Shame at Edmund Scientific.

[crimresearch]

Thank you for the update. I'll be sending them one saying that I appreciate them clearing out that stuff.

 

[kookbreaker]

According to the reviews, this thing has been in the catalog for 3 years. I suspect it is being dropped due to poor sales rather than any complaints.

 

[Almo]

Even when I was a kid looking at probably that very catalog, I saw the way the woo-item descriptions were written. They were inviting you to buy the pyramid thing, put a piece of fruit in it, and see that it wasn't preserved any better than in a normal plastic container.

It was deceptive marketing, but if you read carefully, you could see they were inviting customers to do their own testing on these things. Which really is "scientific" after all, right?

 

[Careyp74]

Well, cryogenic hardening of steel is a real thing:


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cryogenic_hardening

But it's completely unnecessary here.

I think cryogenic heat treatments would have a LOT of effect.

 

[kookbreaker]

Even when I was a kid looking at probably that very catalog, I saw the way the woo-item descriptions were written. They were inviting you to buy the pyramid thing, put a piece of fruit in it, and see that it wasn't preserved any better than in a normal plastic container.

It was deceptive marketing, but if you read carefully, you could see they were inviting customers to do their own testing on these things. Which really is "scientific" after all, right?

Not from what I am reading. That is just one page of many covering woo topics. In that same catalog there are two pages covering biofeedback equipment (including an E-meter!), a whole page-n-half of Kirlian photography. The page next to the Pyramid page was a combo of 'ESP' gear and genuine optical illusion stuff. Now this would be just 5-6 pages out of a 165 page catalog, but still...

Add to it that one of the very influential persons in the company at that time subscribes to a lot of woo. Great guy, but fell for a lot of that 70's woo stuff.

 

[davefoc]

I think cryogenic heat treatments would have a LOT of effect.

That article says steel. What is the effect on brass (assuming the contacts in a receptacle are brass)? I am not sure that making contacts in a normal electrical receptacle is a good thing to do if cryogenic heat treatments had that effect on the contacts. I see two possible issues:
1. Would a super hard material make a good connection to a plug? Maybe the brass that is used conforms a bit to the plug which actually leads to a better connection?
2. Would a super hard material receptacle contact wear the plug faster than a standard receptacle contact?

On the other hand, gold plating the contacts probably does make the receptacle better. I used to be involved with the design of hand held computers and battery contact plating was an issue. Gold seemed to be the best but it was also the most expensive so we used other approaches as I recall. I will say though that in more than twenty years of owning a small apartment building near the ocean I can not remember a receptacle failing because of corroded contacts. In fact receptacles are extremely reliable and are generally replaced because they get dirty in a way that's hard to clean or for some other aesthetic reason. So I am thinking the return on investment for $150 receptacles could be a long one.

 

[Audible Click]

I wanted to add an update. I've received a response to my email from them, and I guess the remote viewing DVD is officially discontinued, but they have old stock laying around. After that's gone, it'll be off their website.

They share our perspective on the importance of Edmund sticking to science, and the value of the company in that direction. I'm pretty pleased with the response I've received.

Did it give the impression of a form letter or did it seem to be written by an actual human being? I'm asking this because, although, I don't write many complaint emails, the last few I've written seem to be form emails. IMO very bad business.

 

[NobbyNobbs]

But it tightened one guys bass!

Does it work for salmon or trout too?

 

[maddog]

OMG, those reviews are hysterical!!!

 

[mikeyx]

Just ran into this on their online catalog: http://www.scientificsonline.com/review/product/list/id/5162/category/444475/

It's a training DVD for remote viewing. They're also selling a device for ghost hunting. Maybe with a little encouragement they can be reminded of what their real customer base wants?

free enterprise and the like, deal with and let lack of interest kill it off rather than foricing your agenda on people maybe.

 

[Theofrak]

Maybe they will start selling e-Meters.

 

[Speedskater]

a] From an NEC (US National Electric Code) point of view, a receptacle is the device that a plug is inserted in. Most common is the dual receptacle unit. An outlet is the box in the wall, where power leaves the in-wall system to a fan or luminary (lamp) or heater or receptacle. A box with only a switch is not an outlet. But one major receptacle manufacture only calls them outlets, the word receptacle is not on the package.

b] Gold is a great material for low voltage, low current contacts. But gold is bad in high current contacts. With gold AC power connectors, if you plug in a unit that is already switched on, the gold plating at the point of contact will be destroyed.

 

[MattusMaximus]

Wasn't there a SWIFT entry on this a year or so back, when they first crossed the line? Maybe they could change their name to Edmund Sciencey Stuff.

They were a very respected name, but I guess the lure of money is too great to resist for some people/companies. I remember looking them up and it's not the same company all the science geeks know from the 50s to 70s. Some megacorp owns them now.

Yup, I blew the whistle on Edmund (Pseudo)Scientific three years ago. I wrote about it in an online article to Skeptical Inquirer - http://www.csicop.org/si/show/edmund_pseudo_scientific_sells_ghost_detectors - and on my Skeptical Teacher blog - http://skepticalteacher.wordpress.c...doscientific-sells-ghost-detectors-other-woo/ (I can't recall if I wrote an article for the JREF blog on this)

I was also interviewed on SETI Radio's "Skeptic Check" two years ago about this topic - http://skepticalteacher.wordpress.c...ut-ghost-meters-on-seti-radios-skeptic-check/

In addition, even after all this exposure (and after I tried to contact them and got others to do likewise) to have them stop promoting this nonsense, they appear to have doubled-down on the woo, because now they're selling an "ESP Lamp", too...
http://skepticalteacher.wordpress.com/2011/06/20/edmund-pseudoscientific-at-it-again/

My advice is to simply boycott them. And I encourage you to tell all your teacher/education friends and acquaintences to do the same. I know they certainly won't be getting my school district's money any more.

 

[MattusMaximus]

According to the reviews, this thing has been in the catalog for 3 years. I suspect it is being dropped due to poor sales rather than any complaints.

Nope. If fact, on more than one occasion I have noticed that it has been "out of stock", which likely means it is selling quite well. At least, that's how I've been reading it over the years.

For example, just look at their "Ghost Hunting Party in a Box" - out of stock and selling like hotcakes, apparently

My favorite part... the description:

Back in the day, your parents used a Ouija board to contact the dead. You can get your “ghostbuster” on this Halloween with this high-tech Ghost Hunting Party in a Box – the best starter kit available to hunt down the paranormal. Just add your own video camera, and host your own “spooky” event! Starter Kit includes: GaussMaster Electromagnetic Field (EMF) meter, Portable Motion Sensor, Electronic Voice Phenomena (EVP) Listener, Digital Local Remote Thermometer, Deluxe Carrying Case to keep it all together.

I'll be taking my school district's business elsewhere, thank you.

 

[kookbreaker]

Nope. If fact, on more than one occasion I have noticed that it has been "out of stock", which likely means it is selling quite well. At least, that's how I've been reading it over the years.

Hmmm. Could be. Overall Edmund is not doing well, however.

For example, just look at their "Ghost Hunting Party in a Box" - out of stock and selling like hotcakes, apparently

My favorite part... the description:

Could be then. I make no further apologies for Edmund these days. They had their days of woo in the past. But they moved on from that 70;s stuff.

I'll be taking my school district's business elsewhere, thank you.

/me waves!

 

[kookbreaker]

My advice is to simply boycott them. And I encourage you to tell all your teacher/education friends and acquaintences to do the same. I know they certainly won't be getting my school district's money any more.

I should point out that Edmund was purchased from the Edmund family in 2001 by Science Kit & Boreal Lab (The Edmund family went into industrial optics). SK&B was in turn purchased by VWR. VWR owns a lot of science suppliers.

 

[zeggman]

Nope. If fact, on more than one occasion I have noticed that it has been "out of stock", which likely means it is selling quite well. At least, that's how I've been reading it over the years.

For example, just look at their "Ghost Hunting Party in a Box" - out of stock and selling like hotcakes, apparently

My favorite part... the description:


I'll be taking my school district's business elsewhere, thank you.

Meh, you can either use the equipment in that box to do science and fail to find supernatural activity, or you can use it for science that has nothing to do with chasing ghosts.

You're free to buy your equipment wherever you choose, but I don't fault them for this as long as they're still selling microscopes, telescopes, chemistry sets, electronic kits, etc.

I'm more concerned about "The Science Channel" which is MOSTLY given over to pseudo-science or manufacturing technology. I used to see science shows on that channel, but I guess the market wasn't there. I suspect that people who would watch a real "science channel" are spending more time on the internet and less in front of the TV. Not trying to derail here, but I think Edmund Scientific is still selling mostly science equipment, and even these pseudo-science kits can be used for real science.

 

[kookbreaker]

Meh, you can either use the equipment in that box to do science and fail to find supernatural activity, or you can use it for science that has nothing to do with chasing ghosts.

You're free to buy your equipment wherever you choose, but I don't fault them for this as long as they're still selling microscopes, telescopes, chemistry sets, electronic kits, etc.

I'm more concerned about "The Science Channel" which is MOSTLY given over to pseudo-science or manufacturing technology. I used to see science shows on that channel, but I guess the market wasn't there. I suspect that people who would watch a real "science channel" are spending more time on the internet and less in front of the TV. Not trying to derail here, but I think Edmund Scientific is still selling mostly science equipment, and even these pseudo-science kits can be used for real science.

I don't know about that.

Using over-sensitive equipment can very easily lead to people getting false positives ( or at least thinking they've gotten a positive). I've seen the woo programs where people swing around hypersensitive EM detectors and marvel at how all the lights change. I've seen folks with digital thermometers that read to .1F marvel at the 'cold spots' that are less than .2 degrees difference from the rest of the area.

 

[fuelair]

But it tightened one guys bass!

So the bass' hole is now smaller and fits properly..??[

 

[zeggman]

I don't know about that.

Using over-sensitive equipment can very easily lead to people getting false positives ( or at least thinking they've gotten a positive). I've seen the woo programs where people swing around hypersensitive EM detectors and marvel at how all the lights change. I've seen folks with digital thermometers that read to .1F marvel at the 'cold spots' that are less than .2 degrees difference from the rest of the area.

IMO learning how to distinguish between noise and signal, and the capabilities/limitations of the instruments one is using, is also part of doing science.

Whether that's likely to happen at a "Paranormal Party" probably depends on the people involved. Either way, I don't fault ES for selling the hardware.