HANDYMAN CLUB OF AMERICA - HANDYMAN MAGAZINE TOTAL RIPOFF STAY AWAY!!! Minnetonka, Minnesota

After reading the many complaints of this company, if I was them, I would be crawling into a very deep hole.

I do enjoy reading their magazine with some interesting articles, but DON'T subscribe to them, or you will be very sorry. Read it at your local library. Do NOT support them. They need some leaders who care about their subscribers and are not in the business of ripping people off!

You're right about this "club" ... a term they use copiously to skirt their real business profile.

3 magazines a year ?  That sounds about right, if you include the time lag... which they play to their advantage, to the hilt.

You're lucky you got out when you did...  The tangential schemes that wind up with your mailing address will soon fill up your mailbox..  Just look for any unsolicited mailings from Minnetonka

The first sign of a ripoff should be that by joining the "club", that $10 is for the magazine, for a "1 year subscription".
Probably the only good product, though not all of it useful, some of it very basic, but the content is well presented and if you happen to leave it laying around where it can be seen by some aspiring young handyman, it MAY be useful and spark an interest in a young mind trying to get a sense of direction or a hobby that would have benefits in the future.

No mention, anywhere, anytime, any how that the "1 year subscription" has about half the issues of the number of months in a year. Years ago, when I got my subscription, somewhere buried in the fine print, several months into my subscription  was the statement that the membership / magazine subscription was for   8 ISSUES   during the calander year. May or may not be so now, ... but I challenge you to find any intent of being forthcoming about that.
By the time I found this out, I had already bought a couple of gift subscriptions.

The usual tools that are offered are cheap, chinese mockery of any tool any self- respecting handyman would use,  and are best for throwing in the wife's glovebox.  They are better than nothing, but only just.  You can get better Chinese tools from a retailer like Harbor Freight, and they will stand behind their hand tools.

Secondly, if you received any of the books, I agree with the commenter, the first book is intentially discounted, to bait you into the rest which are three times the price. Again, slick pictures some useful information, ...    but guess what ?? THESE ARE THE SAME PICTURES AND ARTICLES THAT ARE IN THE MAGAZINE !!! REPACKAGED !!!

But the lingering irritant was the sheer volume of junk mail, with a myriad of different names, all from Minnetonka, MN
And the threatening letters, collection reps, and supposed legal entities are all from there , too !

Is this the only "industry" in Minnetonka ?? 
They sure keep the post office busy hauling trash to the mailboxes of
"Handyman's valued members"

Good point, too that if you return something using their label, Then you have no proof of return delivery !!   Not supprised, really.  A new way to do the business to "Handyman's valued members".

In all fairness, there are members, of good reputation, especially on the website, that are knowledgable, helpful, and willing to share the wealth of their experience on the forum site.

But Heaven forbid anyone try to vent the truth about their deceptive practices on that forum.
One of the benefits of being a "valued member"  is apparently not being able to speak freely and honestly.   Not in their business plan, not conducive to their marketing scheme.  They should be investigated by their state's Attorney General's office, unless they condone the like in Minnesota.  The people I've met from there are more honest ... and straightforward...  even to the point of being brusque and direct about the truth.  No point dancing around it, if it's true, Yah ??

I'm glad you've got this forum up, I just wish it had a stronger link to warn potential   "Members"   of what they're in for.

And if they would just spend half as much energy producing a 12 issue respectable magazine for a reasonable subscription, they would have happy customers instead of disgruntled members.

Don't expect anything much on the tool tests It's probably donated by the advertisers, always in the ads, never amounts to much ... etc.

I've seen the testimonials from the recipients of truckloads of building supplies, but I hesitate to believe it.  Probably somebody's uncle, or a long-time member playing the lottery. Attorney General, who are these people giving the glowing recommendations ??
Somebody's Cronies !!
The Goods don't go far from home,  and are only so occasional, they are easily written off as a publicity gag.  Don't be fooled.  It's not for real , either.      100 % Guarenteed. " Period.