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1.3

I was a member for a pretty long time. I first started getting their magazines back in 2000 or so.

I decided to become a lifetime member shortly after that. I did promptly receive my pots and some other items like a cutting board, apron, etc. I enjoyed getting the monthly magazines too. I would do their online giveaways, but never won a thing.

I did get a few things to try out but nothing big. Only small things, like a garlic peeler rubber tube thing, or some chicken seasoning, etc. Things easily sent in the mail. After receiving the monthly magazines for years, all of a sudden it turned into bi-monthly magazines, and then quarterly magazines.

Then, a few years ago, they just stopped coming all together. The magazine also shrank in size, even though they were sending it less often (you would think the magazine would be bigger, cosidering it went from a monthly to bi-monthly to quarterly issue). I donโ€™t know how I feel. On one hand, I did get the pots and other items for joining up.

2 boxes full of stuff. I also got years worth of magazines. At least a decade worth of magazines. I also bought a few of their cookbooks, but didnโ€™t complete the whole set.

Only got about 8 books. Some great recipes in there, and Iโ€™ve kept all my magazines. Canโ€™t remember how much the books cost. I know if I had signed up for other cooking magazines, like say Bon Appรฉtit I would have paid $20 or more per year.

So really, I guess I got my $350 or so worth (canโ€™t remember how much the lifetime membership was since it was so long ago, but I know it was in that range). Especially once you include the cost of the pans and all those other items I have in those boxes in storage. I donโ€™t feel like I was totally jipped, after all the pans, the other cookware, the piles of magazines...all of that stuff does have value to it. But is it worth the $350 or so I paid for the lifetime membership?

I donโ€™t know. Maybe it is. Maybe it isnโ€™t. Itโ€™s certainly not what I thought Iโ€™d get.

Although I feel like it wasnโ€™t a total loss, I still paid for a lifetime membership. And a dozen or so years doesnโ€™t constitute a โ€œlifetimeโ€. I thought I was signing up for something that would at least last for 25 years, or longer. Even if it moved to an online based magazine or something, at least it would be better than what it is now.

Today I tried to go onto the forum, as I had gone on it a few months ago and saw it was still around. It was the last remaining remnant of the old Cooking Club. But now that is gone too. Itโ€™s been comepletely removed from the Scout.com website.

It was probably removed within the last few weeks or months. Itโ€™s just such a shame what happened to this club. Although I didnโ€™t have the same bad experience as some other members did, itโ€™s still really sad. There should be some compensation or something, for those of us who signed up for a lifetime membership and got shafted.

Especially for those newer members who signed up for lifetime memberships when the company knew it was having problems and was filing for bankruptcy. Those people didnโ€™t get anywhere near the value that us longer members received. I donโ€™t know what, if anything, can be done. I saw on the old forum some people talking about a class action lawsuit.

Iโ€™ve seen it on some other complaint boards like this one too. I donโ€™t know if thatโ€™s possible, considering theyโ€™ve gone bankrupt and sold the company. But Iโ€™m interested in being part of any such lawsuit anyone wants to bring up. When we signed up for a lifetime membership, we were expecting to get a lifetime worth of goods and services.

Thatโ€™s what we paid into.

Thatโ€™s the product they sold us. And now, there isnโ€™t even a website or forum or anything left of the old club.

Reason of review: Not as described/ advertised.

Monetary Loss: $350.

Preferred solution: Let the company propose a solution.

Cooking Club Of America Pros: Magazines, Some of the cook books, Cookware.

Cooking Club Of America Cons: Loss of my lifetime membership, No responses, Lying about benefits.

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Stellar Oth

I really enjoyed receiving the Pots and Pans and still use them daily. I use the Apron and other freebies that I received when I joined, often.

I regretted that they left me hanging without an explanation. I would gladly welcome the Cooking Club back into my kitchen.

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Stellar Oth

I agree. The company should have at least given members an explanation. I enjoyed the magazine and still use the apron and cutting board I got as a "lifetime" member.

Beatris Cxn

I am a lifetime member and.i to got the magazines for just a few months. Never got anything free and .people said they got pots for joining I didn't get that. I have my membership number

Guest

I was a lifetime member too and I got an apron and got a couple of cookbooks hardcover as a gift. I agree on the class-action suite.

Guest

I too was a lifetime member got a few things and then all of a sudden nothing. Must be nice to be able to do this to so many paying customers who believed in a membership.

Donโ€™t understand how a supposed company doesnโ€™t care what they do to people.

Such a shame. Shame on them.

Cassadee Qlw

i had the same problem and $400.00 pots later

Guest

I too wS a lifetime member since 2010. It really is too bad that it closed and without any notification.

Guest

I was a lifetime member since 2010 and didnโ€™t receive but a thing to pour wine through, a strainer for a pot that was supposed to come the following month, never did and an apron with my name on it

Guest

Me too is it at all possible for you to send me a recipe I lost my magazine collection and I can't find any recipe like it at all. Since you stated you have a full magazine collection I'm positive you must have the drop cookie collection.

It was the triple chocolate chip, peanut butter, molasses and oatmeal cookie recipes all in one edition.

please please please if you get this message me a photo is all I need. Kristinlopoezduprey@***.com

Marcus Eld

I too am a "Lifetime Member".

Guest

I wondered why I'd not heard or received anything from CCof America in ages!! This answers it all.

Got a lifetime membership back around 2000. Have my apron & pans. They never sent much of anything for me to test, although I signed up to all the time. I did once get a REALLY NICE ScanPan that I LOVE using, so I guess that helps.

Never thought they'd end up leaving so many people in the lurch & turn into a scam. What a shame!!

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-2008061

I too was a lifetime member. I still have my cards

Guest

It was a total rip off pay out so much money to become a LIFETIME MEMBER Then everything just stops and NOT EVEN INFORMING THE MEMBERS

Guest
reply icon Replying to comment of Guest-2007559

I too am a life time member. I am so upset that I wasn't even informed about the bankruptcy or the sale. Very sad the we members aren't worth even a notification!

Guest

Same here lifetime member. I haven't gotten magazines or anything else in years.

You can't get ahold of them to save your life. I also had an accident and lost all my magazines. If someone could help me with a chicken wing recipe I'd sure appreciate it!

It was a lime garlic marinade then you grill them, with a chipotle in adobo sour cream dipping sauce. Thanks for any help!!

Haitham Sit

The same thing happened to me. I didnโ€™t get the magazine like I was supposed.

I paid for the pans ,got apron and reviewed a set of measuring cups. didnโ€™t hold up to what they were to do.

The company does need to reimbursement or something. Susan Kelley

Ercilia P

Same thing happen to me and the magazine became more about ads and less about cooking/baking... Then the just stopped. No word, no correspondence, nothing

Guest

I'm in the same boat you are!

Guest

I have a lifetime membership as well in 2001. After 8 years I stopped receiving magazines and any other product.

They totally left me hanging. And very hard to get a hold of them.

Guest

That happened to me too. I hate it. I feel I got ripped off

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