Green\_Bean](#): > > Somebody seriously needs to do a parody Brinks commercial where the nice but blandly inoffensive suburban home is being marauded by a horde of zombies. > > The pretty but blandly inoffensive wife can cower in fear while the handsome but blandly inoffensive husband presses the button for Brinks home security. The cute but blandly inoffensive Brinks operator can take the call and reassure them that Brinks is well prepared to deal with a suburban zombie apocalypse. > > Then the handsome but blandly inoffensive husband can confidently reassure the pretty but blandly inoffensive little woman that he has things well under control as she clings to his chest in relief that she has a strong husband who can take care of weak little her by buying a package from Brinks Home Security to protect her from a zombie apocalypse. > > Okay, so maybe that isn’t so funny, but everything’s better with zombies. Well, maybe it just needs a little twist: A small gray squirrel, scurrying across a window sill, trips the hypersensitive Brinks Home Security alarm system, resulting in a series of piercing electronic bleeps. Eyes widen and pulse quickens on the blandly inoffensive suburban housewife, home alone, in a large, dark house, on a chilly evening. Suddenly, the phone rings within arm reach of our harried protagonist. She answers before the first ring completes, with fear and apprehension. “H-hello..w-who is this!”. (Close-up shot of blandly inoffensive Brinks operator). “Mrs. Smyth, this is Biff, from Brinks Home Security…your alarm went off…is everything alright?” Our housewife, visibly less anxious upon hearing the soothing voice replies, “I-I think so…probably just a false alarm…b-but, I’m not sure.” “You’re probably right, ma’am, but we’ll send someone over, just to make sure.” “Thank you so much, I feel much better now.” (Click) Five minutes later, a knock on the door. The housewife, with only mild trepidation, peers through the lightly fogged window of her front door and see’s a blandly inoffensive man wearing a baseball cap—with a “Brinks Home Security Officer” logo emblazoned on its front. A small smile breaks across her face as she opens the door. As the man approaches, about to breach the entranceway, she notices that his complexion is not quite as bland and inoffensive as her window fogged view originally suggested and his gait could best be described as being lumbering. His skin was a mottled blend of pallor with cyanotic overtones. Desquamating sheets of epidermis fell from putrefying cheeks. Its eyes fixed on hers…eyes that were animated, but somehow, not quite alive. She felt something cold constrict around her wrist as she turned to run… ---
**Author:** ![Uvula\_Donor](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e19adc/32.png) [@Uvula\_Donor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uvula_Donor)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 12:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-on-the-market-do-you-think-are-most-overhyped/506282/54 "2009-08-14T12:12:26Z")
Bacon Salt. Clever marketing and the Internet Bacon Meme have made this mediocre artificially-flavored seasoned salt way more popular than it deserves. It doesn’t make “everything taste like bacon.” It makes everything tastes like a salted used ashtray. ---
**Author:** ![Hampshire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hampshire/32/4887_2.png) [@Hampshire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hampshire)\ **Post date:** [August 14, 2009, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-on-the-market-do-you-think-are-most-overhyped/506282/55 "2009-08-14T13:46:30Z")
> [@TheMadHun](#): > > I gotta agree with you. They always start off saying “I was playing with regular vacuums and wondered why they immediately lost suction” > Well, that must be on a bench test, because all the vacs I’ve ever owned had suction when completely full of dirt. The problem at that point is that if the bag is full then running it pushes dust out the exhaust, but it still has plenty of suction. And what’s up with the whole Dyson “ball” thing? They actually came up with a solution for a problem that never exsisted. When was the last time you used a typical vacuum cleaner and said to yourself “dammit! I wish this thing would corner better!” Um, like, never. Kind of like those “unbreakable” nalgene water bottles. Cause, like, you know, I just hated when I dropped my old plastic one and it would shatter into a thousand pieces:rolleyes:. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-products-on-the-market-do-you-think-are-most-overhyped/506282.md?page=2)