Handyman Club Of America

[TOD]

Has anyone ever heard of this club or is a member? I got some stuff in the mail from them yesterday. It sounds like a good deal.

[wwsmith]

I was a member for about a year (around 2 or 3 years ago). The magazine had a few interesting articles in them, but that was about all. I got a super cheap tool or product to test every 6 months or so (one was a cheap speed square and another was a bottle of another company version of WD-40). I understand you need to be a member for MANY years to get to test the better stuff. :rolleyes:

The thing I mostly did not like was that they would send a book every month and if you kept it you bought it (don't remember the exact price, but think it was about $20 each?) or you could send it back. They were supposed to enclose a sticker inside each package to send it back at their cost, but almost never had one myself so I had to hot glue them back up and mark refused to send them back without paying more of my money. :mad: I did not care for those troubles and many of the books were not that useful to me. After calling them I found that you must get the books every month to be a member, whether or not you decide to keep them. Personally I would recommend that you spend your money on a more useful subscription to a more dedicated magazine.

[TOD]

Thanks that is what I needed to know. As always if it sounds to good to be true it isn't.

[Lorax]

Has anyone ever heard of this club or is a member? I got some stuff in the mail from them yesterday. It sounds like a good deal.

Most serious woodworkers consider it a JOKE ! :eek:

[BadgerDave]

They are a serious and dedicated company. They are seriously dedicated to seperate you from your money by providing as little as possible in return! Send the $10 or $12 or whatever it is they charge to your favorite charity instead.

At least twice a year, I receive a mailing from them inviting me to become a "charter member". This has been going on for 6 or 7 years now. Just how long does it take to get that Club started anyway?

[wwsmith]

Yes, if only I had been smart enough to not listen to my "less serious" friends I could have saved a few bucks for sure. :( I'll just chalk that one up to a life lessoned learned. Having joined some of these forums I have gotten way more good information than I ever did from any of those magazines! :)

WWS

[CWSmith]

Hey, I love their mailings... not so much because I'll ever join, but they keep sending me these plastic drill guides! ;) My grandson loves them, for drawing circles.

I haven't found a use for the stickers yet.

Other than that, you're better off saving your "book" money for something of better quality.

CWS

[BadgerDave]

Those aren't drill guides, they're spaghetti sizers.:p I use the mailing label stickers on HF 10% and 20% off coupons instead of writing all that info out. Kinda seems fitting dontcha think? :)

[CCusson]

Do you have any suggestios for magazines? I've gotten some good information / tips / plans from Wood, Woodworker's Journal, and American Woodworker (I think).

Anyone else have some good suggestions?

Thanks!
-Chris

[Lorax]

I subscribe to Wood and Workbench.

[HVAC HAWK]

i get work bench and i think it has some good info at times and i get handy man club . they to have some good info at times

[Bob D.]

I like ShopNotes for all the jigs, tips, and shop projects.

[Orange Apron]

My grandmother bought me Family Handyman for 2 years. After that time was up I renewed. Every year I learned how to make a new shed, reorganize my garage, hang molding, build a deck or a patio. After my 4th year I cancelled. There magazine was useful for ideas for a year, but then they just keep rewriting the same articles.

The goofs were always good though.

[AnthonyD]

I have a young man live with us who helps out in my shop. He joined it agianst my advice, wasted his hard earned money . Really I mean he was so proud of his Handyman of America sticker. The magazine was imo useless. Anthony