Anyone ever heard of the Handyman Club of America?
They periodically send me stuff trying to get me to sign up.
They basically saying that if I sign up with them, they’ll send me new tools to try out, and I get to keep the tool. All I have to do is rate the tool for them.
I don’t have it in front of me, but I think they said it was only $1.00 / month. It just doesn’t make sense to me. What’s the straight dope?
I have never heard of it but I just checked out their website. There is no guarantee they will ever send you a tool to try. You are basically buying a $10 magazine subscription. Their privacy policy is a bit muddled–one line says you can opt out, another says they won’t sell your info unless you opt in. Note that they run a whole bunch of this type of hobby club.
My guess is it’s legal and more or less legitimate but basically a mailing list compilation outfit.
Someone here asked the same question.
Looks like your basic lowlife scam outfit.
I had them for free and got a piddly all in one tool and other almost worthless stuff. I canceled the whatever it was when someone wanted money after the free trial period. I never did figure out what they were. The material was definitely geared to a handyman gadget person.
I took a year’s membership in the Handyman Club just to check the benefits. The letters wanting me to re-up started in the 2nd month of membership. The letters wanting me to become a lifetime member started the 3rd month. I never got any tools to test, only more promises of tools if I increased my membership level. I also received special invitations reserved for members who have proven to be the best handymen. All just wanted more money. The president, Larry, is a top scam artist. The magazine is good, it is filled with projects and reviews that are very informative and helpful.
Scam.
If the magazine is good, and it’s only a dollar a month, then what’s a scam about it?
Read through the complaints in my second link above. Apparently they do a fair bit of billing for things never requested or agreed to, on top of which it appears that they provide a degree of hassle and aggravation that far exceeds the value of the magazine.