The Clapper: Where to Buy
The Clapper is a noise-activated switch that turns lamps, TVs, and small appliances on or off when you clap your hands. Joseph Enterprises, the novelty company behind the Chia Pet, first sold it in 1985, and it remains in production today. This page covers how The Clapper works, where to buy the original, and how it compares with modern smart plugs.
How Does The Clapper Work?
The Clapper plugs into a standard AC wall outlet in the United States and gives you two switched receptacles on its face. Plug a lamp or small appliance into one, and the built-in sound sensor listens for a specific clap pattern. Two claps toggle the first outlet, three the second.
A sharp, distinct strike of the palms works best. Snapping your fingers won’t set it off; the sensor is tuned to that rhythm, not any loud noise.
One detail most reviews skip: the original design includes a sensitivity dial on the side. In our testing, a television at normal volume across the room tripped the lamp until we turned the sensitivity down. Without that adjustment, barking dogs and loud commercials become accidental light switches.
Where to Buy The Clapper
Finding one is easier than you’d expect for a product nearly 40 years old. Three sources stock it reliably.
Amazon
Amazon carries the original model with Prime shipping, usually between $15 and $25 depending on the version. Check that it ships from Amazon directly, since third-party sellers sometimes mark up old inventory or sell knockoffs without the sensitivity control.
The Official Store
Joseph Enterprises sells it through chia.com alongside the Chia Pet lineup. The official store often bundles it with other novelty gifts around the holidays.
Retail and Gift Shops
Walmart, seasonal pop-up shops, and stores carrying as-seen-on-TV merchandise frequently stock it. Browse the shelf near the Flex Shot or OxiClean displays and you’ve probably walked right past it. Availability swings by location, so call ahead to avoid a wasted trip.
The Clapper vs. Smart Plugs and Wi-Fi Switches
Smart plugs from brands like TP-Link, Amazon, and Google Nest add voice control, scheduling, and remote access over Wi-Fi. So why buy a sound-activated switch designed in the 1980s?
Simplicity. The device needs no app, no Wi-Fi network, no account, and no firmware updates. You plug it in and clap. For an older relative who doesn’t want to learn Alexa routines, or a cabin with no internet, it solves the problem instantly, at a fraction of a smart-home setup’s cost.
The tradeoff is real: no remote control from your phone, no scheduling, no integration with other smart devices. Run a connected home already and a smart plug does more. Just want the bedside lamp off without getting up? Two quick taps handle it.
The Clapper in Movies and Pop Culture
That original late-night commercial turned into a pop-culture touchstone. “Clap on! Clap off!” ranks among the most quoted infomercial catchphrases in TV history, right next to “But wait, there’s more!” The jingle ran so often through the late 1980s and 1990s that it crossed into sitcom gags and comedy sketches.
In 2018, a comedy film titled The Clapper reached theaters. Directed by Dito Montiel and set in Hollywood, Los Angeles, it stars Ed Helms as a paid audience member for infomercials whose life unravels after a talk show host exposes his side gig. Amanda Seyfried, Tracy Morgan, and Adam Levine round out the cast. Reviews landed mixed, but it leaned hard on the nostalgia that keeps the brand name familiar decades after its patent was first filed.
Nearly four decades on, The Clapper survives because it does one small thing without fuss: clap, and the light obeys. That’s the whole pitch, and it still lands.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is The Clapper still being made?
Yes. Joseph Enterprises continues to manufacture and sell it. You can buy it on Amazon, at chia.com, and in select retail stores.
Does it work with LED bulbs?
It works with any lamp or appliance that uses a standard electrical plug and draws under 150 watts per outlet. Most LED bulbs fall well within that limit.
Can other sounds trigger it accidentally?
Loud, sharp sounds can sometimes activate it. The built-in sensitivity dial helps reduce false triggers from TV audio, pets, or slamming doors. Placing it away from the television also helps.