As Seen on TV: But Wait! There's More

Our annual 4-star ratings of the favorites and flops sold on TV.

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.

A Few Strike Outs

PetVac ($29.95) 1 star
Promise: "Say goodbye to unwanted pet hair" with this wet/dry vacuum system designed to provide "safe, gentle, hassle-free grooming to all pets." And when you're done, if everything goes according to plan, "there's no mess to clean up."

Results: Why didn't somebody think of this sooner? Probably because most animals are scared of the vacuum -- and our menagerie was no exception. Even the biggest dogs ran scared, with the Vac in the next room no less (the long hose lets you do that). Our animal lovers agreed: "The PetVac really sucks."

Hercules Hook (20 for $14.99) 2 stars
Promise: No doubt you've heard the bearded pitchman holler, "Just push, set and hang!" He says -- er, shouts -- that the Hercules Hook is the easiest way ever to put up pictures, mirrors, shelves -- "up to 150 pounds" -- without tools.

Results: They're sturdy, all right, and glide right into drywall and wood paneling, leaving only a "pin-sized hole." But when it comes to plaster, you need "herculean force" to push the hook into the wall, and even some of our strongest testers struck out.

EZ Up Chin-Up Bar ($59.99) 3 stars
Promise: The old excuses are out the window if you've got this "portable gym" that fits right in your doorway. No screws or bolts needed -- "its cantilever design uses your body weight (up to 300 pounds) to keep the bar in balance." After your workout, just take it down and store it away. "Also works as a push-up bar and sit-up spotter."

Results: We tried it in the RD gym, and exercisers mostly agreed it felt "solid" and "easy to hold on to" but required a tall doorway with thick molding to feel supported when doing pull-ups.

Grease Bullet ($10 for 12 tablets) 1 star
Promise: In the ad, you see a parade of pots turn shiny and sparkling -- "like new!" -- after soaking in hot water with the Grease Bullet. "Armed with enzymes that eat away baked-on grime," this effervescent tablet dissolves in the sink (after you mash it up) and promises to cut the grease without using elbow grease.

Results: If it sounds too good to be true, that's because it is. Every one of our at-home chefs was disappointed. Even after an overnight soak, pots still needed scrubbing. And if the Grease Bullet is "nontoxic" and "easy on your hands," why do you have to wear gloves when stirring up the water?

Deni Soft Serve Ice Cream Maker ($59.95) 1 star
Promise: If the Jetsons had an ice cream maker, it would have looked something like this. Sleek and space-agey, it promises "delectable frozen treats in minutes." Make slushes, smoothies, sherbets, even soft-serve ice cream -- "fun for any occasion!"

Results: Before you promise the kids all this frozen fun, you'd better plan ahead. You have to freeze the bowl for 8 to 12 hours first, and then chill the ingredients for another four. And our ice cream came out "mushy" and "yucky." If you've got a craving, try the ice cream shop instead.

"How Cool is That?"

Huggable Hangers (84-piece set for $89) 3 stars
Promise: The hangers with the soft touch, to hug shirts and sweaters without creating those annoying pointy shoulders. "Strong enough for the heaviest coat." At only a quarter-inch thick, they're about one-fourth the width of a padded hanger -- so you "double, triple, even quadruple your closet space."

Results: While some testers -- mostly men -- said they're perfectly happy with their messy closets and free wire hangers, female fashionistas found these truly huggable. The only hesitation was over the price: To most, the set seemed expensive, and we'd forgo the shoe bag and other "extras" in favor of more hangers. Then again, if you're closet challenged, the space-saving benefits can be priceless.

Touchless Trashcan ($99) 4 stars
Promise: With its "built-in Smart-Chip," this can senses when you've got garbage to toss. The lid pops open automatically, then closes again.

Results: "A product that anticipates your needs -- how cool is that?" said one tester, who admitted, "I actually missed the Touchless Trashcan after only two days." "Throwing things away has never been so much fun!" raved another, who said she'd snap one up herself if it cost a little less. One drawback: Big dogs can open the lid, too, so pet owners be warned!

My Lil' Reminder (2 for $9.99) 2 stars
Promise: Never forget where you parked the car again! This "tiny" tapeless recorder takes notes and reminds you later. Just press a button and speak. "Perfect for shopping lists, phone numbers, directions," the Lil' Reminder asserts itself as "the easy way to remember everything."

Results: With just 20 seconds of recording time (a microscopic footnote on the instructions), "your list better be short, or else you'd better be a fast talker." And you can't add to the recording, so if you forgot milk on your grocery list, you've got to take it from the top. In the end, we agreed: The Lil' Reminder is something to forget.

The DVD Stripper 4 stars
Last year we gave the CD Stripper four stars. This year we loved the DVD Stripper just as much. Open movies and video games in one swift motion, with no peeling, tearing or sharp blades. Buy one, or both, at thecdstripper.com.

To Order or Not to Order?
Just plug in numbers, use some simple math and you'll have your answer.

$ ÷ A - S - (I x T) = B

$ = Cost of the item, rounded to the nearest $5.

A = Appeal of the Internet offer. Do you get cool freebies? Rate the total package from 1 (love it) to 5 (not so much).

S = Shipping cost.

I = Instant-gratification factor. How soon do you want the product? Rate from 1 (can wait) to 5 (need it now).

T = Touchy-feely factor. Do you want to check out the product up close? Rate from 1 (no need) to 5 (gotta touch it).

If B (Buy) is greater than 0, then pick up the phone or order online. Less than 0, it's smarter to go to the store.