C’mon admit it, what have you bought from the TV shopping network? And can you really relate to any of these (pseudo) problems?
As Seen on TV – A Tribute to Doing It Wrong
Watching TV shopping network informercials cracks me up. At first I always go “Woo! That’s so exaggerated! Why don’t you just use a knife to chop everything up?” Then later on, “Hey, that’s so cool it chops concrete!” Much later, “You can make ice cream in a chopping machine?!?” Much much later, “Husby, come here! I think we need this.”
My husband would just shake his head and say no, but then the magic TV shopping lines like “But wait! There’s more!” and “And that’s not all!” comes on and we’re glued to the rest of the infomercial.
Our household has accumulated quite a number of thingamagics from TV shopping. I’ve bought some kind of mop that (supposedly) has extraordinary abilities to wipe up all kinds of spills. I’ve possessed several towels that have magical fibers that wipe away all kinds of dirt and dust. Then there was that vacuum cleaner that could suck so strongly it could hold a bowling ball in its spout.
My parents’ home also has its share of abdominal workout gadgets. Yes, gadgets, in plural form. None of us have washboard abs though. We’ve had our share of mandolins (Super Slicer? Smart Slicer? I forget the name) but we still slice fruits and vegetables with a knife.
So many times I came close to getting the phone and ordering one of those choppers, that device you wear that cuts your waistline in half, some kind of ladder/table, filleting knives, inflatable mattresses, greaseless grills…
What is it about the lure of these infomercials? The presentation format is simple — problem-solution. Is it because we can sympathize with the problems presented, no matter how exaggerated they are? Is it because we anticipate experiencing the same thing, say get our high heels caught in the hem of our pants, or our shelves falling apart when we go DIY?
Whatever the reason is, watching the shopping network on TV provides me with amusement. I’m just glad their shopping shows don’t have a text component (or do they?). That would be too easy, and too hard to resist. I’ve still got my eyes on that chopper that can disintegrate concrete. Hey, you never know when I’d need to do that in real life.
What have you bought from TV shopping networks? Were they happy purchases or did you regret them? Share, share!
Hi! I'm Toni Tiu,
and I've been blogging at
at Wifely Steps since 2003. This started as a blog to help newly weds adjust to married life. It has evolved into a home and parenting blog. I write about things close to my heart -- good eats, good reads, family, marriage, and the little things that make everyday happy.
dyanie
June 15, 2010 at 3:08 pm (14 years ago)we bought few from home tv shopping like yung mop na collor yellow na kahit anu daw eh nalilinis nya. after ilang months, sira na. after nun, yung knife na na be-bend. yung nakaka slice ng super thin sa kamatis. after ilang months, purol na. at kahit anung hasa eh wala na. next, yung slicer na pang veggies, yung may ibat ibang style pa. after ilang mos, sira na naman. next, yung chopper na manual na iniikot. yung ilalagay lang daw ang veggies sa loob tapos ma cho chop na sya. basta color white yun eh. after nun, may manual whipper pa. in fairness ok naman at medyo tumagal sya. milkshake in an instant. meron pa pala. yung collor yellow na ilagagay sa iron board para di muna baliktarin ang damit. kaloka, walang kasawa sawa ang nanay ko sa pagbili kahit na sirain ang iba. note: yearsss ago na to at feeling ko naman eh na natuto na nanay ko hahaha!
ganns
June 16, 2010 at 5:56 am (14 years ago)One of those roto-choppers, the ones that you just put vegetables in, turn a crank, and voila, they’re chopped.
Two days, it lasted.
.-= ganns´s last blog ..The Museum, “My Help Comes From The Lord” =-.
a. nini
June 16, 2010 at 12:27 pm (14 years ago)the magic bullet is the only purchase I’m happy with. remember to use it when timmy’s eating nilaga na ok.
rowie
June 17, 2010 at 9:23 pm (14 years ago)So which purchases are you happy with?
We *love* our 9-Minute Marinator!!!!!!!
Our Ultimate Chopper also sees a lot of use. We probably use it every other day. (Actually na-recall yung Ultimate Chopper sa US but as long as you make sure the locking part isn’t broken, it should work fine.)
The Ultimate Chopper also came with a free Miracle Blade kitchen knife, which is very good; slices pretty well.
.-= rowie´s last blog ..Bargain-shopping for toddlers, part 1: Daiso/Japan Home Center. =-.
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