Benji Marshall and his silly PowerBalance bands
- Thread starter Kul
- Start date
innsaneink
Well-known member
A $10 meal for four that actually costs $30, a credit card that makes you spend $12,000 for a $20 reward and olive oil that is anything but virgin have all netted Shonky Awards from consumer watchdog Choice.
The Coles "Under $10 meal promotion", fronted by celebrity chef Curtis Stone, was singled out for failing to include all the ingredients in the price of its budget meals that are supposed to feed a family of four.
"If you include the uncosted 'pantry items' (including 3/4 bottle of wine) in Curtis' $7.76 Coq au vin it would actually cost more than $30," Choice spokesman Christopher Zinn said.
"The deal claims you can feed four people for less than $10\. The catch is you have to already happen to have some of the ingredients in your pantry, which aren't included in the price.”
The annual Shonky Awards are handed out to highlight companies making dodgy or dubious claims about their products.
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The Commonwealth Bank was given a Shonky for its "poor and sneaky" Awards Program that provides a $20 flight reward only after the customer has spent more than $12,000 in a year.
"(T)he way the awards points are converted to Qantas Frequent Flyer points is a low-flying jest," Mr Zinn said.
"One point only equals half of one frequent flyer and that salient fact is hidden away in some mighty small print."
Another Shonky winner was a range of olive oil brands that falsely said they were "extra virgin".
"Choice tested 28 brands of extra virgin olive oil and found half were nothing of the sort due to poor storage," Mr Zinn said.
"The mainly Mediterranean manufacturers' cried foul blaming everyone else in the supply chain.
"But consumers still aren't always getting true extra virgin quality at the point of sale, despite paying a premium.
"Ultimately, Choice wants "extra virgin" to be regulated under the Food Standards Code with mandatory requirements that all olive oils labelled 'extra virgin' meet basic purity and quality standards for the duration of their expected shelf life, as well as carry a suitable date so that consumers are able to choose the freshest oils."
Another product, Nurofen, earned a Shonky for labelling certain products as being for specific types of pain - and charging a premium - when in fact the ingredients were identical.
"The shonkiest aspect of this type of marketing is that the fast-acting painkillers labeled for specific pain types are more expensive," Mr Zinn said.
Appliance manufacturer LG were given a Shonky for claiming one of their fridges was more energy efficient that it was.
"LG have form for getting their stars mixed up in the past both washing machines and air conditioners have had their energy efficiencies overstated," Mr Zinn said.
**Choice was also unimpressed with the Power Balance band which claimed to promote natural energy flow.\
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Mr Zinn said the product was "simply just a rubber band bracelet with a plastic hologram".**
A rope by company Medalist was named and shamed for creating a product that looked like a proper climbing rope but was too weak.
And a website, Babynamemeans.com, was named for secretly signing up customers without their knowledge and then charging them $144 for a minimum one-year subscription.
"This is the fifth year of the Shonky's and you'd think most companies would be doing their best to ensure they're delivering good honest products and services," Mr Zinn said.
"Yet year after year we're continually amazed by marketers' efforts to take Australians for a ride."
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Read more: http://www.news.com.au/business/coles-and-commonwealthbank-get-choice-shonky-awards/story-e6frfm1i-1225943651297#ixzz13QGZk0rp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.news.com.au/business/coles-and-commonwealthbank-get-choice-shonky-awards/story-e6frfm1i-1225943651297" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
The Coles "Under $10 meal promotion", fronted by celebrity chef Curtis Stone, was singled out for failing to include all the ingredients in the price of its budget meals that are supposed to feed a family of four.
"If you include the uncosted 'pantry items' (including 3/4 bottle of wine) in Curtis' $7.76 Coq au vin it would actually cost more than $30," Choice spokesman Christopher Zinn said.
"The deal claims you can feed four people for less than $10\. The catch is you have to already happen to have some of the ingredients in your pantry, which aren't included in the price.”
The annual Shonky Awards are handed out to highlight companies making dodgy or dubious claims about their products.
Start of sidebar. Skip to end of sidebar.
End of sidebar. Return to start of sidebar.
The Commonwealth Bank was given a Shonky for its "poor and sneaky" Awards Program that provides a $20 flight reward only after the customer has spent more than $12,000 in a year.
"(T)he way the awards points are converted to Qantas Frequent Flyer points is a low-flying jest," Mr Zinn said.
"One point only equals half of one frequent flyer and that salient fact is hidden away in some mighty small print."
Another Shonky winner was a range of olive oil brands that falsely said they were "extra virgin".
"Choice tested 28 brands of extra virgin olive oil and found half were nothing of the sort due to poor storage," Mr Zinn said.
"The mainly Mediterranean manufacturers' cried foul blaming everyone else in the supply chain.
"But consumers still aren't always getting true extra virgin quality at the point of sale, despite paying a premium.
"Ultimately, Choice wants "extra virgin" to be regulated under the Food Standards Code with mandatory requirements that all olive oils labelled 'extra virgin' meet basic purity and quality standards for the duration of their expected shelf life, as well as carry a suitable date so that consumers are able to choose the freshest oils."
Another product, Nurofen, earned a Shonky for labelling certain products as being for specific types of pain - and charging a premium - when in fact the ingredients were identical.
"The shonkiest aspect of this type of marketing is that the fast-acting painkillers labeled for specific pain types are more expensive," Mr Zinn said.
Appliance manufacturer LG were given a Shonky for claiming one of their fridges was more energy efficient that it was.
"LG have form for getting their stars mixed up in the past both washing machines and air conditioners have had their energy efficiencies overstated," Mr Zinn said.
**Choice was also unimpressed with the Power Balance band which claimed to promote natural energy flow.\
\
Mr Zinn said the product was "simply just a rubber band bracelet with a plastic hologram".**
A rope by company Medalist was named and shamed for creating a product that looked like a proper climbing rope but was too weak.
And a website, Babynamemeans.com, was named for secretly signing up customers without their knowledge and then charging them $144 for a minimum one-year subscription.
"This is the fifth year of the Shonky's and you'd think most companies would be doing their best to ensure they're delivering good honest products and services," Mr Zinn said.
"Yet year after year we're continually amazed by marketers' efforts to take Australians for a ride."
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Read more: http://www.news.com.au/business/coles-and-commonwealthbank-get-choice-shonky-awards/story-e6frfm1i-1225943651297#ixzz13QGZk0rp" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.news.com.au/business/coles-and-commonwealthbank-get-choice-shonky-awards/story-e6frfm1i-1225943651297" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Personally I think they are almost as shonky as Radisson Maine financial group was but hey those boys managed to hook some large suckers. I'd think if they had any cred there would be some legit scientific tests to prove their effectiveness.
At the end of the day if it makes you think you're going better well good luck to you.
At the end of the day if it makes you think you're going better well good luck to you.
Shonky for stronger, bendier, balanceder, dumber…
Power Balance
With some reluctance, we highlight the inherent shonkiness of the Power Balance bracelet – reluctance, because when Australian Skeptics demonstrated on Today Tonight that it patently didn’t do anything, subsequent sales skyrocketed: apparently any publicity is good publicity after all.
The Power Balance band is basically a rubber band bracelet with a plastic hologram in it. Sorry – a “surgical grade silicone wristband” embedded with a hologram “based on the idea of optimizing the body’s natural energy flow, similar to concepts behind many Eastern philosophies. The hologram is designed to respond to the natural energy field of the body. The Mylar material at the core has been treated with energy waves at specific frequencies…” etc, etc. All this, and backed by a money-back guarantee.
But seriously: “surgical”, “specific frequencies”, “Mylar”, “Eastern philosophies”… What’s not to believe?
We CHOICE sceptics did our own testing under controlled laboratory conditions – after all, you can’t believe everything you see on TV – and verified the Skeptics’ findings. The money-back guarantee, however, did work. The only power this bracelet seems to have, placebo effect notwithstanding, is in tipping its distributor’s bank balance well and truly into the black – they’re reportedly raking it in. So, if a fool and his money are soon parted, there are apparently plenty of fools out there – and they’re all conveniently identified with a rubber band bracelet. If you see one, offer to sell them a bridge.
Power Balance
With some reluctance, we highlight the inherent shonkiness of the Power Balance bracelet – reluctance, because when Australian Skeptics demonstrated on Today Tonight that it patently didn’t do anything, subsequent sales skyrocketed: apparently any publicity is good publicity after all.
The Power Balance band is basically a rubber band bracelet with a plastic hologram in it. Sorry – a “surgical grade silicone wristband” embedded with a hologram “based on the idea of optimizing the body’s natural energy flow, similar to concepts behind many Eastern philosophies. The hologram is designed to respond to the natural energy field of the body. The Mylar material at the core has been treated with energy waves at specific frequencies…” etc, etc. All this, and backed by a money-back guarantee.
But seriously: “surgical”, “specific frequencies”, “Mylar”, “Eastern philosophies”… What’s not to believe?
We CHOICE sceptics did our own testing under controlled laboratory conditions – after all, you can’t believe everything you see on TV – and verified the Skeptics’ findings. The money-back guarantee, however, did work. The only power this bracelet seems to have, placebo effect notwithstanding, is in tipping its distributor’s bank balance well and truly into the black – they’re reportedly raking it in. So, if a fool and his money are soon parted, there are apparently plenty of fools out there – and they’re all conveniently identified with a rubber band bracelet. If you see one, offer to sell them a bridge.
They are very clever in the phraseology they use - "Based on the idea" "Designed to" - they stop short of claiming it does anything, just that they hope it will. It's like giving someone a stick and saying its based on the ancient Mongolian concept of luck and designed to bring prosperity.
Anyway there will be a new fad soon enough.
Anyway there will be a new fad soon enough.
A great article to read:
http://www.choice.com.au/powerbalance.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
CHOICE verdict
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CHOICE is all for the power of positive thinking, but we **can’t find much positive to say about Power Balance**. It has **no discernable effect** on flexibility and balance. Any benefit you feel while wearing it is almost certainly due to a placebo effect. So, zero stars for the Power Balance.
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If the products were cheap, we could at least call them a harmless bit of nonsense, but at $60 for the wristband and $95 for the pendant they’re far too overpriced to laugh off.
the last comment hits home. Yet unfortunately powerbalance has made its way onto the "corporate partners" page of the WT website. They haven't done it yet, but the moment that one of the players or coaches says anything along the lines of "_they really help us_" in a WTV segment or such, the club will be getting a complaint from me.
thank christ they haven't yet :slight_smile:
http://www.choice.com.au/powerbalance.aspx" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
CHOICE verdict
>
CHOICE is all for the power of positive thinking, but we **can’t find much positive to say about Power Balance**. It has **no discernable effect** on flexibility and balance. Any benefit you feel while wearing it is almost certainly due to a placebo effect. So, zero stars for the Power Balance.
>
If the products were cheap, we could at least call them a harmless bit of nonsense, but at $60 for the wristband and $95 for the pendant they’re far too overpriced to laugh off.
the last comment hits home. Yet unfortunately powerbalance has made its way onto the "corporate partners" page of the WT website. They haven't done it yet, but the moment that one of the players or coaches says anything along the lines of "_they really help us_" in a WTV segment or such, the club will be getting a complaint from me.
thank christ they haven't yet :slight_smile:
Leroy_The_Tigers_Fan
New member
Funny about power bands, a young fella at work was giving an older bloke a bit of stick about his dodgy power band today but the old bloke said his knees feel a whole lot better since wearing it, a placebo effect perhaps.
Then again in another story on this forum there was a claim that Todd Payten gave away his power band and was subsequently injured, superstition?, myth?, crikey if they were around in my day perhaps I could have convinced myself that I was A first grader(in the bush!).
Then again in another story on this forum there was a claim that Todd Payten gave away his power band and was subsequently injured, superstition?, myth?, crikey if they were around in my day perhaps I could have convinced myself that I was A first grader(in the bush!).
magpie_mania
New member
@leroy the tigers fan said:
you can take that todd payten story as fact i was there.for those that dont know the story i will retell it at canberra casino the night wests beat canberra in the semi my mate who was a saints fan ill add says to todd payten does that power band work and todd payten says here have it any how the very next training session payten breaks his ankle after stepping on a random tennis ball we lose to saints in the final by a point and the rest is history.his name is clarkey and im considering taking out a class action against the st george scum. :imp: :imp: :imp:
but if all the other players were wearing them, surely their psi energy fields would have permeated subspace interplexing frequencies, thus lifting Todd, a 105kg man, disregarding all fundamental laws of physics, off the ground and placing him gently on to the grass surface without a scratch.
yup… it's not magic, it's _**POWERBALANCE**_
lol
yup… it's not magic, it's _**POWERBALANCE**_
lol
magpie_mania
New member
@kul said:
my thoughts exactly. :d :d
innsaneink
Well-known member
Power Balance slammed by ACCC for misleading wristbands
Users that feel misled set to get refunds for wristbands as scientific standards get applied
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The Australian Competition and Consumer Commissions (ACCC) has slammed sports technology company, Power Balance Australia, over its wristbands that claim to provide wearers with improved performance.
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All users who purchased the wristbands can now get a refund if they feel they’ve been misled.
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According to a statement from the ACCC, misleading advertising claims have been withdrawn by the vendor after the regulatory body’s intervention. The bands supposedly provided better balance, strength and flexibility by working with the body’s “natural energy field”.
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The company hired celebrities and sports stars to use and promote the device in sporting stores and over the Internet.
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**“Power Balance has admitted that there is no credible scientific basis for the claims and therefore no reasonable grounds for making representations about the benefits of the product,” it said in the statement. “Its conduct may have contravened the misleading and deceptive conduction section of the Trade Practices Act 1974.”**
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The vendor has given the ACCC court-enforceable that any claims made in advertisements will be tested by court-enforceable undertakings from independent testing bodies using double-blind tests.
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Corrective advertising will now be published and the words “performance technology” will now be removed from the wristband.
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“Consumers should be wary of other similar products on the market that make unsubstantiated claims, when they may be no more beneficial than a rubber band,” ACCC chairman, Graeme Samuel, said.
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The moves came after the ACCC approached Power Balance about the issue. It was not broached in court.
http://www.arnnet.com.au/article/372089/power_balance_slammed_by_accc_misleading_wristbands/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Users that feel misled set to get refunds for wristbands as scientific standards get applied
\
\
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commissions (ACCC) has slammed sports technology company, Power Balance Australia, over its wristbands that claim to provide wearers with improved performance.
>
All users who purchased the wristbands can now get a refund if they feel they’ve been misled.
>
According to a statement from the ACCC, misleading advertising claims have been withdrawn by the vendor after the regulatory body’s intervention. The bands supposedly provided better balance, strength and flexibility by working with the body’s “natural energy field”.
>
The company hired celebrities and sports stars to use and promote the device in sporting stores and over the Internet.
>
**“Power Balance has admitted that there is no credible scientific basis for the claims and therefore no reasonable grounds for making representations about the benefits of the product,” it said in the statement. “Its conduct may have contravened the misleading and deceptive conduction section of the Trade Practices Act 1974.”**
>
The vendor has given the ACCC court-enforceable that any claims made in advertisements will be tested by court-enforceable undertakings from independent testing bodies using double-blind tests.
>
Corrective advertising will now be published and the words “performance technology” will now be removed from the wristband.
>
“Consumers should be wary of other similar products on the market that make unsubstantiated claims, when they may be no more beneficial than a rubber band,” ACCC chairman, Graeme Samuel, said.
>
The moves came after the ACCC approached Power Balance about the issue. It was not broached in court.
http://www.arnnet.com.au/article/372089/power_balance_slammed_by_accc_misleading_wristbands/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
AmericanHistoryX
Well-known member
Power Balance bracelets exposed as a sham Georgina Robinson
December 23, 2010 - 8:19AM
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Power Balance bracelet … no credible scientific basis for the claims. Photo: Craig Sillitoe
A bracelet worn by high profile sports stars that claims to improve athletic performance has been exposed as a sham by the consumer watchdog.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has ordered Power Balance Australia to refund all customers who feel they were misled by the supposed benefits of Power Balance bracelets.
The wristbands were touted as providing better balance, strength and flexibility by working with the wearer's "natural energy field".
Cricketer Kevin Pietersen, AFL bad boy Brendan Fevola and NRL star Benji Marshall have all been known to wear the bracelets.
But ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel said in a statement: “Power Balance has admitted that there is no credible scientific basis for the claims and therefore no reasonable grounds for making representations about the benefits of the product.
“Its conduct may have contravened the misleading and deceptive conduction section of the Trade Practices Act 1974," Mr Samuel said.
"When a product is heavily promoted, sold at major sporting stores and worn by celebrities, consumers tend to give a certain legitimacy to the product and the representations being made."
The bracelets currently sell for $29.90 on the company's website, down from $60 earlier in the year.
Mr Samuel also warned that retailers that continue to sell the products with misleading advertising or packaging would be open to action from the ACCCC.
Last month an independent review panel that deals with complaints about breaches of the therapeutic goods advertising code found that powerbalance.com.au violated the code.
Power Balance acknowledged it had breached the code and said the relevant claims had been removed from its website.
The company was also named in this year's Shonky awards.
Consumer advocate group Choice found the bracelets were just rubber bands with plastic holograms.
"The band was tested at CHOICE under controlled lab conditions which showed it did little else than empty purchasers' wallets," Choice said in October.
December 23, 2010 - 8:19AM
.
Power Balance bracelet … no credible scientific basis for the claims. Photo: Craig Sillitoe
A bracelet worn by high profile sports stars that claims to improve athletic performance has been exposed as a sham by the consumer watchdog.
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has ordered Power Balance Australia to refund all customers who feel they were misled by the supposed benefits of Power Balance bracelets.
The wristbands were touted as providing better balance, strength and flexibility by working with the wearer's "natural energy field".
Cricketer Kevin Pietersen, AFL bad boy Brendan Fevola and NRL star Benji Marshall have all been known to wear the bracelets.
But ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel said in a statement: “Power Balance has admitted that there is no credible scientific basis for the claims and therefore no reasonable grounds for making representations about the benefits of the product.
“Its conduct may have contravened the misleading and deceptive conduction section of the Trade Practices Act 1974," Mr Samuel said.
"When a product is heavily promoted, sold at major sporting stores and worn by celebrities, consumers tend to give a certain legitimacy to the product and the representations being made."
The bracelets currently sell for $29.90 on the company's website, down from $60 earlier in the year.
Mr Samuel also warned that retailers that continue to sell the products with misleading advertising or packaging would be open to action from the ACCCC.
Last month an independent review panel that deals with complaints about breaches of the therapeutic goods advertising code found that powerbalance.com.au violated the code.
Power Balance acknowledged it had breached the code and said the relevant claims had been removed from its website.
The company was also named in this year's Shonky awards.
Consumer advocate group Choice found the bracelets were just rubber bands with plastic holograms.
"The band was tested at CHOICE under controlled lab conditions which showed it did little else than empty purchasers' wallets," Choice said in October.
prattenpark
New member
Should be read in conjunction with this article about placebos: http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/wellbeing/why-placebos-may-work–even-if-patients-know-theyre-fake-20101223-195w3.html
If Benji thinks its working, that's fine by me.
If Benji thinks its working, that's fine by me.
A
alien
Guest
Fair enough. It is false advertising so maybe they should get their money back. Did anyone think they actually did work besides a placebo/power of belief thing? I think they have to give refunds because of what it says on the labelling. I wonder if this will effect the new age industry or alternative therapy industry at all.
@Kul said:
So only "uneducated people" will go out and buy it? I was sure that Benji received a good education whilst at Keebra Park. I guess not.
Why do you care so much about the whole thing?
If people want to buy one then they can. Get off your high horse and mind your own business. "Let the buyer beware" seems to apply to this scenario.
@magpiecol said:
So long as the buyer is aware it is a useless piece of plastic with no beneficial value, then ok. Last time I checked their website the powerband people claimed it would improve performance levels or at least implied that it would.
Consumer laws are there to protect the public. This junk is little better than slimming tea but so long as it is made clear the bracelets are purely cosmetic then I have no problem.
http://m.smh.com.au/executive-style/fitness/power-balance-bracelets-exposed-as-a-sham-20101223-195u7.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Lol.
So I just found an extremely slow wifi connection in some Cambodian town, log onto SMH to see what's happening in the world and see this!
Lol. Today is a good day!
Credible, rational logic: 1
PowerBalance: 0
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The club should cease what ever commercial agreement that have with PowerBalance immediately.
I stress "should".
Merry Christmas powerbalance!
Lol.
So I just found an extremely slow wifi connection in some Cambodian town, log onto SMH to see what's happening in the world and see this!
Lol. Today is a good day!
Credible, rational logic: 1
PowerBalance: 0
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The club should cease what ever commercial agreement that have with PowerBalance immediately.
I stress "should".
Merry Christmas powerbalance!
redemption
New member
Why is the Powerbalance brand receiving all the scrutiny and condemnation by the ACCC when their direct competitor (with a virtually identical product) EFX has escaped any such edict?????
Is it because of the high profile users of the original product - because if it was truly about advertising standards - EFX have had full page ads in RLW mag all year decrying their "embedded holographic technology"????
I am with magpiecol - it is a black and white case of caveat emptor in my opinion! However - the company have been found to have misled consumers and now face a liability for returned items if that is the option the purchasers take!
I bet less than 15% are returned - because most people did not truly expect them to actually be the panacea that the marketing implied!
How are they different to torpedo shorts (that claimed to prevent corks) and nostril-bandages (that claimed to improve oxygen intake)?? Both were fads for a year or two - but neither had any real benefit!!!
Is it because of the high profile users of the original product - because if it was truly about advertising standards - EFX have had full page ads in RLW mag all year decrying their "embedded holographic technology"????
I am with magpiecol - it is a black and white case of caveat emptor in my opinion! However - the company have been found to have misled consumers and now face a liability for returned items if that is the option the purchasers take!
I bet less than 15% are returned - because most people did not truly expect them to actually be the panacea that the marketing implied!
How are they different to torpedo shorts (that claimed to prevent corks) and nostril-bandages (that claimed to improve oxygen intake)?? Both were fads for a year or two - but neither had any real benefit!!!
innsaneink
Well-known member
Theyre an official sponsor of the club….maybe not such a great move by the 'great man'