# Handyman Club of America **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [January 26, 2010, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handyman-club-of-america/526529 "2010-01-26T17:20:33Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Enright3](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/enright3/32/2897_2.png) [@Enright3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enright3)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handyman-club-of-america/526529/1 "2010-01-26T17:20:33Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handyman-club-of-america/526529/2 "2010-01-26T19:34:15Z")
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](http://www.namginc.com/privacy_policy.html) 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. ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handyman-club-of-america/526529/3 "2010-01-26T20:04:58Z")
Someone [here](http://askville.amazon.com/hear-handyman-club-America-member-live-claims/AnswerViewer.do?requestId=4698264) asked the same question. Looks like your basic [lowlife scam outfit](http://www.complaintsboard.com/?search=Handyman+Club+of+America). ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [January 26, 2010, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handyman-club-of-america/526529/4 "2010-01-26T20:27:00Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![fireman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@fireman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fireman)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handyman-club-of-america/526529/5 "2010-01-27T01:17:00Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 5:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handyman-club-of-america/526529/6 "2010-01-27T05:39:25Z")
If the magazine is good, and it’s only a dollar a month, then what’s a scam about it? ---
**Author:** ![Gary\_T](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Gary\_T](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gary_T)\ **Post date:** [January 27, 2010, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/handyman-club-of-america/526529/7 "2010-01-27T14:10:48Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > 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.