Internet fad inspires laughable "hands free" kit

The image on the left is a fairly typical example of the casual joke emails that I get from friends and clueless Engadget interns: a momentarily entertaining picture, in this case of a dude using an elastic band as a makeshift hands free kit (incidentally, it's also the third result on Google Images for "hands free kit"). With this in perspective, you'll understand the overwhelming compulsion I had to slap myself in the forehead when I saw that someone is trying to flog an elastic band hands free kit -- complete with an example shot identical to the joke image -- onto unsuspecting punters. I hope, nay, pray it's some sort of joke, although the amount of effort that appears to have gone into the design of the packaging forces me to suspect otherwise.

[Via Slashphone]

[Pirateinmymind Posted Sep 7th 2006 5:28PM]

They've had something like that in the Local Cingular Store for Months now, as a joke display. And according to one of my friends who work there, people ask for it all the time.

[Phil P Posted Sep 7th 2006 5:48PM]

I got one of them as a joke present for a friend last Christmas. They are real, and it in fact came in the exact same packaging

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 7th 2006 7:46PM]

I've seen this in a Spencer's Gift store years ago. I mean at least 5 years ago, when I was still a kid that went to the mall. OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOLD.


/still funny.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 7th 2006 8:18PM]

Funny, yes, but this is ancient, in Internet terms.

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 8th 2006 9:15AM]

This malibu rum commerical still makes me laugh :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G8EAQfTKu0A

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 7th 2006 10:49PM]

I hope the brotha is getting paid for that idea!!

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 8th 2006 1:37AM]

This is actually used on a regular basis in Detroit...

[(Unverified) Posted Sep 8th 2006 2:11AM]

Finished.Law.School,

I SEE WHAT YOU DID THERE!!!!