"Seen on TV!!" type-hyped 72 Hr kit commercial

secretcreek · #1 04/02/11, 06:26 PM

<sigh> Wondered how long until this was going to happen...

I've not investigated to see the quality of the products included, but I just heard my first "mainstream" commercial to sell "72 Hour Emergency Kits" played over FoxNews around 6pm tonight.

It seemed to have that "As Seen On TV!! You Too can have a 72 Hour Bag!" sound to it. Maybe that was me just irritated that it seemed more a business opportunity to prey on fears rather than offer info to help people understand and build one to really meet their needs. Then again...the sheeple that buy this will at least be ahead somewhat...

I don't know...I just wasn't hip to how the thing was offered...but then, let the buyer beware...

-scrt crk

thesedays · #2 04/02/11, 06:38 PM

After a disaster, man-made or natural, there are late-night infomercials and even short commercials during the day in my area for what amounts to MREs for civilians. They're quite expensive but require no cooking (they come with a heat or cool pack) or refrigeration. I guess there would be practical uses for them.

One town in my region has a sizable Mormon community, so that might be why they do this.

Trixters_muse · #3 04/02/11, 09:00 PM

They even have home emergency preparedness parties now, like a Tupperware party, lol. The food is dehydrated "gourmet" food that comes in a pouch and is packaged in buckets that cost around $40 for a three day supply. It's mainly granolas, soups and casserole type entrees, you add water and eat but no fuel source/heating source comes with it, so you are on your own there. They recently added a first aid kit and a water filtration kit as well, each additonal kit is around $40 or you can buy an entire unit for a couple hundred.

It would be a good idea if the products were more cost effective.

Ohio dreamer · #4 04/02/11, 10:07 PM

We saw that commercial, too. It gave us a laugh. I agree it had the "but wait we'll take one payment off if you call in the next 2 minutes" feel to it.

secretcreek · #5 04/03/11, 05:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ohio dreamer

We saw that commercial, too. It gave us a laugh. I agree it had the "but wait we'll take one payment off if you call in the next 2 minutes" feel to it.

Exactly. I think it may be the same guy who's touting the solar generators, and a free newsletter ( was a paid subscription newsletter) on preparing. It has that "Ronco meets Billy Mays meets Sully" feel to it.

-scrt crk*back to watching the live webcam of the bald eagle nest with eggs hatching, on www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles

Spinner · #6 04/03/11, 06:08 PM

Is this the little red box that fits in a desk drawer at work? I agree that it sounds like a hype.

I got the impression that anyone who buys it will be very disappointed if they need it in an emergency. It makes me want to put together kits in a 5 gal bucket and sell them. I have no doubt that any of us here could put together a better kit than they are selling, and we could probably do it for less.

On the other hand, at least it's getting the message out that people need to prep. Maybe those who buy it, or see the commercial, will put together their own kits. Once they do 72 hours, maybe they'll see the need to prep for long term.

bee · #7 04/03/11, 07:16 PM

Nope..they gots their 72 hour kit and are Prreee-Pairrreedddd. They will just make a great excuse to not do more; after all dot GOV says 72 hours....