Scams, Shams, and Assorted Quackeries
 

I'm not sure when it began, but it seems that you can make almost any absurd claim in a TV ad without running afoul of the law. Caveat emptor in its purest form.

"Not available in stores" gives the impression that it's something special, and you'll save money by buying direct. In reality, it shields the company from direct complaints, for even if the product isn't completely worthless, the big money is made on "shipping and handling charges," and confusing instructions; where you think you are buying one and getting a second at half-price, when you are really ordering two and getting a second pair.

The impression given is that "shipping and handling" is charged by the shipping company, but "handling" is part of what UPS does when it charges you for "shipping." Someone found this out when he ordered three [you'd think he would have tried one first] of those electronic bug repellents [that don't work at all], and was charged $60 for delivery. He discovered the shipping charge was $7.50.

There may have been complaints from the carriers, because lately I hear "shipping and processing."


One of my favorite scams is the Amish Fireplace

http://www.k0lee.com/blog/uploaded_i...-07-728864.jpg
The early newspaper ads for the product stated that "Amish man’s new miracle idea helps home heat bills hit rock bottom," giving the impression that an Amish guy invented a heater (http://www.discussworldissues.com/fo...lies/smile.png). There's a website called Amish Fireplaces Dot Com, but there's nothing there except a place to enter a claim code. All links point to another website, Heat Surge.

There is mention of an Amish community in Holmes County, Ohio, but nothing about a factory. And it's not as if you could contact the Amish factory manager and ask, "Is it real wood or freakin' particle board."

The truth is, no matter who is making the "wood mantles," the heater is a standard 1500 watt 5100 BTU resistive electric heater with a fan. You can get them at any appliance store for around 50 bucks, but if you want something from the "China coast" and "the humble and kindly Amish," it will set you back about $500.

The website pictures [some obviously PSed] say it all.


http://www.heatsurge.com/images/large-3.jpg
Is this an Amish guy, or the ex Surgeon General, who now hawks Life Alert bracelets.

http://www.heatsurge.com/images/large-5.jpg



Satisfied customers. LOL!

http://www.heatsurge.com/images/large-1.jpg

http://www.heatsurge.com/images/large-4.jpg

Consumer blogs:
http://www.alternativeconsumer.com/2...-up-with-that/

http://www.k0lee.com/blog/2008/12/am...ater-scam.html

So the fire is so good a kid can touch it with no ill effects.

So true Zipp.
Whilst reading a leading publication in my library, (water closet) I stumbled across an ad for those "Amish Mantles" ......
The publication? ... The December 2008 issue of National Geographic. Pg 156. The National Freaking Geographic!!!!!

i saw that on the other day.

What humored me wa sthe fact that the Amish do not use electrial appliances, so how someone would invent an electric heater when they never use one was reason enough for my "BS" alarm to start going off in 4 different wavelengths.

Also, the pics theer are SO BADLY DONE!!! the clipping edge can be seen on the 2 different "fire" pictures (2 pics, 6 instances. Do the math), the edge of the dog, the kid "touching" the fire, the unit itself (who the hell puts a heater right in front of an open french door?) and the "mother" looking woman in front of the kids not looking at the camera.....

S+H has always been the caveat, with a $19.95 order tacking on an additional $7.95 to come in 6-8 weeks.

6-8 weeks? What are they doing? Making those under-door breeze stoppers to order? Are they made in Tibet and are having problems getting out of China because of the subjugation of the Monks? What??

The thing that upsets me more than the fact that they make things like this, but that people are stupid enough to buy them and keep them in buisness.

It is one thing to be scammed, but it is another to be hit in the back of the head with a brick, told it is from the Brooklyn Bridge, and convinced to give the man responsible for hitting you money for doing so.

Of course, there is EXTENZE. The wording of the commercial so blatantly claims nothing, other than selling a bunch of pills.
Are people really THAT du..?

Here, have an Enzite.

This one has been around for a while; pops up for a TV run every now and then.

The $50 gold buffalo coin

The ad masks its worthlessness by taking advantage of true facts:

1. The price of gold is currently around $1100 per once.
2. There is actually a $50 gold American Buffalo Coin offered by the US Mint. It has a legal tender value of $50, although you'd be crazy to use it as such.

Gold is expensive, but the amount of gold on the coin copy is 31 milligrams. This translates to about $1.25.

The ad attempts to put time pressure on a purchase, stating because of the "skyrocketing" price of gold, the price of the coin can only be guaranteed for 7 days. At $1.25 per coin, gold could double tomorrow with hardly any effect on the cost of the coin. The price has been $19.95 for eons.

Some may draw the conclusion that they are getting a $50 gold coin for less than half price. It is called a "proof" but they didn't even bother to reed the edge. The word COPY is camouflaged along the Indian's braid.

They create the impression of limited supply by stating a "strict 5 limit per order." LOL