I knew it! The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has ordered Power Balance Australia to provide refunds to everyone they duped with their BS about "Holograms" and "body wavelengths". I cant believe it took this long!

ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel said in a statement: "Power Balance has admitted that there is no credible scientific basis for the claims and therefore no reasonable grounds for making representations about the benefits of the product.

"Its conduct may have contravened the misleading and deceptive conduction section of the Trade Practices Act 1974," Mr Samuel said.

"When a product is heavily promoted, sold at major sporting stores and worn by celebrities, consumers tend to give a certain legitimacy to the product and the representations being made."

www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/power-balance-bracelets-exposed-as-a-sham-20101223-195u7.html

But what happens to all those who have achieved positive results from the existence of Power Balance? Like the people who have been elevated to a smug sense of intellectual superiority over those who have chosen to wear a Power Balance? How are they supposed to achieve their delusions of supremacy in a world where Power Balance is run out of business. They will be devastated. I wonder if Graeme Samuels has thought about that.

So for all you guys down south - are they still sponsoring your VIC state SUP titles in January?

If you win, maybe they'll award you with a free PB band that's proven to do absolutely nothing?

Ali Cat said...

So for all you guys down south - are they still sponsoring your VIC state SUP titles in January?

If you win, maybe they'll award you with a free PB band that's proven to do absolutely nothing?

Yes I did notice that logo on the poster. Hopefully the sponsorship is largely a cash component.

They have also just recently become a sponsor of the Western Bulldogs in the AFL, a team that has not won a premiership in nearly 60 years. Not sure of that speaks to your comment about doing absolutely nothing.

I know of another AFL club that was approached with an opportunity to market Power Balance with club branding in order to retail through their own merchandise shop. But this club declined on the basis that such action would be a clear endorsement of the product; something they were not prepared to do on the available research data.

I have not and nor will I criticise this product or anyone who chooses to wear one, however I think that any club or shop or event promoter or industry representative body or athlete who takes money from Power Balance as sponsorship has to be prepared to stand by the product.

Ali Cat said...

Hey PT, I should probably edit that comment to say "no scientifically proven impact" rather than "absolutely nothing".
Yes, I have had one and worn it and was not convinced whether it does anything or not - i think for me its more in the head/placebo effect than anything else.

I agree Ali, and the placebo effect is very powerful. However I think it fair to say that the Western Bulldogs have made no scientifically proven impact on the AFL since 1954.

teatrea said...
Or my personal favourite their is no such thing as a free lunch

Ah, a Milton Friedman fan.

I'm more concerned about the inactivity of my Pet Rock and have made representations to the ACCC for recourse against the garage sale proprietor from whom my Rock was purchased.

They have always offered a refund to anyone not happy with the product, although as the CEO mentioned this morning on the radio that their current return rate is less than 1%!

Retailers are still going to be selling them, Power Balance just can't print or claim that they "Improve strength or flexibilty" as the scientific research they have presented isn't conclusive enough to make those claims.

I want to announce my new product, EnergyRock(tm).

It comes in two forms, PowerRock(tm) and CardioRock(tm).

PowerRock(tm) is guaranteed to build muscle and strength. Simply energise the PowerRock(tm) by lifting it up from the ground to above your head and down again. Do this 12 times in succession. Repeat 10 times. Do it every day. When fully energised PowerRock(tm) weighs 10 kilograms. You will build strength and muscle. I personally guarantee it! Get yours now!

CardioRock(tm) works on a similar principle. Put the 10 gram CardioRock(tm) in your pocket. Energise it by running 10 kilometres. You will notice immediate and lasting benefits.