With some reluctance, we highlight the inherent shonkiness of the Power Balance bracelet – reluctance, because when Australian Skeptics demonstrated on Today Tonight that it patently didn't do anything, subsequent sales skyrocketed.
Apparently, any publicity is good publicity after all.
The Power Balance band is basically a rubber band bracelet with a plastic hologram in it.
Sorry – a "surgical grade silicone wristband" embedded with a hologram "based on the idea of optimizing the body's natural energy flow, similar to concepts behind many Eastern philosophies".
The hologram is designed to respond to the natural energy field of the body.
The Mylar material at the core has been treated with energy waves at specific frequencies…" etc, etc.
All this, and backed by a money-back guarantee.
But seriously: "surgical", "specific frequencies", "Mylar", "Eastern philosophies"… What's not to believe?
We CHOICE sceptics did our own testing under controlled laboratory conditions – after all, you can't believe everything you see on TV – and verified the Skeptics' findings.
The money-back guarantee, however, did work.
The only power this bracelet seems to have, placebo effect notwithstanding, is in tipping its distributor's bank balance well and truly into the black – they're reportedly raking it in.
So, if a fool and his money are soon parted, there are apparently plenty of fools out there – and they're all conveniently identified with a rubber band bracelet.
If you see one, offer to sell them a bridge.
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