Those damn vuvuzela horns aren't pissing everybody off in South Africa -- TMZ has learned earplug sales have gone through the roof since the World Cup began on Thursday. 
TMZ spoke to two major earplug suppliers based in South Africa -- Ear Plugs Online and Sheppard Medical -- and each are boasting ENORMOUS increases in sales since last week.
A rep for EPO tells us their sales are up 121% -- selling more than 10,000 sets of plugs and counting. Sheppard Medical tells us they've moved more than 400,000 sets since kickoff -- a 20% increase.
Both companies attribute the increase to those damn horns -- which people are constantly blaring both in stadiums and on the streets. Reps for both companies tell us neither would be surprised if they each sold over one million sets by the end of the World Cup. 
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Reader Comments
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The Cowbells at the Winter Olympics are just as irritating.
It's hard to believe the decible level from those damn things is louder then jackhammers.
Oh yeah by the way TMZ we don't care about ear plugs. How about actually talking about the world cup games.
Those things are SO annoying. It makes it hard to watch the games on TV. I can't imagine being at a game as a fan or, even worse, a player.
People are such whiners I didn't even know this was a problem until they made it an issue. I've always watched the games on TV and they don't bother me.
Maybe next World Cup they'll choose a country that doesn't have ****ing stupid sporting traditions. The games are completely unwatchable thanks to these ****ing noise makers. The players and the announcers both wanted FIFA to ban the damn things, but they said no. Also, to the morons saying they don't notice the noise makers. Stop being dumbasses. You're really going to sit there and say you never noticed them until people started complaining? They sound like thousands of pissed of killer bees coming over the horizon. Are you going to tell me that you don't hear that God awful noise? Really? I guess if someone fired a gun newt to your head you'll sit there and say you never heard it. I suggest you get your ears checked ASAP.
#6: Maybe you did not notice the vuvuzelas while watching games because they are pretty much exclusive to South Africa...unless you only watched South African games..... officials are afraid to ban them because they are an "integral part of South African culture" (and are probably afraid it would make them seem racist) even though players have complained and been carded because they did not hear the ref.
I've stopped watching the World Cup because of them. Incredibly irritating. And Soccer? Snooze!
Those horns are BEYOND irritating. It sounds like a bunch of bees buzzing.
Stopped watching because of the constant blarring. It sounded like an air raid or the noon bell, but never stopping. Too bad I really wanted to watch the England vs US game. How can they keep their lips puckered so long?
third world cup games is more like it...let's all live in a hut... and kick a ball in the dirt.
