As Seen on TV

Monday, January 5th, 2009

Okay, I admit, I was thrilled when Bed Bath & Beyond started stocking the “As Seen on TV” merchandise in their stores.  No longer would I be tormented by the announcer’s voice about the latest greatest gadget that would work wonders, save me money and time all at the same time!  I would watch in facination but then hold back from ordering…because I had heard (and read) about the nightmares of broken promises with broken items and the futile effort of getting your money back from a P.O. Box and a nameless customer service rep on the other end of the phone.

Then, certain items started popping up in Walmart.  THEN, the now-defunct Linens ‘n Things had a WHOLE SECTION dedicated to “As Seen on TV” in our local store.  BBB sprinkled them throughout the appropriate departments…and I could try things out and return them if I hated them.

So in the spirit of good (and bad) holiday gifts and purchases, here are my “Top 3″ best  “As Seen on TV” products.  Please, add your own to the conversation!

Top 3:

1. The Flip-Fold: This is a plastic device that you use to fold t-shirts, sweaters, pants, etc. into uniform piles so that everything looks all nice and stacked in your closet.  My husband just had to have it…and admittedly, even though I do the majority of the laundry in our house, I love the thing.  It is sturdy, it folds rapidly and makes laundry that much less of a chore.  And it comes in a smaller size for kids’ clothes.

2. Hercules Hooks: These might not look like (or cost) a whole lot, but they are a lifesaver, particularly for moms who need to get things done around the house but may not be super handy (or get tired of asking their spouses).  These work quickly, effectively, and don’t take a lot of know-how!

3. Dryer Balls: Fortunately, these can now be found cheaply in your local drug store, but yet another great invention. In the winter, I still use fabric softener at the same time because the air is so dry.  But they are a big help for a little bit of cash.

Anyone else have products they’ve loved/hated?

Copyright 2008-2009 Kristin Delfau, author of Turbo-Mom's Guide to Saving Money Without Wasting Time a womens' personal finance book, and Aji Publishing.

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