jupiter jack

I hate to call this column 2010's Worst of As Seen On TV products. It's so negative. It's so Grinchy. It's so exactly-what-I-mean. Let's just say that the following infomercial products stand out -- and not in a good way -- among the dozens I've tested and reviewed since beginning this column...

A good TV infomercial is an audience eager to spend its money to buy the next great, must-have product. But what's behind the claims? A good pitch does not make a good product. And as we've learned, hype often outstrips reality with many As Seen on TV products. Still, it's the possibilities that...

The product: Jupiter Jack The price: $20 plus $6.99 shipping and handling. The claims: Turns your car radio into a hands-free phone. The Buy-o-meter rating: 2 out of 5 Jupiter Jack is a matchbook-sized phone accessory that promises to turn any cell phone into a hands-free device and any car...

As the direct-marketing industry copes with the sudden death of pitchman Billy Mays (right), it's worth considering the fragile relationship between celebrity endorsement and mortality. The tragedy of Mays's unexpected death at age 50, of a heart ailment in late June, has practical implications for...

Can one of the most successful TV salesmen in history continue to move product from beyond the grave? It's a question with very practical implications for A.J. Khubani (left), CEO of direct-to-consumer merchandiser Telebrands. On Monday, Telebrands will roll out a national marketing campaign...

It's a little crass to acknowledge, but the death of a celebrity is, among many other things, a money-making opportunity. But perhaps it's best not to seem too eager to treat it as such, lest you offend those people whose dollars you covet. Today brings two examples of parties who crossed the...