65 thoughts on “Negative Ion Bands, Bracelet and Sports Watch Scam”

1. Trueler did you go to the website and look at the clinical trial? He specifically stated they had trials you tool. Specificaly from the Energy Medicine Research Institute. They do clinical trials for many company’s. It is not the plastic that emits ions either, you are such a troll, and don’t even know what you are talking about. But because you are closed minded and even refuse to do any research you keep saying the same thing, “Plastic can’t blah, blah, blah”. You are a troll of the worst kind.

2. lol… “We are the only ones to test it”… Any published results?… Plastic thing just can’t emit…

3. Trueler, and everyone else reading this thread. My name is Matt Ryncarz and 100% full disclosure, I am the founder of Fusion IONZ. First, let me say that I agree with your point. After testing thousands of “negative ion” bands myself I know a vast majority… if not more… DO NOT work nor emit negative ions to point of human benefit. We worked for nearly two years to develop a band mixture that would in fact emit enough to effect human performance. We knew our own testing would not be enough…. so earlier this year we put our money where our mouth was and commissioned a third party, board certified, placebo controlled study to test our product for human performance benefit, pain relief and we also commissioned a third party lab controlled negative ion test against 13 other competitors to prove we had the highest negative ion output. All of this can be openly read on our web site… http://www.FusionIonz.com . I do not come here to disagree or to change your mind but simply to give you all of the facts that are out there. Our industry, like many others is not regulated so many can make false claims. We are the only ones that I know of to take enough pride in our product to ACTUALLY test it!

4. @Padeo: unfortunately there is such thing like unfair marketing… And it should be prosecuted!

   Thanks,
   Trueler

5. @Daniel: why you posted a comment here then? Get a life ;)

6. Unfair marketing? there’s no such thing as unfair marketing, that’s why its called marketing, the church markets God yet its not proven it even exists, not even a tangible product, is that unfair marketing too?

7. don’t know about health benefits, I already felt great and in good shape and would never expect that from a bracelet, but I must admit it certainly improved my balance and everyone’s I have tried it on. I don’t even tell them what it should do before trying it on them thus eliminating placebo effect. mines not plastic and not $30, even if there is a placebo effect that’s money well spent if its working for you, look how many people put faith in God, if that isn’t placebo at work I don’t know what is

8. Trueler you’re clearly not a scientist, you’re a scammer yourself in that you pretend to be one and that you simply saying “can’t work” makes you scientific. You amount to a silly time wasting troll. You are a typical mainstream scientist spokesperson though: a troll. Get a life and stop wasting everyone’s time.

9. I really enjoyed rkt137 comment from 3/17/13. Your philosophical perspective connecting these watches to the downfall of society is very insightful. I especially enjoyed your analogy of religion as a placebo affect. I respect your right to voice your option, and while I may agree to much of what you have to say, I have to say one thing. You guys are all taking this way overboard, come one we are talking about some plastic watches…lol

10. @Lahere: Really? ;)

11. @Kristin – I also bought Energy Armor bands from a kiosk in Las Vegas and we definitely felt the difference! If anyone has the intelligence to do the research on tourmaline they will understand why.
    As for Trueler, my sympathies go out to you for being close minded and ignorant !

12. The sad thing is these companies are buying a product from China for pennies and selling these with no physical proof they actually work. People do feel better once they put it on, but sugar pills also heal people just the same. We do expose ourselves to many harmful energy devices, but I can’t see a silicone bracelet being able to neutralize the effects of a picture tube television, cell phone, microwave or even a ballast from a fluorescent bulb. These aren’t even worth buying at a dollar store, unless you like the bracelet itself.

13. @Trueler The claims your are making against the entirety of these negative ion bracelets are bogus. I have been using them for over a year now and have noticed many health benefits. My friends and I joke about them being placebo bracelets a lot, but the facts remain that the claims of science behind these things are indeed founded on sound principles unlike you claim. If you would like to claim that no research has been done to prove these ion products, and would like to claim that these are simply overpriced silicone shells with no special properties, then I highly recommend you do your own credible tests or at least provide sources. in the same way, I could say this website is a scam, (Not saying it is, it’s an example) and I could back it by claims that you provide opinionated and biased claims over other products; I wouldn’t even have to prove myself and others would believe me unless they were die-hard fans of your site beforehand…

    At any rate, to get back on topic, the fact that I have put myself through the test so many times, to pass every time, says something for these negative ion bracelets. I use Energy Armor branded products, and I use the computer and other electronic devices nearly all-day. Before I used EA, I would suffer severe migranes on a regular basis and would feel tires 24/7. While I use EA products, I notice thatmy migranes are far fewer and less powerful. I also sleep better at night and therefore suffer less sleep deprivation. Recently my family suffered severe illness. My ailments were less severe than anyone else in my house, though I did not recover any faster. While this was going on the family was complaining of trouble sleeping, whereas I still had no trouble. I then removed my bracelet for more than twenty-four hours, and I can honestly say that the night in that time gap was the worst night of sleep I have had in months.

    I will stand behind this product 100% and honestly tell you they work. Other methods are indeed more effective, and the price for these things is outrageous for how much it costs to make them. However, they are well-worth it.

14. @me: if you pay $50 for a pizza which “emits negative ions to drastically increase your health and loose weight” you are definitely gets scammed. Similar thing with those bracelets. It’s just a piece of plastic, but claimed to be a panacea.

    Trueler

15. @Trueler, why are you so insistent that they are all scams? You stated that if someone paid over $2 for one then they were scammed. Someone could pay $200 for one but as long as it does indeed emit negative ions it is not a scam. They simply drastically over paid. There is a very distinct difference between the two. If I pay $50 for a pizza that cost $4 to make then as long as it is in fact a pizza I was not scammed. I over paid. I’m not advocating these bracelets, I just find it odd that you have posted so many adamantly close minded comments about this.

16. So many experts among us. And all of the experts disagree with each other. So everyone must be more than 50 miles from home. I can’t believe I wasted my time reading all this stuff.

17. Carol P., have you paid for bracelets more than $1-2? If you did, it is a scam…

    Trueler

18. I had the demonstration done when we were in LasVegas a few weeks ago. I was very skeptical about this product. I have had back problems and severe pain since last May, and have had two sets of back injections from a pain management doctor. The first set of shots lasted 6 weeks and the pain came back, the second set of shots lasted 3 weeks, again, the pain came back. I can only take Tylenol for pain since I am on blood thinner medication. My husband and I talked about the bracelets and decided to purchase them the next day. We bought two of the stainless steel bracelets, a bit higher in price than the bands, and I have to say I have a nice bracelet, BUT also the pain is gone from my back and hips. Since leaving LasVegas I have not had to take any Tylenol for pain. My husband had disk surgery in his neck 14 years ago and has had pain ever since, since buying the bracelet and wearing it he has experienced NO PAIN in his neck. I though it was hookey too…. BUT our’s is working for us and I wouldn’t give them back.

19. I have read all the negative and positive reviews!
    But i just want to comment that I was very skeptical also with these ‘rubber bands’.
    Was given an ionCURVE band from my sister as I do a lot of exercise and she thought it could help.
    This one had the tourmaline in it that you were talking about in earlier posts and I must admit that more than anything it has helped me have a far better sleep after a couple of weeks wearing it. I honestly wouldnt have it off now. Placebo, i dont know!

20. Whether you believe in the science or not what really matters it does it work for you or not.
    I had never put any stock in the ones I had seen at the mall or really even thought about it.
    Yesterday I was at the store and saw on and asked my daughter if she thought it worked. She didn’t know and since it was less than 10 dollars I thought I’d give it a try. I had not expectations either way but since I work out daily thought I’d see if it affected me.
    I must say my work out was much less fatiguing and I had more energy.
    Now I did not buy it expecting anything and I did not know any of the hype. Granted some people out there have a tendency to over state for their own monetary gain but from what I read now there are vast differences in the dozens out there easily found on the internet. One tells you how great it is and another tells how much stronger it is than the others. I believe that if you invest in one that is tested and known to have high negative ions then you can decide if it’s right for you.
    To make a blanket statement that ALL are a scam might be as irresponsible as saying that they are all that and a bag of chips either.
    Bottom line it works for me.

21. Proof is in the pudding so to speak. I am living proof that these bands help with arthritis, energy, and balance.

    One day I was sitting in the car on a long distance drive with my wife in the passanger side. She was complaining about her left knee which she has arthritis in from her majorette days in high school. I tried to get her to put my braclet on but she was skeptical. When she fell asleep I slipped it of my wrist and laid it on her knee that was having pain. After a couple of hours she woke up and I carefully removed it from her knee without her knowing. I asked her how her knee was feeling and she said she forgot about it as the pain had subsided. I told her about the braclet and now she is a believer. Again proof is in the pudding.

22. For those who have purchased one of these expensive watch bands and believe it is working for you, you have become a victim of the Placebo Effect because you spent all that money when the watch is only worth about 10% of what you spent.

23. I’ve had one on for a few days and I’m kind of wigged out. Like Kristen said above, the balance part wsa amazing, it was what immediately got my attention and I’ve tried it out on several other people with the same test. It’s astounding.

    The energy levels I have are just ridiculous. If this is a placebo… I’m not tired, I have cleaned my entire house, massive 10 hour hike, caught up on so much of my backlog and well into next week’s work. Operating fine on less sleep than I usually do and up before 6 every morning. I have minimal pain, I had chronic back pain and the aches I experience from all the hard work I’ve been doing ( plus just random exercise in between ) goes away very quickly.

    I didn’t buy my bracelet online, I got it at a mall kiosk where it’s properties were demonstrated directly. There might be scammers out there but this product is working on me, and I had never heard of it before this week.

24. I just tried one that my coworker purchased, as did everyone in my office. We all stood on one foot with our arms out to the side without the bracelet and had someone try to push our arm down and we all fell onto the other foot. AFTER we put on the bracelet, we had someone try to push our arms down and we had no problem balancing without falling onto the other foot. I don’t know about any of the other claims, but for balance I am amazed at how well it worked. I don’t own one yet, but the type we tested out was Energy Armor.

25. Ahhh, how obvious it is that someone (Sng3dkaraoke) has a vested interest in claiming these useless pieces of junk rubber bands are not a scam. No one would write so many posts (and long winded at that….another indicator of scammer….confuse people with junk science that hasn’t even been applied to the rubber bands themselves).

    They sure invested a lot of time trying to make crap into something worth spending 30 bucks, when actually there’s another one claiming it’s placebo. Well, if I want a placebo, I’ll spend 30 bucks on a good bottle of wine and believe it will absolve me of heart disease. That’s 30 bucks of placebo well spent.

    btw, my friend bought me one of those rubber bands and I wore it, just to make them feel good (ha, they got more placebo effect from me wearing it, than I did!) I wore it for months, then stopped because I was embarrassed to be seen with one on, and was sick of telling people it was a gift and that I wasn’t actually gullible enough to buy one. The thing is crap. Crap crap crap of a scam.

26. Proof it doesnt work…do the same tests the sales people do on your friends using coming household items or jewelery, its the power of suggestion, the sales person tells you what happens and it does, i have done it with many people, the balance tests, coordination, etc. I used a plastic bracelet, a watch, a spoon, and i suggest to them while holding that object they will be stronger, etc…works every single time, take the object away and they are weak again.

    Charged ions do not work in this manner that these companies suggest and it is scientifically impossible. These claims are fraudulent and a means of making extreme profits for a 10 cent bracelet.

    Curious how standing next to 1000s of bracelets it doesnt work, but touching a bracelet for under 30s and you are suddenly stronger…some people …

27. It’s better to keep $30 for good things instead of giving it to scammers who lie about positive health/life effects.

    If you believe it, you may buy it for $1 in any “Dollar Store” because it will “work” in the same way!

    Trueler

28. if you dont believe it, dont buy it, it wouldnt work on closed minds anyways. (mind over matter)

    if you do believe it, please do buy it, 30$ for creating a positive belief, thus impacting your life in a positive way, is well worth it. (mind over matter)

    it may be all in your head, or actually be something extraordinary. as for the science behind it: fuck science, its all man made.

29. Sng3dkaraoke: Article gives enough facts telling that “ionic” bands/bracelets can not work as claimed at all. If you believe it – use it on your own, but do not advertise it and do not confuse people! It’s unfair and it’s a scam.

    Thanks,
    Trueler

30. @Jeff Richards: “ionic” bands/bracelets can’t work…

31. In fact there are many bands that were tested to only show an emission of 9 to 20 – ions per cubic centemeter teases amounts are too small to make a difference to anyone at all the natural environment has on average at least 50 – ions per cubic centemeter in the air. This is really where the rip off factor comes into play. There are alot of these on the market. And as far as there balance tests, those are actually all bogus as well. Any affects you might gain will not be that immediate and significant for such a test. The negative ions will have to be a significant number per cubic centimeter compared to your normal environment. Fact. So this is why I say they are not for everyone as not many people may notice anything at all. So scam not necessarily but useless mostly.

32. @trueler the science of ions is in fact relative to this post . I also commented about a specific “ion band” which is in no way shape or form made of plastic. As I happen to be considered an expert in my field of work , which happens to be plastics.
    I don’t speak for all bands out there as I have stated that there are scammers among many industries. You can not bash an entire product line because of a few companies that are making unsupported claims on there product. There are two bands out there that are making legitimate claims on the ions being emitted from there product and tests have shown this. Yes there real benefits can still be in question , I also have stated. But the science is there.

33. I so find the affects that people report from these bands interesting.

    Are they placebo? Ionic Balance Bands are another make of band.

34. @Sng3dkaraoke: this article is about “ion bands”, BTW… which are just pieces of plastic in fact…

35. Once your opinionated the way you are it is unfair to others to be spreading what you clearly don’t understand. The affects of positive and negative ions have been researched since the fifties. All fact, not opinion you and your comments are biased toward the fact you have a rep to uphold on this site, I therefore do not. My research has been on ions, not ion bands and you are truly mistaken.

36. @Sng3dkaraoke: It’s not science at all. It’s unfair marketing.

37. Actually it is all science do your research.

38. @Sng3dkaraoke: Good writing for this trend! But no science… unfortunately they simply can’t work.

    Trueler

39. As to this site in there comment about a piece of plastic not being able to emit negative ions , well that statement is true but the real deal bands on the market are in no way made of plastic. They are in fact made with a mineral called tourmaline which is in fact a mineral that naturally emits negative ions under movement or even pressure mixed with heat . The body absorbs the ions as they are emitted.

40. This is why company’s will not guarantee results. Ion technology is once again fact not scam , I am speaking for the science and not for any one individual company as we all know is full of scams. Doing some research you will find what I say to be true. I am not in any way shape or form suggesting anyone buy one of these bands as I believe you may or may not benefit that is where all the skepticism has come from as well as too good to be true thoughts. As well the price is high on many even for what they are made of. It is a gamble but if you work near computers all day and possibly in ac without ionizing air purifiers , you may very well be in an environment with low negative ion parts per cubic centimeter and a band that is reputable that emits a higher negative ion count than what your in may very well make you feel better and operate better this is where science fact comes in to play. The health benefits of negative ions are confirmed in the scientific world and they even use ion therapy in some cases in health care

41. I find it amusing that someone with little knowledge on the subject is talking down about others intelligence . Negative ions are in fact what makes a body run healthier over positive ions which especially city’s are full of more than negative ions. These company’s do not need to prove this it is well known fact. 85% of all ions are absorbed by the skin and 15% through the lungs. All these company’s really need to prove is that their product produces these ions or contains them radiated into the air or via your skin. Easily measured using ion meter. And in fact have been measured in upward of 2000 + in one band called fusion ti pro. Where you live and your lifestyle will play a roll in how this affects you as a person . Some people are already living and working in areas supplying them with more natural negative ions than the band would supply especially when the fusion pro is said to be of the highest ion concentration on the market. Those who may actually benefit may be people who are inside most of the time in ac or working around computers or monitors which put out high concentrations of positive ions as the rooms may now contain a count of about 50 or less negative ions per cubic centimeter. At those levels a band like fusion pro which uses heat from sunlight and heat from your body to charge and disperse these negative ions could be beneficial to your body and improve health functions. So you need understand these bands will not necessarily be for everyone note are some of them with low ion counts going to do much for most people. But scam ? nope not at all , this is why they are allowed to stay in the market . And it is based on facts about ions and there roll in the human body.

42. Bought and paid for 2 ion watches…but never received them…called 1-800 number,no answer..no reply from e-mail either…a total scamm..stopped being a swarm member…

    k.

43. The really sad, and kind of scary thing is that there are probably hundreds, maybe thousands of people who bought these items who will tell you it has had effects ranging from “can tell the difference” to “changed my life”!! And this is a symptom of a delusional society that isn’t interested in reality, in critical thinking, or even in doing the tiny amount of mental work it takes just to be skeptical. I am pretty sure religion is also in this category, and might even be a more powerful influence, which will eventually result in the downfall of a civilization that has already fallen behind other countries in its performance in math, science, and reason skills. I once suggested to a group of people that we might take more responsibility for our health in numerous ways, including not smoking, since we know smoking causes cancer. Innocent enough, right? But no. An irate and emotional woman in the audience responded angrily that her grandmother had just died of lung cancer and had never smoked. She seemed to believe I was accusing her grandmother of smoking. Apparently it had never crossed her mind that other things might, and obviously do, cause lung cancer! This person was in a college classroom and probably went on to “earn” a degree in who knows what?! One can only hope she did not become a school teacher! Sadly I believe that this inability to reason is pervasive throughout a large and growing middle class where mediocrity is not only perfectly okay, but celebrated, while excellence is frowned upon by middle-class comrades. As someone once point out to me, most of the country is run by “C” students– a chilling thought.

44. We know deal sites aren’t the only scammers. But this one surprised me. The Kingston police(!) are selling negative ion balance bracelets as a fundraiser. Including at the police station and promotion on their official website with the false health claims (and a smaller disclaimer they don’t guarantee them)

    http://themoralskeptic.blogspot.ca/2012/05/kingston-police-selling-power-balance.html

    Other countries have gone after scammers selling this junk…in Canada the police are the scammers

45. I just decided to do a little research about these bands becuz they are advertised on groupon. I read about these awesome charged ions and how they make you feel. Interesting reading on these ions you get naturally being on a mountain or next to a waterfall. Then I wondered how they engineer these ions to get them into a watch and couldn’t find anything on the bottling of these ions. Lol. Then stumbled on this page. Thanks for the confirmation, however, they are kinda cool looking for the use of telling time.

46. I just got an offer from SwarmJam for “Pet Energy Tags” from a company called Live It Nexus. The cost is $19.00 (for 2) which is supposedly an $80 value. Who in their right mind would pay $80 for a piece of plastic? Well, some fool has actually bought these! Imagine if they really did work – who would want a hyped-up dog or cat tearing around your house?

    The company’s website, like others mentioned above seem to only have about a dozen items and all at astronomical prices. The watches they sell look suspiciously like one I bought at a dollar store.

47. I bought two Inner Energy bands from a kiosk in our local mall about the beginning of November, 2011, and at first all seemed well. I spend about 6 hours per evening at the computer, and while I had the bands on, they seemed to prevent headaches (just like they claimed) and I was well satisfied with them. Then, about Christmas time, roughly two months later, the bands seemed to have “run out;” I’ve got the headaches back (which means I probably have to cut back on the puter time.) Whatever benefit I was getting from them seems to have petered out. Not good.

48. I ordered power bands for Christmas gifts at the end of November through Wagjag. To date I have not had human contact with either Powered Harmony phone number or the “24 hour customer service email” to find out where they are or if they will arrive in time for Christmas. I have phoned the 1-800 number numerous times from 7am to 9pm. I have sent several emails to the 24 hour customer service address. To date I have heard from no one. Is this a scam?

49. I have nothing against paying $15 for a plastic watch- but the claims they make are just silly.
    Quite surprized people actually believe these claims when I assume most people have graduated from high school?

    I actually have 2 “ionic” watches and for my use they are good.
    Bought one because I wanted a watch that did not come undone when I exercise and does not have a buckle.
    For that and paying $10 it is good.

    Another watch paid $15 mostly for the style- supposedly it has ions- but I thought the style was different.
    The watch face is black and the numbers show up in while LED and the watch glows in the dark :)
    So far I have to report there is no benefit to my sports activities, but everyone likes the style of the watch and asks about it.
    The company I bought it from is not really making any claims though- just that it is water resistant or waterproof (i forget).

    Not sure I would pay $100 for a plastic watch- but then again there are many “premium” (overpriced) plastic watches like Toy Watch, tecnomarine (like the style but not for $300), and many other brands.

50. good stuff, thought about reporting some of these to the competition bureau, ASC and Health Canada when I’ve seen them on deal sites or in the mall.

    There have been some action against these things in the past http://www.quackwatch.org/01QuackeryRelatedTopics/PhonyAds/qray.html