7 October, 2015

The Shonkys: All The Brands With The Shonkiest Products

By B&T Magazine

It’s an award ceremony you don’t want to be named at, but the annual Shonkys, awards celebrating the worst and dodgiest of products, has revealed it’s latest clump of disasters.

The Shonkys is funded by consumer advocacy group CHOICE, and has been running since 2006.

The winners of this year’s Shonkys include NAB, Arnott’s, Ikea, Samsung, Coke, Kleenex, Nanosmart and Payday lenders.

NAB

NAB joined the Shonkys wall of fame for its ‘Low Rate’ credit card, which while interest rates have decreased, NAB’s credit card interest rates have increased.

“We see a contradiction there – or at least a cash grab at the expense of consumers that has a distinct whiff of shonkyness about it,” said the team behind the Shonkys.

Arnott’s

Arnott’s Tiny Teddies won a Shonky award this year for including a kids’ canteen recommendation on its packaging, despite the teddy-shaped biscuits being loaded with sprinkles and chocolate.

“We think Arnott’s deserves a Shonky to add to its trophy shelf, right next to its ‘canteen approved’ stamp.”

Coca-Cola

Paying for a scientific study that found people need to do more exercise to burn off the calories, rather than just stopping drinking the fizzy drink had a few raised eyebrows turned towards the beverage company.

“In a scientific revelation right up there with the discovery of penicillin, the GEBN website carefully explains that you gain weight when you take in more calories than you burn off, and vice-versa. The suggestion is that we shouldn’t stop gulping down cans of Coke, we should simply exercise more. So we had to take issue with the GEBN – in the form of a Shonky – which we think looks a lot like a fizzy font of self-serving pseudo-science.”

Samsung

When a number of Samsung washers spontaneously combusted into flames, there’s no denying the shonkiness of the product. Which the Shonkys gladly dished out.