Buyers Guide to "A Seen on TV"Products

How many times have you seen a product advertised on TV and you thought to yourself, "I've got to have that?" Better yet, how many times have you acted on your thought and purchased the product, then later the as seen on TV product you bought turned out to be junk, because I didn't do what they claimed it would?

My guide will show you how to do your homework on as seen on TV products. Not only will my guide give you tips on researching as seen on TV products before you buy them, but I will also tell you about some of those as seen on TV products that didn't live up to their creators' promises.

Before you grab your credit card and dash to the phone, do your homework first! By researching more about the product first, you could save yourself money and disappointment. Begin your research by searching for the as seen on TV products on both Amazon (www.amazon.com) and Epinions (www.epinions.com). If the as seen on TV product is listed at either of these places, click on the name of the as seen on TV product to read the reviews. Many consumers visit both of these Web sites, and the majority of those consumers post their reviews for others to read. In fact, Epinions pays consumers to post reviews, so you may find more reviews at Epinions than you will at Amazon, but you should read the reviews at both places.

After you've read through the reviews at Amazon and Epinions, go to Google and type in any of these terms: "as seen on TV product reviews" and "does it work." Additionally, you can also type in the name of the as seen on TV product to see what all you will discover. Tip: When you search with Google, place quotes around your keyword phrases to search the exact phrase. If you follow the advice I have just given you, you should turn up more reviews or even articles about the product you have just seen on TV.

If, subsequent to your study, you decide that product would be worth your investment, here are a few things to consider before making your purchase.

1. Is price advertised on the infomercial the least expensive, or can you find it cheaper somewhere else?

2. Does the merchant you plan to acquire the product from offer a guarantee? If so, how long is the guarantee for, and who will pay for the return shipping?

3. If you have to pay the return shipping, will it be worth it? I ask this because many have expressed that it wasn't worth the money to pay the return shipping for the refund, and the better option for them was to take it as a loss and throw the product away.

4. Does the product come with any kind of warranty? If so, how long does the warranty last, and what does it cover?

The above are only a few things to consider, and now, here are two shopping tips.

1. Shop around on the Internet or check your local department store for the product. If you take the time to "shop around," many times you can find the product cheaper than what the infomercial is asking for it.

2. If the merchant does not pay the return shipping, try contacting him or her and ask if they can change this policy. When you contact them, tell them you're interested in buying the as seen on TV product, and if they want the sale bad enough, they just may make an exception. If they do make a deal with you, get it in writing before you buy the product.

I told at the start of this article I would tell you about some of those as seen on TV products that don't live up to their creators' promises, so I plan to live up to my promise. With that said, following are six as seen on TV products consumers and testers say is "a waste of money":

As Seen on TV: Pasta Express

Many say the pasta comes out doughy and crunchy. The instructions recommend cooking the pasta for 7-10 minutes. On the other hand, many consumers admit to cooking the pasta longer. Some cooked the pasta for 30 minutes and the results were still the same -- doughy and crunchy.

One lady was so unsatisfied with the Pasta Express that she returned it to her local department store. When the sales clerk refunded her money, the sales clerk told her they've had many Pasta Expresses come back. In fact, the sales clerk said most all the Pasta Expresses they sold came back.

As Seen on TV: Scrubbing Bubbles Automatic Shower Cleaner

The maker of the Scrubbing Bubbles Automatic Shower Cleaner claims the product will clean mold, mildew and soap scum, but the majority of consumers say other wise. Some consumers say the Scrubbing Bubbles Automatic Shower Cleaner works if you clean your shower first, but half of the consumers who did clean their shower first explained that still did not work. So, with this one, use your own judgment. If you think it's worth the money, then try it and see what you think. In my opinion, I'm not going to waste my money, because I read over 50 reviews that stated the Scrubbing Bubbles Automatic Shower Cleaner does not work.

As Seen on TV: Auto Cool

Auto Cool is easy on the pocket at less than $15, and they say it will keep your car cool no matter how long you leave it in the sun. Wrong again! According to consumers and others who tested the product, Auto Cool not only fails all tests and leaves consumers unhappy, but many of the testers report the temperature to be hotter. Furthermore, they express the fan doesn't even move or it moves on occasion.

As Seen on TV: Eggstractor

The Eggstractor is supposed to make peeling hard-boiled eggs a breeze, but it too failed. Consumers and product testers say the eggs explode or come out with some or half of the shell still on them.

As Seen on TV: Space Bags

I have to admit I've seen the infomercial on Space Bags a hundred times, and I have seriously been thinking about buying a few to try myself. Well, that is until I did the research to write this article. Yep, that's right folks; the Space Bags don't live up to their promises either. It's a shame too, because I was really hoping they would work. It would be nice to have something like these around.

In my research on the Space Bags, consumers said the Space Bags leak, re-inflate and don't hold vacuum. Oh well, maybe they'll fix the flaws and come out with something better later down the road.

There is good news ... not all as seen on TV products is a waste of money. It may seem unbelievable, but some of the as seen on TV products do live up to their promises -- or most of the promises, anyway. For example, consumers say Robomaid is worth the money, but they also say it doesn't replace your standard mop or vacuum cleaner. In addition, Robomaid doesn't do corners, it takes too long to charge, the replacement pads could cost less and it is made of lightweight plastic.

The Amazing Bug Zapper may be made cheap, but they claim it works. The Amazing Bug Zapper is not for children, and you must be careful not to shock yourself while using it. One more thing: they say the one with the safety-mesh does not work, so be sure you get the correct Amazing Bug Zapper.

The nicer dice saves you time in the kitchen! Even I have one of these, and it's great for chopping onions, bell peppers and all those other things you hate to chop. I even use mine to make the crackers for my meatloaf finer. It's a true lifesaver for the kitchen!

Another as seen on TV product I own is the Ab Lounge 2. I asked around about this product for a year before I bought it. I had never invested money in the exercise equipment before, because I honestly didn't think it would do much for me. Nevertheless, when the Ab Lounge 2 was invented, I watched the infomercial (it was the only dang thing on the TV), and I thought to myself, "Hmmm... that may actually work." I did my homework on the product -- using the advice I've given throughout this article -- and based on my study, I finally asked my husband to get me one for Christmas.

As a mother of three children, I am overweight, and I have tried and tried to lose weight, but have failed. Not only am an overweight mother of three, but I also suffer from back problems. My back problems prevent me from getting down on the floor and doing set-ups, and this is one reason I thought the Ab Lounge 2 would benefit me.

I can honestly say the Ab Lounge 2 is well worth the hundred bucks! I didn't think by the looks of it, it would be very comfortable, but I was wrong. The Ab Lounge 2 is not only comfortable, but it's easy on my back as well. Each time I get off it, I am sore in my abdominal area, but this is a good thing, because it shows me its working.

After my first three months of using the Ab Lounge 2, I not only saw improvement in my abs, but I lost a total of 20 lbs. I do have to watch my food intake, too, because if I over eat I will gain the weight back, no matter how many times I use the Ab Lounge 2. So, don't think you can eat like a pig and expect the Ab Lounge 2 to take the weight off, because it won't. However, I can eat whatever I want. In other words, I don't have to stop eating my favorite foods (cakes, potatoes, etc.).

The only disadvantage I have found with the Ab Lounge 2 is it's not easy to store as they claim it is. The Ab Lounge 2 is bulky, and I find it a whole lot easier just to leave it sitting in my living room.

I hope my guide to as seen on TV products helps you make better choices the next time you pull out your credit card. Moreover, feel free to leave your comments and tell us about the as seen on TV products you bought. Did they live up to their promises?