The Show This Week

Meet the little bracelet that raises big questions

You've probably seen the retail displays. You've almost certainly seen the TV infomercials; they're everywhere. Probably you've wondered what the Q-Ray bracelet is and what it does.

The answer is a little complicated. The Q-Ray is a crescent of metal capped with a pair of metal beads. In the past it was marketed as a pain-relief device. Now, it is being marketed as a way to achieve "performance," balance" and "vitality," and also as something that will "balance the negative and positive energy forces in your body." All this is apparently the work of "ionization," which is a five-dollar word for electric charge.

We took a Q-Ray to an electron microscopy lab and had it analyzed in detail. The verdict? The thing is not ionized at all. Then Wendy Mesley sat down with Charles Park, the president of Q-Ray Canada.

November 14, 2007
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Tips

What to watch out for

A few quick tips:

  • Don't fall for offers that sound too good to be true. They often are.
  • Check the reputation of the business before buying.
  • If you bought a Q-Ray bracelet between January 1, 2000 and June 30, 2003 you may be elligible for a refund. Call the FTC Q-Ray Consumer Hotline at 202-326-2063.
  • Some provinces have laws that protect consumers from deceptive promotion and sales pitches for up to a year after purchase. Check with your provincial government.

November 14, 2007
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Links to more information

The internet is full of Q-Ray information. Here are some key links.

November 14, 2007
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The court documents

The FTC. v. Q-Ray case has generated a great many documents. Here are links to some of the key ones.

November 14, 2007
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A Q-Ray timeline

1994
  Q-Ray founder Andrew Park says he first saw a bracelet in Barcelona airport, sold as the "Bio-Ray," which, he claims, helped his lower back pain. Says he also bought one for wife’s migraines.
1996
  Q-Ray USA begins selling Q-Ray bracelets mostly wholesale and launches websites
1999
March 25 Q-Ray USA files for trademark “NATURAL PAIN RELIEF.”
2000
August Q-Ray begins selling directly to consumers using infomercial, with national airings on Golf Channel, Learning Channel, USA Network, and Discovery Channel.
September Website sales increase.
December Private lawsuit against Q-Ray USA filed in California.
2001
April ‘Market Facts’ survey reports a 50/50 split in satisfaction among Q-Ray users.
June Second, edited version (because of California lawsuit) of infomercial begins airing.
July 9 Q-Ray USA receives email from grad student DeAnn Trapp containing excerpt from results of her study (no significant change in pain for Q-Ray, placebo experienced significant decrease).
July 16 Q-Ray USA receives full report from Trapp via email.
Aug. 11 Trapp travels to Chicago to be filmed in infomercial.
Aug. 20 Q-Ray USA asks Trapp to remove discussion of pain and placebo data in published report.
Sept. 19 Q-Ray USA asks Trapp to conduct second study.
Oct. 8 Trapp complies with request for study provided to Q-Ray USA, but submits her degree thesis complete.
Nov. 30 Q-Ray USA sends email to distributor asking for changes to web site, “…stay away from making any claims or even using the word pain.” Because of pending Mayo and second Trapp studies.
Dec. 26 Q-Ray USA sends another email to same distributor, asking it to remove “relieves pain” from web site.
2002
Nov./Dec. Andrew Park learns results of Mayo study (no difference between Q-Ray and placebo - questions benefit of using bracelet). Lawyers advise Q-Ray to change marketing material.
2003
February FDA investigators inspect Q-Ray USA. Q-Ray USA begins developing clinical study of its own, using 600 subjects.
March Andrew Park orders Q-Ray USA to spend less money on TV advertising and to reduce number of infomercial airings. Park tells VP of marketing to “fly under the antenna scope.”
March 6 Q-Ray Canada (Ion-Ray) is incorporated
May 27 FTC files complaint against Q-Ray USA.
May 29 U.S. Court grants temporary restraining order and asset freeze of Q-Ray USA.
June 11 Temporary injunction issued against Q-Ray USA, prohibiting false or misleading advertising, marketing, or promotion of the bracelet.
July Andrew Park named defendant in Cook County class action
2005
November FTC contacts Q-Ray USA regarding infomercial airing that contained reference to pain-relief, contrary to preliminary injunction.
2006
Jan. 3 Cook County class action bench trial concludes, judgement entered in favour of Andrew Park.
June 6-15 5-day bench trial, Chicago FTC vs. Q-Ray USA.
Sept. 8 Court rules against Andrew Park & Q-Ray USA.
Sept. 20 FTC press release: “Court rules in FTC’s favour in Q-Ray bracelet case. Orders defendants to pay up to $87 million.”
Nov. 13 Final judgement order against Q-Ray USA.
2007
Oct. 31 Appeal of FTC vs. Q-Ray verdict heard in US Court.

November 14, 2007
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Credits

"Buying Belief"

Producer
Greg Sadler

Associate Producer
Andreas Wesley

Field Associate Producer
Jasmin Tuffaha
Stephanie Kampf

Editor
Kathryn Dickson

Camera
Mark Bochsler
Neith MacDonald
Ed Middleton

Sound
Dave Fox
Karndeep Jassal