Clever marketing to non-car people.

[Blackened300a]

I saw a commercial for a item called the CarMD. http://www.carmd.com/
All kinds of people claiming they saves tons of money by using this scanner and being able to tell the mechanic whats wrong.
https://www.carmd.com/Content/Images/TV-Offer/product.jpg

Its basically the simplest version of a OBD2 scanner with 3 dummy lights that tell you if its safe to drive the car and a fancy carry case that appeals to the non-mechanically inclined and women who get scared of the check engine light. The same type of basic scanner goes for around $50 in a auto part store or Sears, but since they advertised it as a way to save tons of money and how simple it is to use, they jacked up the price to 3 payments of $40 for just the unit and then for another $23.98 they will sell you the "comfort cable" which is basically the cord that goes from the scanner to the OBD2 port instead of plugging the unit in directly.
https://www.carmd.com/Content/Images/TV-Offer/cable.gif
So basically you are shelling out $150 for what amounts to a $50 scanner. Its the Jitterbug phone for cars. :rolleyes:

[CBT]

Comfort cable. Sounds kinky.

[Blackened300a]

Comfort cable. Sounds kinky.

True, but it will cost you extra.

[CBT]

True, but it will cost you extra.
I so want to say that thing that you are tired of me saying :D

I can see this selling like hotcakes, people getting them for long road trips, getting them to put in thier kids cars glove box, giving them as gifts, etc. etc.

[yjmud]

God I love when people tell me what is wrong
best is when that doesn't fix the problem and they pay full price ++++++++

[CBT]

God I love when people tell me what is wrong
best is when that doesn't fix the problem and they pay full price ++++++++

True. You can use this to possibly not get overcharged for extra "repairs", but even if you have this and go to a repair shop and tell them 'My car is throwing code XXX', they are still going to check it themselves anyway and probably charge for the diagnosticals they do.

[MOTOWN]

you know what they say..."theres one born every minute"

[RacerX]

Speaking of clever marketing:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKkPFDEiC6Q

[SpartaPerformance]

Interesting, they say the consumer can tell the mechanic what's wrong huh? Somebody should tell people if it was that easy then real scanners wouldn't cost anywhere from $4,500 and up, mechanics could send there customer to auto zone get the codes read for free and fix the cars in half the time. LOL Damn people that buy this are sooooooooooooooo stupid.

[Fosters]

If I plug one of those things in the mustang, finds the SCT chip, the missing abs exciter rings on the rear end (c clip eliminators), electric water pump and various other things, the thing would probably just display "GET OUT OF CAR, SOMEONE SET US UP THE BOMB!" :D