ID :
86682
Thu, 10/29/2009 - 11:53
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/86682
The shortlink copeid
Qantas, L'Oreal win Shonky Awards
(AAP) A food processor that can't even shred cheese, a sky-high surcharge at Qantas and mumbo jumbo from cosmetics giant L'Oreal have all scooped Shonky Awards from consumer watchdog Choice.
The annual awards are handed out to highlight companies making dodgy or dubious
claims about their products.
L'Oreal was given a Shonky for its claim that "Nutrileum", a substance said to be in
its conditioner, actually does any good.
"It's basically a meaningless term," Choice spokeswoman Elise Davidson told AAP
after the awards were announced on Wednesday.
"Not only that, but L'Oreal also had a claim on its shampoo that washing your hair
with its shampoo and then using its conditioner with serum makes hair smoother.
"But it had an asterisk saying 'when compared with hair washed with just shampoo'.
Again, complete nonsense."
Qantas was given a Shonky for charging each passenger $7.70 for booking with a
credit card.
"That one was really galling for a lot of consumers," Ms Davidson added.
"I think a lot of people really hate being charged extra for using a card."
Perhaps most ridiculous of the products was Tiffany's $39.99 FP807 food processor,
which Choice says broke into pieces during three separate tests - while trying to
shred cheese.
Some of the products, like Uncle Toby's Honey Oat Crisp cereal, were chosen for
being the worst examples of common consumer complaints.
Choice found Uncle Toby's had reduced the size of its packaging very slightly.
"We get thousands of complaints about companies doing this all the time, whether
it's chocolate bars, cereal or whatever," Ms Davidson said.
The downsize meant the overall cost per 100 grams of the cereal rose by 10 per cent,
Choice says.
There is one bright spot for consumers though; Choice says the number of unsafe
products it is reviewing or testing has dropped significantly.
"Sometimes the criticism can be constructive. On a few occasions in the past
companies have talked to us and either removed claims or changed them," Ms Davidson
said.
"We want it to be a positive thing."
Staff at Choice say they are not holding their breath waiting for the companies
named and shamed to pick up their Shonky Awards.
"They never pick them up, it's not like it's something to be proud of," Ms Davidson
said.
The annual awards are handed out to highlight companies making dodgy or dubious
claims about their products.
L'Oreal was given a Shonky for its claim that "Nutrileum", a substance said to be in
its conditioner, actually does any good.
"It's basically a meaningless term," Choice spokeswoman Elise Davidson told AAP
after the awards were announced on Wednesday.
"Not only that, but L'Oreal also had a claim on its shampoo that washing your hair
with its shampoo and then using its conditioner with serum makes hair smoother.
"But it had an asterisk saying 'when compared with hair washed with just shampoo'.
Again, complete nonsense."
Qantas was given a Shonky for charging each passenger $7.70 for booking with a
credit card.
"That one was really galling for a lot of consumers," Ms Davidson added.
"I think a lot of people really hate being charged extra for using a card."
Perhaps most ridiculous of the products was Tiffany's $39.99 FP807 food processor,
which Choice says broke into pieces during three separate tests - while trying to
shred cheese.
Some of the products, like Uncle Toby's Honey Oat Crisp cereal, were chosen for
being the worst examples of common consumer complaints.
Choice found Uncle Toby's had reduced the size of its packaging very slightly.
"We get thousands of complaints about companies doing this all the time, whether
it's chocolate bars, cereal or whatever," Ms Davidson said.
The downsize meant the overall cost per 100 grams of the cereal rose by 10 per cent,
Choice says.
There is one bright spot for consumers though; Choice says the number of unsafe
products it is reviewing or testing has dropped significantly.
"Sometimes the criticism can be constructive. On a few occasions in the past
companies have talked to us and either removed claims or changed them," Ms Davidson
said.
"We want it to be a positive thing."
Staff at Choice say they are not holding their breath waiting for the companies
named and shamed to pick up their Shonky Awards.
"They never pick them up, it's not like it's something to be proud of," Ms Davidson
said.
