What was the most useless/ridiculous thing you ever bought? Mine were those copper pans that they had on TV, Luckily

[debm55]

Last edited Sun Jan 14, 2024, 02:31 PM - Edit history (2)

Olllies had a ton of them at next to nothing price, AND stuff does stick to them.
Edit any and all of the crap from the back of comic books--glasses where you see through clothes. etc.
Sorry, I kicked this up but I don't know how to do links. I am very sorry.

[underpants]

1. Eggstractor

Not that we watch a lot of commercials anymore but if certain items come on screen my family says (in unison) NO! DAD!

Particularly anything to do with eggs.

[debm55]

2. Does it slice the eggs. I have an egg slicer.

[underpants]

30. No just shells hard boiled eggs

At least I got it work one time.

Of course it came with an executive egg slicer because is there any other kind?

[debm55]

35. It shells eggs. That sounds interesting. I might be interested in getting one.

[underpants]

39. Didn't work.

Basically a seal is created and the accordion pump thing forced the egg through the shell. You had a little piece of plastic spike to crack the shell on the bottom.

I also bought a car window fan that didn’t work. Solar powered. The idea was that it sucked the hot air out if a car. It sucked alright.

[debm55]

40. HAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHHA That is so funny. Where do you get these "things" from?

[underpants]

55. As seen on TV

My first album was a cheap CCR Greatest Hits. One song had a 2 second echo on it.

[debm55]

57. As seen on TV, Halloween and Christmas screens that go over a floodlight. and project ghosts for halloween or

snowflakes for Christmas. Screens did not fit in the projector./floodlight

[Niagara]

3. I can think of two things.

A marriage license


And


20+ years of cigarette smoking

[debm55]

5. Yes to both. TY Niagara

[Cartoonist]

4. An air ionizer

I think that's what it was called. It was supposed to charge the air or something. I noticed no difference. All that happened was it appeared to charge the dust in the air and make it collect on the wall behind it turning it black.

[debm55]

6. Yuk. Did you pitch it?

[Cartoonist]

7. Of course.

It would have been a crime to give it away.

[debm55]

8. HAHAHA That's true

[stopdiggin]

11. ohhhh. the most perfect way of putting it! nailed it, kid!

- - - - - - - - - - - -

[SWBTATTReg]

33. Well, I don't know about that 100%. If you have an irritating neighbor or irritating family member, eh, perhaps they

would initially appreciate the gift (but put the name on the pkg as from Santa), and then sit back, watch the hijinks afterwards. Ha ha heh.

[diane in sf]

26. That meant you weren't breathing the stuff sticking to the wall, lol. I used to have one. I could breathe

better as soon as I turned it on and my eyes would stop burning. I just didn’t want to have the walls get so dirty.

[Polly Hennessey]

9. Too numerous to mention. I have dedicated a space in my kitchen

for useless gadgets/appliances. A recently bought blender is now a resident. I never use blenders. Someone tell me why I buy one every year or so. I tell myself I might need one because I might make a smoothie sometime in the future. 😖. So far, I have never made a smoothie.

[debm55]

10. OMG, the same story here. I might make a healty smoothie. Never have!!!

[appleannie1]

21. I use my blender every time I make Squash/ginger soup or homemade tomato soup. I also make breadcrumbs in it.

[diane in sf]

28. I grind up watermelon and blueberries in the blender and make home made popsicles--no added sugar. I'm more likely

to use the Cuisinart for more heavy duty grinding and also shredding, slicing, and cookie dough. I use an immersion blender for soups. Used to use the blender, but it’s nice not to be pouring hot soups into it and the little immersion blender cleans easily. Use its other attachment to make whip cream or whip eggs.

OK, so I like and use all that food processing stuff.

My main bad purchases are expensive shoes that end up being uncomfortable on my plantar fasciitis, bunioned feet. Haven’t done that in a while. And buying clothes that come from China and are 20 sizes too small and made of horrible fabric. Now I just gamble on Amazon for that kind of stuff because returns are so easy.

[debm55]

36. I use the immersion blender too. I never buy shoes online. I have very sensitive feet and must try on the shoes or

slippers.

[LakeArenal]

12. My mom's story is the best....

Around the time she was 18 she was very slight and petite. (No boobs)
So she saw an ad for a breast enlarger.

When it came, it was a rubber hand on a stick. 😳👋


Edit to add a best thing we ever bought:



It really works. Even on fragile butterflies and mayflies.

[debm55]

14. That is so funny. TY. LakeArenal.

[LakeArenal]

16. I added a best thing I ever bought.

[debm55]

17. So you use it. Looks interesting. TY At first I thought it was the boob extender. I used Kleenex

[LakeArenal]

20. Haha. Yes we use it a lot here in Costa Rica.

We thought it would be hokey. But it really works. Except on houseflies cuz they are so damn fast.

What doesn’t work is an item they suggest called an insect vacuum. That was aPOS.

[debm55]

41. I had the insect vacuum . You are right about it being a POS. Bought at the dollar store.

[stopdiggin]

13. trying to think of WHICH of a parade of miserable old junkers I have driven ...

to nominate for the grand champion "MOST .. "

[debm55]

15. So tell us which one was the MOST piece of junk car. Mine was the Pinto.

[stopdiggin]

18. without hurting any feelings

because - despite all - some of them 'eventually' acquired a degree of fondness ... (isn't that the way?)

Have you ever tried to drive a volkswagon van - through the Colorado mountains? It's embarrassing!
(and, of course - it seemed like such a good idea at the time !! )

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

[debm55]

19. the VW bug wasn't much better. My family had one. A VW van was crap too. In both you could walk faster then the vehicle

took you. Unless you drove on a flat road.

[appleannie1]

22. I have found that using most of them is harder than just using a good sharp knife or a hand mixer.

As for pans, a good stainless steel frying pan with a metal handle is better than any of the non stick pans. If you preheat it, let the meat brown until it is ready to release on it's own, you don't have to scour it but if something does stick, put a dryer sheet and Dawn and water in it and bring it to a boil on the stove. Leave it until it is cool and it is usually easy to clean. If something is burned on, you can scrape it off with a razor blade scraper like you use to remove paint from a window. You can't do that with any of the so-called nonstick pans.

[debm55]

24. Agree

[I_UndergroundPanther]

105. I have a seasoned

Cast iron pan that has been cycled through generations. Has high sidewalls. I use it for everything. I take very good care of it.
Belonged to my great grandma, my grandma ,my mom than then to me. Might have been my great great grandmas pan nobody knows how far it goes back really.
Its for certain my great grandma had it tho.

Nothing,I mean nothing sticks to the surface of the pan.It is slicked smooth through years of everyday use for lifetimes.Lots of oils heat and grease has seasoned it to perfection.

[debm55]

108. Wow that;s great. Thank you for sharing.

[Mad_Dem_X]

23. From eBay, I bought a piece of junk mail...

originally sent to an old address of Eddie Vedder (singer from Pearl Jam). I was a tad bit obsessed at the time.

[debm55]

25. They sell anything and everthing on Ebay,

Last edited Tue Jan 9, 2024, 04:58 PM - Edit history (1)

[Mad_Dem_X]

116. And silly people like me buy them!

[debm55]

117. I liked eBay when it was an auction. Bought alot of antique tea dresses,etc. You are not silly. It was something you

wanted and you got. Good. I just don't like how they changed their format from the auction to the Buy it Now. I know a lot of people that buy from ebay . But it is not the items that bother me , but the excitement of winning the auction.

[getagrip_already]

27. my 25th tape measure...

just a guess. It could be my 50th.

And to be accurate, the last one isn't useless, it's all the ones I bought before that one I can't find. It seems every time I need one, i don't know where one is so I just buy another one.

My kids are going to find them all one day and go wtaf... lol

[debm55]

37. That is so funny. I also started a OP organization or items. I have that problem with tape , It's NEVER in the drawer

when you need it. NEVER!

[LudwigPastorius]

29. 1985 Chevy Blazer

I went through two transmissions and had to have the short block rebuilt when the oil pump AND the oil pressure idiot light failed at the same time. Those are just the major repairs.

I should have just borrowed $12,000 in cash and set it on fire. I would have come out ahead.

[debm55]

38. Wow, I think you got a lemon. Did you talk about the issues with the dealer?

[rurallib]

31. Lottery tickets

I get sucked in at about a half a billion dollars. Of course I have never won a thing

[debm55]

42. Are you still buying the lottery tickets?

[rurallib]

49. no but I did at Christmas

[Xavier Breath]

60. I used to buy tickets and include one with each Christmas card.

Not the expensive tickets, mind, you, but the $1 scratchers. Then I started thinking that if someone did win a nice-sized prize, how would I feel about that knowing I had a winning ticket in my hand and gave it away/ Not great, I surmised, although I'd tell the person I was happy for them. So I stopped including scratchers in the Christmas cards.

[debm55]

62. That's funny. I think that happened around Christmas here as it was on the news. Amount was for 5000 dollars.

I thought it was crummy that the person who got the ticket didn't give the person who gifted it one cent.

[underpants]

53. Funny. I have quite a streak going

I haven’t got one ONE number to match (random numbers) in over a year I think. I play maybe once a month but still.

[debm55]

54. You are like my husband. He waits to the Jackpot gets bid and buys some. Most he won was 5 dollars.

[SWBTATTReg]

32. Thanks for the tips. I have always wondered about these pans, if they truly work. If stuff sticks to them still,

then it defeats the whole purpose of buying them.

Always some con-person that wants to steal your money for junk that doesn't work.

[debm55]

44. I bought it for making brownies and for eggs. and quiche. DO NOT BUY.

[SWBTATTReg]

114. I am thankful that DU has such a large group of people on it, that have such a wide range of experiences on

just about everything, including things like these so-called 'fantastic' pots and/or pans, that seem to be the wonder of the Gods. I've always had a healthy sense of skepticism about these products, and thanks to people like you and others, I learn the truth. Thanks so much again, for all of your advice on just about everything. We all end up saving money.

[debm55]

115. Thank you SWBTATTReg. The whole thread was a good way not to buy items that are junk.

[doc03]

34. A new 1977 Chevy Blazer, it had all the bells and whistles for that time and stickered

for almost $9000. I had it for 4 years, it rusted though in 16 months and got 8 miles a gallon.
Things that I replaced.
Alternator
battery
starter motor
radiator
2 windshield washer pumps
fuel pump
Left and right rear quarter panels
universal joints
probably others I don't remember.


Never bought another GM vehicle until a 2011 Chevy Cruze, it turned out to be a great car no problems.

Oh just remembered that pocket hose that I bought it was supposed to roll itself up, it exploded the second time I used it.

[debm55]

45. They get us every time. That is a lot to buy for a car. It comes to the point where you could almost buy another car. We

had the pocket hose too. ---it I am thing of the same thing , you whipped the end and the whole thing rolled up into a nicely wound piece. It didn't work. Ended up winding myself.

[underpants]

48. U Joints. Ouch

See post 29 above.

[Coventina]

43. A beautiful, hand-beaded 1920s-style "flapper" dress 2 sizes too small

Because a girlfriend and I were going to go as flappers to "The Great Gatsby" in 2013 (OMG! 10 years ago now!!) and I was going to lose the weight.

The dress hung on my door for five years (from 2012 to 2017) judging me and my inability to lose weight.

I finally put it in my closet.
I still can't bear to get rid of it.

It really is a lovely dress.

[debm55]

46. Sounds beautiful . I would maybe buy a dress mannequin in metal and display it. It sounds too nice to be hidden in the

closet.

[Shermann]

47. X-ray specs are REAL dammit! nt

[debm55]

50. Did you buy a set.??? Did You like them?

[RKP5637]

51. Some exercise equipment! ... but my insane one was a watch sort of thing you wore on

your wrist that had several contact points on the back. The battery in it was suppose to stimulate acupressure points and you would lose your appetite. Well, it did not work and as I recall it was so bad the FDA made them take it off the market, I guess for false advertising.

[debm55]

56. My exercise equipment was mostly used to hang clothing on it.

Last edited Mon Jan 8, 2024, 11:31 PM - Edit history (1)

[RKP5637]

69. LOL!!!!

[Demovictory9]

52. Dark red 1987 Ford escort brand new. Had a few good years, then oil leaks

[debm55]

58. Bummer.

[Haggard Celine]

98. I also had a Ford Escort with a lot of problems.

I always buy used cars and I usually have decent luck with them. But that Escort just wouldn't stay fixed. I liked it because it was a station wagon and I needed more cargo space. But finally, I just got sick of putting it in the shop. I sold it for a little bit of nothing. It was a nice car, very well cared for and I hated to get rid of it, but it was obviously a lemon.

[debm55]

100. I don't think they make anymore because of the problems. Sorry this happened to you.

[Chainfire]

59. The worst for me came when I was about 21. My wife and I bought into a "Buyer's Club" for $500.00 which was a lot of

money at the time. I was working for $2.50 per hour.... Three weeks later, the showroom was closed, the business was bankrupt, and they had sold the contracts to a third party. We went to an attorney who told us we had to pay up....All I got for my money was a set of cheap Chinese steak knives. That was 50 years ago and we still have the knives. They have saved us a pile of money over the years by being skeptical of any really "good deals."

[debm55]

61. That is a major bummer. I am so sorry that happened to you and your wife. In the early and mid 70s I worked for 2.50 to

pay for college and my apartment. It doesn't go far. The happy thing is that you and your beloved are still together after 50 years. Blessing to you both.

[Chainfire]

118. Thank you, that was very kind.

We actually did OK on the 2.50 per hour as I was also getting a VA apprentice check of about another hundred bucks a month. We never feel like we were "skint." At the time, my wife was going to FSU and working as a part time typist, for considerably less money per hour. My wife was a powerhouse, she worked during the day, took classes in the evening and studied nearly all night. It took her about 8 years to get a master's degree. With scholarships, when she graduated, she didn't have any student debt. We lived in a tiny apartment, but we didn't have a lot of "stuff" back then, so it was fine. The TV we watched, for years, was a portable B&W with about a 6" screen. We had a lot of fun on little money.

[lpbk2713]

63. Bought three coffee grinders.

They're still in the back of a closet. Used them once or twice each.
Never could see any difference in freshly ground coffee.

[debm55]

66. That's funny . We need to set up a day where all loungers take their "stuff' to a charity Day.

[BOSSHOG]

64. Back in the 70s

A device you attached a can of shaving cream to and it heated your shaving cream. I bought one for me and one for my Dad. We both agreed we didn’t need it.

Incredibly x rated tshirts in the French Quarter which only could be worn in the French Quarter, lest you get arrested in decent society. Believe it or not they were cheaply made and ill fitting. My misspent youth.

[debm55]

67. I bought that too for my husband. At the time he had long hair and a full beard. What was I thinking.

[Chainfire]

119. I had one of those heated shaving cream dispensers too, but didn't use it for long either.

It sounded like a good idea at the time.

[ificandream]

65. We bought the copper pans, too.

We still have one that actually doesn't let food stick. But it's the bigger one, and the one we used less. The smaller one was crap and we tossed it.

[debm55]

68. Beware don't cook brownies in it or you will be throwing the pan and the brownies away as they are impossible to

Last edited Mon Jan 8, 2024, 11:16 PM - Edit history (1)

remove.

[Cadfael]

70. An egg topper

I absolutely love soft boiled eggs but this thing is useless!

[debm55]

72. How is used ? It looks like something NASA would use.

[Cadfael]

112. According to the instructions:

“ To use, place an egg in your egg holder before placing the stainless steel clacker over the egg. Simply raise the ball and let it drop to crack your egg without making a mess.”






In practice it never quite worked out that way for me….

[debm55]

113. They never do.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

71. A blow up united airlines plane

It was as tall as I was. Bought it when I was 11 mounted it with strings from my ceiling. Became a problem when it started losing air. It would droop. Sad airplane.

[debm55]

73. That's funny. Sad airplane indeed.

[sinkingfeeling]

74. A 3 year old, unbroken filly at a farm auction in 1963.

I was 15 and had money from raising hogs.
I walked the horse home and heard my dad wasn't very happy about my purchase. The next day I sold her to a man who had also been at the auction.

[debm55]

75. sinkingfeeling, I feel so sorry for you.

[sinkingfeeling]

76. It was fine. My dad was right, what was a kid going to

do with an unbroken horse? I was terrified of her trying to get her home.

[debm55]

77. Yes,, I saw when I read your post that she was unbroken. That takes alot of time and energy to do. I am glad you were ok

with it. Thank you for the clarification

[spooky3]

78. Prepared meals delivered to home after surgery (the service went out of business

because the food was so awful). I would have been better off to buy Lean Cuisines or something like that.

[debm55]

81. Are you feeling better? Lean Cuisines pretty good. Do you remember the name of the food company. There were alot at one

[spooky3]

88. Oh yes, thanks, this was a couple of years ago. I can't remember the name of the company.

[Bluethroughu]

79. I envy those that gleefully make useless purchases.

I spent so much time in my formative years in survival mode, so I can't justify those.

My husband asked me the other day if I'd like a sugar/cinnamon shaker for my toast, and I said NO, I'm just fine with pinching.

Well, opened the cabinet this evening to see a shaker with a cartoon dog on it, smiling at me.
Made me smile.

[debm55]

82. That was very nice and loving of your husband. TY

[Bluethroughu]

84. Thank you, he's a keeper so far...

But I'll get back to you on that, after he gets worked up on the next made for TV item.

He wanted to get those copper pots, I said no. I'm glad he listened

[viva la]

80. I just bought a set of shelves--

The box arrived yesterday. There are 15 pieces, 45 screws. It suggests using a screw gun (which I don't have) to put the screws in. I'm looking in despair at all of it on my office floor now.
Why did I buy this contraption???
When will I learn to check the comments for ease of assembly?

[debm55]

85. It's not from Ikea is it? Yes I always tell myself read the comments, especially on Amazon. I would try it with a

regular screwdriver. Also, sometimes they will include a screwdriver. Wish you luck.

[viva la]

86. Ikea yes.

They included two tiny Allen wrenches.

I thought I got such a great deal, but if I have to pay someone $100 to assemble it, there goes the bargain.

[debm55]

92. Ikea is well known for pages of directions and material. Do you have a neighbor that has an electric screwdriver? I like

their stuff, but it a PITA to put together. I just took two Ikea white bookcases to the GoodWill in my rush to do a clean up . One thing, we had ours bolted to the wall. floor is carpeted and I was afraid they would topple over.Good luck. email me to let me know how it goes. I wouldn;t pay 100 to assemble. YOU CAN DO IT

[OAITW r.2.0]

83. Cheap sunglasses....bought and broke quickly. Throughout my life.

Why did I do this, when I knew?

[debm55]

87. Yes, there are some cheapies. I have to get prescription sunglasses. I think I will get the ones that are regulars and

change into sunglasses. PS. those weren't the ones that give you Xray vision. I ordered a pair from the back of the comic book. JUNK

[OAITW r.2.0]

91. Bought X-Ray glasses from a comic book in 62 or 63.

Cost me a $1.00 money order and postage to get a total bogus product. No (N)-rays at all.

[debm55]

93. Back at ya

[OAITW r.2.0]

99. Up heah in Central Maine, we say "Backatcha"

Saves a lot of superfluous conversation.

[debm55]

101. Thanks

[DBoon]

89. Cookware made out of stove-top safe glass

Yes it was stove-top safe and very durable.

No, it did not conduct heat well so the cooking was uneven.

We replaced it with conventional metal cookware.

This was the late 1980s sometime

[debm55]

96. Was that the Corning Ware? I didn't like that. It was advertised to be safe in the oven or on the stovetop. Cracked in

Last edited Tue Jan 9, 2024, 05:56 PM - Edit history (1)

oven.

[GP6971]

90. 1974 Ford Pinto Wagon.

Piece of junk

[debm55]

94. Had one too. It was JUNK . I think there were three in the series---Mustang, Pinto and Colt

I heard the Colt was even worse., if that's possible.

[gay texan]

95. Kraco car stereo

$19.95

[debm55]

97. Bet that got you great sound.

[madaboutharry]

102. A storage container meant to keep avocados.

It was suppose to keep an open avocado from turning brown. Nope.

[debm55]

103. I don't think there is anything that will keep them from going brown.Sorry

[madaboutharry]

104. Except eating them!

I now only buy the “tiny” ones at Trader Joe’s. They are super small and just the right size for one serving.

[debm55]

109. I'ii have to try that. Thank you

[I_UndergroundPanther]

106. I lay a piece of

Cellophane on the cut surface careful to have room for the dip from the pit.Lay it as evenly as possible.
The object is to keep the air off the avocado surface its soft so you can kind of seal it..Than get another piece of wrap and wrap it up careful to not lift the other piece of cellophane off the raw surface.

Does not last forever but significantly makes it less brown.

[madaboutharry]

107. I also do that.

I twist the end of the cellophane very tightly and secure it with a snap like chip clip from IKEA. It helps.

[debm55]

110. I will try too. Thank you

[debm55]

111. Hard boiled egg maker so you could make them in the microwave. Didn't work,

It seemed like a good idea.

[debm55]

120. kick