Posted By:
Captain Al
in Alberta, Canada Jan 12, 2005
I saw this "miracle bracelet", advertised on TV last night and just had to check out their website. With this device, you could win the Olympic marathon or a PGA title. But I wonder what would happen if all your competitors had one too?
Qray
Just so you know, the current Q-Ray advertising doesn't make any claims about "healing," etc. because they got in trouble for implying things like that in their ads in the past.
Any "effect" that Q-Ray might have on a person is entirely attributable to the power of suggestion.
You nailed it: little magnets attached to the ends of some twisted wire doesn't do Jack.
nanochef
in mass
Posted: Thu Oct 04, 2007 | 09:15 PM
I was never aware that the Q-ray was for pain, I thought it was just for like a healthy energized feeling of body and mind. Anyway I picked one up out of my uncles van and didnt feel any different.
Cranky Media Guy
Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2007 | 12:14 AM
Q-Ray is for making a lot of money for the manufacturer. It does NOTHING for pain or energy (discounting the placebo effect, of course).
hannah Member
Posted: Sun Nov 11, 2007 | 07:53 AM
I really was thinking of trying one but not now. I hadn't researched it so I was going on what I'd heard, DUMB me. I looked at their site where they sell them and holy cow are they ever expensive. I guess there's a scam out there for everyone.
Caroline Nubbins
in Breakwind falls, MO
Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 | 10:19 PM
Some say... some say... some, some do actually say. This product works. And I believe it. I do, and I will never forget it. And yeah. So yeah, I love my q-ray. It changed my living habits. I quit smoking the very hour I put one on. I won the local lottery. I lost 25 pounds in 25 minutes! I am a true believer. I wear appx. 6 q-rays. One around each wrist, one on each ear, one on each ankle, I had one specially made to wrap around my now fit and energetic wasteline and I also wear one around my forehead.
Cranky Media Guy
Posted: Sun Dec 09, 2007 | 10:46 PM
To Miss Nubbins:
I notice you say that you lost 25 pounds in 25 minutes this must be a typo. I can't even tell you how jealous I am. Your piece spoke to me and now I realize that I too am a believer.
This product debate does not render false hopes, but breaks them. Sometimes when hope is all one has I see that it is important to leave the negative energy of our unified unique universe out of our hearts and minds. I love my q-ray!
sneffels
Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2007 | 07:36 PM
to Captain Al and Cranky, the great knights who will one day doublehandedly vanquish Q-Ray forever -
Why do you care, unless you have a vested interest in the failure of Q-Ray or similar therapies? I've read all the posts and you make good arguments. So what.
For less than the price of a good dinner out these days (even if they can't get a refund) people can have hope. And it's less expensive than offerings to regular church services-another placebo which you don't seem to be attacking here.
Give it a rest, please.
Captain Al
in Alberta, Canada Member
Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2007 | 08:37 PM
"Why do you care"
Sneffels,
If you had bothered to read the rest of the thread you would have gotten the answer to your question. However I will give you a brief summary.
My purpose is not to take hope away from people who suffer from chronic pain. Here I only care that the false claims made by Q-Ray are exposed for what they really are. Maybe you didn't realize it but this IS a hoax site and we debunk hoaxes here. Did you really expect to read glowing endorsements? The skeptical point of view also serves as a voice of reason for those who take the initiative to research Q-Ray's extraordinary claims before buying. On a related note, it is illegal in most jurisdictions to make false claims in advertising so we feel a need to tell everyone that is what Q-Ray is doing.
I'm as happy as anyone if a person finds relief in a product where everything else has failed but there is a danger in believing in things which are not true. They and others may be convinced to try a product like Q-Ray and forego a legitimate treatment that could really help them. After all, even if Q-Ray does appear to work, it could only be due the placebo effect and when that wears off, they are back where they started, except for being a few dollars poorer. There are literally thousands of products on the market today, based on pseudoscience, that are designed only to separate the desparate from their money. Should companies like Q-Ray profit from that?
"And it's less expensive than offerings to regular church services-another placebo which you don't seem to be attacking here."
This thread is about Q-Ray. For our religious attacks please go to: http://www.museumofhoaxes.com/hoax/forum/forum_comments/2241/
"Give it a rest, please."
No. Like I said above, this website exposes hoaxes. If you don't want to read that kind of stuff, you've come to the wrong place.
Cranky Media Guy
Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2007 | 10:59 PM
I'm always amazed when someone objects to someone else debunking a scam. I'm more surprised when it happens here, when that's pretty much the reason for the existence of this site.
Sneffens, if you had a friend or relative who was sick and a quack was taking advantage of them by selling them something which you knew could not help them get better, would you keep your mouth shut?
The only difference between that situation and what's happening here is that we don't personally know the people who are taken advantage of by Q-Ray. The intent is the same, however.
Captain Al
in Alberta, Canada Member
Posted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 | 10:53 AM
Here's an interesting video about Q-Ray made by the Canadian Broadcasting Corportation's consumer information program Marketplace.
In it they interview a lawyer from the US FTC who says Q-Ray's president testified at the Q-Ray trial that he made up the whole story about ionizing and the link to ancient Chinese medicine because it sounded good and was easy to remember. They also take a Q-Ray bracelet to the University of Toronto to have it analyzed for special properties. Guess what? They didn't find any.
Captain Al
in Alberta, Canada Member
Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2008 | 10:47 AM
Here is a link to my thread on the new Forum about how Q-Ray made Wired.com's top ten list of snake-oil products:
NEWS UPDATE:
Q-Ray has LOST their appeal of the FTC ruling and will have to turn over $16 million dollars to the feds. They will also liable for another $70 million if the fleeced customers come forward.
It also reports the following good news:
"The FTC said Q-Ray is in Chapter 11 bankruptcy in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court."
So far there have been no comments about these developments from the many believers who have been telling us for the last three years that the bracelets worked. How do you feel about the statements from Q-Ray, made under oath, that the whole ionization explanation was made up?
Not to worry though. If the placebo effect wears out you can always contact the FTC for your refund.
"Consumers who purchased a Q-Ray bracelet between Jan. 1, 2000, and June 30, 2003, should call the FTC Q-Ray Consumer Hotline at 202-326-2063 to see whether they are eligible for a refund."
These bracelets, pendants, and rings are all extraordinary products...I've had 3 back surgeries, and without my qray on my pain never subsides even with medication! The only thing to take away the pain effectively is the q-ray products, especially if you have chronic pain problems like myself. I have never experienced pain as long as im wearing my q-ray! Best invention ever...it evens out your bodys CHI, and the ionazation takes that CHI and blocks pain receptors, and turns pain to positive energy...Like Ying and Yang.
Captain Al
in Alberta, Canada Member
Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 | 11:10 PM
Good for you Blake!
Now who are you going to give the credit to? The makers of Q-Ray have admitted in court there is nothing special about their bracelets. They confessed all the hype about ionization and the link to chi and traditional Chinese medicine were just made up. Either Q-Ray accidently discovered a revolutionary pain relief system that defies known physics when their only intent was to scam people or the effect is all in your head. Which is the more likely possibility?
Cranky Media Guy
Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 | 11:48 PM
But, Captain Al, Q-Ray bracelets are IONIZED!
Oh wait, they aren't. Hmmm.
GrahamC
in Ontario, Canada
Posted: Wed Mar 12, 2008 | 01:21 PM
I bought one of these bracelets (gold plated) years ago, knowing it probably would do nothing, which it didn't, but I have worn it faithfully ever since, only because I liked it.
The plating was pretty good too, as after 7 years it is only now starting to wear off.
Do I feel ripped off? Not really, as I wasn't really expecting anything. Makes a great conversation piece though, everyone wanting to know what it is or if it works. I may have created some sales or prevented others. I really don't care.
My 2 cents anyways!
Captain Al
in Alberta, Canada Member
Posted: Sat Mar 15, 2008 | 08:13 AM
Fair enough Graham. Of course, if Q-Ray had only marketed a piece of jewelery with no false claims of health benefits there wouldn't have been a federal court case against them. I hope you pointed that out to anyone who asked.
Jim
in Ontario, Canada
Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2008 | 04:48 AM
Well, I purchased one just a few days ago. Didn't pay $250 but substantially less. The only reason I got it becuase I'm always very tired and by 2 pm and can hardly keep my eyes open ... not too good at the office . I'm not sure if its psychological or what but after wearing it for two days, my eyes have stopped hurting from fatique and I don't feel tired at all until about 11pm. I'm not saying I have a lot more energy that I can go and do the 4 minute mile but I'm no longer trying to keep my eyes open at 2pm anymore. This is all I was looking for from this bracelet and for now, it's doing what I wanted to. I know there's a lot of Q-Ray bashing but I thought I should mention my experience with this product.
Captain Al
in Alberta, Canada Member
Posted: Sun Apr 06, 2008 | 10:51 AM
Jim,
I repeat what I said above. The inventors of Q-Ray admitted in court their bracelet has NO special properties and they made up all that stuff about ionization and the link to ancient Chinese medicine. Therefore your results MUST be psychological. As long as you're okay with that, great. Too bad it cost you some money. You could have tied an old piece of string around your wrist and pretended it was ionized.
IRA
in SYOSSET, NY
Posted: Fri Apr 11, 2008 | 12:31 PM
I have been wearing a QRAY bracelet for over 6 years (i'm on my 3rd one). I have always said that I had no idea what ionization meant but.......
The damned thing works for me.
I had a heel pain that the doctors could do nothing for, and the bracelet has worked for me since the first time I put one on. Placebo or not, I love them.
. I'm not sure if its psychological or what but after wearing it for two days, my eyes have stopped hurting from fatique and I don't feel tired at all until about 11pm. I'm not saying I have a lot more energy that I can go and do the 4 minute mile but I'm no longer trying to keep my eyes open at 2pm anymore. This is all I was looking for from this bracelet and for now, it's doing what I wanted to. I know there's a lot of Q-Ray bashing but I thought I should mention my experience with this product.