A user asked on a social network: “What product is sold almost exclusively to stupid people?” The answers ranged from lottery tickets to protein powders, but the funniest and most instructive was the story of a plastic steam iron bought at a fair, which had no heating mechanism at all. A fraudulent demonstration, a naive sister, and a life lesson that lasted for years.

(Staff: Netherlands/Consumer &Lifestyle)

On a social network, a user asked a question that sparked a wave of reactions: “What product is sold almost exclusively to stupid people?” The answers were varied and ranged from lottery tickets (called a “tax on stupidity”) to useless protein supplements and weight-loss gadgets. But the story that attracted the most attention was that of a sister who, thirty years ago, bought a steam iron… without a power cord.

The fraudulent demonstration at the fair

The story begins at a fair where a hawker demonstrated a seemingly miraculous device: a kind of red plastic iron, with holes in the bottom and a black handle made of the same hard plastic. The hawker demonstrated to those present that the device produced steam and could iron clothes even when they were hung on a hanger, without the need for an ironing board.

The user’s sister was so impressed that she paid 25 guilders for the technological marvel. She came home proud, convinced she had made an excellent deal. The truth came out only when the user noticed that the iron had no power cord, no heating mechanism, and no water reservoir. It was just a piece of hollow plastic. The hawker had used a specially prepared device for the demonstration – a modified version that produced steam, but which was not the one sold to customers.

Reactions and debates in the comments

The story generated hundreds of comments. Many users recalled their own experiences with fraudulent demonstrations – from cleaning products that seemed miraculous at fairs, to gadgets bought online that bore no resemblance to what was promised. One user told how he bought a cleaning product that seemed to remove impossible stains, only to find out at home that the product was ineffective.

Others pointed out that this type of deception has not disappeared but has moved online, where fake reviews and misleading promotional videos are commonplace. “Fake demonstrations still exist,” wrote one user. “A hawker with a stack of boxes of eco-friendly detergent… And it works.”

What do consumers say?

One commenter noted with humour that today the same principle applies to “influencers” who promote useless products. “There are influencers who have made a sport of intentionally buying such weird products and making videos about them,” wrote another user.

Conclusion

The story of the cordless iron is a funny but also a cautionary reminder: when an offer seems too good to be true, it usually is. Whether it’s at a fair, an online store, or a promotional video, checking a product before purchase is always a good idea. And if someone tells you a device works wonders, ask yourself: “Where does the energy come from?” – because sometimes the answer is “from nowhere”.