As Seen On TV Products: Classic Legends & Modern Hits

As seen on TV products are consumer goods marketed first through direct-response television: either a 60- to 120-second spot or a full infomercial (usually 28:30 long) that ends with a price, a bonus offer and a number to call. The label covers kitchen gadgets, cleaning products, fitness equipment, beauty kits and household tools. If a product sells well on air, retail distribution usually follows, and the logo keeps doing the selling in the aisle.

The format took off after 1984, when the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the agency that regulates U.S. broadcasting, dropped its limits on how long a commercial could run. Half-hour paid programs filled late-night schedules almost overnight. Our guide to what an infomercial is explains the formats, and 80s infomercials covers how that first wave started.

Why Some Became Classics and Others Vanished

The ones that lasted fixed a visible chore (a greasy pan, a stained shirt, a floor to clean) and could be demonstrated in seconds. The George Foreman Grill is the clearest case, with more than 100 million units sold. Novelty can work too: the Snuggie moved 20 million units in under two years, according to its marketer, Allstar.

Anything that only works in an edited demo rarely survives a second season. Often the pitch outlived the product, which is why famous infomercial pitchmen like Billy Mays and Ron Popeil and their iconic catchphrases are remembered longer than half of what they sold. For the long view, see 90s infomercials and the best infomercials of all time.

Where to Buy As Seen On TV Products Today

Very little is phone-order only anymore. Walmart and Ace Hardware both run dedicated As Seen On TV departments online, Amazon carries most current items plus plenty of discontinued ones, and established brands such as Total Gym, Shark and Inogen sell direct from their own sites. A typical aisle holds copper-coated cookware, microwave cookers, expandable garden hoses, LED flashlights, outdoor light projectors, pet grooming tools, shower caddies, slim hangers that free up closet space, and tire inflators for roadside emergencies, plus plenty of low-cost gift items around the holidays.

Before you order, check three things:

• The exact model. Store and TV versions can carry different model numbers (the Shark Matrix Plus is sold under several SKUs), so compare spec sheets, not box art.
• The total at checkout. “Just pay separate shipping and handling” was a staple of TV offers, and upsell offers add to it. The final total is the real price.
• The return terms. A brand’s 30-day trial and a retailer’s return window are different promises, and they can differ on whether the customer pays return shipping.

Whether a given item delivers is a separate question. The guide do As Seen On TV products actually work? sorts the hits from the flops by what the ads promised.