rollover

Buying Belief

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. (Hear An audio recording of the oral arguments.)

November 14, 2007
| Share on Facebook | Save on del.icio.us | Post to Digg

Comments - Share your thoughts

I think it's great that the CBC is exposing this... But, I also recall this product being advertised - ad-nauseum - on the CBC. I'm not a lawyer, but you have to wonder if Q-ray's apparent exposure to liability had anything to do with this. Still, it is good to see this is being exposed. I've seen a lot of those bracelets around. Posted by: Darrell Mast | Nov 14, 07 08:01 PM
Qray simply doesn't work. I wore one for 8 months and noticed nothing. I took it off and I feel the same. whatever benefit that may be experienced exists in the mind of the person. Not the science. Posted by: dennis | Nov 15, 07 12:57 PM
What a yawn. There have been snake oil salesman as long as there have been snakes. If the benefits (if any) come from the placebo effect, so be it. There are many similar items on the market, from supplements to magnets. The issue was worth about 5 minutes of air time. If you want to go down this path, a great deal of our society is based on this sort of crap. What about the supposed benefits of seaweed in clothing? The latest ingredient in women's personal care products? This car will improve your sex life (never stated - always implied). You should be able to find something better to expose. Posted by: Michael Sloan | Nov 16, 07 05:51 PM
Do they make larger ones to go around the neck for headaches? Does it help with common sense, also? Posted by: E. Knight | Nov 18, 07 08:37 PM
The first time I saw one of these ads I thought it was a fraud. Any real pain relief bracelet would have received front page headlines. The old saw comes to mind "If it is too good to be true it probably is." Posted by: Alan R Taylor | Nov 18, 07 10:32 PM
Products like QRay feed on the naive and desperate. Every product on late night advertorials should be put through the ringer, especially the ones making big money. Many are led to believe that 20 min 3 X/week will give you a bowflex body. All lies... scientifically impossible. That's even way less than the weekly exercise recommended by health Canada. They are obviously still preying on the weak and gullible and making huge unethical profits. All advertisements should be endorsed similar to pharmaceuticals, except instead of side effects they have to state potential results or lack thereof. Posted by: Brian Johnson | Nov 18, 07 11:50 PM
Subscribe to the comments

Share your thoughts

Note: The CBC does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comments, you acknowledge that CBC has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Please note that due to the volume of comments we receive, not all comments will be published, and those that are published may be edited. But all will be carefully read, considered and appreciated.