Archive for the 'Shopping' Category

Bracelets are bogus, according to scientific study.

Normally I pull punches in criticising something I haven’t yet tried but things like this are just too easy. Turns out that say, chewing a stick of gum, has vastly more manifest and latent benefits than strapping on a Power Balance Hologram bracelet.

The company said in a letter to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission that “We admit that there is no credible scientific evidence that supports our claims, therefore we engaged in misleading conduct.” In the United States, the company is being pursued in a $5 million class-action lawsuit as a result of it’s obtuse claims.

According to the product website, these bands work in conjunction with the body’s natural flow of energy to promote balance, strengh, flexibility and many other desirable athletic attributes. Testimonials from athletes go on and on about how they immediately feel centered, have prolonged endurance and that it “gives them an edge” when they wear them. Shaquill O’Neal takes a more nebulous approach in his testimonial when he says, “I kept feeling something when I wore the bracelet, so I kept wearing it.” He goes on to, more or less, credit a 57 point win to wearing the magical rubber bracelet.

Later in the letter from Power Balance, they say, “…if you feel you have been mislead by our promotions, we wish to unreservedly apologise and offer a full refund.”

Power balance has sold millions of its products, but now I think it’s safe to say we can write this one off as another placebo scam. But go ahead, do what you want. According to the Star Tribune in Minneapolis, MN, a sports store owner says the bracelets are still flying off the shelves, despite their less than favorable scientific evaluation.