Some products just don’t live up to the hype, but that doesn’t stop people from buying them again and again. Whether it’s a “miracle” gadget, a useless beauty treatment, or a trendy scam, we’ve all seen things that somehow keep selling despite doing absolutely nothing.
So, what do you consider totally useless, but people still fall for it? We asked our community, and here are some of the best answers we received. Let us know if you agree with them – or maybe you have your own examples no one mentioned yet. Share them in the comments below!
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Religion. In general.
Depends on what you want to do with it, imo. If you want hope that there's an afterlife, then religion works. If you want to feel closer to nature, then (pagan) religion works. If you want some sort of understanding what "evil" is, then religion works. I could continue, but I'm sure you get the idea :)
Politics have become a religion, unfortunately. Religion is not the only opiate the masses are hooked on.....
Homeopathic products.
It is documented (by the producers themselves) that the expensive sugar pills have no active substance and no effect on health, other than occasional placebo. Yet, people keep buying them, and some doctors keep prescribing them. Attempts to reduce the use of homeopathy led nowhere because, as a local politician once explained, producers such as Boiron make a profit and pay millions in taxes. On patients' health expenses, but who cares?
As has been observed, at the scene of an accident, one doesn't want to hear "Let me through! I'm a herbalist!"
Or even worse, "I have the thing that made you sick! And I diluted it, until it was just one molecule left in the equivalent volume of the whole worlds oceans! And now I'm going to heal you with my believes!" 😶😅
Load More Replies...In fact it is the point of the dilution (1:10 X 10) that there be nothing of the stuff in their product b/c the stuff only works by its absence (the dilution is like dropping a teaspoon of a liquid in Lake Michigan during a storm then coming by the next day to get some). The way they determine what heals what is to give a substance to a healthy person until it makes them sick - it is then used to treat people with those symptoms
Their newest defence against accusations of not containing any active ingredients is - but it does contain the "information" of it was in contact with active ingredients. Funniest fact was - they had to recall whole batch of their products because it was contaminated - by actual active ingredient (thing it was stuff for common flu that had penicillin contamination).
I don't know what you all are talking about. Homeopathic remedies totally worked for me when I had centipede bites. Apis Mellifera...saved me from terrifyingly enormous swelling after a bite several times. Highly recommend if you visit or live in the tropics!
A honey bee? Either you don't know what homeopathic remedies are, or you're confused about what saved you.
Load More Replies...Here in the UK they are still legal but, not legal to make any medical claims for them. If anybody would like to know about the facts behind this then take a look at a book called Bad Science.
That's not true at all. If it doesn't work after 4 days your taking the wrong remedy.
Political propaganda. You can fool some of the people all of the time ...
You can fool some of the people all of the time ...and all of the people some of the time... but all you need to do is fool 50% of the voters every 4 years.
They know people like believing the convenient truths that make their BS narrative make sense
Foot toxin pads. Complete hogwash.
They sell these pads thst you stick to your feet at night and they supposedly suck out the toxins! When you wake up the pad has gone a mucky colour, and they tell you that this shows it's working. The truth is that they are using a chemical reaction very similar to that which causes a cut potato or apple to discolour.
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My Protection Against Alien Abduction votive candle didn't work at all!
No no, it worked. That abduction was a false memory planted by Bill Gates via 5G into the microchip in your head, which was implanted by vaccines. I know it's true, I read about it on the Internet.
Probably would work if your Feng Shui advisor re arranged your furniture so the candle had the best vibrations from the solar system.
Diet fads.
I went on a diet and lost 180 pounds in a month. Those soups and shakes weren't cheap....
Plug in Electronic Rodent Repellers
They absolutely do work. Some years back my wife's car was being attacked by Martens, who chewed up the the insulation under the bonnet. but thankfully none of the wiring, which they're known for where we live. Little device the sise of a matchbox, cost about EU20, all sorted, no more chewing. And then some years later we were getting them in a converted attic space, no matter how much I tried to seal off any entrance. I thought it was owls for a long time, itent on for months with droppings everywhere damaging the chipboard flooring, then I clicked what it was, got a plug-in ultrasonic thing and they've never been back since.
Load More Replies...True, they don't even have to catch them. Often the rodents will stay away if they smell a cat.
Load More Replies...Have to give the branding team credit for the name "Pest Off!" that they're sold as here.
Skin wrinkle remover!!!!
It does not remove wrinkles but it does keep your skin hydrated to prevent & make them less visable. The key is start before you get wrinkles
Best thing to do is wear sunscreen, wear sunglasses to prevent squinting and limit time in direct sunlight.
Load More Replies...Retin A works pretty well at removing the top layers of skin cells and providing the nutrients to make the next layer look young and healthy. It reduced years of acne scars for me and at age 70 people think I am no older than 50.
Those fancy skin creams that are supposed to lighten your skin and make it glow or something.
They do make your skin glow - because there is usually a little paraffin in there... read the ingredients. Wish I had,
CPR, in order to restart someone's heart. Movies and TV make people think CPR will do that. Absolutely not. CPR keeps blood and oxygen going to the brain while you wait for an Ambulance or portable defribrillator. A defribrillator also cannot re-start a flatlined heart. It can only help a heart get back into a healthier rhythm. CPR is important, but call that ambulance.
CPR KEEPS a heart beating. Almost nothing can re-start a stopped heart. Otherwise we wouldn't have nearly so many dead people.
CPR doesn't keep a heart beating! If there is a pulse, you shouldn't be doing CPR at all. CPR keeps just enough blood circulating mechanically to keep the body barely alive.
Load More Replies...I don't know anything about CPR, but I do know the heart is on the left. Guy above is pushing on the liver.
No, the person in the picture is in the correct position - heel of the hand on the sternum (breast bone) in between the n****e line. The heart sits behind the sternum, slightly to the left, which is why chest compressions are very effective. The liver sits a lot lower, behind the ribs and to the right side. The top edge of the liver sits behind the very bottom of the sternum.
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Shapewear. The wobbly bits on your body don't magically disappear with some fabric. It won't mold your body to a different shape than you have as is. No, it doesn't stay put when you move around.
I did try a corset once. I nearly choked on my own balambas. Yes it's all got to go somewhere
I don't agree with this statement as it's too generalized. Shapewear should *help* your shape, not change it. For example, I have a bit of a jiggly belly. Shapewear helps smooth it down and eliminate panty lines. If your shapewear pushes your fat out, it's the wrong style and size. Much like a bra, it's supposed to enhance your figure, not create new bulges.
Some of those over-the-counter cures for baldness include creams, gummies, and vibration tools to stimulate hair growth.
Creams, gummies, and vibration tools sound like the recipe for a fun night in to me
Static magnet therapy. There is a large ecosystem of products with embedded magnets that purport to provide all manner of health benefits. There are magnetic water treatment devices, magnetic pillows and blankets, magnetic shoe insoles, and the list goes on and on (see Nikken International). These products have a cult following of true believers, in spite of numerous scientific studies showing zero benefit over a placebo.
Anything for a cold. You can't cure a cold; you just need to wait for your body to fight it off. The time taken varies.
Cold medicine is generally to alleviate the symptoms while your body is fighting the illness.
Yup. And I find that hot drinks and soup help as well. Won't cure it, but will make me feel better
Load More Replies...You can take stuff to make it feel better though. Also stop asking for antibiotics for a virus, you utter tools.
Grandma used to say "Have a cold? Take medicine and it will only last a week. Don't take medicine and it will last 7 days"
I drink hot water with honey, lemon, ginger, and a little apple cider vinegar in it when I am sick, helps me a lot. I also make it for my husband and son.
CLR. (Calcium, Lime, & Rust remover.) Don't waste your money.
I spent four years trying to scrub the rust ring out of an old toilet before I realized I'd spent more money on cleaners than it would have taken to replace the toilet. So I replaced the toilet.
Hate that stuff. Spray Nine is way better, if you want to use stronger chemicals.
Vinegar is great & non-toxic. I put a little in my dish suds. Vinegar & baking soda works great on the tub.
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Solar-powered snake repellents are a waste of money, in my experience. Get guinea fowl instead.
I don't know about snake repellers, but my solar-powered vampire repeller works like a charm. Maybe not so much at night, but ever since I bought it I've not had to fend off a single vampire when the sun is out.
Mothballs work for snakes, but it is really hard to get them to spread their legs..I'll see my way out.
Protein Powder.
Disagree. Protein powder is a great way to increase your protein intake. But it's meant for those looking to increase muscle. You also don't want to buy ones full of unhealthy fillers.
stick to eggs, tuna and chicken - a bit more cost effective, from my experience
I also disagree with this one. If you have a medical condition like long-covid, in which your cells are using amino acids to produce energy, then you absolutely need a high-protein diet. I was craving mac n' cheese (not that much protein in it) and could not eat meat, so I added whey protein. Not only did it add protein that I need, but made the mac n' cheese super creamy.
If you're eating a lousy diet and not working out regularly, yeah don't expect to look muscular, but a good protein shake (not loaded with sugars) that has proper nutrition is great for building muscle. We also give protein shakes in the hospital
"Miracle" supplements that "improve" skin, eyes, joint pain, cognitive function, memory, digestion, energy levels, etc. And diet pills.
Do you actually mean that $50 a bottle oyster oil doesn't actually work?! Even though it's harvested from those special deep water grown beds? My life is ruined!
Load More Replies...They are all things that people try to "sell" to others.
Load More Replies...Buying vinegar and baking soda because they will accomplish just about anything when paired. All those "tips" are magical thinking.
Vinegar makes a decent weed killer, especially if you get the horticulture vinegar.
Load More Replies..."Miracle" supplements that "improve" skin, eyes, joint pain, cognitive function, memory, digestion, energy levels, etc. And diet pills.
Do you actually mean that $50 a bottle oyster oil doesn't actually work?! Even though it's harvested from those special deep water grown beds? My life is ruined!
Load More Replies...They are all things that people try to "sell" to others.
Load More Replies...Buying vinegar and baking soda because they will accomplish just about anything when paired. All those "tips" are magical thinking.
Vinegar makes a decent weed killer, especially if you get the horticulture vinegar.
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