Gimmicks

For awhile now, I've been annoyed by the "new & improved" tagline on products. Most of the improvements are just gimmicks. For example, the Venus Vibrance. Do we really need a vibrating razor? A few months ago, I received a coupon for a free one from CVS (I do a LOT of shopping there, so I am constantly getting those "Extra Care" coupons. Anyways, while I would never spend money on the Vibrance, especially after all the bitching I did when it came out, I am always more than happy to get something for free. And let me just say, it lived up to my expectations- which were that it did exactly the same job as its non-vibrating counterpart.

Another example; KY Warming Liquid. This has got to be in the top five of "Dumbest Ideas Ever." Really, how many of us want something that warms in that area? I don't need to use it in one region, but I do in another; and trust me, I don't want anything getting warm there. Furthermore, it doesn't actually change temperature (yes, I tried it- but I didn't buy it). It feels more like a watered-down, less potent version of Icy Hot (don't ask how I know what Icy Hot feels like when applied to certain areas- you don't want to know). It felt like what I imagine an STD feels like in its beginning stages- a slight burning. And who in the hell is buying this stuff on Ebay? No, you aren't hallucinating- people are selling it on an auction site. I didn't look at any of them to see if they were new or used, but I sincerely hope people aren't selling half-used bottles of the stuff.

It all comes down to the fact that we Americans will purchase anything, and I mean anything, if companies "improve" on their already existent products. Regular KY: great product. KY Warming Liquid: shitty idea. Save your money for products that are actually useful.