Hammacher Schlemmer
Reviews and Complaints

I had a really bad experience with Hammacher Schlemmer. I had been searching for a specific item for a while and had already tried purchasing it from two other stores, but both times I was told that the item was on backorder. So, when I found the item on Hammacher Schlemmer's website, I decided to call them directly to make sure that it was in stock. On October 26th, I called and was told that the item was definitely "IN STOCK" and that I would receive it in two weeks. I even double-checked to make sure that it wasn't on backorder and was given reassurance. Feeling reassured, I placed my order.

However, two weeks went by and I hadn't received any confirmation email or anything about my order. I called Hammacher Schlemmer and was told that the item was actually on backorder until mid-December, but that I would still receive it by Christmas. I was frustrated that I had been given false information initially, but I needed the item and was willing to wait until Christmas.

Fast forward to three days before Christmas and I still hadn't received the item. I called Hammacher Schlemmer again (this was my sixth call about the issue) and was told that the item wouldn't ship until December 28th, after Christmas. I was fuming! I had asked to speak to a supervisor every time I called to make sure that I was getting accurate information, but I was always refused and told that "one is not available at the moment".

I will never order from Hammacher Schlemmer again. Christmas was ruined for the person I had bought the gift for, and it was all because of their terrible business practices. It's really disappointing when a company doesn't stand behind their promises and doesn't take responsibility for their mistakes.

I gotta say, my wife and I have been buying stuff from Hammacher Schlemmer for years now. We got this projection clock from them last September, and it's the third thing we've bought from them. But let me tell you, we had some trouble with this clock. I couldn't get the outside temperature to show up, no matter what I did. I read the instructions, did a reset, had my wife double-check everything, and still nothing. So I called their tech support for help. I asked when I could expect a call back, so I wouldn't have to wait around all day. But the rep got all huffy with me and said they didn't have a time frame. I mean, come on, that's just ridiculous. So I got a call from tech support a day or so later, but I didn't bother calling back. I kept the number, though.

Fast forward four months, and I decided to give them another shot. I called them up, and this time the rep was really nice and helpful. They took my name and number and said they'd call me back. And they did, a few hours later. I explained what had happened before, and the tech support lady said to send the clock back. She said that would fix the problem. But I told her I wanted the clock, I just wanted it to work right. I mean, that's not too much to ask, is it? But she kept insisting that sending it back was the only solution. And she was pretty rude about it, too. Her voice was all raspy and scratchy, like she was a chain smoker or something. Not pleasant to talk to at all.

So I guess I'm gonna have to send the clock back, since I can't seem to get it to work. But it's frustrating, you know? I just want a clock that works. And it seems like they don't really care about that. They just want to fix the problem and move on. Well, I'm not gonna do business with them again. It's a shame, really, because my wife used to love shopping there. But not anymore.

I recently purchased a Side Sleeper's Ergonomic Pillow from Hammacher Schlemmer on November 27, 2021. At first, I was taken aback by the steep price of $70 US, and an additional $25 US for a cover to fit it. However, I decided to go ahead with the purchase. Little did I know, the exchange rate, shipping fees, taxes, and duty would double the price!

On December 15, I called HS to inquire about the delivery date of my pillow. The representative informed me that it had already been delivered to my community mailbox. I checked, but it wasn't there. I called back and explained the situation, but the representative seemed hesitant to help. I kept checking for my package over the next few days, but it was nowhere to be found. I called HS again and requested a tracking number, which they reluctantly provided. However, when I contacted Canada Post, they informed me that the number was incorrect.

I called HS once again, and this time, I was given a different tracking number. The representative informed me that my package had been "delayed" and was still in transit. Finally, on December 23, a package arrived at my local post office. However, when I opened it, I found men's clothing intended for a Dr. Garrity in Markham, Ontario. I am a woman living in coastal British Columbia!

I called HS once again and cancelled my original order, requesting a refund. The representative assured me that the refund would be credited back to my Visa within 5 to 7 business days. They also sent me a shipping label to download and attach to the parcel I had received. I returned the parcel to my local postal outlet, even though I had no obligation to do so.

After 9 business days, I called HS to inquire about my refund. To my surprise, the representative asked me if I had a tracking number for the parcel I had sent back! I explained that it wasn't my parcel and that I hadn't been given a tracking number. The representative then informed me that I would have to wait 21 days before receiving my refund, as if receiving it were somehow contingent upon Dr. Garrity's parcel arriving back at HS beforehand!

This entire experience has left me feeling frustrated and disappointed. I had high hopes for Hammacher Schlemmer, but this experience has convinced me never to order anything from them again. The steep prices, hidden fees, and poor customer service have left a sour taste in my mouth.

Hammacher Schlemmer used to be a great place to shop for quality products, but lately, they have been letting their customers down. I recently purchased a heated eye mask from them for $125, which is quite expensive compared to other online sellers. However, after just two weeks, the mask stopped working, and it was not heating up anymore. I was disappointed because I had read reviews from other customers who had the same problem with cheaper masks from other vendors. I thought that since Hammacher Schlemmer's masks were more expensive, they would be of better quality. Unfortunately, that was not the case.

I contacted their customer service, hoping that they would help me with my problem. However, I was disappointed to find out that they were not as helpful as I thought they would be. They did not immediately ship a replacement product, as most reputable companies do. Instead, I had to ship back the defective mask, and only after they received it did they initiate the order for my replacement mask. This process took three weeks, which was a long time for me because the heated eye mask is a medical device that I use to treat my dry eye condition. I had to go without treatment for three weeks, which was very frustrating.

When I finally received the replacement mask, I noticed that it had a defect. The material was very stiff, and it scratched my nose. I had never experienced this problem with any other heated eye mask before, so I knew that something was wrong with it. I decided to return it, but Hammacher Schlemmer would not refund my shipping costs. I was very disappointed with their customer service and their products. I will not be shopping with them again.

In conclusion, I do not recommend Hammacher Schlemmer to anyone. Their products are overpriced, and their customer service is not as good as they claim it to be. If you are looking for a heated eye mask or any other product, I suggest that you look for other vendors who offer better quality products and better customer service.

I had a really bad experience with Hammacher Schlemmer. I ordered a gift for my husband on their website and it took forever to arrive. I didn't know it would take so long because they didn't say anything about it on their website. I waited two weeks after I placed the order and then I got an email saying it would take 3-4 weeks. I was so mad! I decided to wait anyway, but it took even longer than that. I sent two emails and called four times to get a status update, but nobody knew what was going on. I finally talked to a manager and they said my item would be guaranteed within 7 days and my shipping costs would be refunded. But it's been a month since then and I still haven't received my order. Customer service has no information for me and they won't let me cancel my order. They keep submitting pending charges to my credit card every Monday, which is really annoying. They offered me a 20% off coupon for my next order, but I'm never buying from them again. Don't buy from Hammacher Schlemmer!

I recently ordered a Christmas tree from Hammacher Schlemmer and was excited to get it set up and decorated. I chose this company because of their claims to have the most life-like trees and a lifetime warranty. It seemed like a good investment.

When the tree arrived, it was only the top part of the tree in one large box. I reached out to customer service numerous times and was told that the other box was on its way. As Christmas approached, I finally demanded a shipping number. That's when they admitted that they no longer had the bottom half of the tree and it wouldn't be coming.

We ended up having to borrow an old tree so my kids had something to put gifts under. I made no complaints or demands, but they refunded me in full. However, months later in February, I was charged over $1300 for a tree that never came.

When I called to review all that had happened, the only thing I got was an apology and a promise to take the charge off in about 8 business days. I asked if this was all they were going to do to solve the problem, but I was put on hold yet again. Finally, I was told that the order had been cancelled, but there was no order. This was a charge that never should have been. They then offered me a $50 gift card that would be usable in over two weeks, which was laughable.

It seems like this company is falling apart, and it is being reflected in how management interacts with its customers. They are being dishonest about orders arriving and sneaking in charges months later. Had this not been such a large charge, we wouldn't have noticed. I am so disappointed in this company and what it has become. It used to be such a prideful thing to tell someone you ordered one of their products and recommend them to friends. Now, it seems we all want to warn others of their dishonesty, lack of integrity, and horrible customer service.

Shame on them. I hope whoever owns this company now reads this and does something so their family business can continue on for another generation. Because they have lost this one. It will no longer continue on in my family.

I absolutely love Hammacher Schlemmer! Their rewards program is amazing and I get checks every month totaling around $90-$100. It's super easy to use and helps me stretch my budget. Of course, there are some downsides like returns taking forever and their customer service team needing some improvement. I've had some terrible experiences with them, especially with their supervisors who totally suck. But despite all of that, I still think Hammacher Schlemmer is the best store out there when it comes to lifetime satisfaction.

One thing I've learned is to always keep my receipts because they don't. When I had surgery and couldn't use my heated shoulder massager anymore, they told me to just return it. But I found out that my son could use it and it was washable, so I decided to keep it. I'm very patient with my two-month credit, although my last return was credited crazy fast. It seems like they must have listened to their customers.

Hammacher Schlemmer is my favorite store by far and I'm willing to be patient with their customer service issues because their rewards program is so valuable. I've decided to use my rewards checks to save up for the robot vacuum that I've wanted from H&S for six years. I already have a $200 robot vacuum, but I've always wanted the H&S one. I'm attaching some of my Hammacher Rewards checks here (97.29, 97.06, 99.80, 51.30), although I've gotten a lot more. I just make a habit of entering them right away so I don't forget.

My plan was to only use the rewards for one month (Christmas time, for free H&S shipping), but the rewards are so valuable that I'm now a member for life. I just have to keep up with my receipts and not let that slide. It's easy, but it's a smart way to make a dollar stretch. I get 5% back from practically everywhere I already shop like Ace, Costco, Walmart, and a million other places. I already have my 2% Costco cash back card and I'm trying to figure out where else I can get 5% back. When I do, that will be 12% back for a little work, which helps me stretch my budget even further.

I do have some complaints about their customer service team, though. They really need to get their act together and train their reps better. I've had some clueless reps who didn't know how to help me, and their supervisors were even worse. Only one supervisor ever called me back, and they were stupid and didn't help at all. But there was one customer service rep named Jessica Ray who was amazing. She found my archived receipt even though the other reps had misspelled my street address and created eight different accounts for me. Jessica Ray should be the supervisor's supervisor and train all of their reps because she knows how to get the job done well.

Overall, I'm a loyal customer for life and I'm very happy that my last return didn't take two months. Hammacher Schlemmer just needs to get their customer service team ironed out and fixed. If they promote Jessica Ray to train everyone there, I promise their reviews will be better. We hate the scripts and just want customer service that knows how to get the job done well. And a supervisor shouldn't be like pushing an elephant (but the supervisor was dumb and clueless anyway).

I recently ordered two battery boosters from Hammacher Schlemmer before Christmas. However, I faced some issues with my order. Even after sending several emails and making phone calls, I did not receive any confirmation for my order. Eventually, my order was sent after I had already received a similar order from Amazon. I returned the order after the holidays, but I am still waiting for my refund. It has been almost two months since I shipped it back to them, and I expect my refund shortly.

When I ordered the products, there was a $25 discount for the day on all orders, but it wasn't applied when it was sent weeks later. Moreover, the billing was in American dollars, which shouldn't have been the case. I had planned on ordering more from them, but I am still waiting for confirmation of my refund. The package I returned was unopened except to pull out the shipping return, and their address was the only one on it, so I know they have received it. As it stands, I am out over $300.

I contacted Hammacher Schlemmer, and they informed me that the returning package has not been processed yet. They asked me to provide them with a tracking number if I have one. They also mentioned that it takes four to six weeks from the warehouse receipt date for the returning package to be processed. They apologized for any inconvenience caused by the delay in my refund.

I received an email from them informing me that the item(s) I ordered have shipped via Canada HS***010. They provided me with a link to check the status of my shipment, exchange, or return online at any time. They also mentioned that separate email confirmations will be sent for orders comprising multiple packages. However, I did not receive any confirmation for the $25 discount that was not applied to my order.

Overall, I am disappointed with my experience with Hammacher Schlemmer. I faced several issues with my order, and I am still waiting for my refund. I hope they process my refund soon and improve their customer service to avoid such issues in the future.

I recently had an experience with Hammacher Schlemmer that left me feeling disappointed and frustrated. As someone who has been a loyal customer for over 20 years, I was surprised by the lack of customer service I received when I needed help with an order.

I had ordered a pair of slippers online, but realized within 20 minutes that I had ordered the wrong size. I immediately contacted customer service to see if they could change the order before it shipped. Unfortunately, I received a response the next day saying that the order was already in "picked status" and couldn't be changed. I was disappointed that they couldn't help me, especially since I had contacted them so quickly.

When the slippers arrived a week later, I realized that they were still the wrong size. I used their return form to send them back, but was frustrated to find out that there was no way to track the return since no FedEx tracking number was provided. It has now been five days since I sent the slippers back, and I still haven't received any confirmation from Hammacher Schlemmer that they have received the return.

Overall, I was disappointed by the lack of customer service I received from Hammacher Schlemmer. As someone who has been a loyal customer for so long, I expected better. I hope that they take the feedback from their customers seriously and make changes to improve their customer service in the future.

I gotta say, I'm pretty disappointed with Hammacher Schlemmer. I mean, they've been around for ages, with their fancy catalog and now their website, claiming that they test all their products and that they're top-notch quality. But let me tell you, I've bought a few things from them over the years, and every single one has been a total letdown. And don't even get me started on their so-called "lifetime warranty" - it's a total joke.

Take, for example, this outdoor clock I bought from them. I got it for a memorial garden we were making for my mom, who was a grandma and great-grandma. It came with a custom plaque and everything, so I thought it would be a really nice addition. But less than a year later, the darn thing stopped working. I tried all kinds of batteries, but nothing worked. I figured, hey, this is supposed to be a high-quality clock, so it must be something else.

So I called up Hammacher Schlemmer, thinking they'd take care of it since they have that "lifetime warranty" and all. But the customer service rep I talked to was just plain rude. It was like they were trained to do whatever it takes to avoid giving refunds or returns. And get this - they don't even handle their own customer service! They outsource it to some cheap overseas company. Anyway, the rep told me that they didn't even sell that clock anymore, so my only option was to ship it back to them at my own expense (which would have been a lot, since it's a big, heavy item), and then they'd review it and maybe give me a store credit for another one of their crappy products. And if I did buy something else, I'd have to pay for the return shipping too! What a scam.

So I took the clock to a local repair shop instead. The guy there immediately recognized it as a Hammacher Schlemmer product and told me that most of their stuff is made with cheap materials. He said the clock mechanism they used was meant for a small desk clock, not a big outdoor one like mine, which is why it kept stopping. He told me that a clock that size needs a special heavy-duty mechanism to run the hands without burning out. It would cost about the same as the original clock to replace it with the proper mechanism and labor, but since it was a memorial for my mom, I decided to go for it.

The repair guy even gave me a discount and some advice: "Stay away from Hammacher Schlemmer!" So now I'm passing that advice on to you. Don't waste your money on their garbage products, and if you do have something from them, don't count on their "lifetime warranty" to actually mean anything. They don't stand behind anything they sell, and for good reason - it's all crap.

Based on Hammacher Schlemmer product information, we purchased a quiet Haier air conditioner. It was easy to install and has a quiet setting that works.

We immediately purchased two more of the same AC and thought we had solved our air conditioning needs. Slightly more than two years later and all three units are chronically freezing up, even when set to 70 degrees. Filters and coils are clean.

We alerted customer service and discovered that Hammacher Schlemmer is no longer selling their acclaimed Haier quiet AC units. Customer Service apologized and offered to replace the units with their new AC offering which are larger and would not fit in our windows.

We are now left with malfunctioning air conditioners and a $25 store credit.

I recently purchased the 24" Outdoor Lighted Atomic Clock from Hammacher Schlemmer. I had previously bought the same clock without the light option, but after a year and a half, the fascia came apart. I called for a replacement, but unfortunately, they denied it since it was more than a year old. I was surprised because I thought they had a lifetime guarantee.

However, I decided to give them another chance and ordered the lighted clock. It cost me $182.00, which was a bit pricey, but I was hoping it would be worth it. Unfortunately, I was disappointed with the clock. Even though it was lit, it was still difficult to read the time because the dials were not lit. I called to complain, and they gave me a credit for the shipping, but it didn't make up for the disappointment.

The clock's item number is *** BRZ, and I only ordered one. The retail price was $169.95, but I got a promotion discount of $-25.49. The shipping and services cost $23.95, and the estimated taxes were $14.58. The total cost was $182.99, which was what I paid.

Despite my disappointment with the clock, I have to say that the ordering process was straightforward. I received a confirmation of my order, which included the item number and the total cost. The clock was shipped via UPS Ground, and I was able to check the status of my shipment online using the order number A.

Overall, I would not recommend the 24" Outdoor Lighted Atomic Clock from Hammacher Schlemmer. The price was high, and the clock was difficult to read. However, the ordering process was easy, and the confirmation and tracking information were helpful.

I was really excited to try out Hammacher Schlemmer because of their lifetime warranty on their products. However, I was a bit disappointed to find out that their prices are a bit higher than other retailers. For example, I was interested in purchasing the Singing Peek-a-Boo Pachyderm, which was listed at $39.95 on Hammacher's website. But when I added in the $7.95 shipping fee, the total came out to $47.90. And if I wanted to return it, I would have to pay an additional $10 (more for heavier items).

I did some research and found out that the same product was available on another website for $29.99 with free shipping. That's a $17.95 difference! And if I were to return it, I wouldn't have to pay any additional fees.

But what really bothered me was the customer service experience. While the representatives were polite, it took me 17 emails and 14 phone calls just to get my return credited to my account. And this was after H&S had received the item back two months prior.

Overall, while I appreciate the lifetime warranty, I don't think it's worth the extra cost and hassle. I ended up going to Costco for my next purchase and had a much smoother experience.

I gotta say, my experience with Hammacher Schlemmer was not the best. I ordered a Christmas tree and was promised it would arrive in two days. But guess what? Four days later, no tree. I called them up and they told me it was out of stock. Like, why didn't they tell me that before I ordered it? So I picked another tree and it finally arrived, but with the wrong color lights. I called them again and they promised to send the correct tree in two days. But four days later, still no tree. I called them up again and they said it wouldn't arrive until Monday, which was four days later.

I was so frustrated at this point that I told them to cancel the order and give me my money back. They did initiate the refund, but when I asked when it would appear on my statement, they told me it would take three weeks. Three weeks?! That's ridiculous! When I complained, they just told me it was policy.

Honestly, I don't think I'll ever do business with this company again. I made sure to tell the rep that too. And I'm definitely leaving bad reviews and comments whenever I see their name. It's just not worth the hassle.

Oh, and by the way, I attached a photo of the return info for the tree with the wrong color lights. Just in case you were curious.

I've been a customer of Hammacher Schlemmer for quite some time now, and I've noticed some changes in their business that have left me feeling disappointed. One of the biggest issues I've encountered is the poor quality of their products. While some of their items are unique and interesting, the design and construction of these products often leave something to be desired. The parts used are often inferior, and the manufacturing process seems to be lacking in quality control. In some cases, it feels like the products are simply prototypes that need to be redesigned before they can be sold to the public.

Another issue I've had with Hammacher Schlemmer is their return policy. While they do offer a money-back guarantee, the process of returning an item can be frustrating and expensive. They charge high shipping fees, and if you do decide to return an item, you'll only receive store credit instead of a refund. On top of that, you'll have to pay for return shipping, which can be just as expensive as the original shipping fee.

I've also noticed that the shipping times for Hammacher Schlemmer can be quite long. While I understand that some items may take longer to ship than others, it can be frustrating to wait weeks for an item to arrive.

When I recently went through their catalog to make a return, I found that there wasn't much worth buying. While they do have a panel of experts who rate certain products as the best in the world, I'm not sure how much I trust their opinions. Many of the products seem to be overpriced, and it can be difficult to find the manufacturer's name so that you can compare prices elsewhere.

Overall, I feel like Hammacher Schlemmer is trying to sell their products based on snob appeal rather than quality. While they do have some interesting items, I think that their focus on novelty over quality is ultimately hurting their business. I hope that they will take steps to improve their products and their customer service, but until then, I don't think I'll be shopping with them again.

I recently purchased four lights from Hammacher Schlemmer for a whopping $50 per light. I was expecting high quality products for the price I paid, but unfortunately, I was disappointed. I wanted to test the longevity of the lights, so I used them for two summers and put them away during the winter. However, I noticed that they were not as durable as I thought they would be.

When I contacted customer service, they informed me that the lifetime guarantee could not be in the form of a refund because more than a year had passed. I was surprised to learn that this was not stated on their website. Instead, they offered me a gift certificate to purchase another product from their website, but I would have to pay for shipping, which cost $14.95. I decided to send the lights back in mid-July, but even after speaking with customer service multiple times, I have yet to receive the promised gift card. I have given up on receiving it.

I do not see the point in cluttering my house with another low-quality product made in a Chinese factory. It is disappointing to see that Hammacher Schlemmer is a disreputable company that makes promises they have no intention of keeping. They sell low-quality merchandise for high prices, which is not worth the investment. I cannot even write a review for the product and their appalling service on their website because the specific model that I purchased has been discontinued.

Overall, I would not recommend purchasing from Hammacher Schlemmer. Their products are not worth the investment, and their customer service is unreliable. It is better to invest in products from reputable companies that offer high-quality products and reliable customer service.

I gotta say, I was pretty disappointed with my experience with Hammacher Schlemmer. I ordered a Christmas tree from them and when it arrived, one section of lights didn't even work! I mean, come on, that's just ridiculous. So I sent it back and asked for an exchange, but instead they just refunded me the cost of the tree minus the shipping. And get this, they said the tree wasn't even available anymore! What kind of customer service is that? They send me a defective product and then don't even bother to reach out and make it right. And to top it all off, they made me pay for the original shipping, even though it was their fault the tree was messed up in the first place. That's just not right.

I don't think I'll be buying anything from Hammacher Schlemmer again. It's a shame, because I've heard good things about them in the past, but this experience really left a bad taste in my mouth. I mean, if they can't even get something as simple as a Christmas tree right, how can I trust them with anything else? It's just not worth the hassle.

My experience with Hammacher Schlemmer was a real letdown. I was super stoked at first because their products looked amazing online. I signed up as a new customer so I could get my hands on their $15 off coupon. I got the coupon and used it to buy a $100 Color Morphing Illuminated Orb. I checked out with PayPal and everything seemed fine. I even got an email from Hammacher Schlemmer showing the purchase with the discount applied. But then, a day later, they changed the amount they charged me by $15. They basically removed the coupon, sent me a new invoice, and shipped the product. I didn't even know that was possible! I didn't approve the price increase and I think it's totally fraudulent.

I called to talk about the issue, but it was really hard to deal with the customer support staff because they were from another country. They kept saying they couldn't see my original invoice. After a bunch of phone calls and me emailing them the original invoice, they said they would give me a refund for the extra charge. But it took THREE WEEKS for me to get a check in the mail to reimburse me for the unapproved increase to my bill.

I ended up returning the product because I don't want to do business with companies that act like this. It's just not cool.

Hammacher Schlemmer is a company that is known for their "Guaranteed for life" slogan. They make sure to put it on every item listing page, so you know that you can trust their products. However, this claim is not entirely true. You have to click through to their "Lifetime Guarantee" page to find out that the cost of shipping and handling is on the customer. This means that if your purchase breaks, is defective from the start, or just does not meet your expectations, you will have to pay to send it back. Currently, HS's flat-rate return shipping fees are either $11 or $15 depending on weight. But, they used to leave it to the customer to pay the full market rate, which could be as much or more than the cost of the item.

Hammacher Schlemmer knows that many buyers won't bother returning items when they have to pay to do so. This is why they make it difficult for buyers to write a product review. They do not allow every buyer to write a review, which means that most of the product reviews on their website are positive. This is a deceptive practice that is not fair to the customers.

It is disappointing to see that Hammacher Schlemmer is not as honest as they claim to be. They promote themselves as an "honest, old-fashioned American company," but this is just a false front. They are as cynical in their business practices as any other company out there. It is important to be aware of these practices before making a purchase from them.

In conclusion, while Hammacher Schlemmer may have some good products, their "Guaranteed for life" slogan is not entirely true. Customers should be aware that they will have to pay for shipping and handling if they need to return a product. Additionally, the company's deceptive practices when it comes to product reviews are not fair to the customers. It is important to keep these things in mind before making a purchase from Hammacher Schlemmer.

I gotta say, I was pretty disappointed with my experience ordering from Hammacher Schlemmer. I was really excited to get this lighted tree for my special needs son's Christmas decorations, so I ordered it on November 8th. But when I tried to check the status of my order, it was really confusing and took me a while to figure out how to do it. And when I finally did, I saw that it wasn't going to ship until December 2nd. Then I checked again and it was December 4th. And then today, I checked again and it was December 5th. What gives?

I'm moving on December 11th, so I called to see if I could get the order expedited. But when I talked to customer service, they told me it wouldn't even possibly ship until December 17th. And they couldn't even guarantee that I would have it in time for Christmas! I never even got an email telling me about the delay. When I asked to speak to a supervisor, they offered me a measly $2.00 off the price. Are you kidding me? That's not going to make up for ruining my son's Christmas decorations.

I had passed up other options from local stores because I thought I had this one in the bag. And now I'm left with nothing. It's a really poor practice and I would definitely recommend calling to check the delivery dates before you place an order. You just can't trust ordering online. And even though Hammacher Schlemmer has been in business for 173 years, I won't be ordering from them again. And I'll be sure to refuse any catalogs they send me in the future.

I gotta say, as someone who's all about saving the Monarch butterflies, I've been doing a lot of research on how to make a butterfly garden that supports their whole lifecycle. So when I saw the "Finnish Butterfly Oasis" on Hammacher Schlemmer's website, I was pretty intrigued. But let me tell you, this thing is a total cash grab.

First of all, they show a picture of the product with a Monarch butterfly on it, which is just a sneaky way to get people who care about the environment to buy it. And then they claim that it's well-established in Finland, but how are we supposed to know if that's true or not? We just gotta take their word for it, I guess.

And then they say it's "award-winning," but they don't even say what award or where it came from. Like, come on, Hammacher Schlemmer, give us some details!

But the real kicker is that providing sugar water isn't actually sustainable nutrition for Monarch butterflies. In fact, some experts even say that planting "butterfly bush" weed isn't good for them in the long run. Male Monarchs actually prefer salt licks with landing surfaces so they can bask in the sun.

And if you look at the reviews on the site, you'll see that none of the people who actually bought this thing have seen any butterflies land on it. Some of them even returned it! So yeah, this product is a total sham. Don't waste your money, folks.

I purchased a "Dance and Play Animated Elmo" from the Hammacher Schlemmer website for my granddaughter for Christmas. The stuffed animal is made by Gund, so I expected a good quality item. I was a bit dismayed to see a Made in China tag when it arrived, but wrapped the gift. When my granddaughter opened the present we pulled the plastic tab so that the batteries would begin to work. Nothing happened, no animation, so I got a screw driver and opened the battery box assuming the batteries had gone bad. Instead the batteries had corroded inside the battery box and onto the posts, so even once cleaned up the new batteries would not work. Disappointment. I immediately ordered another one online from Hammacher Schlemmer and when it arrived it worked. Then I contacted Customer Service to arrange to return the defective one. I was emailed a return label. When I inquired if I would get a refund on the shipping charges I was told no because I had not gone through the proper procedure for a return. I did not expect to have to pay for shipping twice to receive one working item. The shipping cost is high IMO and the cardboard boxes that they ship in are quite flimsy. The boxes literally fall apart/accordian up before arrival, but I will return this one in their box anyway. I realize that I messed up by not complaining about the corroded batteries before I ordered a replacement and will not make that mistake again. Next time I will only order from Amazon and never again from the Hammacher Schlemmer website.

First Time customer.

I placed an order for a Christmas lawn ornament and after never receiving a confirmation email I decided to check their website for the order status and noted it was in progress. After several day, I checked again and noted the same. I contacted customer service and was told the item was out of stock, I inquired why I was not informed. Unfortunately, the call dropped but to my dismay, the agent never called me back. Several days later, I contacted CS and was advised that the item was out of stock but was now back in stock. I asked for a supervisor and was transferred. She confirmed the item was in stock and my order would be processed with in few days. I also discussed issues with customer communications especially advising customers of back orders and actual order status. During the weekend, I emailed customer support and received an email that my order had processed and would be shipped within 24 business hours, Today, I checked the website to find the order in progress so I called CS and was told the item was once again out of stock. I filed a complaint with a supervisor since I was told the order had processed. This company prides itself on a long history but fails to connect with customers regarding order status. Customers must be told if an order is out of stock, should be given options to keep the order or cancel. Also shipping and handling fees need to be upfront and transparent. O

First of all I bought these in burgundy. Bring back the color and the soft fleece inside. The black bottoms cracked and disintegrated leaving small pieces around the house. As a woman with a narrow fit they were perfect and the soft fur inside added comfortable padding. Bought a new pair in black. They are stiff and lack the cushioning of a slipper. Never wore them outside and have carpeted floors. Do not like new rrock hard version in black and brown for choices.

I do not consent to this charge as I did not accept membership in this program. I will not pay $14.95 per month for a service that I don’t understand, know about, or want.

Please remove me from program and cancel this membership immediately.

Thank you.

Robert Griscavage

[protected]@gmail.com

On November 30 I ordered the Hammacher Portable Power Generator. Today is December 22. It has not been delivered. Hammacher (HS) gave me an incorrect "tracking number" via UPS that has NOTHING to do with my order. It is impossible to reach HS on any of four telephone lines, at least not before 20 minutes (seven calls made Dec. 21) after which I hung up. I have attempted this five times in the last two days. HS indicates they will return a customer phone call within 24 hours (!). This I have requested twice, on a recording and in writing, to no avail.
Does anyone know how to reach a senior executive with this company?

S. Martin
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

This vacuum is very noisy. It blows lots of hot air out the back but has almost no suction power. Its electrical electrical cord is so short that an extension cord is necessary. Han held tools such as the dust brush are not of the quality one would expect for such an expensive hand held vacuum. The filter bags are too small. I will be returning this device.

I placed an order online for 2 items & used a coupon code. I immediately received a confirmation email that HS had received the order. After 8-9 business days, I went online to check the status. They didn't have my order. I called customer service. After waiting longer than usual, a very curt & unpleasant man [ I will not call him a "customer" representative. ] took the call. He informed me in an abrupt manner that there was no order & gave me a lecture on how they have thousands of orders; and if I wanted my order to be placed, I should always call & place it. HUH?! It's the 21st century. When I told him I also had free shipping because I had submitted a coupon, he said too bad. Instead of ordering both items, I ordered the one specially requested birthday present only available on HS. It's a good thing I originally placed the order several weeks before I needed it since HS's ineptitude put me a week behind schedule. I still can't believe they inconvenienced me, showed extraordinarily poor customer service and would not agree to pay for the shipping on my original order! I will be advising my friends to avoid HS [ & its subsidiaries] like the plague!

Placed an order on their Web site for $179.90 on 03/13/2011 using a promotion code for free shipping for any order $99+. The code was accepted, and the order confirmation e-mail showed $0.00 for shipping. However, the shipping notification e-mail I received two days later included a new charge for $22.95 for shipping. My e-mail request for a refund was rejected simply as "this shipping code was expired". A subsequent phone call yielded the same response, and an explanation that their Web site "just takes orders" and was not connected to their order processing system. (That, to me, is their problem, not mine.) The cust service rep said there wasn't anything she could do but, upon my insistence, offered to have my request reviewed and call me back with the final outcome. That was 24 hours ago and no calls yet. In the meantime, I received another e-mail from them re-stating that "as the code has expired, the postage will not [be] refunded." I do a lot of Web shopping and haven't had anything like this happen before. Very disappointed. At the minimum, they should have contacted me before adding the $22.95 fee. (I double-checked their Web site and didn't find any stated policy that'd allow them to modify an order on their own.)