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Ok, I have been a LIFETIME member of this club for over ten years...It has been awhile since I recieved my bi-monthly LIFETIME Handyman magazine.
I just got a postcard today saying they have not heard from me in a while and I quote "If you wish to continue receiving Life Member Benefits, we need to hear from you"!
First off, why do they need to hear from me? I signed up for a lifetime of benefits. Secondly, I recently moved in the last year AND UPDATED my information on the club website, so in essense THEY HAVE HEARD FROM ME QUITE RECENTLY.
So, fearing to lose my membership, which has to be completely illegal, I went to the site and did what I needed to do. The thank you message stated that "My account has been REACTIVATED"! So they are telling me the deactivated my lifetime membership because "they have not heard from me in a while"? How about you try and contact me first before you just deactivate something I have paid for?
I am really getting sick of these companies offering LIFETIME or UNLIMITED products only to try and screw you down the road!
The complaint has been investigated and resolved to the customer’s satisfaction.
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ive been a lifetime member since03/2012 was getting magazines for awhile even tested a product but haven't heard from them in years, why? I paid up front in advance now I feel like a nobody. they got my money now they are done with me. no fair.
I'm not sure when I joined but it was definitely early 90's because I was doing a complete renovation on my home and the first product I tested was paper-coated vinyl corner beads that are set into joint compound and then rolled to even out the compound. I was blown away at the full case of corners, the roller head and an extension pole all valuing at least $300 then. The timing was perfect since my house had solid, corners throughout. I received a key chain, a patch, a coat and every few months I would get something to test. Of course the magazine was monthly and I won second place on an innovations section which strove to share tips and tricks. (Mine was attaching 2" pvc to step ladders to hold cordless drills, hammers etc.) I'm not remembering what the prize was but that comes with age.
My thoughts were that I didn't see how this company could possibly maintain this level of giving to a host of lifetime members. That things started tapering of I thought, was inevitable. I really believe that the original company had it's member's interest first but other company participation most likely wavered and once you have all of that money from life members, there's not a lot coming in. I believe in the few short years they were very active I got my money's worth and then some and that their hearts were in the right place. I haven't had any dealings with them since but what I'm seeing from different sites, the company must be run by a different group or company and is all about the $$.
Plus, I mean, as adults, when a company says "Lifetime", that's open to interpretation and of course couldn't continue past the company's lifetime.
I recently ran across my Charter Member card from July of 1997, so I thought I'd look to see what became of this "club". Life has been filled with so much other stuff that I honestly forgot about this membershp. Well, I didn't find much other than this website that shows many (legitimate) complaints. Then I went to the Better Business Bureau website. https://www.bbb.org/us/mn/minnetonka/profile/hunting-gear/handyman-club-of-america-1296-51000042 On the BBB website I found the name Larry Okrend associated with the club, along with the comment: "Believed to be out of business: According to information in BBB files, it appears that this business is no longer in business." I then looked at the professional social media website called "LinkedIn" and found a profile of a Larry Okrend who has the club listed in his work history. I have included the information below. Perhaps it can be of help to some of you to find answers to your questions.
Larry Okrend
Freelance Editorial Services
Hopkins, Minnesota, United States
Managing Editor of HANDY Magazine
May 1996 - May 2001
Editor in Chief of HANDY Magazine and Executive Director of the Handyman Club of America
May 2001 - Dec 2013
HandyMan Club of America — lifetime membership renewal?
https://www.linkedin.com/in/larry-okrend-4815658
I, too, recently came across my membership card. I have been a lifetime member of the Handyman Club of America since 10/95. Have not received anything from the club in years.
I ...Donald Trump will not allow this to happen to [censored] like me...ladies and gentlemen bend over and grease up...I m going to make America great again ...who is first?
Add me to the list of "Lifetime Members" that has been forgotten about. Lifetime Member # [protected]/8/A 7. The last magazine I received from them was July 2011. I actually tried one product for them. It was a baggie that was suppose to capture drywall dust when you drill a hole. It would be nice to at least hear they went belly up or something.
Ray
Newton IL
Like many of you, I too had a lifetime membership but have not received anything in years. What happened?
I am also one of the forgotten Lifetime members. I also tested products. I enjoyed the magazine! The end of 2010 was the last magazine I received.
I became a Master lifetime member number [protected] since 3/2012 and Have not received any magazines since 8/2020 mainly because I had just gone through open heart surgery and moved. I would like to continue with the magazine if you can send me a phone number to call to submit a change of address'
I have been a lifetime member for over 20 years and just recently found my patches, buckle etc. When I attempted to find them on the internet, I discovered that Scout.com took them over and HCOA seems to have just disappeared. This is sad, I liked the Handy magazine, which I haven't seen in over 10 years.
I had a lifetime membership. After scout took over, I must have been swept under the door. No more magazine, no correspondence, NO NOTHING!
One of the biggest scams I have ever seen. Millions who paid for a lifetime membership? That's a lot of cash to rip people off for!
Same here; came across a long lost membership card. Lifetime Member since 2000. Also have not seen or heard anything in yrs. I to enjoyed the magazine and membership...Add this to my list of scams and shams.
I had a lifetime membership as well. I did a couple of test products. I have received the "Handy" magazine and then it turned into the "Handyman How To" magazine with a different membership number. Do we know if the company went belly up or do they just not care anymore?