From 
Del.icio.us
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
StumbleUpon
TwitThis
Infomercial Madness
Your secret is out: You've been buying As Seen on TV products. Not you? Then who is ordering all this stuff? Sales totaled $2 trillion (yes, that's trillion!) last year, and it takes a lot of "low, low prices" to rack up a number that big.Besides, we've got you busted: 63 percent of adult Americans cop to watching infomercials, reports the Electronic Retailing Association. And for every two people who watch a while and then flip the channel, one falls for the pitch and buys something. It's no wonder: These enticing ads account for one-quarter of all TV spots, and let's be honest, they can be tough to tune out.
Even if you've got great willpower (or TiVo), you may still be tempted. Today, dozens of products sporting those little red As Seen on TV stamps are available in stores, giving us even more opportunities to impulse buy. And therein lies one of the biggest dilemmas facing any gadget guru: Should you "Act now!" (pick up the phone and order)? Or wait to check out the goods in a brick-and-mortar store? We've devised a formula to help you make that all-important decision.
But first comes an even bigger question: Should you buy at all?
That's where our star ratings come in. Reader's Digest staffers took each of these products home and tried them out under real-world conditions. We ranked each item according to the following scale:
1 star Don't waste your money
2 stars Works, but not well enough
3 stars Good enough to buy
4 stars Gotta have it!
What lived up to its promise? Read on and we'll give you the scoop.
Vidalia Chop Wizard ($19.95) 3 stars
Promise: "Tired of all that chopping and all those tears?" asks the announcer on the Vidalia Chop Wizard's award-winning infomercial. This mini food processor without a power cord will "chop an entire onion with just one swift motion." So fast, you'll "chop, chop, chop your prep time in half!" Takes on carrots, zucchini, mushrooms, even hard-boiled eggs. The two-cup "catch container" lets you measure as you go.
Results: No lie -- in seconds, your garlic is minced, your cheese is cubed, your onions are diced into perfectly symmetrical squares. The Chop Wizard's simplicity is part of its charm: Just press down and presto! "Totally addictive," said one tester. "I found myself looking for more things to chop!" Another raved about how much she'd enjoyed making a salad. And we loved that when you're done, you can pop the chopper into the dishwasher for easy cleanup.
Swivel Sweeper ($39.98) 3 stars
Promise: Battery-powered and bagless, this "super-lightweight" (just two pounds) sweeper skips from tile to carpet to hardwood with "the ease of a Swiffer" and the pickup power of a much larger vac. Its "low-profile" head rotates 360 degrees to glide into tight spots and slide right under furniture. With "over one million sold in less than a year," it's "taking floor care by storm."
Results: Our cleaning crew loved that the Sweeper is "compact" and "easy to push around." In our at-home tests, including one in an apartment dubbed "Dust Central," sweepers said it "picked up everything." One super-fan even claimed it "makes vacuuming fun!"
Pasta Express ($19.99) 2 stars
Promise: This plastic cylinder with the "strain and drain" lid is about the size of a two-liter soda bottle (hint: and about as effective at cooking pasta). You place noodles inside, pour in boiling water, then watch your meal "cook before your eyes in minutes." The two-piece set also comes with a single-serve cylinder.
Results: Pasta "clumped at the bottom," and much of it was "far too al dente," even after extra cooking time. Why have one? we wondered. "Maybe if you don't have a pot or a colander" -- but you still have to know how to boil water.
Stick Up Bulb ($10) 4 stars
Promise: This "amazing wireless light bulb" illuminates dark doorways and cavelike closets. "Just peel and stick" the base to the wall with the attached industrial-strength adhesive. And here's a bright idea: If the power goes out, the bulb slides free so you can carry it with you. No electrician needed -- the Stick Up Bulb is battery-operated.
Results: "A million uses!" raved one tester. Others appreciated that it was "easy to put up" and "cool to the touch," if "not the most attractive fixture" to place out in the open. Still, several of us ran right out and bought more bulbs, to light up other spots where the sun doesn't shine.
Clever Clasp (8 for $14.99) 3 stars
Promise: Sure, it's clever -- a "super-strength" magnetic clasp that attaches to your jewelry for easier fastening. "Even with long nails, it's a snap!" And the price is right: In one order, you get four gold and four silver.
Results: These doodads add a half-inch to the length of the chain -- proving problematic for bracelets, but handy for short necklaces. Still, we thought the Clever Clasp might be helpful to older folks and on jewels with touchy clasps.
Sonic Blade ($99) 3 stars
Promise: "The only cordless knife with supersonic slicing power" was nominated for 2006 Product of the Year by the Electronic Retailing Association. "Precise and powerful," it runs on batteries and promises to cut meat, cake, strawberries and more "razor-thin," without sawing or squishing your food.
Results: While no one believes they'll "never use a regular knife again," our testers thought the Sonic Blade lived up to its infomercial's impressive assertions (though we didn't try cutting through a slice of bread or a four-decker sandwich). With no cord to contend with, it's "easier to maneuver," if a bit "heavier" than your standard electric knife. Plus, it costs more. But if you order from the ad, you get a set of food storage containers and other appealing extras. Any way you slice it, this knife makes the cut.
8 Warming Soup Recipes
Video: Expired Foods in Your Supermarket
4 Ways to Strengthen Your Immune System
Joke: The burial service for the elderly woman climaxed with…
Advertisement 
