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Infomercial Info -
Research Links

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NOTE: This page Under Construction/Conversion
This page has not been completely converted to OFPv2 Standards.
When this is completed, this paragraph will go away.
Meanwhile, all external links on this page open a new window.

This page contains links to sites where you can find information on various infomercials. Most have been used in my research. Some haven't - I just ran across them, and they didn't contain information on that for which I was looking.

If you would like to find your own "negative reviews", and would like to narrow your search for "bad" stuff, more than I, use the company or person names (quoted), or the company abbreviations, with the terms "sham", "scam", "scams", "flim-flam", "complain", "complaints", "rip", "rip-off", "fraud", "warning", similar words, and maybe just "review", and see what you find.

WARNING: If you consider any site's offers, at least do as much research on them as you would in looking for a new house, car or doctor before buying anything. Also, be sure to read and understand any company's Privacy Policies and Terms/Conditions, too.

Products you've seen on TV

Where you can find most, if not all, of the products advertised in infomercials, in some commercials, and on some of the home shopping networks. Please be aware that many of these sites also carry the health-related items you've seen. Be sure to read the Health-Related Division on this site. If you insist on buying a product you've seen on television, be sure to all of these sites, as well as the product's site, itself, for the best price. And watch those Privacy Policies, Purchase Agreements and Terms/Conditions!

From the Government

These are only a very few of the government sites with information for the consumer. You can find a lot more than I've listed by starting with with The US Government's Official Web Portal (FirstGov.gov)

Reviews of those products (and pitch-people)

WARNING: Be aware that some of these sites are attempting to sell their own or lead you into buying another product. If you consider their (or others') offers, at least do as much research on them as you would in looking for a new house, car or doctor before buying anything. Also, be sure to read and understand any company's Privacy Policies and Terms/Conditions, too. A "$$" indicates these sites.

 

Business Opportunity Articles

General Business

Use these links to find and read some of the numerous FREE articles on business.

  • Business Startups ($$) - Did not review whole site. It seems to give advice on starting a business, and includes information about "legitimate business startups" (hence the $$)

Real Estate

Use these links to find reviews about specifically real-estate investment infomercials, or to find and read some of the numerous FREE articles out there in internet-land on R/E Investment.

Specifically Health-Related Infomercials

One of the best sites I've found (besides WebMD) for health-related information, especially relating to infomercial products, is Quackwatch, operated by Stephen Barrett, M.D.

  • Quackwatch - Twenty-Five Ways to Spot Quacks and Vitamin Pushers Off Site New Window
  • Quackwatch - "Your Guide to Quackery, Health Fraud, and Intelligent Decisions" - a Quackwatch is a "nonprofit corporation whose purpose is to combat health-related frauds, myths, fads, fallacies, and misconduct." Medical stuff, written by MDs - BE SURE TO CHECK ANY HEALTH-RELATED ITEMS ON THIS SITE.

    Quackwatch has 16 Affiliate Links. SOME of them that appear they may be related to Health-Related Infomercials are:
    • Casewatch - "Your Guide to Health Fraud- and Quackery-Related Legal Matters" - This site means to provide "a clearinghouse that will make it easier for consumers, attorneys, government enforcement officials, and other interested parties to locate documents and pursue cases related to health fraud and quackery. Our emphasis will be on situations that involve false or inflated health claims for products and services. " (from Casewatch's Mission statement). Casewatch includes * FDA warning letters and civil injunctive proceedings, * FTC false advertising cases, * Civil actions by state attorneys general, * Federal, state, and local criminal cases, and more.
    • Homeowatch - "Your Skeptical Guide to Homeopathic History, Theories, and Current Practices" - "Homeopathic "remedies" are usually harmless, but their associated misbeliefs are not. When people are healthy, it may not matter what they believe. But when serious illness strikes, false beliefs can lead to disaster. This Web site provides information about homeopathy that is difficult or impossible to find elsewhere. The bottom line is that it is senseless and does not work."
    • Infomercial Watch - "A Critical View of the Health Infomercial Marketplace" - "Except for some exercise-related items that may work if the user does not become bored with them, few if any health-related products sold through 30-minute infomercials will live up to the claims made for them. This site, which is under construction, will provide investigative reports and archive documents related to consumer protection. Meanwhile, the best way to protect yourself is to ignore all health-related infomercials."
    • MLM Watch - "The Skeptical Guide to Multilevel Marketing" - "Accurate information about multilevel marketing is not easy to get. Few publishers, editors, and broadcasters are willing to examine this topic in depth. Most reports reaching the public express what the companies and individual distributors would like people to believe. Nearly all MLM companies selling health-related products exaggerate their value, and the vast majority of people who become distributors do not make significant income."
    • Naturowatch - "The Skeptical Guide to Naturopathic History, Theories, and Practices" - "Many naturopathic theories and practices are not based on the body of basic knowledge related to health, disease, and health care which has been widely accepted by the scientific community. Moreover, naturopathic education does not prepare practitioners to make adequate diagnoses and provide appropriate treatment. This Web site provides information about naturopathy that is difficult or impossible to find elsewhere."
    • Nutriwatch - "Your Guide to Sensible Nutrition" - "provide[s] comprehensive information about nutrition and food safety, including full-text copies or links to source documents that are important to educators, students, and journalists. Our other activities will include: * Analysis of health claims made for nutrition-related products; * Warning about inappropriate claims; * Reporting illegal claims for products to regulatory agencies; * Helping people seek legal redress against dietary supplement companies.
    • etc. (see pull-down menu at top of Quackwatch's page)
  • American Herbal Products Association - Their Mission: "[T]o promote the responsible commerce of herbal products, and [their activities] are undertaken to maintain and improve market opportunities for companies that sell herbs, herbal products and other health-related products, and to ensure that consumers continue to enjoy informed access to a wide choice of goods." [My emphasis -bs]
  • Taking herbs? It could be an Rx for disaster - Today: Food - MSNBC.com - "While officially not allowed to be claimed as preventing or curing diseases, these supplements are often touted as being necessary for healthy living. In some cases they may be helpful; for the most part, they are not necessary at all — and in a few instances, particularly when interacting with pharmaceuticals, they may actually be dangerous."  [My emphasis -bs]
  • Government Information Links
    • from the FTC publication, "Miracle Health Claims: Add a Dose of Skepticism" Off Site New Window, under the subtitle "How to Spot False Claims":
       

      When evaluating health-related claims, be skeptical. If something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. Here are some signs of a fraudulent claim:

      • Statements that the product is a quick and effective cure-all or diagnostic tool for a wide variety of ailments. For example: "Extremely beneficial in the treatment of rheumatism, arthritis, infections, prostate problems, ulcers, cancer, heart trouble, hardening of the arteries and more."
      • Statements that suggest the product can treat or cure diseases. For example: "shrinks tumors" or "cures impotency."
      • Promotions that use words like "scientific breakthrough," "miraculous cure," "exclusive product," "secret ingredient" or "ancient remedy." For example: "A revolutionary innovation formulated by using proven principles of natural health-based medical science."
      • Text that uses impressive-sounding terms like these for a weight-loss product: "hunger stimulation point" and "thermogenesis."
      • Undocumented case histories or personal testimonials by consumers or doctors claiming amazing results. For example: "My husband has Alzheimer['s disease]. He began eating a teaspoonful of this product each day. And now in just 22 days he mowed the grass, cleaned out the garage, weeded the flower beds and we take our morning walk again."
      • Limited availability and advance payment requirements. For example: "Hurry. This offer will not last. Send us a check now to reserve your supply."
      • Promises of no-risk "money-back guarantees." For example: "If after 30 days you have not lost at least 4 pounds each week, your uncashed check will be returned to you."

      NOTE: It says "Be skeptical", which doesn't mean it's a bad thing. HOWEVER, what it means is when any of the above are stated, DO YOUR RESEARCH AND CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE BUYING.

    • FDA Enforcement Activities - Check the links here to see if the FDA or FTC have taken action against the promoter of a product you may be considering.
    • FDA/CFSAN Dietary Supplements: Warnings and Safety Information - Check the links here for a list of the dietary supplement ingredients for which the FDA has issued warnings.
    • FTC: Operation Cure-All - See Consumer Information and other links for more information.
    • From National Institue of Health - Office of Dietary Supplements - "The mission of ODS is to strengthen knowledge and understanding of dietary supplements by evaluating scientific information, stimulating and supporting research, disseminating research results, and educating the public to foster an enhanced quality of life and health for the U.S. population."

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