Name a product that you think was designed to part consumers from their money

[ironmaiden]

Name a product out there that is just designed to get people to spend money - as opposed to being really useful.
Or an okay product but it is designed such that you need to spend more and more money to keep it working.

Example: the swiffer which they sell cheaply but the company makes their money on getting you to buy more and more pads and solutions.

All disposable products like dust wipes, counter cleaning wipes - designed for one use and toss increase expenditures.

[dndylfe]

Any battery operated toy.

Disposable nursing pads

Matching bathroom sets (if you have the soap set, then why not the wastebasket, rug, and shower curtain to match)

[MessyKat]

pepsi...the stuff is addictive




I don't buy the disposable wipes etc. I think a lot of cleaning products are a waste of money. I make my own laundry detergent and window cleaner. Most cleaners bother my asthma which is why I guess I don't like them.

[Laurie in Bradenton]

New and Improved Anythng! I always remember the line from Archie Bunker,"What were we using before Old and Yucky?"

I hate it when they come out with another offering of the same product that really isn't any better.

Laurie in Bradenton

[ironmaiden]

Planned obsolecence. When they design a product knowing that they only put in the minimum features and then next year's product will have a couple more features and the year after that even more features. So that last year's model is "sooo last year" and "outdated". Look at the Xbox, Playstation market.

[guest7]

I agree with the above - so far. RE: swiffer. Just attach a rag to the base.

I think having a hobby causes you to spend.

Having a camera. Especially film camera. You have to buy the camera, buy the film, then you have to develop the film. Remember the days we had to buy the flash? What a riot!

[Valerie in WA]

Those toilet scrubby-things that you flush down the toilet.

Pull-ups.

[slowtypinwoman]

Sorry to say but I think most electronics are a scam. You buy this then 3 months later the "newer and higher tech" is out

[chatterweb]

The Automobile

[ama]

Lol...I agree with the swiffer. I fell for that trap and bought one. Now I just use a rag and a bottle of HM cleaner. Got them on that one anyhow!

[miss_thrifty]

i think those Mr. clean ones with the bottle u have to buy every month and the speacil pads> i'm like fruagl fanny, i use my normal swifder and put rags on it. I use spary bottle filled with hot water and vinegar, and spray the floor every 2nd day and scrub away. i have lots of lament floating floors in my place.
charlene

[PrairieRose]

Even though I do use *some*, paper towels and paper napkins.

[shelsmiles]

I can list several. The packages of plastic grocery bags folded neatly inside yet another plastic bag and sold for $1 per dozen at WalMart are one.

ALL gaming systems

Children's craft makers and toys etc that call for specialized refills

Crock pot liners (Um, are you serious?)

Reusable disposable plates ( for the decision challenged? )

There are tons more...

[FreesiaE]

Oy! There have got to be a million! The main one I can think of is cigarettes. They have no point.

[tbs727]

Air filtration systems. Most of them require new filters frequently. I prefer plants. natures purifier, to clean my air.