With traditional TV being less popular nowadays, one form of advertising that may soon disappear is the infomercial, and that’s a shame. I still remember the eccentric pitchmen, such as Billy Mays, to this day. I’ll never forget that if you call in the next ten minutes, they’ll double your offer. How they knew you called ten minutes after the commercial aired is beyond me. Most of all, I remember the products that were useless or designed to solve a problem that didn’t exist. Yet, these products sold like Tickle Me Elmos in 1996. We’re here to look at 27 ridiculous infomercial products that sold well and laugh at fools and their money.
#1: The Flowbee (1988)
Do you have a vacuum hose? The Flowbee will turn it into a salon-style haircutter for you or your family. Don’t have a vacuum? Don’t worry; they sell a mini-vac. It sounds utterly ridiculous, but everyone had these back in the day. Why set up an appointment with a stylist when you could just cut your own hair at home?
And it’s still around, too. George Clooney claims he has been cutting his hair with one for 25 years. I’m not sure I believe him, but that’s one heck of a celebrity endorsement. Plus, it’s much cheaper than going to a barber. A Flowbee only costs… $250. And the mini-vac isn’t included? Let me just make an appointment with my stylist.