As our gluten-impaired readers know, prepared foods can be pricey for people with food restrictions. Reader Gary tried some frozen lasagna from the brand Udi’s, and found that what was in the box didn’t resemble what was shown on the box. [More]
Search results for: picture vs reality
Disappointing Milky Way Brownie Is Latest Entrant In Packaging Vs. Reality Hall Of Sadness
By 5.23.16
Here at Consumerist, we’re used to that moment when expectations come crashing into conflict with reality, that sigh of disappointment over a product that’s failed to live up to its packaging or marketing photos. It’s not that it’s all that surprising, it’s just that it makes us sad. [More]
Please Call 9-1-1 When You See A Car Crash Before Taking Pictures With Your Phone
By 2.10.16
While there are many Internet-savvy police departments out there, one thing that the world’s cops have not yet learned how to do is receive reports of car crashes and other catastrophes through Facebook posts. That’s why the Iowa State University police are annoyed with the population they serve. When an out-of-control Infiniti landed on top of some other cars, onlookers took their phones out to take pictures, but not to call emergency services. [More]
Nearly 90% Of Millennials Can’t Stop Looking At Their Phones When Watching TV
By 1.28.16
When you watch TV, is your phone always within reach? More importantly, are you just listening to the TV while you fiddle around on your phone, tablet, laptop, smartwatch, web-connected crockpot? If so, then you’re like the 88% of millennials who are regularly using “second screens” while watching video. [More]
Picture Vs. Reality: Shelf-Stable Breakfast Edition
By 10.13.15
When reader Nick bought his Bacon Scramble from Hormel Compleats, a line of shelf-stable prepared meals, he probably wasn’t expecting a colorful and beautiful gourmet experience. Food preservation technology is pretty impressive, but not that impressive. He wasn’t really expecting what he got when he opened the package, though, so he snapped a picture and sent it over to us. [More]
Who’s Making The Money When Your Smart TV Watches You Back?
By 2.27.15
We’ve heard plenty of times in the past few years that if you have a smart TV — one that’s internet-enabled, for all that app goodness — that it might be watching you just as much as you watch it. Samsung in particular generates a lot of questions about how secure your data is with your TV, as do LG and Vizio. But there’s a missing piece to the equation. If your TV is watching you, why? Who stands to gain (in the sense of cold hard cash) from your data? [More]
Florist Wire Services Try To Sort Out Frozen Flowers Disaster Via Twitter
By 2.16.15
Earlier today, we highlighted the feat of globalization that brings millions of red roses to our doorsteps on one specific date. Unfortunately, mid-February this year is a time of bitterly cold temperatures in much of the country. Cool temperatures preserve cut flowers, but cold temperatures can destroy cut flowers and kill live plants. That’s why this Valentine’s Day hasn’t been so great for the national flower-delivery brands. [More]
Private Companies Building Giant Unregulated Databases Tracking License Plate Location Info
By 5.19.14
Do you know everywhere your car has been in the past week? Month? Year? You may or may not remember it all, but there’s a good chance that your license plate has had its photo snapped, and its location recorded, a whole bunch of times in that period. And anyone who can pony up the cash for a subscription to that database can tell exactly where you’ve been. [More]
Consumer Reports: $1,500 Ultra HD TV Is Just a Mediocre LCD TV
By 5.29.13
With many Ultra HD (or 4K) TVs ranging in price anywhere from $5,000 to $25,000, early adopters who want that level of visual definition without going bankrupt may be tempted to buy Seiki’s 50″ Ultra HD for around $1,500. But our TV-testing siblings at Consumer Reports say you’d probably be better off saving your money for now. [More]
The BK Bacon Burger Is A Disgrace To The Word ‘Bacon’
By 10.23.12
Burger King recently released a $1 bacon burger. Only a dollar and it comes with bacon? Excellent. In a typical case of fast food advertising vs. reality, though. the bacon isn’t quite as advertised. Matt tried the burger and found that the reality is quite pitiful when compared to the luscious bacon-stuffed bun shown in photos. [More]
Quick-Serve Ads Vs. Reality: Panera Roasted Turkey And Cranberry Sandwich
By 10.9.12
Anderson tried a seasonal offering at Panera, the Roasted Turkey and Cranberry sandwich. The promotional photos made it look appetizing, but the sandwich that ended up on Anderson’s plate wasn’t. We know that speed is really important at Panera, and maybe this is just a hastily-assembled meal. Anderson decided to throw it away, leave the Panera, and then complain online. This plan was somewhat flawed. [More]
Safeway Says This Tiny Pile Of Sad Chicken Covered In Gloop Is Supposed To Be A Gourmet Meal
By 8.1.12
We aren’t sure in what world a paltry pile of pale chicken covered in some kind of gelatinous gloop accompanied by a whole lot of rice with bits vaguely resembling vegetables could be considered part of any “Gourmet Club.” But Safeway said its “Safeway Select” branded Orange Chicken meal is fine frozen dining and showed a lovely picture on the package to that effect. Consumerist reader Doug in Seattle sent in evidence to the contrary after he purchased the family pack meal. [More]
Consumer Reports Pits Pretty Food Packaging Picture Against Paltry Reality
By 7.30.12
We’ve all fallen for it before: Cruising down the grocery aisle, deciding what to pick when suddenly, there it is — a box bearing a beautifully shot photo of a tantalizing snack, delicious gourmet dish or some other form of tempting cuisine. That fantasy can come crashing down, as plenty of customers have complained to our hardworking siblings at Consumer Reports that the packaging on many products just doesn’t live up to the reality. [More]
Packaging Vs. Reality: Kraft Macaroni And Cheese Cups
By 2.9.12
Jay is smart, and knows that packaged food never quite turns out the way it looks on the box. It’s not physically possible. But he was surprised, when cooking a pre-packaged cup of Kraft macaroni and cheese from Costco, that the quantity of food-like substance in the cup didn’t really measure up to what was shown on the box. Is he overreacting, or is this really an unrealistic portrayal of the food product within? [More]
Toys 'R' Us Must Pay $20.6 Million In 2006 Pool Slide Death
By 10.20.11
We enjoy mocking Banzai and their tendency to put wildly inaccurate photographs of their products on the boxes. But another wild inaccuracy led to tragedy in Massachusetts in 2006, when a 29-year-old mother went headfirst down an inflatable waterslide that collapsed. She broke her neck and later died as a result of the injuries. The jury deliberated for less than an hour before awarding her survivors $20.6 million–and they weren’t even allowed to hear about the other person allegedly paralyzed by a similar injury while using the same product. [More]
Batman Costume Package Vs Reality
By 9.30.11
It’s not exactly the kind of crime the caped crusader would go after, but reader synimatik was a bit pissed when she opened her son’s Batman costume and found it didn’t match up with the image on the outside of the package. [More]
Groupon Uses Pretty Picture To Advertise Not As Pretty Reality
By 8.24.11
Being the savvy consumers that you all are, you’re probably no stranger to something not appearing in person as it does in a promotional photo. [More]
Banzai Slide 'N Splash Whale Pool Box Vs. Reality
By 7.27.11
Three years after we first started pointing it out, Banzai continues to make kiddie pools that are disproportionately smaller than they appear on the box. The latest to enrage the internet is their “Slip ‘N Splash Whale Pool.” On the box it shows four children frolicking. In real life, those would have to be tiny munchkin children. [More]
