What'll it take to get you into a Health Master?
It is August. There's not much on TV. But what are you supposed to do, go outside? Spend time with friends and family? Find a hobby other than staring at the television, your lord and master? Of course not. Instead, this is a great time to brush up on the endlessly entertaining world of infomercials.
Today we turn our attention to the Health Master, from Living Well With Montel. As in Montel Williams. The Health Master is a blender the same way that a monster truck is a pickup. It appears to have blades made from Wolverine's skeleton, and a motor that belongs in a Ferrari. It will mix anything, including metaphors. Whatever you throw in its gaping maw (potatoes, celery, 2x4s, diamonds) gets emulsified. Wait a little longer, until the friction from the Health Master heats up whatever you have put in it, and you get soup. I have no idea what this thing does to your electric bill, but it probably leaves a carbon foot print the size of Maine.
But how is the infomercial? We've broken it down into important qualities and graded each on a scale from 1 to 5.
Production Value: 4.5
Actually pretty good! In one segment, they have what looks like a fake fruit stand on the side of a fake road in fake rural America. There's a studio audience, a nicely appointed studio kitchen, and lots of vegetables waiting to be pulverized. But this is to be expected, when Montel Williams is your host. Montel wouldn't make you watch him sell blenders from the trunk of his car. He's better than that.
Product Necessity: 0.5
This is a blender that looks like it's powered by nuclear fusion. It is not necessary for anyone. This is probably a stupid category, because almost by definition, late night infomercials advertise products that are useless. That might be a law. I'll call it Conor's Law. (I've always wanted one of those. Thanks, Montel!)
Host: 5.0
It is either incredibly sad or incredibly fortunate that Montel Williams is the one hawking this product. I mean, the guy used to have his own talk show! He was the black Maury Povich! The less-butch Sally Jesse Raphael! This does not seem to be an upward career move, but setting that aside, Montel is a natural salesman. Smooth in front of the camera, good with his co-hosts and audience, and he genuinely seems to love industrial-strength blenders. We started to think that we might actually need a Health Master blender, in violation of Conor's Law. But then...
Cost: -250
This thing costs $250. In FIVE EASY PAYMENTS of $49.99. For nuclear fusion, this is probably a good price. But for a blender, with no actual nuclear capabilities, it's totally ridiculous. Montel knows this, so he is nice enough to interrupt the part with the pricing and take away one of the five easy payments. So now it costs $200! Which is still, oh, about $170 too much.
WTF Factor: 5
Montel Williams. Hosting an infomercial. About a $250 blender that blends so fast it makes soup. What a country.
All told, the Health Master infomercial scores a solid -234.5. It airs at night, when you should be asleep, but are probably drunk -- and thus more vulnerable. Buyer beware.
I sent my first Health Master back after 15-days (I purchased it from Amazon). It wouldn't even blend enough to make a smoothie. I decided to give it another try and purchase it directly from Health Master. Big mistake!!!! I used is twice then poof!!! The motor blew. What really stinks is that you are stuck with the shipping and handling costs not to mention the waste of time. Try calling customer service to get it returned and its like talking to a robot. to sum up this Health Master, over promised and under delivered.
I ordered one, paid in one easy payment of $259 on my Visa, got exactly what I paid for and have had no trouble with it at all. In fact, I'm drinking a concoction I made this morning to take with me for lunch as I type. OBTW, the buyer should ALWAYS beware in ANY business deal.
I watched at least some of that commercial a half dozen times before ordering. I did not research the product. I was compelled by a pity-sell done through an MS survivor and probably gave Montel too many points for illness when as it turns out he is just reselling a repackaged Jack LaLanne loser product. (My mom purchased one of Jack’s blenders from the manufacturer, Tri-star in which the container leaked where the blades assembly was part of the blender container and replacement parts were no longer available) When I ordered over the phone I became suspicious as I used the automated ordering system which "automatically" tries to sell you upgrades and more products etc. I did "upgrade" to the ultra or whatever they call it for more horsepower etc. and at more cost. I am fairly certain this is the same model they show on the infomercial. My purchase came to $309.90 including $39.98 for shipping. I received the product very quickly and used it about 4 times before the motor died suddenly after about 30 seconds at mid speed. No smell of anything burning just suddenly stopped. I bought this product because the infomercial seems to emphasize the health aspects of the machine, but the included recipe books include 2-3 vegetable based drinks and the rest are basically fruit smoothies and gelatos and sorbets and cakes and breads. Most of the recipes boast the addition of fructose, simple syrup or "organic sugar" I guess the subliminal hope that organic sugar is better than ddt-laced mad cow sugar.Customer Service answered the phone relatively quickly and says i will have a return document emailed to me within a few hours and if i write refund on the return label I should get one, minus shipping. crossing my fingers on that. In the end since I had to pay for initial shipping my calculations are that I made four smoothies/juiced drinks for $10 each.moreless
I purchased ONE Healthmaster, they took $359 out of my account. They said they send me TWO healthmasters. When I recieved the ONE Healthmaster, I returned it immediately because I thought $359 was to much. They told me that the one I recieved was refurbished (For $359). I told them I did not order a refurbished blender, I thought I was order a brand new product. They returned $99 to my account and I have been waiting and calling the pass 3 weeks for the remainer of my money, because I did not order TWO blenders. This is a scam and once they get your money it is hard getting it back. I am surpise that Montel Willams would endorse this product and put his name out there.
ScamWow this is funny. anyway I just got my Montell Blender last night. All I have read is that this machine is horrible. Hoorrrriiiiibblle. Why then is this Jack LaLanne rewrite geing re-sold? The other thing is all I am hearing is buy this machine instead. I just want a honest this is what happend when I used it. I keep thinking that the vendor who sells vitamix and the other one are posting all this bad press to get us to send the machine back. HOw could this machine be so bad and keep selling. HOW ABOUT THOSE WHO HAD NO PROBLEMS CAN WE HEAR FROM THEM. SCAMWOW is more like who can you trust. Does anyone have a video of how bad the machine I just bought is?
This is the worst online experience I've ever done. The ad was incredibly misleading - the customer service was horrid, and this company solicited my personal information to various telemarketing companies. I sent it back because it was just a giant blender. I was under the impression it made things hot.. not dump a jug a boiling water in it - jeez, my blender will do that. It grabbed my attention for the juicer. It's JUST a giant freaking blender! Also, they said for an extra price, you can get the Healthmaster Pro, which comes with an extra pourer. When I called customer service, they told me that the Pro model doesn't come with any extra parts.. then what the heck did I pay extra for? I returned it about 2 weeks ago and have yet to have my money refunded. Also, they will not refund the shipping and customer service told me to take it to any ups store, which I had to pay to ship the damn thing back. Overall, I paid neary $70 in shipping, and I hope I get my $239 back in my account soon. It was supposed to be one payment of $199 or you could get the "Pro" for $239... DON'T GET SUCKERED like I did. I didn't even use it at all - I read the reviews before I unpacked it.moreless
I brought it about two months ago and now it is DEAD, same problem as DJSuttons61 had - Lights on motor would not engage the gear. It is really a BAD quality product
PLEASE SAVE YOUR MONEY. This is the biggest piece of junk I have ever purchased. HORRIBLE from trying to juice, put in apples, liquid etc. and after 4 minutes still not blended. Started to get hot so had to add ice. We thru out. I tried the soup and horrible. Someone I know was going to buy one so i let her try mine.... She called to thank me for saving her the hassle. Said her $29 blender worked better. It is a joke, trust me. Doesn't blend and the hot soup..... is only because the motor gets hot. Doesn't mix anything unless soft to start with like banana's. and I got the commercial one. A TOTAL LOSER.
I have found a better blender than the Montel Health Master Blender, the OMNI V. I would suggest to carefully review. Of course, its not a Vita Mix. Not that Vita Mix is really better, but 80 years of History is tough to beat. A good and adequately equal product in quality to the Vita Mix 4500 Turbo Blender should really cost significantly less. For example, the Vita Mix 4500 Turbo Blender is $ 400 (list price) - really $ 70 over-priced. The Health Master is about little less than $ 300 with shipping upgrade, shipping cost, warranty, and power upgrade. The Omni is $ 275 with shipping in the USA. But comparing side by side, which one is really better?thanksThomas Foxwww.3blenders.com
I bought the Montel Williams Health Master Blender, not bad at all, on first sight. A closer look however reveals a few more issues. Check out my very thorough report blender review on http://www.3blenders.com/HealthMaster.htmlMy review includes detailed close-up pictures. I used the blender also. Please don't get me wrong, I have seen worse. And it is certainly worth $ 150.00 or maybe 200. But if you really ...
SAVE YOUR MONEY & AGGRAVATION!!! This thing IS A PIECE OF JUNK // GARBAGE!!! I purchased the unit 8 months ago. After using it 3 times it went DEAD, I called and waited 3 weeks for the return shipping label to arrive. It never got here, Lost in the Mail. They offered to send me another after waiting an additional 15 days. I said NO, I shipped the product back at my expense of $30. After waiting another 3 weeks the 2nd unit arrived. Again I used it 4 times making the simple juices and the soup. I was blending / grinding frozen fruit and the unit DIED Again, Lights on motor would not engage the gear. Again waited the 3 weeks for their return shipping label. it showed up, I put all the into on the label as it needed, Took it to the post office with the attached no postage label. 3 weeks later nothing I called to get the status, They said they have not received back yet. I went to the post office again to find where this package I dropped off 3 weeks ago was. Well, It's sitting in a bin at their post office with several other units I'm sure. Waiting for them to pay the return shipping bill and log in the units so the Customer can get their return unit. Well Being STRESSED & Aggravated about the whole process and this being the 3rd unit. I called them back and said; "Got to the Post office and get the units that are waiting, and, UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES do I want a new unit sent to me, I WANT A FULL REFUND!!!" I bought the 7 year warranty on the machine, I'll be Damn'd if I'm gonna go through this process for the next 7 years. I even sent Montel Williams a note on his Face Book Page with out a response even after calling his studios about this product he put his name on. Well, now I'm going to look at the original machine that this product is a take off from The Vita mix a little more $$ and louder from what the reviews say, But might be worth it if your into Juicing. AGAIN "SAVE YOUR MONEY & AGGRAVATION"moreless
I wasn't drunk...but I was sick and vulnerable! :-( It's been in the house for about 3 weeks...still in the box. Called for the "required RA #" to return it and customer service...well the lights are on but nobody's home. Will be shipping this back without the "required RA #." I wonder...can/should I keep the "free" recipe books that I paid $9.99 shipping for? pfffft!!!
I read that the pitcher was made of Polycarbonate plastic. This is one of the worst plastics to use, especialy to make soup out of! Using the Health Master is not so healthy.
The health master does not cost $ 200, but rather $ 300 if you want a 3 years warranty, 1200 watt motor upgrade, and expedited 7 to 10 days shipping. Otherwise, for $ 200 you get the 1100 watt motor, a 90 days warranty, and you have to wait 3 to 4 weeks before you get the blender. If you compared this not nearly 2 hp blender with the really 2 hp blender Vita Mix 4500 turbo blender, only $ 40 or so bucks more and you get a 1300 watt 11.5 amp blender from Vita Mix with a BPA free container. I believe the health master is not a bad blender, but you just need to know what you are buying. 1.75 hp blends pretty good, but is not competitive with the true 2 hp or even 3 hp blender. A whopping $ 359 gets you the Blendtec HP3A 3 hp blender with 13 amp and 1500 watt motor, 3 years warranty and all free shipping - same with vita mix. And the Waring brand features the MX1050XT 3.5 hp blender for $ 359 as well... So, please, compare apples with apples before buying.For those people who don't have the money and are limited to $ 230.00, they can already buy a better Waring blender, or if you will, the Health Master. But be aware, you are getting 90 days warranty.And no matter what, consider always that you actually and really get what you pay for. I just bought the Health Master and I am now waiting to get it so I can take it apart and write a review.Visit http://www.3blenders.com for more info end sept 09.Q's, feel free to contact me at lifestyle@123vita.commoreless
i bought it and was surpised to see the blades were not sharp and pointy
i called and asked why the commercial shows nice sharp blades and mine were thick no edge and squared.no satisfactor answer,was told i could return it,jeez what a response.
it seems to work well though,had for 1 month and it does pulverizes fruits and veggies
Hey miketh2005,read the heading! This is a infomercial review, not a product review! As for me I thought the review was witty and fun to read. LOL
WTH kinda review is THIS!!????!?!? It tells me nothing of the product and writes it off as a scam because it's too much money? Well it's not our fault that your so poor you can't spend $250 (shipping) on a good machine! I've seen other reviews that praise the product. YOU HAVENT EVEN TESTED THE PRODUCT and you go and make accusations???
Sounds like a Scamwow to me...