Is Brainetics a scam?

Peacock

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Peacock
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Feb 27, 2007
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Brainetics

Has anyone tried this method of teaching math? I saw this on an infomercial (I know, red flag already) and it claims to teach shortcuts so you can multiply and divide large numbers in your head. I’m guessing it’s not as effective as it claims, but does it have any merit at all? A quick google showed mixed reviews. It seems possible, but does anyone know if it really works? :confused:
 
Peacock said:
Brainetics

Has anyone tried this method of teaching math? I saw this on an infomercial (I know, red flag already) and it claims to teach shortcuts so you can multiply and divide large numbers in your head. I’m guessing it’s not as effective as it claims, but does it have any merit at all? A quick google showed mixed reviews. It seems possible, but does anyone know if it really works? :confused:
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It looks like a scam to me.

They teach some well-known "magic" tricks that are of little practical use, and supposedly "teach you how to use two parts of your brain at the same time; one part processes information while the other part stores information." (website). Since people routinely use many more parts of their brain than two, that's like paying someone to teach me how to breathe and digest at the same time.

Their claims are also sufficiently overbroad to sound like scams. They teach you how to square a three digit number, and that's supposed to "[allow]your mind to work better and faster at ALL subjects - math, history, science, languages"? Human skills don't work that way.
 
The Shrike said:
I can't see how something called "brainetics" could not be a scam.
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Agreed.

This hard-to-swallow and grammatically-challenged sample quote from the "Brainetics Benefits" section doesn't inspire much confidence:

Many people enter the business world lacking the skills needed to reach their maximum potential. Brainetics has become so popular with adults (over 35% of the people using Brainetics are adults, it is becoming a staple in corporate board rooms) because we not only teach the skills necessary to succeed but it is done in such a fun way that it does not seem like you are going back to school. Brainetics teaches how to memorize names and faces, just about anything. It also works on organizational skills and problem solving. Most of all, I have met so many adults who have had tremendous math anxiety their entire life. Brainetics will help cure all that, and you will be doing things that you never thought possible in a very short amount of time.
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The shortcuts are useful, but all the material is freely available on the web, just repackaged for profit, similar to memory systems which use freely available peg systems but there are numerous systems that exploit this for profit.

If you put in the effort they work well, but you can easily learn the tricks without paying money.
 
I hate to call them tricks, but for lack of a better word, there are tricks for improving memory, IQ (testing, at least), math (usually arithmetic, not real mathematics) remembering faces/names, SAT testing, etc. Nice to know and know of, but beyond that ... ?
 
I figure it's a scam. I don't know, but it just seems like they're skipping vital steps in there somewhere. This feels like something that looks great on paper, but when you try to apply it, everything falls apart. Plus, it's an infomercial. I'd just about bet on it being a scam.
 
Driftwood said:
Plus, it's an infomercial. I'd just about bet on it being a scam.
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Well, it's unfortunate that when something goes the infomercial route it seems to default to that belief, but I've seen some (some) infomercials that do promote accurate products --- the Oreck Vacuum for one; my mom has one and it's great.
 
To be fair, that's because most infomercials are scams. I'll give the benefit of the doubt on something like the Oreck vacuum, because it has a pretty good reputation, but things like Tri-Vita, Brainetics, HD Vision Glasses, anything by Kevin Trudeau, and all cosmetic wrinkle reducers just give them a bad name.
 
Wow. it looks too good to be true to me...Only a genius can do those things...For me, i call it scam...
 
When a product is primarily sold through infomercials, MLM, or shopping networks, and not legit avenues, there's a reason. Legit products generally do not need a salesman to pitch them.
 
Stomatopoda said:
When a product is primarily sold through infomercials, MLM, or shopping networks, and not legit avenues, there's a reason. Legit products generally do not need a salesman to pitch them.
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This is true.

"Not available in stores!" should be a huge warning signal, definitely not a selling point, as it usually is.
 
I'm not buying it unless they throw in a GratyTM. I'll pay additional shipping & handling, but that's it!
 
Spunk-Monkey said:
Please do, Matt! My wife just brought it up as something that might be good for our daughters, and most of what i find out online is less than helpful.
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Wow, more than 1 year later! (and what a year it's been!)
Not sure what happened, but my mum must have returned it. I didn't get round to looking at it properly either, oh well. I didn't think it would have been particularly good anyway, and I really don't see the point of being able to do something like 235*189 in my head. I use my calculator for everything!
 
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