Ever wonder what it would be like to "call now?” To give in and get a second one free? Perhaps a series of freebee gifts are in order. If you have ever contemplated ordering products off of an infomercial, you are not alone.

     We have all fallen victim to the allure of the infomercial at one time or another.  The words “mom please” come to mind. Yet when it came to those carpet skates, gooze or blow pens, the answer was often no.  This is because infomercial information is not to be trusted. The manipulative appeal of a product generated by desperately determined salespeople is often insincere.   

      So how can you tell if the product is something you actually want? Something worthwhile? In the world of advertising there exists fame and infamy. Unfortunately, the only true way to differentiate between the two is from firsthand experience. Luckily, there are other people to do that for you. So the next time you consider giving in to the 30 day money back guarantee, also consider the following opinions on a couple of popular infomercial items.   

     The Snuggie, the blanket with sleeves, has recently turned into a pop culture phenomenon. With mentionings from talk show hosts such as Jay Leno and Ellen DeGeneres and references in the children’s show iCarly and NBC’s 30 Rock, the Snuggie has come to be known nationwide. Since the product’s debut in 2008, a Snuggie cult has formed on Facebook and there have even been confirmed cases of Snuggie pub crawls.

     Despite the Snuggie’s overabundant mockery, the blanket with sleeves lives up to its name.  The Snuggie is warm, soft and completely functional. I would even go as far as to say that it is well worth the $15 because would not you pay that much for a regular blanket? I would like to advise however that if you plan on purchasing a Snuggie or two, avoid the $7.95 per item shipping and handling fee and pick one up at the store (do not worry; the book light is still included).

     The only fallacy of this product’s advertising is its fashionable style. You are wearing a blanket with sleeves and an open back, and that is what it looks like, whether it is burgundy, royal blue, sage green, soft pink, or leopard print.

     Okay ladies, I know we have all tried at least a couple of methods of the annoying process of hair removal be it shaving, waxing, plucking, or throwing on a pair of jeans in surrender, but what if I told you that you could smooth the hair away? Well then I would be lying.

     Smooth Away, the easy, safe and painless product that will buff away unwanted hair and exfoliate your skin, is the number one women’s hair removal product in Europe but it has reached its peak in advertising in the United States. Hopefully.  Smooth Away could very well be considered the epitome of false advertising. The smooth away is advertised to be $15, plus shipping and handling of course, when it can be found for only $10 at many drug stores. Most importantly though, it does not work.

     Upon opening the package you will find the smooth away pads along with a set of detailed instructions advising you to buff away hair in circular motions with light pressure. Okay. Once that did not work, I tried pressing a lot harder. Nothing. Then I began to use the pads for what they really are, weak sandpaper, and quickly moved the pad back and forth with about the same effect as quickly rubbing my skin with my hand.

     In the end I resorted back to my razor, annoyed at the wasted cause and thinking about how women in Europe must be really hairy.