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April 16, 2008
Scam Alert: The National Street Machine Club
By David
aka Highspeedhijinks
I get lots of offers for magazines in the mail, but I got one on Friday that seemed a little too good to be true. The "National Street Machine Club" sent me a long letter implying that I’d been accepted to an "elite" membership program that was only for true car enthusiasts. Their offer stated that by joining this club, I would be sent car-related merchandise to try out on my car for freeĀthings like exhaust systems, cleaning supplies, and wheels (yes, these are the items they specified in the letter), and that after trying them out, I could keep these items free of charge in exchange for filling out a brief survey on each one. Sounds good, right? Of course there’s a catch (continued…)
…and it’s this: to sign up, you have to pay them an annual membership fee of 12 bucks. This is where the scam comes in: there is no club, and they don’t send you anything except two made-up magazines called Street Performance. By the time you get your magazines, they send you a bill for $24.00 calling it a prepaid, two-year membership. It doesn’t stop there. Now that they’ve sent you this bill and you politely ask them to cancel your membership, they follow up with a threatening letter informing you that a collection agency will be notified and your credit will be ruined. Basically, they’re trying to bully you into paying for two years’ worth of membership in a club that doesn’t exist. Extra sketchy: they only take cash or check.
I was lucky, though: googling the club name and the word "scam" swiftly revealed a number of posts on a blog dedicated to protecting consumers from rip-offs like this. Just read some of the stories and you’ll see what kind of bullet I dodged. It’s hard to believe that people invest this much time creating scams this elaborate, but it happens and the only way to avoid them is to spread the word. So here it is: Stay away from the "National Street Machine Club," it’s a scam!
Comments
Andy
Oct 2, 2008 at 3:00 am
I signed up for this “scam” and i actually got what I paid for every month I get my magazine,and I also have recieved 2 garage test products for free but I am still a little leary about all this jive that im reading now thanks for the heads up.
RICH
Sep 10, 2008 at 12:30 am
I FEEL FOR THIS TO AND JUST FINDING OUT IT IS A SCAM (9-9-08). I’M NOT VERY HAPPY ABOUT THIS. DOES ANYBODY HAVE ANY IDEA ON HOW TO GET OUR MONEY BACK. I NOT WORRIED ABOUT COLLECTION AGENCIES, $26.00 IS NOT GOING TO RUIN MY CREDIT. PLEASE CONTACT ME AT richlouanne@yahoo.com.
Dave
Aug 7, 2008 at 5:30 pm
Scams are definitely out there. I found http://www.commentsearch.com to be helpful in avoiding them.
Gene Desselle
Jul 16, 2008 at 10:24 pm
I am a member of both the Handyman Club and the National Street Machine Club. I have recieved my magazines AND my free products with no problem for over a year. I just recieved a membership REFUND of 24 dollars from the Street Machine Club! Imagine that!
Tom Miller
Jul 10, 2008 at 8:58 pm
I subscribed several years ago and was scammed out of $12.
Just TODAY, I received in the mail at an address in another state to which I DID NOT forward mail, an invoice from these clowns and a magazine filled with automobiles that I care nothing about and other products that I can neither afford or can find at much better prices at the local AutoZone.
No solicitation, just an invoice. (of course, I received a letter telling me that I had been selected…blah…blah..blah).
I sent a nastygram to MemberServices@StreetMachines.com
BTW, I have not owned a car since 1986. I do not drive. Do not have a driver licence…but I DO have a mailbox! Guess I qualify!
Tom Miller
firebirdkim
May 7, 2008 at 8:15 pm
I ALSO RECEIVED THIS OFFER,
STARTED TO SEND IT IN, THOUGHT I HEARD ABOUT POSSIBLE SCAM SO I DID NOT. THEN I RECEIVED THE FIRST MAGAZINE. I THOUGHT A DOLLAR A MONTH WOULD BE 0KAY FOR A CAR MAGAZINE. SO I SENT 12$. I GOT THE 2ND MAGAZINE…SEEMED OK.
THANKS FOR THE HEADS UP,
KIM
7urtle
Apr 18, 2008 at 6:57 am
i was a dumbass that did it. wheres my magazine?
Phantomdeity
Apr 17, 2008 at 6:56 pm
More than ten years ago there was a similar scam from “The Handyman Club of America.” The same promise of product tests were given that stated the trial products were yours to keep free of charge upon completion of a brief review survey. There were some other “free gifts” included with membership also as well as promised discounts at major retailers like Home Depot when presenting a valid membership card at check out. Like you said in the blog post–its amazing how much time and effort goes into planning a scam like this and the lengths these people go to to make their B.S. seem as legit as possible. It seems they would be able to earn an honest living if they applied half that amount of effort to legitimate endeavors.
buddha1320
Apr 17, 2008 at 6:56 pm
man and i thought my car was special ha ha ha ha
Stewart
Apr 17, 2008 at 3:07 pm
I’m waiting for their newest publication:
.
“The National Hybrid Club and Tree Hugging Society”…
.
They can’t send out any magazines though…
.
You know, the trees…
.
.
I know that I’m gonna join!
.
I won’t really fit in, cause I actually make money, and
actually own stuff…
.
I enjoy several hobbies, and that makes the “have not’s” a little
angry…
.
I know, I know, it’s not popular to want to actually make
something of myself, and provide for my family, buy a house,
buy nice things, have hobbies, take showers regularly,
be in a heterosexual monogamous marriage, etc…
.
But SOMEDAY, I will have that Prius, so I can be another
pseudo-earth-friendly-poseur
.
THEN… I am gonna TROLL the car enthusiast websites like there is NO tomorrow!!!
.
THAT day, I will have a LIFE!!!
.
“Thanks!”
Derrick
Apr 17, 2008 at 12:32 pm
they have been doing this for years with hunting and other outdoor supplies and accessories
Teamplaya
Apr 17, 2008 at 3:39 am
take that you dumb car enthusiast who are idiodic enough to avoid even goggling for 2 sec and saving them bunch of $$$
Teamplaya
Apr 17, 2008 at 3:39 am
take that you dumb car enthusiast who are idiodic enough to avoid even goggling for 2 sec and saving them bunch of $$$
Harrison
Apr 17, 2008 at 1:56 am
Holy Crap! My Friend signed up for this! I have to tell him that it a SCAM!
Stewart
Apr 16, 2008 at 8:26 pm
I’ve had that same offer.
.
What a deal! LOL!!!