The scoop on 'Gardening How-To (National Home Gardening Club)'

Company Profile   Gardening How-To (National Home Gardening Club) Mailing Address: 12301 Whitewater Dr. Minnetonka, Minnesota 55343 (United States) Phone: 1-800-324-8454 » E-Mail them » Visit their website Recent reviews: Past month Past 6 Months Past 12 Months Positive 1 5 5 Neutral 0 1 3 Negative 0 4 8 This company specializes in: Magazines Other helpful information: Member of Mailorder Gardening Association

Feedback History and Summary   29 positives 17 neutrals 46 negatives

Comments:

Rating Author Content Positive orinvee Dry Prong, LA (1 review) November 06, 2009 I decided to comment after reading some of the negative remarks...mostly by people who obviously don't know the difference between a rake and a dinner fork. I became a lifetime member because they offered to apply all of my yearly subscription costs towards the lifetime fee, reducing it by about 30%. Obviously, if you don't expect to be reading the magazine for at least 15 years, it's no deal. If you continue as a lifelong gardener for over 25 years, then it's a great deal. As far as the tools, the telescoping pruning shears that I received are absolutely awesome. I have even cut small ironwood and other tough hardwood saplings (clearing a lot) with them and they continue to give me great service. The other smaller gardening tools are still working fine, no problems here. I have yet to receive a major free tool for inspection and rating but I have received lesser gifts (a Rake-O rake, a large bag of fertilizer, etc.) and I can absolutely tell you that there is NO cost...no postage and handling, nothing! I'm not sure where the previous naysayer got his info but it's wrong...he should stick to what he knows and not to what he thinks. Also, it was stated that ALL of the positive reviews were by members who had just joined when they posted. What I found is that it was the lifetime members (those who had been with the club for more than a few years) who sang the highest praises. Maybe they do treat lifetime members with more respect, I don't know. What I do know is that if you are really into gardening, you could do a lot worse. Gardening How-To is a winner in my plot! Positive flowerlady22 Huntsville, AL (Zone 7b) (1 review) October 06, 2009 I have been a member of this club since in the mid 90's, first as a yearly member and then became a lifetime member. I love this club. It's soo much more informative than other clubs. I am a Master Gardener, but still learn a lot from the forums. People are so willing to answer questions. The magazine alone is great. I have tested 5 products and am waiting for another to be sent. They do send unwanted books, mostly ones that I already have. Requests are honored when asked to not send any more. I can't figure out what those who are negative expect from the club. It's just to exchange gardening info. A few of their products were disappointing. I don't order any more of them. There is a free test time period. Positive ReggieL Andreas United States (2 reviews) October 05, 2009 I have been a life member for over 10 years. I received at least 5 test products. The most recent was the mosquito vacuum that retails for $279.00. I received it last year and it works awesome. Not all of my test products were that expensive,but I enjoyed trying all of them. Also under their member benefits I found an excellent seed sorce from England. Maybe it is because I am a life member that I do not receive any unsubscribed items. I am pleased by my membership. Wish everyone could have a happy subscription! ReggieL Negative JoeyinRoseburg (3 reviews) August 30, 2009 I regret having become of member of this club. Their merchandise and publications are quite ordinary and extremely overpriced. Nothing about this club impresses me. I had to demand that they discontinue sending me endless gardening books that I had not ordered, which they did stop sending. I also demanded that they stop the endless e-mails with their ridiculous lifetime membership offers, but I continue to receive these offers, although not as frequently as I had before my request. Now, I find that they have sent me an unordered calendar that my mail carrier damaged by cramming it into my locking mailbox that has limited space to insert large items. Regardless of the fact that this unexpected, unordered calendar was damaged, I wouldn't want to use it. It's rather ordinary and overpriced, just like everything else they produce. I have demanded that they never send me another thing unless I personally order it, and if they do, I plan to file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. Perhaps it would be excellent idea if their Attorney General's office got involved in an investigation of this club and put them out of business. Negative dknowles Dundalk, MD (1 review) July 20, 2009 We received the offer to join the club in the mail and I tore it up after reading the details. A few days later we got another letter thanking us for jopining and that we would receive our 2 prizes, how they know we won both prizes, since I threw away the scratch off is beyond me, perhaps everypne wins, how convenient. So they start sending us magazines we never requested and eventually the bill shows up... still haven't gotten the free prizes though... we send the bill back and tell them we never requested to join, and how surprizing, we get the nastygram saying our account is being affected negatively. Suppose it's time to file a complaint with the Maryland Attorney General. Neutral kenrnoto Westminster, MD (Zone 7b) (2 reviews) July 03, 2009 Isn't it funny that almost all, and I mean just about all, the Positive Remarks were made from members who signed up the day they made the positive remark! Seems like that company will make a new member, have them post a very Positive Remark, then that's the last you ever hear of them. Now, I saw an advertisement for this company on Facebook. I decided to check them out. What I saw is what many have posted here - it's basically a scam. They tell you you're getting this great pruner and trowel for free - but they leave out that they are poorly made. The one photographed isn't even the one your supposed to get. The Scam is that they'll give you all this stuff during your free 30-day trial. You get a magazine plus these two garden tools (that's their current offer). Then they'll bill you for your subscription - $12 annually they say. But what really happens? According to the reviews on Dave's Garden and other websites that I checked - you get a bill for $24 - two years. If you agree, then they'll send you an offer for a lifetime membership - $200. I guess they figure since you were a sucker to pay the $24 instead of the originally offered $12, then you're enough of a sucker to pay $200 for a lifetime membership. As P.T. Barnum used to say: "A sucker is born every minute!" And what about the testing of tools and all? They claim if you qualify they'll send you a garden tool to test. And they say that you may also qualify to keep it. Sure you can keep it if you pay for it! Or if you pay for the "P and H", where the "P" now stands for "processing fee" and the "H" stands for "handling fee". Gee, I thought processing and handling were the same thing, didn't you? Years ago the "P" stood for postage, but now these scammers have changed it to processing. Check that out, more and more ads on TV are saying "P + H", then in the fine print you find out the P is for processing, not postage. Anyway - this company will send you items then bill you for them. They could be items you think were free, but then a few weeks later you find out that they want you to pay for them. If you don't pay, they'll send you threatening letters demanding that you pay up. Shoot folks - check out this company on other websites that review companies - you'll see for yourselves. And don't forget to disregard any POSITIVE POSTS by "members" that just joined that day. Those posts are usually by reps of that particular company trying to sucker you. Check out the Better Business Bureau too - Find out the truth about these company's offers. You'll be glad you did! Ken Fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me Negative rmoniemony Akron, OH (1 review) June 16, 2009 i agree this club IS a scam i joined for $12 to receive yearly subscription and free items. the free item is a piece of garbage. you can actually buy BETTER GARDEN SUPPLIES AT DOLLAR STORES The pruning shears WOULDNT EVEN CUT A CHIVE! (alleged value 39.99$) when reading 1st issue, i knew the rave reviews and talk of free items were all lies - just like the positive reviews posted here are obviously fake- to lure you in. Now i confirm the LIES. I didnt even receive the free gloves . now they expect me to renew for 24$ for life I SAY no way b/c the FINE PRINT READS THEY CAN SEND U SAMPLES AND attempt to FORCE U TO PAY FOR IT!!! THAT IS THE SCAM AND IS ALSO ILLEGAL. (the sent me a moronic book and demanded i pay for it) i will repond with a formal complaint to ohio's attorney general THEY WERE HELPFUL ON THE PHONE THOUGH B/C THEY KNOW THIS IS AN ILLEGAL PRACTICE. Positive stephjack Tomball, TX (1 review) May 31, 2009 I have been a member for about 12years now. What cracks me up about these negative remarks is that most of you complain about the cost. The bag of gardening tools I received for joining as a lifetime member is still being used today!!! 12years later!! I have learned quite a bit about gardening and about new plants I would like to put in my gardens. I have never had the opportunity to test a product but I believe I have still received more than enough for the amount I paid for my lifetime supply of magazines I have totally enjoyed. I have received books etc. and never had any trouble returning any of the items. I have a hint for many of you complaining of junk mail 1. get on the do not call government list 2. get on the no junk mail government list there now was that so hard to stop receiving junk mail!!!! Positive darkmistress90 Sullivan, MO (1 review) May 20, 2009 I just recieved the letter in the mail and I WILL be mailing it back so long as i can get my fiancee to go with it. I called the number up top today and talked to one of the customer service people. He reassured me about everything and even if all you get out of it is a magazine.. point me to another magazine for ony 12 bucks a year! ~The Mistress of Darkness.. ~But you can just call me DarkMistress Negative afinity Hagerstown, MD (2 reviews) May 14, 2009 This is a scam, don't join. You can buy any of these non-quality products including gardening magazines for under the price they charge and can even buy them at the dollar store! Don't be fooled by their letter, any thing printed in LARGE text like that is designed to scam little old ladies. Negative bristolva Bristol, VA (1 review) April 25, 2009 Ditto all the bad vibes on this company. Received an unsolicted club membership, called and thought I had cancelled, received 'free gift' and dunning letters. I mailed back the 'free gift' unopended and sent a letter to the home office., Negative klaireabell Woonsocket, SD (1 review) April 13, 2009 I had a feeling there was something up with this company after reading comments here I folded everything back up minus the part with my name on it. I even folded up the big envelope it came in and stuffed it all in the return envelope so they can pay the return for it. I do this often with companys that will not stop sending me there junk mail. Just imagin if everyone did this. Neutral gardengirl1000 Virginia Beach, VA (1 review) February 22, 2009 I got the offer in the mail yesterday from the National Home Gardening Club, sounded like a good deal and was thinking about joining. But after reading the reviews it is going in the trash. Thank you all for sharing your experience so others don't get scammed. Neutral brokein09 (1 review) January 28, 2009 Does it seem a little strange that one gardening club forum has an entire area dedicated to reviewing what I assume is a competing club? I appreciate the Garden Watchdog with mail order companies but something just seems odd about this. I'd feel better if Dave's Garden stuck to reviewing mail order companies who aren't necessarily offering the same membership services as Dave's offers. Less perception of a conflict of interest. Note from the Garden Watchdog editors: The Garden Watchdog contains a category for gardening-related magazines. This listing for the Gardening How-to magazine was created in 2004 to provide information about the magazine, and an opportunity for the magazine subscribers to add reviews for it. On January 29th, 2009, brokein09 added the following: Thanks for the feedback, Garden Watchdog editors. I guess what still doesn't feel very good to me is that this really doesn't seem to be about rating the magazine - most comments seem to relate to bashing the other club and attempting to convince people not to join that club. I'm not defending this club because I don't have any experience with them - I'm just saying some things don't feel quite right. I rely on Garden Watchdog a lot regarding mail order companies and I hate to see things that might decrease the credibility of the good work that Watchdog does in that area. Jack Negative cmarlow41 Upper Marlboro, MD (Zone 7a) (1 review) December 18, 2008 Three times now I have received the "dunning notice" from a company whose product I did not order. As we all fear for our credit rating, I was concerned with the words "you've left us no choice", "official notification", "please be advised that if we do not receive your payment" etc. Last year when I called and challenged them (the toll free number is placed in an odd place at the top, right side of the notice) I was informed that they simply blanket send the magazine to a list that they purchase (mine was from MANTS) and take their chances on who will pay. This year I called and unloaded on the poor customer service rep and told her that it was a shame the company uses 'guerilla marketing tactics' because they have a good website and magazine but will never get me for a customer. Negative MOBigAl Lees Summit, MO (1 review) December 18, 2008 Glad I read the comments here. I received a "Due Invoice" today with a "thank you for activating your membership in the National Gardening Club" Something that I didn't sign up for. I have ordered some seed catalogs in the last couple of weeks, so, someone there must have 'sold' my information to them. I couldn't find anyway of contacting them on their website (kind of sneaky)...Thanks to Dave's Garden, I got their phone number. So, today I called to cancel my membership that I didn't sign up for in the first place. And requested they remove me from their mailing list. We'll see if it actually happens. I really dislike companies that do business this way. The sad thing for them is that I might have actually signed up and paid online for a membership if they had done their soliciting honestly. Positive kfoye Mandan, ND (1 review) September 19, 2008 Well, first of all - I am not a scammer as one poster inferred about anyone making a positive comment about this club. I have been a member of the club for over 10 years, about 7 years as a life member. I have been very satisfied with what the club has had to offer. When I converted to being a life member, I had no problem receiving the credit for the years I'd paid an annual fee. I've never received products that I did not request from them. They do, however, send out packets of information about products and trial offers. If you accept the trial offer, you do need to tell them that you don't want to continue receiving the products, if they are a series. I did accept an offer for gardening books and when I decided I no longer wanted to receive them, I notified them and did not receive any further mailings from them. If you join only to get expensive products free through the product testing, you will likely be disappointed - not everyone gets a tiller or lawnmower to test. Many of the test products are things like seed packets, gloves, etc., although there are limited opportunities for major product testing. The bi-monthly magazine is colorful and while the articles are generally of a basic to intermediate nature, they are interesting and well written. The bulletin board is probably my only disappointment about the club. The intent of the board to share gardening successes, failures, and knowledge is good, but I feel like too many people use it like a social network and seem quite persistent about getting others on the board to march to their negative drummer. I'm not sure that is the club's fault, though. All in all, it seems to me like a pretty good deal for the money. I'm not aware of any other garden magazine you can get for $12 a year. Negative dmac085 Greensboro, NC (Zone 7a) (27 reviews) August 04, 2008 I first joined a few years ago at the $12 per year rate...although I'm not sure I actually "joined" anything--basically I got a magazine subscription (if I recall 6 issues per year). The welcome package consisted of junk seeds which were and probably still are generic packs of baby's breath, red corn poppies and a wild flower mix. These no name seed packs are sold in bulk as promotional tools to various businesses. I received a cheap metal spade that bent quickly and rusted. I eventually let the subscription lapse and a few years later I thought about ordering the magazine again and that's when they started trying to bully you into getting the "lifetime" subscription/membership. $200+ for a bi-monthly let's face it, skimpy, magazine?! NO Thanks. If you are looking for a very valuable gardening resource with something for all levels of gardening experience--spend your hard earned money at Dave's Garden--steer clear of "joining" this subscription peddler masquerading as a gardening club! Negative losmilagros Loxahatchee, FL (3 reviews) August 02, 2008 This company is a big scam like every body know right now. The company National Home Gardening Club and Handyman Club of America is the same,with the same owner K. Pope and the same address. I think,like many members of this blog said,is time to start to stop this scamers.If some of the members of this blog want to make a complain with the BBB or any other entity about this matter,we are ready to sing . If we said another member is for the reason our English is not precisely good for a letter to the authorities of the government But we going to support the idea with our sign any time. Positive me1022 Brodheadsville, PA (1 review) August 01, 2008 I have been a member for several years and have nothing but good things to say. I have never been sent anything that I did not order other than several testing items that I didn't have to pay for. I have received a set of jumbo extra big velcro thingys (real tech term there :) ) to wrap stuff with, 3 gorgeous rose bushes with a retail value of $90 or so; several perennial plants that I can't remember the name of that come up beautifully in my garden each year and something else that I'm forgetting. I do get the mailers every so often asking me to be a life member and maybe one of these days I will but I just toss it in the recycling, its not a big deal. I love getting the magazine each month! I really don't see how anyone can call it a scam, even if all we got was a magazine out of it, it's ONLY $12 a YEAR! A bargain if you ask me AND I got to get all the neat things to test on top of that! They're A OK in my book and I will continue to be a member and enjoy it. Neutral Susanne7 De Land, IL (1 review) July 17, 2008 I got a promotion from National Home Gardening Club today and thought it looked too good to be true. The negative and neutral reviews here confirmed this. There is a reason that not a whole lot of joiners got tools to review. They state that they have currently 600,000 + members. Further down the same page, they say that 380,000 members over the years have tested products. Do the math: only about half the members got one tool to test. Negative tlc1130 Union City, PA (1 review) July 15, 2008 Received an application to join NHGC in the mail for $12 per year. Got the bill and the charge was $24 for two years. I said 'NO THANK YOU.' Oh yeah, they included 2 'free' sample-sized (not full sized) packets of seeds with about 10 seeds in each packet. WHOOPEE!! I've never received any 'free' tools or other 'goodies' they promised. Their promo is bunk! I decided to forget the whole thing and wrote CANCEL on the bill. It's 6 months later and I'm still getting letters every few weeks demanding payment on a $24 membership I never agreed to. They are also threatening to report me to a collection agency. WHOOP-TEE-DOO. Go ahead. This 'company' is running a scam and I've told them so. If I get another letter I am reporting them to the State Attorney Generals office for fraud. I think everyone needs to do the same if we are to put a stop to one more con game going around in this country. I'll gladly join with the previous postee to form a class action law suit against this nonsense, and for the harrassment practices they employ. I encourage others to do the same. It's time we all stop rolling over for these scammers. Just say 'NO' to the National Home Gardening Club. You'll be glad you did. Oh yeah, don't be surprised if the few 'positive' responses on this web site were written by the scammers themselves. I seriously doubt there are any real people out there who are 'happy' with the quality of anything they received from this con game. Negative mel01c Benson NC United States (1 review) July 05, 2008 Received an application to join NHGC in the mail. Ignored it. Then started getting demands for $24 membership. Wrote and told them I wasn't interested in joining NHGC, but have received three more demands for money. The last one threatened me with a collection agency! I think it's time to put a stop to this practice, and recommend all people that have had negative issues with this company contact their respective attorney general's office. I am in the process of writing to them one more time. If this doesn't work, and I get more threatening letters, I plan to take out a law suite for harassment. M Clarke Negative Dadsrunt Bloomington, IN (1 review) June 20, 2008 I joined for the free testing of products. I only received the shears to test. Have never been offered anything more to test since. It's been a year now. I DO however get repeated attempts for me to be a life time member! Yeah! RIGHT!!!!!! Neutral donicaben Ogdensburg, NY (9 reviews) June 11, 2008 Uh, I think I need to go to the mailbox and take my check out of it!! :-) Thanks for the heads up! Positive Kimberwitch Des Plaines, IL (2 reviews) June 11, 2008 I joined this club a year ago, when we bought our first house with a large yard full of nothing but grass. I have read others postings about how awful this company is, and while I find it distressing, I can honestly say that my experience so far with them has been nothing but positive. After signing up I did receive some seeds and a set of pruning sheers, which were not of good quality, but worked for light pruning. I did receive a book, with promises of more to come, which, after reviewing, I decided to send back. I have not been bothered with any other books since. Next I received a LARGE, heavy package, which turned out to be a 40 pound bag of soil supplement (organic compost from a company in Oklahoma). I was unable to use it last year, but used it when I cut some new beds this year and so far it is excellent. I wrote my review and am hoping to receive more products to test. I have not signed up for the lifetime membership, and I don’t think that I will be (I am a budget gardener, I just bought my first house, that means EVERYTHING is budgeted), but I will continue with the basic membership. I enjoy the website and have found many helpful and interesting items and articles. I love the magazine. It is basic in its information, but has fun facts and helpful suggestions. For what I have paid for my basic membership, I am more than satisfied and feel that I have received what I was promised when signing up. Neutral tomtkitty Memphis, TN (11 reviews) May 06, 2008 I collected my mail from the mailbox one day, and as I sorted through the various items, lo and behold! there was a letter addressed to one of my cats. I opened it on her behalf, and it was an application to join the National Home Gardening Club, complete with a personalized membership card! I was unaware that she had any horticultural interests other than rolling in the catnip and digging in the mulch. Needless to say, she did not become a member. I still wonder how her name got on their mailing list. Cats are smart animals, but they don't apply for garden club memberships! Negative heathrjoy Kersey, PA (Zone 5a) (2 reviews) May 06, 2008 I'd like to thank everyone who posted about this "club." Just today I received my letter to join the life time membership club. I decided to look up some info about them before joining, and I'm soooo glad I did. I originally went looking for info to see if there is anyone who isn't "invited" to be a life time member...because according to the form letter they sent me "[my] name was chosen form thousands of Club Members for an extraordinary distinction. It's a singular privilege--that effectively allows [me] to join a small 'inner circle' of elite gardeners and receive numberous privileges and benefits not available to others..." Yeah, ain't I special?? They picked ME and I better join now before I let this chance slip away... I joined the regular club a few months ago. Not long after that I received 2 (yes two) of the free gift kits. There was a pair of pruners and a cheap kneeling pad in each kit. I wondered what the heck was going on, this company is so out of it that they can't even keep track of how many free gifts they are sending out. Oh well. Then another package came. It was the first book. I know I will be billed around $10 for that. There were also some seed packs in the box too. Nothing I was interested in planting though. I think it was a wildflower mix. Not my thing...who knows what's really in it and if it'll be invasive or not. No thanks. I have written them an e-mail and told them to cancel my account and to quit sending me junk...I'm not interested and I'll never join. If I hear from them again I won't take it lightly. I don't want collection agencies calling me over something I never agree to. If that does happen I'll post it here...and also alert the BBB, my credit card company, the Post Office and anyone else I can think of. This is a scam and no one should put up with it. They keep doing it because they are making money because people are putting up with it. They aren't getting another penny from me. Positive red2red1200 Eastpointe, MI (1 review) May 01, 2008 I am a charter member of National Home Gardening Club. I don't remember when it started up but in the late 90's I believe. I paid my money to become a life member. I have never had any problems with them. I have been a tester for new products. I don't recall anything ever showing up that I didn't order. If something ever did then the next shipment would be returned unopened. I have 2 daughters that have read the mags when visiting (each lives in a different state) and they liked the mags so now I buy each daughter a script every year so they can have their own garden info at their fingertips and they love it. If only all my trials could be as easy and satisfying. Oh wait I do have a complaint, I don't like having to go to the web site to register for the gifts they give away I would rather mail in the post card. Negative rosarian13 Los Alamos, NM (1 review) April 08, 2008 Ten or more years ago, I paid for a yearly membership (only $12 at that time), and I never heard from them again. I decided it was a scam, and have disregarded subsequent attempts to get me to join. Positive pagardener61 Mount Pleasant Mills, PA (4 reviews) March 25, 2008 My exprience with the free seed was very good, I germinated both types and got a good overall rate, much better then I expected. So far I have no bone to pick. Neutral patina23 Neptune City, NJ (Zone 7a) (1 review) March 25, 2008 Hi, I became a member three years ago, paying the yearly fee. I received the items promised for joining and used all of them. I decided to pay the membership for life fee last Spring, and gave $150 of the $200 due and made small increment payments since to pay the total off. I was also told I would receive the three years of payments I sent in, back to me and I have to call about this because I just thought of it now, after reading these posts. The $75 was not deducted or mailed back ot me in a check. Lifetime membership gardening products arrived at the house, then a testing product- a weather proof chaise lounge cover made of durable material and this product did cover three stacked chaise lounges, over this past winter. This cover turned out to be a very good product. But-an item came to my home when I joined and paid the lifetime member ship fee, and I was not happy. A small sunflower trinket like box that opens, containing a sunflower pin and something else, I forget now. With a bill stating to mail in a payment for this item or mail it back. The bill also stated if I did not return it, I was to expect three more items similar to this item, every few months. I was bummed to receive this unexpectedly. I do not deal well with having to return something I did not ask for to begin with and also feeling like "What did I get myself into?" I sent in the $29.95 payment a month later and should have returned it ASAP, but I forgot about it. So far, nothing else has been sent in the mail to my home. I wrote on the bill that I did not want to receive any more of these items--PLEASE! I want to see how it goes with this lifetime membership. I hope I did not make a mistake. Patina Positive lovesdaffodils La Fayette, GA (1 review) March 18, 2008 even though I was surprised to see the $200 charge for becoming a lifetime member, I gladly paid it. I have recieved a magazine I truly enjoy, while I have never considered myself to be an expert gardener I enjoy making things grow, and have found many of the articles very helpful. I have recieved a few things in the mail that I did not want to keep so I simply sent them back. When I logged onto this sight I found out the reason why I haven't been chosen to rate any more products, that was helpful, too. I am enjoying my membership and think you are doing a fine job. I also think the folks who write negative comments are probably just negative people, did any of you ever hear the statement" you catch more flies with honey than with vinegar." Negative jfoottit Vallejo, CA (1 review) March 05, 2008 Add me to the list of people who think this "club" is nothing but a book selling scam. Last summer, I requested that they terminate my "membership" and quit sending their $29.94 books that we didn't have time to even look at. This request and others since that time were all ignored. Since that time, all books they sent were mailed back to them (at their expense - marked return to sender). Lately, they have been harassing me claiming that I still owed them for an unwanted book that had been returned. I have just sent them a check for $29.94 for this book that I didn't keep, just to get them out of my life. I also notified them that I will do anything in my power to warn people about them and their sales practices. Negative Patches123 Huntsville, AL (1 review) February 26, 2008 I recieved a collection notice recently since I have not paid $200 since joining in 2005. National Gardening Club has called a few times and each time I have told them I wish to cancel my subscription. I agree that this is a scam. Neutral ConGar (10 reviews) February 24, 2008 Okay, I seem to have the same issues as several others. I actually got suckered in because I was told in the original mailing that membership dues were much less what they ended up charging me (just over $200.00). If I recall correctly, I was told (in the original mailing) that membership was only $24.00 a year. So, this past summer I decided to join because the price was reasonable, and at that price if they weren't all they said they were (which I suspected they couldn't possibly be for that price) it could still be worth it because of that low low price. After I wrote that check it wasn't too much later that I got a box of stuff. At first I was excited because this seemed to be just as the company advertised. It was mostly seeds, a book, and that was pretty much it certainly nothing to test and nothing to write home about. And, imagine my surprise, when a couple weeks later I ended up getting a pricey bill for the crap in said box! (Because of these additional charges, I suspect I've actually paid $300.00, if not more for my membership) Sometime after that I got a hugh box, but after that first time I was wary rather than excited, so I opened it very carefully in case I needed to send it back. So far, I haven't gotten a bill for the contents, however, there was very little actually in that big old box. It was after this that I got my biggest shock of all - a bill for the cost of my membership, which I had already paid. Worse still, this new bill was charging me over $200.00 dollars. WTH? At the time I got that bill I'd been a member for three/four months and saw nothing that was worth $200.00, and in the time since then (stupid of me, I know, but I thought maybe after I paid I'd see something worth it) I still haven't gotten anything to justify paying a $200.00 membership. NOTHING! All I have now is regret, because I could have bought many new plants for my garden with that money, instead I've completely wasted it! Also, none of those products that they claim to send to members to test and rate have come my way. So I feel like I'm paying over $200.00 for a magizine subscription that isn't worth more than the $24.00 I originally paid even if you include the three/four packets of free seeds they've sent in that original price. Honestly, I can go to my local Dollar General Store and buy better seeds for a quarter a packet, because the so-called free seeds I've gotten have never even attempted to grow, even when I finally got fed up and dumped the whole packet in one pot, not one came up. And going to my local Dollar Store I get much less hassle and no threat of a hidden bill showing up later - that's certainly worth a quarter, especially when you consider that even the following year most of the seeds from Dollar General can be planted and while by that point less than half will come up, it's still better than those so-called free seeds from this company. My first negative review on this site (though at this point I've only given three ratings), and I honestly find myself hoping it is my only one. The sad thing is that I would have probably rated them positive or at least neutral if they had stuck with that original price of $24.00. However, I would be willing to change my rating to at least neutral if the company shapes up come spring - I'm willing to accept that maybe they have nothing to send in winter, but I actually hold little hope of getting any of the so-called free products. To be honest, at this point, they would have to send me something really nice to have any chance of keeping my money coming, because I just can't afford $200.00 a year for what amounts to a magizine subscription. On February 25th, 2008, ConGar changed the rating from negative to neutral and added the following: Changed my rating to Neutral after it was suggested that I check over my paperwork again. I have now done that, and from what I can gather from the rereading is that I won't (or shouldn't be) charged $226.00 every year. It would seem the $226.00 is a one time charge, I can't help but have my doubts, BUT until proven otherwise I decided it was only fair to change my rating from Negative to Neutral since the large charge was the main (but not only) reason I was so very unhappy. The other reasons (mentioned above) are the reason I'm not whipping out a Positive, and after rereading things there's a new reason I'm not completely satisfied. There is a disturbing lack of clarity in the original paperwork, because everything in that indicates that my original $24.00 payment was for a lifetime membership and not merely a magizine subscription. It would have been much nicer knowing up front that a lifetime membership was much more expensive than that before getting such a large bill slapped on me. Negative bagelow Augusta, GA (1 review) February 24, 2008 I was somehow chosen to be bombarded with junk mailing after junk mailing. I think it was a joke. Neutral jcpaul Alexandria, MN (Zone 3b) (3 reviews) October 15, 2007 After viewing the magazine on Amazon.com, I subscribed for what turned out to be a two-year subscription (I also thought it was for one year). I have enjoyed the magazine but also agree that it is pretty basic. I especially enjoyed the articles on garden critters and garden design. I resisted signing up for the Lifetime Membership because, after receiving their free hand-held pruner, I realized that their items were not quality products. As a veteran of several book clubs, I was very conscientious about reading all the details of what they sent me, and this prevented a lot of headaches and returns. I did call the company and told them not to send me anything further of any kind without a notice first. The Customer Service Representative was cordial about removing my name from all the different products they mail out (including little porcelain boxes, CDs, books, etc.). I did get about four of their books and felt they were not comprehensive or in-depth enough for my taste and for what they were charging. I still enjoy the magazine (I'm also a gardening magazine fan!) but will not resubscribe when my two-year subscription is up. The customer service representative also asked me if I wanted to sign-on for product testing. I told her that if the products I had already received were an example of the kinds of products they sent out that I was not interested. I never received any products to test that were worth keeping. Soooo, if you sign up for this club/magazine, realize that you are essentially signing up for a series of book and product subscriptions. If you enjoy getting gardening goodies in the mail and especially if you are fairly new to gardening, you might enjoy this group. However, if you are more advanced and only want quality products and in-depth information, you might want to go elsewhere. Negative camellia Towson, MD (3 reviews) September 26, 2007 I, too, got their introductory literature. I have been getting bills and phone calls ever since. I asked several of the telemarketers to take my name off the list. Last week I got a notice from a collection agency saying I owed over $200! I sent them a letter disputing the charge. Last night I received another call asking me to "renew" my lifetime subscription. I called them today and the lady said she would take me off the list. We'll see. I also had to wait 15 minutes to talk to a human. Others must be calling as well. She did say that the collection notice would not affect my credit rating. Negative jensings Rochester, MN (1 review) September 18, 2007 Stay away from this company. I too was suckered in by the magazine subscription--which I did pay for --(and it's not that great--) but then was asked to become a life time member. I accepted the trial offer wanting to know what it was all about as the material sent never mentioned the cost. Well I found out it was very costly--over 120.00 so I cancelled it right away. I still received many statements for payment and sent back 2 more stating that I wished to cancel. Then the harrassing phone calls started...every week....ONE person actually listened to me when I said that I never signed up for it and it was supposed to be cancel. They said they would check on it. I received another bill and wrote ANOTHER letter.....Well almost 2 years later after I had NOT signed up and roughly 4 months from the last (cancellation) letter, I just received a bill from a collections agency stating that I owe the National Home Gardening club $260.00!!!! I am going to be contacting the Minnesota Business Bureau to follow up on this for me! It looks like they have received 100's of complaints in just the billing category (but not enough to deem it unsatisfactory. Hopefully everyone who has had a bad experience with it, contacted your Better Business Bureau....!! STAY AWAY from this organization and magazine!!!!

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