Best and Worst As Seen on TV Products

Once upon a time having the "As Seen on TV" label on a product immediately attached to it the notion of schlock. Sure, some of it's still junk, but plenty of the products are pretty good — useful products that just happen to be in that genre and have kitschy pitches.

So, using a rating system that involved testing all of these products (but not scientifically), we've identified five "As Seen on TV" products worth the price, and five you can live without — plus we're throwing in this special offer for absolutely no money down: Tips on how to avoid getting ripped off when buying them.

Five "As Seen on TV" products we like:

• Grill Daddy: This gadget is a heavy duty grill brush that drips water through the brush, creating steam. It really works. It comes in several styles and truly can make a filthy grill rack pretty darned clean. You can find them online for $12-$50, depending on the model, from stores like Home Depot.
• Cold Fire: This is a handy aerosol fire extinguisher that is inexpensive, doesn't take up much space and actually works. Find it at Chefs for $20.
• Big Top Cupcake: This silicone baking set makes it easy to make a fancy and unusual cupcake shaped cake. Seriously. You can pick one up at Ace Hardware for $20.
• Yoshi Blade: It's a ceramic knife that really outperforms many of its metallic brethren. Just remember, though, it's a slicing knife not a chopper. To find one, check out Walgreens, which has it for $20. (And if you want to know more about knives for outdoor uses, see our new guide to deals on knives.
• Furminator: This pet grooming tool isn't cheap, but it seems to work pretty well. It comes in a variety of sizes and styles (hence the price variability). Try a pet store like TSCPets.com for models starting at $12.

• BarkOff: It's supposed to magically stop dogs from barking. Tell that to the dogs, if they can hear you over their barking. If you want to test it out anyway, you can order it from Improvements for $10.
• Gyro Bowl: An interesting idea that gets a close-but-not-quite. The bowl is supposed to keep little ones from spilling their food as they toddle around. It can work for the less active kid, but forget about it if you've got one of those high-energy models. Available from Taylor Gifts for $13.
• Robo Stir: This thing is supposed to keep stirring your soup, gravy or whatever while you're busy elsewhere. Stick with the spoon. Available from the As Seen on TV store for $11.
• Snazzy Napper: OK, it's a blanket with holes so you can still breathe while you're sleeping in some public place. Eeesh. Get a room. Order direct from the site Snazzynapper.com, prices start at $15.
• Jupiter Jack: The idea is to turn your car radio into a cell phone speaker. But a lot of folks complain it just doesn't work or only works a little bit, some of the time. That's not something you want to deal with when the gadget is intended to help make your driving experience easier. Available from Office Depot for $10.

For reading those lists, you've won some tips to keep in mind when buying these products:

• If you buy from the TV ads or the product websites, be aware that most will try to steer you to pay extra shipping and handling (get one free!), upsell you and get you signed up for recurring charges for some club or program. The shipping and handling, even for one item, will be steep.
• Given the above, try not to buy these items by calling the number on TV or the product sites. Amazon is one of the best places to get a wide selection of these products (when ordered from Amazon and not an affiliate) so you can get free shipping and their service. Other good sites to consider: Target and Walmart.
• Be sure to check out this video about buying As Seen on TV products presented by gadget guru Lisa Kaplan Gordon on TheConsumerChronicle.com.

Got a favorite "As Seen on TV" product? Tell us your picks below in our comments section.

Mitch Lipka is an investigative journalist for consumer issues who formerly wrote for WalletPop.com, Consumer Reports, thePhiladelphia Inquirer and the Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel,among other places. Follow him on Twitter — @mitchlipka or on Facebook. You can also sign up for an e-mail alert for all dealnews features.

Photo Credit: Michael_Lehet via Flickr