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On Dec 6, 2009, sweetpea3163 Palm Coast, FL wrote:
I was reading the comments left by other people and decided to also leave my opion on this company. A few people are saying that only life time members are leaving the positive remarks about the gardening magazine or people that just signed up so being that I've been with them for almost 2 years I'll tell you how I feel about this company. I joined up because of the price, 2 yrs/ $24.00 that's extremely cheap for a good magazine. It has a lot of good info in each issue. I've bought gardening magazines at the store before and paid close to $8.00 each. The price this company charges is very cheap. I enjoy most of the articles they have, not all but most. I've had to call customer service a few times with questions and never had a problem. They are always helpful. I also received the gardening books the club offers, no I didnt ask for them to be sent but they can be returned. No big deal! They pay the return shipping for any book you dont want to keep, the return shipping label for returns is always in the box. It just so happens I kept most of them. They are great books. You DON'T have to keep them and if you don't want to preview them call and tell them or write on the bill you don't want any books and to cancel sending them. On the 1st book that's sent they have on the bill a space to check Yes - if you want to continue previewing the books or No you don't want any more books to be sent. It's not a big deal to have them stop sending the books to you. It might take 5 minutes to put a check in the NO box and stick the return label onto the box and hand it to the mailman to be returned. I even had 2 books lost in the mail (at different times) and never had any trouble getting the credit for them. Customer Service made a note to the account and the charge was reversed. The cost of 2 books were $60.00 and they took the charge off my account with no problems. This company also has a sister company called "Creative Home Arts Club" I've been a member with them for 5 years. Both these companies have great magazines and most of the books are really good. A little exspensive but awesome books. Again, you do not have to keep anything you don't want! As far as thinking this company is a scam???? I'm sorry but I totally disagree with everyone thinking that. They offer a magazine with gardening information that is well worth the money they charge. They don't demand you keep it unless you choose to keep it. The FREE GIFTS are a little Perk to getting the magazines. You must remember they are "FREE" so how can anyone really think they are going to receive top of the line products. I have received a few items that are good quality items though . I didnt expect to get really exspensive gifts when it said free. It's rare if you ever do with any magazine, not just this one. Everyone needs to remember it's not just this company that offers "rewards" to get a subscription. All magazines do this. The thing is you have a choice to buy it or not. I personally enjoy the magazines and I'm very happy I signed up for them. I look forward to getting them in the mail. As far as cancelling a subscription, my sister did this. She signed up and after a couple of months decided that she just wasnt reading them so she called up and got a refund. She never was harassed to keep the subscription. Money was returned to her account that she paid from. I feel bad that some people have had a bad experience dealing with the company and didn't enjoy the magazines. I have nothing but good things to say about this company. I would recommend people trying them and see for yourselves if you will enjoy the magazines. Everyone has a different opinion. I personally think National Home Gardening Club is a good company. Hope everyone has a Great Holiday Season!
I have been a member of National Home Gardening Club and reader of Gardening How-To since 1999. I enjoy the magazine. The articles are short, but useful. The photographs are very good.
I have been a product tester four times for products appropriate to the gardening I do on my 1/4 acre suburban lot. It's fun to get the products, but the lack of instruction on how to conduct a test made it quickly apparent that these user tests aren't science and shouldn't be given great creedence. For example, I tested a deer repellent and a fertilizer. There was no suggestion like fertilize some plants and not others and compare how the two groups grew.
I have also received free items for renewing my subscription, specifically pruning shears and gardening gloves. They were pretty flimsy, but what reasonable person would expect otherwise regardless of the purported "retail value." They were, after all, inducements to renew a magazine subscription, and should be expected to be about the quality of the tpe of instamatic camera Time and Newsweek used to give away to induce subscriptions. I'm not surprised to hear from some commenters that some if these items have worked well lasted quite a long time, and it is very surprising to hear the vitriol from some commenters who apparently though they would get military spec equipment.
I am a little preplexed at the reports by some commenters of $12.00/year membership dues. I wonder if those were new subscriber promotional rates. I don't remember my initial subscription price. I have kept copies of some of my renewal invoices. My subscription has been $20.00 a year since at least 2005, as it is for 2010, and the 2000 invoice shows I paid $18.00 that year. I renew annually rather than take lifetime membership. Heck, if Lehman Brothers can go under . . . .
Every annual renewal invoice includes the option and urges me to renew for more than one year, at an increasingly large multi-year discount, as do many magazines, but I have never been billed for more than one year when I mailed in a renewal for one year only. I have never ordered a product from National Home Gardening Club, received a bill for something I did not order, or receivd anything unsolicited.
In sum, the magazine is worth the price. I pay my money, it comes in the mail. What's wrong with that?
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.
On Oct 6, 2009, flowerlady22 Huntsville, AL (Zone 7b) wrote:
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.
On Oct 5, 2009, ReggieL Andreas United States wrote:
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
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!!!!
On May 20, 2009, darkmistress90 Sullivan, MO wrote:
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
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.
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.
On Jun 11, 2008, Kimberwitch Des Plaines, IL wrote:
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.
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.
On Mar 25, 2008, pagardener61 Mount Pleasant Mills, PA wrote:
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.
On Mar 18, 2008, lovesdaffodils La Fayette, GA wrote:
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."
As many of you, I also signed up and received the first book then a bill for $9. The first book I kept and paid for. When the second book arrived, I sent it back right away. However last week a bill for that book arrived and I tried to call only to get a recording that all lines were busy.
Today I called customer service again and spoke with Jenine who was helpful in clarifying how the program works. She said they did get the book back and it must have crossed with the bill. She explained that lots of test items and coupons are sent out and book are on trial for 30 days, even if a bill arrives sooner. There is also a pre-paid postage label in the box so the book can be sent back at no cost. She also gave me options such as slowing the frequency that books are sent out, or stopping all shipment of books entirely. To keep life simple, I just had her stop any future books from being sent out. Overall it was a pleasant phone call.
My experience for the most part has been positive. I find the articles useful, and I have gotten great tools from the company, although there could be more variety of free seeds. I find the ads helpful, since I place mail orders.
I also find the bulletin board very useful. It has general topics, special ones such as roses, and regional areas as well.
The only drawback I have found is that the fee for the lifetime membership was not clear when I signed up, but in the end I decided not to cancel it.
On Apr 21, 2006, periwinkle1955 Minneapolis, MN (Zone 4a) wrote:
I have been a subscriber every year for about 5 years. Most of the magazines are good. There are many tips, reviews and good articles in the magazine. The web site is very nice and an easy way to enter the contests. I have avoided the "Lifetime Membership" so far because the benefits have not been appealing enough to me to invest the money. Every year I get a tiny packet of red poppy seeds in my "membership renewal" mailing and this is getting a little old. The first product I tested was a packet of flower seeds which came in the first part of winter. This seemed like silly timing for Minnesota. The product hung on my refrigerator until I planted them in the spring. They failed to germinate and I sent in my evaluation. The second product was a video on growing roses. My VCR was not working at the time so it took a while before I remembered to watch it and send in the evaluation. The most recent and most valuable product evaluation was for a fabulous pair of work gloves that resist cuts! I loved the gloves and used them continuously last year for projects that involved the potential for nasty cuts (resetting and reglazing my windows). The one time I wasn't wearing the gloves I slashed my fingers with a razor. Ouch! Overall, I have enjoyed the "garden club membership" with the little extras every once in a while. It is a very good value for the money.
I have been a member for about 1 year. I really like the website I check out the forums everyday it is nice to ask questions and to reply to others who need help with certain plants. I also have traded seeds and plants with other members this is the biggest reason I joined. I noticed lots of complaints about the free gifts and books when you sign up they tell you about the books etc that you will be getting, if you don't want them all you have to do is send them back and let them know not to send any more. I don't like the solicitations for the life membership, I fell the fee is too high. As for now I will renew my membership when it comes due in 2 years
I became a member for all the extras and freebies - and so far, they have lived up to my expectations. I agree that the magazine is a little light, but it is still good for the novice to intermediate gardener to glance over. As far as the product testing, I have tested many items over the years. Most were good quality, and I still use them. I have only received one item that I rated negatively. If you are a new member, they tell you up front that the product testing goes to existing members first, then to new members. You have to wait about 6 months to get the first product to test. They will require you to sign up to test again after you have tested a product (I'm assuming to keep their records up to date), so you won't get any more products to test until you do.
I have been a satisfied member for a number of years, with no plans to cancel, so I finally gave in to the lifetime member promo and received a whole set of quality tools, a pair of garden gloves, a water-absorbing mat for the car (for transporting plants), and yes, a few useless items such as letterhead and decals. The price for the membership was a bit steep, but they credit the dues already paid for past years, so you are really just prepaying for a few years, then it's free after that. On the whole, I'm happy with my membership.
I joined the National Home Gardening Club about 5 years ago. I became a life member about 2 years ago. I really enjoy it mainly because of the clubs bulletin board. The people are so nice and helpful if I have a question or a comment. I'm on that bulletin board website every day. When the life membership dues are paid they send a tool set. It was pretty nice. I rather like the magazine. I enjoy seeing peoples pictures that have been corresponding on the bulletin board website. I have tested Daffodils and Tulips in the test program. They all did very well. The other reason I joined was to avoid the yearly dues. They go up about every year and I joined so I could pay it off and never have to deal with them again. They deducted the years dues I had previously paid.
On Feb 24, 2005, KRNYSGIRL Clinton, CT (Zone 6b) wrote:
I joined this club 6 months ago - and for the most part - really enjoy it. I did get one of those autoship books when it started, which I promptly refused and have not been bothered again with anything unsolicited. I like the magazine - but then I subscribe to about 10 of them - so I guess I'm a junkie.
I signed up to be tester and last week I received a $25.00 bottle of deer repellent to test. I am plagued with deer so I'm more than willing to evaluate it.
This week I signed up to become a life member - no I wasn't solicited - I went to them. I think it's a great club.
On Jan 11, 2005, itsjustme Cottage Grove, OR wrote:
I've been a member of the National Home Gardening Club for about 6 months. I like it so well, I just become a Life Member. Your club fee basically pays for the magazine--which while not THE best gardening magazine, is a decent one, and certainly worth $12 a year. To me, everything else is just a bonus. I have tested about 4 different products, from hand tools to fertilizer. One member I know was just asked to test a rotatiller. You must take a questionnaire and request to be a tester before the club will send you anything. (And each time you test a product, if you want to be considered for another product, you must sign up again.) As for the books the club publishes and sends out, you must tell the club you're willing to accept promotions before they start sending you books. (This is something they ask about on your paperwork when you first become a member.) If you decide you don't want the books, it works like any other book club, except that you may call customer service and CANCEL at any time. The club also has a handy website with forums, so you can link up with other members, plus lots of contests, and lots of freebies (from hand tools to seeds to kneeling pads to blankets...) that they give out "just cuz." I do get just a tad bit more junk mail now, but it's all gardening related, so I don't mind.
I have been a member for two years and have enjoyed the magazine. I have been getting more "junk" mail since joining, but not excessively and I enjoy looking through new and different stuff, if only to get an idea of what is out there. My only complaint would be the urgent messages to "become a lifetime member! Your time is running out!!" To be honest about it, I can't afford over $100 to join a gardening club.
On Nov 29, 2004, sadie_mae Central, KY (Zone 6b) wrote:
I became a Life Member this year. The large number of tools I have rec'd look well constructed and hopefully will be useful next spring, and I really like the large gardening tote that came with them. I have used the clippers and large pruners and they were fine. I don't get a lot of junk mail or email. The magazine is nice, but also pretty light weight. I have rec'd 1 pack of lettuce seed, from Seed Savers Exchange, to test (I believe the rules say you can only test 1 product per year). I have used the website some, but since I spend so much time on DG, I don't have a lot of extra time. All in all, I'd say the price of the life membership has been worth what I've gotten and I have been satisfied with everything so far.
On May 21, 2004, greenthumb5050 Hampton, VA (Zone 7a) wrote:
This is a great club for gardeners of all levels. The forum have great topics for discussions and everyone is so friendly. Also it's monitered so you don't have to worry about talking to some crazy person.
The product tests are awesome! I love trying new seeds and plants! It's so much fun!
The magazine is great too! As a gardener you are always learning and since I've been a member I've kept every issue that they've sent. I've enjoyed the club so much that I signed up as a life member so that I never miss anything.
I highly recommend this club to anyone who loves to garden and is looking for great information and a great club to join!
This is a great site. You will never know what you will learn just by reading all the posts in the forums area. Even though I live in Florida, I read hints given for everywhere as you will never know what you will find that will work down here as well. Post a question and you will get an answer most often within a day if not sooner by one or more of the gardeners that are also members.
On May 13, 2004, pati45 Fort Lauderdale, FL (Zone 10a) wrote:
I am a life member with NHGC and it is the best thing that ever happened to my garden! I have learned more there as a member than anywhere else and I have made some wonderful friends. The magazine is very imformative and I keep them all for future reference material. I would advise anyone interested in gardening to check them out and join.
As a Life Member of the National Home Gardening Club, I have been very pleased with the opportunities, products, and information that they have provided. The magazine (Gardening How-To) is informative and attractive. The forums are a great place to gather information from fellow gardeners who may have more experience in a particular area than I do.
Upon completing payment, I received a high-quality set of gardening tools which I use regularly, and which I would probably have paid at least the price of membership for (if not more) in a retail setting. Another great perk is the product evaluation program, which allows members to review products and keep them at no cost. The only requirement is that an evaluation is completed and returned to the Club.
My membership at the NHGC has helped me to grow and learn as a gardener in a way I could not have done otherwise. I would highly recommend this club to any gardener, novice or otherwise.
I have been a member of the NHGC since 1996. It has been a wonderful 8 years. The staff is fast and courteous, I have received many items to test over the years for new companies, and for the most part all of the items were top notch!
I have learned many new things and found many friends as well. I didnt come to the online site until much later, where I found the Click & Win area. Last year I won a greenhouse!
There are so many pros to this club that I couldn't begin to list them all here. So come on over and check them out.
On May 12, 2004, TheFountainLady Beaverton, MI wrote:
I've been a member of the National Home Gardening Club since April of 2000. Four years of receiving their great magazine each month and getting to test products free. I like their website and on-line Member Forums, too. I've met many nice gardeners through my membership. I've become a better gardener and have learned so much because of my membership and the benefits that come with it. It's nice to see that they are now listed on Garden Watchdog & can be rated. I plan to continue my membership for many years.
I have been a member of this club for over a year. Their membership dues are VERY reasonable, and include a great magazine and the opportunity to test garden products. My dealings with their customer service reps have been extremely pleasant. The free hand pruners I received when I joined were very good quality. They have an excellent website for members. All in all a very positive experience!
