I have not been sent a product test package from the club in over 3 1/2 years, but the site says that I am enrolled in the program..anyone else have this problem? My Dad is also a Life Member and he receives things alot more than I do. I see all these great things that Club Members are testing but there is never anything in my mailbox.
Life Member since '05.

Yes, I have a similar problem.  I've written member services.  The answer I get is that they will respond in 72 hours.  I guess that means they will pick which hour out of the week or month they will use to compile 72.  I have just average computer skills but for the life of me I can't figure out how to update a profile.  My wife & daughter have great skills but they haven't figured it out either.  Seems like whenever they change something on website they forget or take for granted it is working.
What I really enjoy about the club is the forums where we can communicate with one another.  I probably use too much of everyone's time but being disabled this is a great means for me to be able to talk to people that share my same love and enthusiasm for the great outdoors, especially fishing.  Thanks to all of you!  Uncle Tom

You should be able to access your testing profile from My Account. Click on Product testing program and you should be there. I have never gotten a reply to an email from member services, and I have heard that calling is a crapshoot. Note to Uncle Tom: I almost always have time to talk (email) fishing if I'm not on the water. If you want to contact me, try mech60014-coho@yahoo.com  Tom

i will e mail customer service but if i dont recieve a response in a reasonable amount of time i will email kurt berkstrom . he has always answered quickly and is very helpful. i used to email steve pennaz personally but it seems he forwards them to kurt now. give kurt a holler and he will do the very best he can to help you out.

J albertson, try re-editing your testing profile, it's simple and easy to do if you go to my account at the top under the main banner add and "read" all the print on the right hand side near the top that has all the stuff about your private , public and testing information. Just follow the links and it's that simple. Guy's don't look for pics because you won't find any to follow to get there.
Mr. Beckstrom you might want to try telling your web designers to start using some if you want to make it easier for the men to find stuff. " LOL, LOL " Any ways about customer service, I never have trouble with it, I go into it knowing it may take a while to get to talk to someone and when they answere I'm always happy they do. They're pleasant to chat with and do a bang up job when I need them. nothings perfect and try remembering they aren't either when you talk to them. good luck and I hope you get your profile issues solved and are able to test something soon. If you do remember to send in the testing results asap, they like that when you do and it insures you get
re-entered for another testing. As for the 72 hour comment, if thats how you go into a conversaton with customer service I can't blame them for "forgetting" the call even took place. Try sugar, it attracts more than vinegar. I've never ever had to call more than once, even when ordering a shirt that they said would take up too 8 weeks to get proccessed. Funny how I had it in less than 2. best of luck to you and I hope you can get your testing profile going so you can have the thrill of enjoying all this club has to offer. It's really fun when you do.

I have rarely had to deal with member services, but I have found that they are totally unresponsive to emails as I have yet to have one of mine answered! I think you will do better with a phone call no matter how much of a pain it is. Tom

thanks alot gang

thanks alot gang

I habe been a member since 2007 and I have never nad the chance to test and product, you send my name to other clubs with the same weak offers . but you said that being a life member that I would get a chance to test and kee products going on three years that hasn't happen what uo?

I have been a life member for 2 years and never received a product testing item.  In fact I have attempted to enter the program, but always get an Error sign

I am beginning to think that there is not realley a product testing program. I can't seem to enter and e-mails are not answere. Phone calls alway go to a computer and no numbers are available for that subject. Can't seem to be able to talk to a real person

Hi dshreve. I can assure you that there is a product test program though I can see from your posts why you would say that. Not sure why you are having issues logging in to the profile. Try doing it from a different computer if you have not tried that already. Have you tried using the contacts list on the bottom of this page? HOpefully kurt or someone see's this post and is able to assist you with contacting the club. After you do get registered please be patient. there are a lot of members ennrolled and a limited amount of items for testing. also be sure that when you do get something to fill out your product evaluation and it wouldn't hurt to contact the company that the product came from to thank them. you never know what might come of that, also this might encourage them to submit future items for testing.

Brian

Well, thanks for all the help fellow fisherman, but I have updated my profile and information for the product testing several times. Just seems that they have nothing to send..Oh well, maybe in the future..Thanks again.

J..since 05'

jalbertson, don't upgrade profil unless it's asking ya....other wise yer name gets moved to the back of the list again....at least thats the skuttle-but around here......like ya say thou maybe in the future

Hi all...I'm new to this site, been a life member since May 2010. Yesterday I recieved my first "field testing product" It was the pro anglar fillet knife. It came with a book. The first book I recieved was last month called Bass Strategies. It was 10 dollars. So I payed and this month they sent me another book called "Catch fish, anywhere, anytime" This book came with the Knife and a report card to mail back after I "field tested" it. The price if this book was 26 dollars. So at the end of the day...I get to keep a fillet knife, which isnt all that great...6in blade, crappy handle...and a book...all for 26 dollars. They also include that if continue to recieve 4 more books, 6 total...I'd recieve a Rapala 50 lb fish scale. So...In my opinion, your not really getting "free" products to test. Your paying for it one way or another, wether it's buying books, or any other promotion that comes with the "field test" product. I don't really mind...I enjoy reading, and to me, it's not that much money...But it can be misleading...I was under the impression that it would be "free". But we have to remind ourselves...that nothing is free...nothing.

Tight lines everyone...

all you have to do is send the books back and you dont have to pay for them no book is going to teach you how to fish just doing it is the only way too learn

A real field test product is not shipped with a book, dvd or an invoice. An actual field test is preceeded by an email alert that it is coming. This email also contains the review form. In order to be eligible for a field test you must fill out a profile. Do this once, then re-register only after recieving a product to test. If you fail to submit a report, you risk being dropped from the program. With 170,000+ members, it can take a while to recieve something. Tom

I've been a life member since '09 and have received the fillet knife which came with a dull blade. I filled out the review form and later received the knotless hooks. I liked the hooks and so does my 70year old father. So I sent in the form and am waiting for the next. Over all, one product was bad and the second is good. I would say that is pretty good. I agree withe Pegsguy that there are a lot of members and there may be only enough product to get a basic sampling for a survey.
Just waiting for the next product.

I, have had same type of experience with the "CLUBS" both NAHC & NAFC. Now, I  recieved a letter from NAFC with offer to " UPGRADE" my membership to "TROPHY LIFE" status. With again the same promises of getting to "BE GUARANTEED" to recieve & field test/keep quality items. I did upgrade my LIFE MEMBERSHIP to TROPHY LIFE on my NAHC membership when the club first came out with that offer with the same  type promises.  I have "NEVER" RECIEVED"anything to fieldtest yet. My communication with the club's-response about this is always the same"STANDARD" answere-again that never happens.  So, I wonder if any of this info ever gets to the people anyone else in the club's other than that person that responds by E-mail or on the phone-is always someone different that responds as well. WARNING--WARNING-PLEASE DO NOT UPGRADE & WASTE YOUR $$$ ON SOMETHING THAT IS A JOKE-JUST AN EFFORT BY THE CLUBS TO RING OUT MORE $$ FROM THEIR MEMBERSHIP.  Sorry, but thats just the way I see it.  Injun-Tom-N-AR

I joined this club in 1995 as a life member and I got everything they promised to send me. I have field tested several items. In 2010 I upgraded to trophy live member and within three weeks I got everything they promised in the mail. I have never had any problems with the club,except getting calanders and stuff sent to me I didn't order,so I email them and tell them thanks for the free stuff and within a couple of days the send me a return UPS lable to send it back. I think this is a great club and for all you members out there that joined just to get free stuff you jioned for the wrong reason.

Take advantage of the mag and the forum and you will learn a few things along the way. So if you didn't get to field test an item so what, the world isn't going to stop turning because of it. so if you need to complain here is a web site you can go to www.whogivesacrap.com Now stop wineing and just enjoy what you have.

Harry

Trophy Life Member USN Retired 1969-1989 NW Bass Pro Washington State

sweet response Harry. I love it.

Brian

Jalbertsonjr quit worrying about the product testing?  Everywhere I go I pick up or read ads the say and I quote:  "few good testers needed--already sent out over $2,000, 000 in products."  The emphasis being on the $2,000,000.  What we fail to take in mind is that money represents the entire history the NAFC has been in existence!  Even if we could count it as 1 year my math says that comes out to about $11.00 per member which is about one KVD crank bait or spinner bait plus shipping.  What most of us fail to see is the real part of the ad: "FEW GOOD TESTERS"  Sounds like to me your Dad has been getting your stuff!  Only joking!  What really should make us angry is most companies donate the things we should have been testing.  You may be too young to remember the ole county fairs where you played the game with the three walnut shells and a pea--assumes the eye is as quick as the hand but sooner or later someone figures the game out but by then you are broke and the man with the shells is trying another client who is sure he can win and the story goes on.  What I get out of NAFC is getting to know great people like you and your Dad and all the others.  I'd love to spend a day with y'all fishing some time.
Uncle Tom

I know there are alot of people who are getting mad with the product testing ..me in cluded as well. If you havent received anything in 3 months of your application RESUBMIT it as i found it tends to get lost in the mail... But now i am finding when u try to resubmit to the program that u answer the questions and then click  SUBMIT ..the button doesnt work to get verification..what's going on?

Sincerely
Gonefishinsask

I hope all the members that are unhappy with the field test program keep updating their profiles every couple of months. Every time you update, your old profile is removed and a new one inserted. At the end of the list! The club has delivered on every promise ever made to me even though some of them took some time. Patience, Grasshopper! Tom

I haven't been given a product to test in over 10 years...I'm not mad, just been dissappointed...I had tried to update my profile online, but it failed everytime for several years. Like for over 5 years or so...It was only within the last month, that my testing profile had finally updated. I don't understand how anyone else can get mad. I should be the one to really rant and lament over this. Oh well...Of course my profile doesn't really reflect my fishing, but I don't know if I'm gonna attempt to updated else it will fail for the next ten years or so. I really don't care for testing promotional junk. Maybe one of these days, I will eventually get some real stuff to test from the club. Maybe, then my dissappointments will be finally replaced by two thumbs up.

I have been a life member for a few months and so far I have received most everything promised. If I dont get anything else I am happy. I am learning alot from the forums and the magazine. Would I like to test something? Your dang right I would. Am I going to get my undies in a knot if I never get anything? Absolutely not. Why? Because I didnt join to get free stuff, I joined to support fishing which I love and to get to meet some great people who love the sport/hobby as much as me. Its sad to see so many people upset about not getting something for free Enjoy the friendship of the people here and enjoy fishing. Thats what matters. Not free stuff.

Just my opinion
Kevin

Have not tested anything yet. Was told to be patient so thats what im doing I also joined the club in Sep in 07.I have the mags to prove it. Im sure its a clerical error but this magazine always gets it strait just taks some time

Kinda funny, I've only been a member since June and had to contact cutomer service by email twice.  First time I was just curious as I got my welcome kit but no bobbers.  Response was super quick with the promise that they would send "replacements" out soon.  Still haven't seen them,  Ok though, like most of yall I didn't join for the "freebies".

 2nd time was after I got my life member certificate and folder and I asked if I could buy or get boat stickers as they only sent 1 window cling.  Again the response was the next day that they would send them out.  Friday I received an envolope with a Tropy Life Member window cling but no stickers.  Quick email responses but didn't receive what I asked for.  Maybe it willl get better after I finally get the goodies they promise after making the first life member payment ( 4 weeks ago).

Also, does anybody know how long it takes to get your account credited after returning a book?  I returned the "Catch Fish Anytime" book couple of weeks ago.  I used Fed Ex so I had a delivery receipt and it was signed for.

Same thing happened to me...My welcome kit contained no "Bobber". I have no use for it anyways, but it's a matter of principle. So out of curiosity, I e-mailed the club, and they responded the next day saying they would send one out as soon as it was available. That was back in May/2010. I didn't realize the "Wing it Slip Bobber" was in such high demand. lol But like I mentioned, I have no use for it, but what erks me is, if the club is offering it as a "welcome" gift, then give it. Otherwise don't offer it at all.

I find the club to be very reliable.  Are you sure you have your address right on your profile?  Your stuff could be getting sent to other people!   Good Luck!

Checked my address first off, they seem to get it right for invoices and books.   Maybe my mail lady is a fisherwoman

Posted By jmoutard on 28 Sep 2010 07:22 AM
Checked my address first off, they seem to get it right for invoices and books.   Maybe my mail lady is a fisherwoman

You never know!   I would call the club headquarters or something.

I GUESS YOU HAVE TO BE SOMEBODY OR GIVE MONEY TO SOMEBODY OR A CLUB BECAUSE  IF NOT YOU DON'T GET JACK CRAP . BUT IT IS SUCH A GREAT CLUB AND GOING TO DO SO MUCH FOR YOU.  LMBO
THEY HAVE NOT SHOWN ME ANYTHING EITHER AND FROM WHAT I SEE THERE ARE EVEN MORE PEOPLE THAT THEY HAVE DONE THE SAME.
THEY MAY SEND YOU SOME LITTLE HOOKS THAT YOU WOULD NEVER USE IN YOU LIFE
I WISH THAT THEY TREATED US ALL THE SAME  BUT I GUESS IT IS ALL IN WHO YOU KNOW HUH?

Hi Dan. Let me start out buy welcoming you to the club and forum. I can tell you right now, I don't know anyone at the club and have still gotten everything promised to me and more. I would not go back and change anything other than keeping up on my profile for field testing as I let it lag for a couple of years and maybe I would have joined the forum sooner because this has improved my fishing a great deal. I hope that any problems you are having will get straightened out. If you are a new member it may take a while to get it done and you may have to make a few calls. I do think the club needs more personell to handle the load of all the members. Check at the bottom of the forum and it will tell you how many members we have right now.

Why not give us some details on exactly what problems you are having, maybe one of us can help or point you in the right direction.

Brian

Dan, occasionally mixups happen and you may not get the stuff, but eventually you'll get what you want, regardless of how long it takes.

Describe your problem.  We'll be happy to help!

hey guys thanks for your insight on all of this i will tell you i have watched the forums and read most of them and have found out alot more about fishing and if nothing else i have gotten to meet some really nice people. i work as a coal miner here in alabama when i am able to work i have been in a fight with throat cancer for two years now and just found out that it has come back again in neck and left lung but god is good and has been really good to me .you know when i was in the middle east you hoped that you woke up and that you would every day made it through all that and then come home and find this out but since all this has happen i have fished more in the last two and a half years and have learned alot more and the post from fellow fishermen like yourselves has help me too thank you all
I KNOW THAT GOD HAS TO BE A FISHERMAN TO THINK ABOUT HOW MANY TIMES IN THE BIBLE IT TALKS ABOUT FISH AND FISHING
GOOD LUCCK FISHING TO ALL AND KEEP YOUR WORM WIGGLING HAPPY FISHING

well...first off, i never said i was mad about anything. I was just asking a simple question to which i was expecting a bunch of rude comments and of course some good ones..I waited awhile to respond because i get a great laugh out of some of these replies while others are great to read. Anyways, getting back to the subject. I do receive every damn thing that the club wants you to pay for and like others mentioned and they expect you to pay to return it at which time you just call the club and they send you a new return label to be paid by them 2 to 3 weeks later. Also, again, i never joined to get "free stuff" but at the same time it would be thoughtful since they do use this as an "advertisement" to get people to join.

Harry --- no whiners here buddy, just a fisherman with an old bass tracker that knows how to fish and does not need childish comments thrown at him..good luck in life and god bless..
UncleTom -- thanks..that would be awesome..

NAFC Trophy Life Member---

I tested the FireLine fused original this past week. The line is verrry strong,but had some difficulty casting in the wind. On the baitcaster reel you had to be careful of backlash. On spinning reel is was good for stripers. I also tested the Rattlin Rapala small rattle trap. was good in the striper boils, but not big enough to make a long cast. Overal two good
 products.

I have been a member for about 20 years and have never tested a product at all. Personally, I don't care because I think it is just something they say they will do and not deliver on it. Like I was supposed to get items once I became a life member and never received anything. All I get is the magazine and a stack of coupons to things I will never purchase or use.

Hi docque. have you checked to make sure you are registered to receive product tests? True some folks have been dissapointed in the test program. I have been a member for about 13 years now and have received a few test items.

Brian

I see that i had to re register after they updated the questions or something But yea check and see that you are still registered . and remember the club is not the one that sets the criteria to test the product .

Well, As I set here with my Dues invoice in hand, it clearly states that if you are dissatisfied with your benefits at anytime during your first year you may cancel your membership and, upon request, WE WILL GIVE YOU A FULL REFUND.

I'm sending my money in tonight! Lets go fishing

Posted By RMikesell on 25 Feb 2012 08:54 PM
Well, As I set here with my Dues invoice in hand, it clearly states that if you are dissatisfied with your benefits at anytime during your first year you may cancel your membership and, upon request, WE WILL GIVE YOU A FULL REFUND.

I'm sending my money in tonight! Lets go fishing

Well, it's beenover a year since I last commented on this topic. Even my upgrade to "LIFE MEMBERSHIP" has not helped one bit in me getting anything from the club to "TEST" yet. My E-Mails to the club in this matter-was replied to. That I was "Ready" to be getting something "SOON". Don't know what their version of "SOON" is. But, again since my orginal membership 20 yrs ago, I still have yet to recieve anything, I mean anything from the "CLUB" to "FIELD TEST". I have complied with all of their requests in setting up my account/profile. E-mailed, phoned & written letters to the "CLUB'. And, I am complaining-the club doesn't care about this,since they have gotten my money a long time ago. I really don't get that much out of the membership anymore-as I have access to other avenues/alternatives to same info that the club provides.,ie: TV,Internet, Magazines from and by other sources. So, yea! I am complaining! And don't give a crap about what anyone else has to say bout it!  Cause  thats between me and the club.

The satisfaction of "product testing" seems to rank right up there with "ease of site use".

keep on tell what you think, maybe someone will listen, they don't listen to me

Even though this is the favorite place to complain about the field test program or other club issues, what you say here is unlikely to be noticed. It seems rare that anyone from management ever comes around here. Better to do your complaining to Member Services

What was that saying about the squeaky wheel gets the grease?Maybe if enough "members" would get together and notify STEVE personally, then your complaints might be addressed. And when i said STEVE, i mean the guy in charge here! Otherwise everything is according to plan.

has anyone tested anything yet ? if so was it good ?

I've tested out a Rapala floating lure, a Rapala sinking lure, Berkley Trilene super strong xl smooth casting 12lb green fishing line. I love the lures and the line they were all really good! I look forward to warm weather to drag out my kyack.

As you can tell by my signature, I have been a Life Member for about 15 years. In that time, I have tested two products. The first, was a soft plastic frog that I really liked but haven't seen anything about. I assume it got bad reviews. Second was the knot-less hooks that were okay, in concept, but needed to be larger. Is that why I joined? No. I joined for the knowledge that, I knew, was there to be obtained. Has the club made me a better angler? Yes, it has. I have learned a lot from the magazines, as well as, the forums, web articles, and videos. I have grown more confident in lure selection and technique. I even learned to use a baitcaster. It wasn't until after I joined the club that I started fishing for bass. Can I put a price on this? No, I can not. Is the club worth the price that I payed? In my opinion and experience thus far, it is well worth it. Just like with any club, you get out of it what you put in. If you don't get involved, you're not going to get anything out of it. For instance, about a year ago I won a rod and reel combo by playing the Catch a Boat game on takemefishing.org. Once I received and used it a few times I wrote a review in the Life Member Forums. Since then, I have wrote a few more reviews on gear that I have purchased and have a few more in the works. Does this help me enjoy the club more? Yes, it does. Though most of my reviews are good, I did have one bad one and got some advice on how to deal with it. I ended up writing the company and they were very appreciative. I could go on and on about the "hidden" benefits of the club but, I'll leave it for you to figure out on your own. Food for Thought: If this was your local bass/fishing club, would you skip meetings or not interact with other members to meetings you went to? This is the same concept, just on a larger scale. It is the North American Fishing Club after all. That's three countries; the US, Canada, and Mexico and the forums is our meeting hall. Don't sit there like a knot on a log, get involved.

By the way, If you're not a Life Member and would like to read my reviews, they will be posted to my Facebook page (Ben Bryant - Amateur Angler) one month after they appear in the Life Member forum. I also will be posting pictures and videos, as well as, writing articles exclusive to the page. There may even be a giveaway or two. Check it out and see! Please remember, the page is a work in progress. At this time, I do not allow outside posts to be made. However, you may comment on post that I have made. All I ask is to keep it tasteful.

Thank you and have a nice day.

thank you basbandit, that was the best thing ive heard, we didnt join to get free{1}****. we joined to be a part of a club full of people who enjoy the samee thing we do, FISHING!