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Shoogar
10th February 2008, 06:13 PM
Recently I went into my local AAFES* department store on Davis-Monthan AFB to do some shopping. In the main lobby there are usually a dozen or more private concessionaires selling various products. They each have a kiosk and pedle products like sunglasses, handmade ink pens, and military themed hats. But on this day, right by the front door was one I'd never seen before:

"SLEEP AWAY YOUR TUMMY in a Few Weeks". The lady at the kiosk was selling belts with sand-filled compartments that are supposed to help you lose weight. As the brochure I took stated:

HOW IT WORKS
Trimmer contains sand, magnets, ION oxide, crystals, minerals and other natural ingredients.

1. Your body heat activates the ingredients inside the Trimmer causing a breakdown of fatty tissue. The gentle weight squeezes these fluids. You eleminate them through urination.
2. Your natural breatheing (pushing up and down) against the Trimmer's weight is called an Isometric exercise; this tightens and firms stomach muscles (Isotoni).
3. The Trimmer's weight gently presses stomach back into place.

The Lay-Z-Trimmer is nothing more nor less than a belt with sand-filled compartments. I asked the women selling the belts how well they worked and she said, "Wonderfully, I get people all the time telling me how happy they are with their Lay-Z-Trimmer". I didn't argue with her about it. I did go to the store managers office and registered a complaint with them and I wrote a message to the main corporate office.

The product can be seen at www.layztrimmer.com.

*For those who don't know, AAFES is the Army-Air Force Exchange Service and operates most retail outlets on Army and Air Force installations. These outlets can include restaurants, barber shops, car care centers, shopettes, and department stores.

XBoxWarrior
10th February 2008, 06:57 PM
Well they certainly didn't waste any money on that website. ;)

This topic might belong in Business Skepticism?

Shoogar
10th February 2008, 07:21 PM
Didn't know where to post it. Maybe a mod can move it?

Locknar
11th February 2008, 07:40 AM
You'd have to check with the AAFES folks, but I beleive they pretty much grant "access" to anyone that wants to sell within their facilties.

Crundy
11th February 2008, 07:45 AM
I'm starting to think i'm in the wrong business. Here I am slogging my guts out day in day out programming hard, when I could just combine two cheap everyday items and sell it to idiots with stupid claims that take months to prove wrong. I could be making a packet!!

XBoxWarrior
11th February 2008, 06:16 PM
If I were selling that schlock, I would add another 30 lbs.....of "magic sand".

Then you might get some "real" results!

"Like Dude, I lost 30lbs running from Toledo, to Memphis".

"Really, HOW"?

"Sure, I just tossed off that freakin 30lb weight"!

I would imagine someone, knows somebody in the AAFES, and might be a relation to that somebody to get that schlock on the shelve. ;)

ARubberChickenWithAPulley
11th February 2008, 06:50 PM
I'm not too surprised. In Korea, there were vendors selling Salt Lamps that claimed to channel your energy or other such nonsense at the AAFEs mini-mall.

alfaniner
11th February 2008, 07:07 PM
I thought this thread was going to be about the Cold War Medal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_War_Victory_Medal

Oddly enough, Snopes did not have an article on it.

Shoogar
14th February 2008, 04:46 PM
Update! I went by the BX today and the lady was gone. Not sure if it was because she wasn't making money, or maybe my complaint accomplished something.

Crundy
15th February 2008, 12:47 AM
Result!

Aardvark422
15th February 2008, 06:34 AM
Glad that she's gone, but weight loss scams on the military aren't anything new. With their weight restrictions, it's easy for some to fall for these types of scams since they desperately need to lose weight or they face demotion or worse. In our Marine Corps Exchange, the GNC does the best business with it's 1000's of pills to drop weight instantly.

UnrepentantSinner
16th February 2008, 09:29 PM
Update! I went by the BX today and the lady was gone. Not sure if it was because she wasn't making money, or maybe my complaint accomplished something.

Glad to hear that. Did you ever consider contacting AAFES to see if they have any restrictions on efficacy for health or medical related products at the kiosks?

bigred
1st March 2008, 04:33 PM
I thought this thread was going to be about the Cold War Medal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cold_War_Victory_Medal

Oddly enough, Snopes did not have an article on it.
I thought it was going to be about "First Command" (aka USPA/IRA) financial services. POSs.

char
25th July 2010, 12:55 PM
Just wondering, how long did you wear it?

The Central Scrutinizer
25th July 2010, 04:50 PM
Where can I get one? I'm overweight.

JoeTheJuggler
25th July 2010, 08:39 PM
Update! I went by the BX today and the lady was gone. Not sure if it was because she wasn't making money, or maybe my complaint accomplished something.

Either way, congrats.

I'm disappointed you didn't get the chance to ask her to explain exactly what "ION oxide" is.