Handyman club of America

efmaron · Post by **efmaron** » Fri Aug 29, 2008 9:27 am

To answer Ed from Tampa. I was a charter member of the Handyman Club of America. After a few years I stopped my subscription to the magazine, it seemed to me to be the same old thing all the time. Anyway this went back and forth until two years ago when I started to check out the club forum, now called Handy Magazine. The members on the forum are great just like the members of this forum. Ask a question and you will get a answer. I still do not care for the magazine, but I read the forum every day. Check it out there is a topic for everyone, Handy Magazine.

Ed in Tampa · Post by **Ed in Tampa** » Fri Aug 29, 2008 11:18 am

Thanks for the info. I will pass on the forum thanks. I don't need another forum in my life. My wife says I waste enough time on the computer as it is.

Handyman club keeps sending me drill size guides and trying to talk me into joining and I was never convinced it was worth it. I quess from your comments it isn't. Thanks
Ed

efmaron · Post by **efmaron** » Fri Aug 29, 2008 12:10 pm

ED
The subscription cost for the magazine is about $12.00 a year. I do not know if you have to subscribe to the magazine to register, I think that you can register as a guest. I know what you mean about the forums, with the Handy club, Shopsmith,& Woodcarvers Illustrated forums a good part of my day is on the computer. The plus side is all the great information that is on these forums I was in a hurry this morning, but here is a link to Handy http://www.handymanclub.com/Main/default.aspx

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Fri Aug 29, 2008 12:13 pm

Hi Ed! I joined the Handyman club, thinking maybe I could benefit from some of their "FREE" tools. It turned out to be a joke. I would have had to spend more $, join a higher form of membership, and then maybe I could be eligible for some of the really cheap tools. When I looked into it a little more and found good photos of the tools they offered, I couldn't even recognize any notable brand.

I stopped the association about 5 years ago and still get renewal membership notices.

On the positive side - the Handyman magazine once had a very good article on building plantation shutters.

Advice? - - keep the plastic drill bit sizer and forget about it.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Fri Aug 29, 2008 1:27 pm

If you need another drill bit sizer, let me know. I get another every now and then.

efmaron · Post by **efmaron** » Fri Aug 29, 2008 2:08 pm

The magazine is ok, the tools they sell are cheaply made. The main reason I still belong is the forum,and the members who are on there. The reason that I brought it up is the fact that hundreds log in to such forums every day and advertising on them could help introducing Shopsmith to new people.

cincinnati · Post by **cincinnati** » Fri Aug 29, 2008 2:53 pm

This has been talked about on other woodworking forums. Hear is what I have read about it.
Trying to sell you the idea if you join, a free tool may be sent for you to test is a joke. I'm going to join for $12 and will get a Dewalt sliding miter saw to test and keep. Can't believe anyone would fall for that. EVERYONE! is a "charter memebr" I heard they do this sort of thing for all hobbies. They have a Golf and Hunting club of America also.

shydragon · Post by **shydragon** » Fri Aug 29, 2008 8:05 pm

It's a real joke. I signed up for 3-year membership. For doing that I was supposed to receive (1. Screw extractor set, (received that). (2. 7 in 1 multi-tool/flashlight, (did not receive). (3. 4 in 1 tape measure, (did not receive). (4. $40 in gasoline rebates, (did not receive)

Then I received a package from Handyman, thinking it might be one of the free gifts. Turned out to be a book, that I could pay to return or pay $10. So I paid the $10, then I received another for $30 some dollars, which I paid, then another, which I paid. Then the next two I refused, return to sender without opening. Now I have a bill here for what must be one those I returned.

a1gutterman · Post by **a1gutterman** » Tue Sep 02, 2008 1:53 am

charlese wrote:Hi Ed! I joined the Handyman club, thinking maybe I could benefit from some of their "FREE" tools. It turned out to be a joke. I would have had to spend more $, join a higher form of membership, and then maybe I could be eligible for some of the really cheap tools. When I looked into it a little more and found good photos of the tools they offered, I couldn't even recognize any notable brand.

I stopped the association about 5 years ago and still get renewal membership notices.

On the positive side - the Handyman magazine once had a very good article on building plantation shutters.

Advice? - - keep the plastic drill bit sizer and forget about it.

Lifetime membership..yep, that is me! Free tool offers?? They talk the talk but do knot walk the walk. During the many years of my membership, I have been notified on two (yes, only 2) occasions that they were going to send me a free tool that I wood be able to keep; that they just wanted my opinion on it's quality, and usefulness. Never got the tools. Wrote letters; never got replies. I say, throw the drill bit sizer (China) in the trash and forget about it. As far as the forum goes, IMHO, it is full of people just like us and really nothing to do with the "sponser". I do knot have anything against it.