CALL NOW: It’s 2 a.m., you can’t sleep, and just then you get the offer of a lifetime: A towel that supposedly holds 12 times its weight in liquid. You doubt it. But maybe curiosity gets to you. For $19.95 you can’t help but climb off the couch, reach for your wallet and dial that toll-free number.
You may hate to admit that such a cheesy ad would get the best of you, but you’re not alone — one out of three Americans has ordered the Snuggie, the George Foreman Grill, OxiClean or another iconic item marketed on infomercials.
“People talk about what they’ve ordered, or their favorite infomercial, like it’s their dirty little secret,” said Remy Stern, author of a book about the industry. “It’s had such a pop culture impact that infomercial personalities like Tony Robbins and Billy Mays become mini-celebrities.”
Associated Press
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