Benji involved in another sham

[Yossarian]

What do you mean you're not sure if it's scientific hokum? Not one of the claims about what their product "may" do is scientifically verifiable. Consumer law is there to protect all consumers, including dumb ones. You can't (well at least you shouldn't) be able to even suggest a product does anything that there is absolutely zero chance that a product is having that effect.

Just because it's not proven, doesn't mean it doesn't exist.

**Benji's entitled to believe whatever the hell he likes but he shouldn't be lending his name to something that is going to suck money out of gullible punters.**

These things are no better than people who sell betting systems.

IMO Benji can endorse what he wants, if the product is faulty or whatever, it's his rep, and we shouldn't be the ones telling him what to endorse and what not to.
As for the gullible people, it's your fault for believing it IMO, just because Benji is endorsing it doesn't mean it's 100% good. You should do your own research before going out and buying this stuff.

"Just because it's not proven, doesn't mean it doesn't exist."

Yeah that's now really how consumer law works. You need to be able to prove your claims rather than others need to prove your claims don't stand up. Do your own research? Come on now… What I should conduct some tests on my noodles to make sure they're 97% fat free like the packet claims? That's just ridiculous. As I said, a vendor needs to be able to defend the claims they are making, consumers shouldn't and don't have to make their own enquiries as to the veracity or otherwise of the claims.

I didn't see he couldn't endorse them I said he SHOULDN'T endorse them because they seem to be a heap of crap.

 

[Yossarian]

the all important placebo effect, if he believes it works, it probably does!

That said, I was at a rugby carnival where they were selling the power bands, they were "demonstrating there powers" with a number of exercises, i thought it was a load of crap, but the exercises still worked. I was at a loss to explain it, still am. I was skeptical of the tests which the skeptics refer to as "parlour tricks", but we replicated the tests ourselves, feeling they we "cheating on the tests", but got the same results, perplexing me further.
Someone who knows better than I, can placebo still work, if I think it is a load of crap. In the end I was thinking maybe there is someting to it, but thought it impossible.

It's called **''Applied Kinesiology''** and it's a very simple yet convincing trick to do

This fantastic video shows how it works
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Piu75P8sxTo

Sorry Benji, it's a load of crap

There is an international $100,000 prize offered by the JREF for anyone who can prove that this stuff actually works. So far no one has been able to claim it.
Meanwhile average Joe from Ashfield is parting ways with $80 because his kid saw Benji wearing it.
That $80 could have been better spent at GearZone on a jersey, not lining the pockets of a fraud

JREF - I assume that's James Randi's organisation Kul? That man should get a nobel prize for the work he's done exposing frauds. Some of the reports they've done on psychics and water diviners are hilarious when you read the excuses and BS that these people come up with when inevitably they fail to prove their "abilities".

 

[innsaneink]

who cares, seriously.

It's a real concern Eddie. It's easy to simply state caveat emptor, but it is a worry that companies are allowed to market this sort of product without any credible evidence pertaining to it's actual capabilties.

I agree that a fool and his money are easily parted, **but when reputable athletes and sports stars are also promoting the product, <big>it increases the profile of a product</big>** of which whose credibility is a fallacy, or at least unconfirmed at the very best.

Id never heard of these until a minute ago
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I didnt hear people complaining about Proton sponsoring the club when in reality they produce deathtrap vehicles…as ANCAP safety ratings show

...................... "Crash statistics show that occupants of 1 or 2-Stars vehicles have twice the risk of receiving life-threatening injuries in a crash, compared with 4 or 5-Star vehicles - at a time when 4 and 5-Star ratings are becoming increasingly available for new car buyers," ANCAP Chairman Lauchlan McIntosh said.
>
“New vehicles that achieve only a 1 or 2-Star ANCAP rating - while meeting the ADRs - are a cause for concern."............................
http://www.themotorreport.com.au/43501/proton-jumbuck-great-wall-utes-perform-poorly-in-ancap-crash-safety-tests

 

[Kul]

Proton were crap

But Proton didn't claim that they had a 5-star safety rating.
If NRG took the bogus claims off their packaging and went with the line that their product was simply a bit of fashion then I'd no problem with benji endorsing it - sucks to the person for buying it. The same could be said for suits or shoes.

But instead they claim it's "scientifically proven" to do X, Y and Z when it clearly does not.

 

[innsaneink]

Fair enough.

Im no legal eagle, have no experience in consumer law….are they breaking any laws?

 

[Yossarian]

They've been pretty careful to use the word "may" when making their claims so they possibly just fall on the legal side. I'd still maintain that is still deceptive conduct. There is absolutley zero evidence to suggest they'll do anything other than lighten your wallet and possibly give you a rash on your wrist.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

I'm not even so much worried about people in their 20's or 30's parting with their cash for this, it's more the mid-teens who have casual jobs and having an identity such as Benji would appeal to that demographic. To me, having Benji as a face of the product is for the express purpose of targeting the hard earned of impressionable kids.

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

When I saw the title of this thread I thought it was something bad again. Like another fisty cuffs incident. Very relieved.

thats what I thought also. havent we been here before. next thread. more happy threads for summer and xmas please fellow forum members.

 

[Tiger_Watto]

Good on him… Benji only has a short lifespan as a commercial selling tool. Take whatever money you can get Benji as no one is gona put food on your plate in 30 years...

My only concern is if this is the best Tauber can get for one of the hottest properties in Rugby League, I'd suggest he might need to look at a new Sports Management company?!

 

[Suzie-Q]

When I saw the title of this thread I thought it was something bad again. Like another fisty cuffs incident. Very relieved.

Same here!!

Anybody who is stupid enough to fork out eighty bucks for a rubber bracelet deserves to lose their money imo.

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

Good on him… Benji only has a short lifespan as a commercial selling tool. Take whatever money you can get Benji as no one is gona put food on your plate in 30 years...

My only concern is if this is the best Tauber can get for one of the hottest properties in Rugby League, I'd suggest he might need to look at a new Sports Management company?!

Yes, tiger watto - let the kids dare to dream.

 

[shifty]

What a crap subject.

x2.

 

[imZerroo]

Im no legal eagle, have no experience in consumer law….are they breaking any laws?

that^, unless it is proven that they are breaking the law, why shouldn't Benji endorse whatever he likes and whatever gives him cash?
This is in the Wests Tigers forum, so I assume we only care about whether Benji should endorse this product or not.
My ans. is he can do whatever he likes because this product is not illegal (until prove) and we shouldn't be ones telling a millionare what to endorse and what not to.

Also,

Anybody who is stupid enough to fork out eighty bucks for a rubber bracelet deserves to lose their money imo.

agree with that^

 

[Kul]

that^, unless it is proven that they are breaking the law, why shouldn't Benji endorse whatever he likes and whatever gives him cash?
This is in the Wests Tigers forum, so I assume we only care about whether Benji should endorse this product or not.
My ans. is he can do whatever he likes because this product is not illegal (until prove) and we shouldn't be ones telling a millionare what to endorse and what not to.

look it's hard to disagree with you here in regards to what benji can and cannot do, however the last product he and the club endorsed that was like this (PowerBalance Bands) was deemed to be fraudulent by the ACCC and the company has now gone belly up here in Australia - a big win!

I raised concerns about Benji and the club being involved with PowerBalance last year and people shot me down over it. The guys behind NRG Ion Bands may have written their promotional material a little more wisely this time, but the product is essentially the same thing, just hocus pocus magic amulets, so as long as Benji is associating himself with this company I will continue to state the facts, the science, the truth and hopefully prevent at least one person from buying it.

Benji has the right to promote it and I have the right to point out that it's a scam.

 

[imZerroo]

You have every right to think what you think and I agree with you, it probably is a sham. However, unless it's proven, it's not.
As for Benji, I think a couple of posts in this thread call it a disgrace that Benji is endorsing this product. We should have nothing to do with it and if you only want to point out that it's a sham, maybe this thread should be in the "General Discussion" section?

 

[Kul]

You have every right to think what you think and I agree with you, it probably is a sham. However, unless it's proven, it's not.

Incorrect

the onus is on NRG Ion Bands to prove that their product:

* - Is capable of delivering ION energy to the body through negative ion's (sp) and titanium
- Results in faster absorption of ION energy (what ever ION energy is)
- Increases blood flow
- Increases circulation
- Revitalises red blood cells
- Neutralises free radicals
- all through high amounts of negative IONS
- Was the cause of Benji having a blinder during the 9 game streak

see my point?

if they can prove that their product does this then they would instantly win the JREF US$100,000 prize that's on offer for the first person to prove that this product works. Funnily enough they haven't claimed it 😕

 

[imZerroo]

Has there been legal action taken against this already?

 

[AmericanHistoryX]

You have every right to think what you think and I agree with you, it probably is a sham. However, unless it's proven, it's not.
As for Benji, I think a couple of posts in this thread call it a disgrace that Benji is endorsing this product. We should have nothing to do with it and if you only want to point out that it's a sham, maybe this thread should be in the "General Discussion" section?

yes totally agree, this thread should be in general discussion - mods do what you have to do - sorry Kul, no disrespect - but this IS just general discussion.

 

[Yossarian]

You have every right to think what you think and I agree with you, it probably is a sham. However, unless it's proven, it's not.
As for Benji, I think a couple of posts in this thread call it a disgrace that Benji is endorsing this product. We should have nothing to do with it and if you only want to point out that it's a sham, maybe this thread should be in the "General Discussion" section?

It's this kind of attitude that gave us Raddison Maine as our major sponsor! No disrespect imZerroo but just because something hasn't been declared illegal doesn't mean you shouldn't give it a wide berth if it looks dodgy and your reputation is on the line.

 

[Icon]

I'm not sure if i remember this correctly but i'm pretty sure when the Powerbands were around 'Australian Sceptics' had the same bands made in China (were the originals came from) and had them exported into Australia and sold as Placebo bands at cost…which i think was around $1.

Instead of NRG we could make them PLCBO

A great way to make a point!