Products and Gadgets that Look Like a Great...

What products or gadgets have you tried, and realized they just aren't what you hoped they'd be?

Here are some things that I've bought or used that looked like a great idea but weren't.

Glad ForceFlex trash bags - I really liked this idea. Didn't turn out to be so great. I bought the size I use in all other brands of trash bags but these were much smaller. I had to stretch the bag just to fit it around the edges of my trash can. The bummer is that I bought two boxes.
Electric pizza cutter - We saw a cousin of mine using one several years ago and Greg especially loved the idea. So a couple years ago now I was looking for a birthday present idea and actually found one on eBay. It's a nice idea but doesn't really work that great. It just vibrates the blade but doesn't actually propel it. It makes a lot of noise too and scares the beejezes out of the cats.
Hands Free set for cell phone - These things don't stay in my ear and I just get tangled in the cord. Haven't tried the new bluetooth things yet, too expensive right now for the small amount of driving I do. I'd rather spend my money on other things right now.
Cat grooming gloves - Spunky doesn't enjoy being brushed, he doesn't have a lot of fat on him and I think it's uncomfortable. I'd seen these gloves that are supposed to be great to use instead of a brush. They don't work worth a dang. More hair comes off when I pet the cats with my bare hands than with these things.
Specialty Tupperware - Tupperware makes all kinds of products now designed specifically for microwaving things, refigerating fruits & vegetables and for freezing things. A great idea but I hardly use them for their intended purpose. I do use the microwave ones for leftovers though. The others just sit in my cupboard.
Volumizing Shampoo - I have very fine hair that just lays there limp. I keep getting stuck in the trap of buying a shampoo that says it will volumize my hair and and more body. All they do is leave a buildup of guck and makes my hair look and feel oily.

What have you tried that just didn't do what you thought it would?

Comments: 18

Clicker F Jan 21, 2007, 2:40pm EST

Thanks for the heads up on these products. I like to know what doesn't work as I'm on a fixed income and it's a bummer when I splurge and buy a labor saving or cool tool and then find I wasted my money.

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M.K. Mueller Jan 21, 2007, 3:03pm EST

I hate that too. I always feel foolish when I've done that.

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M.K. Mueller Jan 21, 2007, 4:43pm EST

You're right, there are so many 'wonder' products out there to get rid of or take care of the unpleasantries of having a pet.

I wonder if I'm just not using a big enough size for those Glad bags. They do stretch and are strong to not tear but I can't fit much into it.

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Amy Kauffman Jan 21, 2007, 6:14pm EST

I bought one of those rubber cat grooming brushes and it doesn't work at all! It just gets lots of cat hair all voer the place and on me and develops a bunch of static, without actually getting my cat "clean".

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Marianne R. Jan 21, 2007, 6:52pm EST

I enjoyed reading this. I can't think of anything I purchased recently that didn't do what it was supposed to.

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M.K. Mueller Jan 21, 2007, 6:53pm EST

On the topic of pets and products, has anyone tried the Dyson animal vac? I'm wondering if it's really as good as it proclaims to be.

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Sue P. Jan 21, 2007, 7:12pm EST

Thanks for a great consumer report on these pet products. It's very useful information that we can all use!

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M.K. Mueller Jan 22, 2007, 2:46pm EST

Thank you Kathleen! I appreciate the advise. My current vacuum just doesn't do a great job. We have a large area rug that's really tight woven and it really only gets the surface hair.

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Gary Fischbach Jan 22, 2007, 5:34pm EST

Water Wiggle. I'm no sucker for TV infomercials or ads on TV. EXCEPT............ maybe 5 years ago or so, when my son was 5 or 6, we were watching TV and this ad came on for a device you hook to your garden hose and kids run through it. Well, seeing my house seemed to have the best garden hose and sprinklers that attracted a jillion neighborhood kids, and after buying enough replacement sprinklers, I fell to the ad.

I don't know what came over me, I said, "hey, does that look cool?", my kid said, of course, "really cool dad". I pulled out the credit card and made the call. $19.99 plus about 10 bucks shipping. WHAT A PIECE OF CRAP! The hoses didn't wiggle, it was junk. My wife told me that my kid said it sucked. Those were her words, not his. My wife laughed and couldn't believe I'd buy something like that in the first place.

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Nathan S. Jan 23, 2007, 2:41am EST

I can tell you one thing on the topic of the volumizing shampoo. All shampoo that you can buy at walmart or target is all the same and If you want shampoo that works you have to buy it from a saloon and pay a little more. Also shampoo can't revitalize your hair. Your hair is dead. The only way to get actual healthy hair is to eat better food. I know this because my wife is a stylist and whenever the commercials come on she yells at the t.v.

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M.K. Mueller Jan 23, 2007, 11:54pm EST

Nathan, you're right about buying from the salons. I know a lot of people don't want to pay that kind of money but I really don't have much luck with retail store products.

My aunt is a stylist and when I mentioned that my husband used Pert Plus she said to tell him to go use it to wash his car tires because that's all it's good for. :) Since I do the buying he's subject to whatever I buy for him now, I haven't had any complaints so far....

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Mariana T. Jan 27, 2007, 4:21pm EST

I haven't tried any of the other "gadgets" however I do agree with you about the shampoo. I have hair that just hangs - I have found that this lemon shampoo that I get from Trader Joe's works like magic...it strips the gunk and your hair smells good and looks great and it's only $3.00 a bottle - imagine all the money you've poured into hair...there's a couple of others I like too but can't think of the names right now...I think most shampoos are pretty good if the pH is right...or if it has a pH...lol..Salud.

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jessie voigts Jan 27, 2007, 10:12pm EST

that is too funny! i don't try many new things - we don't buy a lot, trying to be minimalists...that cat hair glove cracks me up!!

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M.K. Mueller Jan 29, 2007, 7:19pm EST

I love your comment Mariana, "if it has ph." Some of the hair stuff out there scares me. I'll have to check out the lemon stuff from Trader Joe's, there's supposed to be one opening soon in my town. I haven't been there before but have heard lots of great reviews.

Jessie - There are so many things out there a person could try out; I typically will try something new if it's something I already use and think there's a chance that the "new and improved" might work. Big ticket items I've got to research first; it's not worth throwing money away just to try it out. :)

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wiaka's just ... curious Feb 10, 2007, 1:03pm EST

my daughter has always had oily hair. she is a blonde with real fine hair, none of the hair products got rid of the oil in her hair.

Here is something that worked for her and it makes her hair shine:
Olive oil
Lemon juice from whole lemon
2 Tbsp coarse sea salt

Apply in warm shower and rinse after ten minutes. Than shampoo as usual

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Debbie G. Apr 5, 2007, 5:47pm EDT

A computer. It does a whole lot more than a typewriter. :)

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Products and Gadgets that Look Like a Great Idea...but aren't.

Comments: 18

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