The Worst Infomercial Products. Ever.

By Eugenia Santiesteban (Subscribe to Eugenia Santiesteban's posts)
Sep 4th 2009 9:27AM

Categories: Everything Under $100, Cleaning & Storage, Shopping

We've given you the best of infomercial products, and now it comes time to highlight some of the very, very bad ideas out there. These products may not be worth the money, but they will make you laugh.

Worst Infomercial Products

At $7.99 it's not too expensive, but it's about $7.99 too much. Whatever happened to good old paper towels for zapping up your bacon? I'll take an eco-friendly Seventh Generation paper towel any day (which works out to about two cents per sheet). Bacon Genie

As Seen on TV Guys

This just makes me sad. Isn't the invention of liquid soap in a pump enough? And the plastic contraption that houses it? A little soggy soap never hurt anyone anyway. Niagra Soap Saver

As Seen on TV Guys

I often overindulge, but a product that makes it okay to do so? It just doesn't seem right. And isn't "breathing room" just another word for gaining weight? The Button Extender

Do these even clean? I'm suspect. But as a lazy cleaner myself, I like the effort put into dreaming this up. (And I got a good laugh out of looking at them!) Maybe the effort would've been better spent actually doing some cleaning though. Dust Mop Slippers

As Seen on TV Guys

Does anyone else find this a little insulting? Can't you just pick something up or ask a kindly neighbor to help? I mean, it's worked for the past few thousand years. How can you improve on arms and legs, really? The Reacher

As Seen on TV

Worst. Product. Ever. No one should ever be seen in either of these in public, not to mention on your couch. Hideous! Snuggie

Snuggie

Comments (107)

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 6)

erin 9-04-2009 @ 10:41AM

I have a friend who, just 2 days ago, rigged her jeans with a hair tie. And she's not fat. She hasn't over indulged, she's pregnant. I'm sure lots of pregnant women would love to have one of these things to extend the life of their jeans before they actually have to break down and start buying new clothes. I want one. Yeah, a hair tie will work, but it's slightly more dignified than a hair tie.

ferociousdrgnldy 9-14-2009 @ 6:14PM

The reacher is a great product. My granny had back surgery and uses the thing to do just about everything since she can't bend over, or twist around. It has been a god send!!

Paula 9-11-2009 @ 8:49PM

My mom never drained bacon on paper towels. She used to save the heels from a loaf of bread and drain the bacon on those. She would then freeze the bread and use it in meatleaf or anything that required breadcrumbs. As far as "The Reacher" goes, I got a "grabber" for Christmas one year and it saved my butt many times. I'm only 5ft. tall. Did ya ever loose something behind the refrigerator, clothes dryer, washing maching, etc? The thing works great and you don't have to move the appliances.

jamdam 9-12-2009 @ 10:23AM

That is fantastic!!!

Martesa 9-14-2009 @ 3:31PM

The reacher is actually very practical, and a lot of individuals who don't have "arms and legs" that work well use them a lot. They are standard issue after joint replacement surgery, and I (a physical therapist) have recommended them for many patients who couldn't safely bend down and pick something up from the floor. In "the olden days," when these were only available through medical equipment suppliers, they cost a lot of money and were not always covered by insurance. Now that they have become more "mainstream," my patients can afford them. Also, even though you are using 7th Generation paper towels, you are still using something disposable (thus, you are creating trash unless you are composting), and something that requires energy to manufacture, fossil fuels to ship and are wrapped in non-recyclable plastic. So, the bacon thingy, which is a one-time purchase, comes most likely in a paperboard box which can be recycled, and is re-usable is most likely the more responsible choice. This was a useless list. I thought it was going to be about things that didn't work, not things that you THOUGHT were stupid. Clearly, your insight is lacking. Oh, and BTW, although they look incredibly stupid, and my husband teases me everytime I use it, the Snuggie actually works great. I'm working on my dissertation, and spend a lot of time typing at my computer. In the winter, I can keep the heat down, use the Snuggie and keep warm while still having use of my hands. You might suggest that I could just dress warmer, but when I get up to do things around the house, I get hot, so I would need to keep putting on/taking off clothes. This has been a wonderful, albeit silly-looking sol'n.

mark jones 9-14-2009 @ 4:29PM

i love meatleaf, whatever that is.

mark jones 9-14-2009 @ 4:29PM

i never loose things. i may lose them, but i don't loose them.

Charlotte 9-14-2009 @ 5:24PM

Draining bacon on bread heels is brillliant! Your mom must have made the best meatloaf ever! What a smart woman! I agree with you about the reaching tool as well.

Judy 9-11-2009 @ 9:36PM

I was given a different grabber by the therapist when I had my knee replaced. It certainly made reaching for items much easier at the time. I still use it to get items that are too high up or out of normal reach behind other things. It is a VERY handy item and excellent for the handicapped person and those having a difficult time reaching for items high or low. When you are alone, you can't always call on someone else to reach items for you. That is a lame excuse for calling this a bad infomercial.

J. A. Buxton 9-14-2009 @ 6:02PM

I have three of the handy helper tools scattered throughout my home and constantly use them. Because of my bad back, it often is extremely painful to bend down and pick up something from the floor.

At the age of 68, I don't find anything insulting that helps me get through the day without pain. Don't make fun or me or what I call my Grabber Tools.

J. A. Buxton

Hil 9-11-2009 @ 10:09PM

I really don't see much wrong with any of these products. Wasn't even that funny.

Florida 9-14-2009 @ 5:00PM

Hi Hil, I agree with you. I don't see anything wrong with any of this stuff. I personally like the soap saver. I have the grabber and use it at work. Has anyone ever been inside an engine compartment on a tractor trailer during the rain and you drop a tool or a part that your magnet or toolbox finger tool just won't reach? Well if not...then you don't know what it's like to lay down in the rain in the mud. With the grabber all I have to do is reach down and grab the tool or part without getting all muddy. Get real people...there is a use for everything. If you don't like it then don't buy it.

Boise 9-11-2009 @ 10:08PM

Ok..you are OFF on the reacher. Before and after backsurgery the Grabber was my salvation. It picked up the newspaper, shoes and anything that dropped when I couldn't safely bend down. Have you ever dropped something as simple as a sock and had to decide on a whole new pair? I've given it many times as a gift and always a big winner. And...AND...my friend, who happens to be a little person now uses one to get the clothes out of the clothes washer rather than BBQ tongs. I kid you not.

bella 9-11-2009 @ 11:53PM

Ms. Eugenia Santiesteban your article is shabby and your lack of perspective is obvious. While I agree that the Bacon Genie and the Soap Saver are needless bits of plastic, the slippers and the Snuggie are harmless fun that didn't deserve the scathing criticism they received. The Button Extender and the Reacher are far from useless and for reasons stated by other readers, don't belong in this list.
I suggest you follow up with another article. Perhaps one including products that lack quality and craftmanship. Such an article would prevent consumers from wasting their dollars and be a welcome read on the web.

T 9-14-2009 @ 5:20PM

Ms. Eu genia Santi esteban your name seams a bit long to me And Bella I think you said it best though a few replies were more product centered. thank you and mabee she will learn to reserch her stories befor posting her uninformed personal opinions.Not to say she isn't entitled to them.

Doug 9-14-2009 @ 8:02PM

I agree Bella, Ms. Eugenia Santiesteban is a lousy columnist.
My wife loves the Snuggy.
I myself use the reacher while mowing the lawn on the riding mower.

new grandma 9-30-2009 @ 11:11AM

I agree with you.Though some of these I have no need for, many people do. So she shouldn't call them useless. That is only her opinion. Just wait till one day she has rotater cuff surgery or knee surgery and lets see how many neighbor have time to come reach for her and pick it up. She might have chills during this flu season and she will wish she had something warm. Every product created on her list came from an idea that someone had a need for.

jennifer 9-11-2009 @ 11:46PM

What? Just because someone has a reacher doesn't mean they're lazy or doesn't want to improve their arms or legs. Some people have problems where they are in a situation that they can't reach or bend for something. It's very helpful and I actually find your comment about it insulting, AOL

Cel Price 9-11-2009 @ 11:49PM

I recently bought a grabber because I get dizzy when I bend down to pick up the paper in the morning. Also, my mother who was under 5 feet tall, used one many years ago to reach things on the tops shelf of her cabinets.