As we said earlier, our exposure to Chummie and its web site strongly indicates that Chummie will provide many examples of deceit. We are now going to look at Chummie’s main (home) page and examine it for deceit. As Chummie has made this page point in many and confusing directions, many of which may provide additional examples of deceit, we shall limit our examination of this home page to what is presented directly on this page (with sliders as well) and not take links to other pages.
* Chummie for Children – Stop Bedwetting in Weeks
Such a definitive statement! “In weeks” suggests a few weeks to many readers. In reality it could be one week, or ten weeks, or one hundred weeks, or never. Perhaps Chummie could offer a guarranty: "If using Chummie for four weeks has not stopped the bedwetting problem within the four weeks, Chummie will refund to you, without argument, two times what you paid to purchase your Chummie!" Now that would get Chummie lots of customers, with no deceit required at all! Deceit by perversion.
* Perfect for deep sleepers.
How and why? Is it extremely loud (at least 100dB heard at the ear) or vibrates as much as a bed shaker? If not, (and it is not) this is deceit by perversion.
* Over 100,000 satisfied families.
Proof? When Chummie first started selling their product (in 2011?) right up front they claimed that they had sold over 100,000 units! Wow! Two years later they only have over 100,000 satisfied families? Does that suggest that manyof the original 100,000 buyers were probably dissatisfied with their imaginary Chummies? Or is all of this just more Chummie hype? Deceit by misleading and concealment.
* Chummie for Adults – “Unparalleled comfort and efficiveness.” Ignoring the misspelling (a human trait), unparalleled compared to what? Where is the evidence? Who is the unbiased authority that tested and collected this evidence. How were these tests conducted? Etc. And sometimes parallel is good. Unparalleled can also go in the wrong direction. Deceit by misleading and concealment.
* Impressive Results - Clinically Proven Technology
Impressive Results? What Results? For Whom? Where is the evidence, tests, etc. This can be repeated ad verbatim for many of Chummie's exalted claims . If the "clinically proven technology" applies to bedwetting alarms in general, this may be true. But Chummie misrepresents matters enough to make it sound like this is specifically for Chummie!
Deceit by perversion.
* Zero side effects.
Chummie should elaborate on what effects are being referring to. If a child and/or parent is disappointed with the working or results of the Chummie, is Chummie claiming that their unhappiness and frustration is a zero side effect? Deceit by perversion.
* Save Money - Average Savings of $500/year
Some of these savings are relevant. But they are not particular to Chummie. In fact, compare Chummie to some other bedwetting alarms
(look at http://www.urinealarms.com/Wired_Alarm_Chart.html). Although there are some bedwetting alarms where you truly have "Nothing extra to buy" other than batteries, Chummie also has a particularly degradable sensor which falls apart in a few months. Look at reviews on places like Amazon to see such complaints. Plus you have to keep buying tape in order to attach this degradable sensor to your non-degradable briefs. These extra sensors and tape certainly contribute to Chummie's bottom line and can be a pain to the customer's wallet. So much for their claim that there is "Nothing extra to buy again ... EVER." This claim is blatantly false. Phooey! Deceit by perversion.
* Experience Chummie - Better Technology for Faster Treatment.
Better Technology? Faster Treatment? What? How? Patent? The fact that Chummie wrote down some aspects of its alarm (which some competitors did not) and was awarded a patent, is not necessarily "better." It does indicate that no other party stated the combination of product properties as Chummie did, or before Chummie did, so Chummie was awarded a patent. This does not mean that Chummie is "better" or "faster." Deceit by perversion.
* Comfortable and easy to use system.
A great exaggeration. Attaching Chummie's sensor to briefs with tape, and keeping its sensor wire connector from getting disconnected from the alarm box by taping it, are indicative of poor design and lack of concern for the patient's comfort. You can read enough gripes on Amazon. Deceit by perversion and concealment.
* Superior Quality - Better Technology for Faster Treatment.
The second part has been addressed a little earlier. Superior Quality? Only in Chummie's mind and hype. Superior to what? How? Evidence? etc. Again, deceit by perversion.
* And only 13 symbols representing whatever to the right? Many of these are made up (invented?) by Chummie. Having said "RoHS Certified" the lead, mercury, cadmium and "green" made-up symbols are totally redundant as RoHS includes those properties. But that would be four less symbols with which to impress some foolish reader. Chummie’s apparent basic philosophy seems to be - throw whatever you can at the reader and something might hit him/her! Deceit by perversion.
* Cost Savings:
As mentioned earlier, some of these apply to all bedwetting alarms, and not just Chummie. But unlike all other bedwetting alarms, Chummie does keep you buying supplies from them. This has been described earlier. Deceit by perversion.
* Award Winning:
Again, by whom, what, how, etc. This is a continuing mantra for Chummie's empty and unsupported claims. Deceit by perversion.
At this point, exhaustion overcomes us, even though we are only half-way down the home page. Obviously it did not overcome Chummie's creative writers as they could continue to display their ingenuity in attempting to overcome the reader's thought processes and make him/her into a zombie buyer unable to think or rationalize further. As reasonable and ethical persons, it is absolutely astounding to us that Chummie can be so dedicated to deceit on the information and claims that Chummie makes on its web site. Chummie’s motto and axiom appear to be:
“If you can fool some of the people sometimes, you should be able to fool all of the people at all times!”Obviously, we do not appreciate Chummie’s strong inclination towards deceit. We sincerely hope that Chummie will promptly and rapidly move away from such misguided marketing methods and towards much more honest and ethical approaches.
Based on the above, we would strongly recommend that any person who reads Chummie's promotional efforts should keep on repeating to themselves:
"I must remember that I am reading an exercise in intentional exaggeration and deceptive claims!"
A detailed comparison of Chummie to many other bedwetting alarms can be found at http://www.urinealarms.com/Wired_Alarm_Chart.html.
Note:
Chummie(TM) has a very large number of entries about its deceit in this blog. There are so many more entries and much more serious bad activities attributable to Chummie, so that Chummie has significantly more entries than all other manufacturers combined. You can read all of the Chummie deceit entries on this blog.
Chummie has also been given a 0-stars blog of its own so that its many examples of deceit can stand out by themselves. This Chummie blog is at
http://chummiedeceitcatcher.blogspot.com/ .
Note:
Chummie(TM) has a very large number of entries about its deceit in this blog. There are so many more entries and much more serious bad activities attributable to Chummie, so that Chummie has significantly more entries than all other manufacturers combined. You can read all of the Chummie deceit entries on this blog.
Chummie has also been given a 0-stars blog of its own so that its many examples of deceit can stand out by themselves. This Chummie blog is at
http://chummiedeceitcatcher.blogspot.com/ .
Very Strong Deceit by Perversion and Concealment.
Just tried to call for support on my Chummie! today June 24th, 2013 at 3:05pm. Where is that 24/7 support?
ReplyDelete