December is incomplete without a countdown of some sort. To end the year on a lighter note, we’re recapping the unreliable products of 2017 as named and shamed, in no ranking order, by consumer advocacy group Choice.
Here are the Shonky Awards 2017 winners. Have you spent your money on any of these products this year?
Coles Complete Cuisine Cat Food
This home brand cat food from Coles claims that the product’s ingredients could “complete” a cat’s diet. Pet nutritionists say otherwise.
Honda, Toyota, Lexus, Mazda and BMW
For failing to adequately communicate with their customers about their cars fitted with faulty Takata airbags which affected 100 million vehicles, these car companies score for being shonky.
Pain Erazor pen
If the tiny electric charge from repeatedly clicking the erazor doesn’t get rid of your pain without drugs like it’s meant to, at least it will keep you distracted.
Westpac Bump Savings
A Westpac promotion promised to deposit $200 into a bank account in a newborn’s name, with the funds only available at the child’s 16th birthday. A small price to pay for a potentially lucrative 16-year customer relationship opportunity?
Samsung washer and dryer
A waste of time, money and water! When tested, the product reportedly took more than six hours to complete a cycle, and used up 149 litres of fresh drinking water in the process.
Vita Gummies
Vitamin maker Nature’s Way are on the shonky list with their kids’ product Vita Gummies for claiming its sugary vitamin lollies are good for kids’ teeth.
Cuddly Sensitive fabric softener
Consider this, using vinegar and Epsom salts scored a higher result when trying to soften fabric when testing this Cuddly formula.
Viagogo
Hundreds of annoyed concertgoers have reported to Choice about this Swiss ticketing company consumer guarantee which is “about as reliable as a scalper in a back alley”.
That’s our wrap up. Get the full scoop on the Choice Shonky Awards 2017 here.
