Busted at the Fair: Buy Slushy Magic

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the skepticism surrounding "made for TV" products, specifically focusing on a product called "Slushy Magic" that claims to create slushy drinks using salt water packets. Participants share personal experiences and observations from a fair, highlighting concerns about the product's effectiveness and the marketing tactics used during demonstrations.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant describes witnessing a product demonstration where the effectiveness of "Slushy Magic" was called into question, noting that the product relies on salt water, which most home freezers cannot freeze.
  • Another participant mentions the use of a medical-grade freezer during the demonstration, suggesting that this may mislead consumers about the product's performance in typical home conditions.
  • Some participants express skepticism about the taste of a slushy made with salt water, questioning its appeal.
  • A participant shares a related observation about other "energy saving" products, highlighting a wind turbine that would not be cost-effective, further emphasizing the theme of questionable product claims.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally express skepticism about the effectiveness and marketing of the product, but there is no consensus on the overall validity of such products or their claims.

Contextual Notes

Limitations include assumptions about consumer knowledge of chemistry and the specific conditions under which the product may or may not work effectively.

Greg Bernhardt
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Last week I went to my state's fair and one of my favorite places is the expo center. It's shop full of "made for tv" products. I've always been suspicious of the products being presented, but for the first time I witnessed a booth getting busted! I forget the exact name of the product, something like "Magic Smoothie", but it was being sold as an easy way to make a smoothie. Essentially they were just selling cube sized packets that you throw in the freezer. The packets contained a solution that was mostly salt water. For anyone with a high school chemistry education the problem becomes immediately clear. The vast majority of home freezers can't freeze salt water. However their demonstrations worked! While I was there an older lady stormed the demonstration and demanded a refund claiming the product didn't work. The man on stage basically just told her she did it wrong. After a few minutes of arguing the demonstrators wife let slip that the freezer they use on stage is medical grade. After that slip the demonstrator got very heated and basically told the lady to get lost, in front of everyone lol. We left as well, but came back 30min later and a new crowd was around and stupidly captivated. Like they never lost a step.

The website is buyslushymagic.com
 
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Oh yeah - anything involving a "balance test" :)
 


Salt water smoothy? Doesn't sound like it tastes good anyway :-p
 


Ryan_m_b said:
Salt water smoothy? Doesn't sound like it tastes good anyway :-p

I forgot to mention you fill a glass up with juice, drop a few packets in (they stay sealed) and then the juice becomes a slush :)
 


My dad pointed out a couple of "energy saving or generating" ones at a show.

Basically their "ultra efficient" wind turbine for the top of your house roof wouldn't even power a couple of light bulbs at full capacity and would have taken approximately 300 years to pay for itself.