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© Copyright 1999, Jim Loy
Handicapped Industries, good company. I love their light bulbs. I hate their attitude (which may be improving or not; see the addendum below). They sell light bulbs, and a few other things. These light bulbs last a long time, as advertised. They will tell you all about their light bulbs, on the phone. I tried them. Great bulbs. The bulbs last a long time because the they have a thicker, tougher filament, which produces less light. Their 100 watt bulb uses as much electricity as other 100 watt bulbs, but puts out about as much light as a 90 watt bulb would. If you can live with that, the bulbs are heaven.
Well, I bought a bunch of bulbs. And, about a year later, they called again wanting me to order some more. My reaction: "Hey, none of your bulbs has burned out. Well, maybe one of them has burned out. Do you know that you sold me long life bulbs? Are you surprised that I don't need any more?" I don't think I said that. I probably just said that I didn't need any. The guy was fairly insistent that I buy some more bulbs, so they could hire more handicapped and disadvantaged people, just like him. He implied that he might be laid off if I didn't buy any.
A few years later, I bought some more. I probably have enough bulbs to last me the rest of my life, no matter how long that is. And, every once in a while, they call me. They have added trash bags and other things to their product line. I tell them that I am not interested. Sometimes they get angry. Maybe they should quit selling a good product.
Addendum:
They may be wising up. I recently received a phone call from Handicapped Industries asking me to buy a few products, and allow them to hire 15 or 20 more handicapped people. I again told the person that I was not interested. And he was very polite. I was amazed. Of course, they may have read the above complaint. But, it is a good sign. They still sell a good product (several good products probably, but I have only bought the light bulbs). Two people have sent me email, asking for the address: Handicapped Industries, P.O. Box 60370, Phoenix, AZ 85082-0370, phone: 1-800-688-1484.
See News 9's Investigation: HandiScams, where we find out that they are not handicapped, and that their bulbs are overpriced. But they may not be overpriced at all; I have only burned out six or seven bulbs in over ten years (how does that compare with normal bulbs?), and two of my bulbs are left on most of my waking hours, as I have a very dark apartment.
I recently received another phone call offering long-life bulbs, from someone who said he worked "for the handicapped." I should have asked him the name of his company, and just how he was handicapped.
I received yet another call from someone who said he worked "for the disadvantaged." Perhaps you automatically qualify as disadvantaged if you work for them.
I received email saying that their garbage bags are really poor.
Here is some email (I suspect the company will get on the stick and mail the product):
I, too, used to only buy light bulbs from the handicapped. Over the years, 3 companies have shared my name and number. They are very nice and friendly on the phone, even wishing God to bless me and my family; I now have a cupboard full of light bulbs to last a lifetime. The last time one of the sales people called, I thought I would buy something different to help them out, and ordered 2 angel wind chimes. If I would pay them then, by bank card or credit card, the saleslady would earn a bonus, so I thought (for the first time) I would do that as it would save me time from writing a check later and they would have their money. (I was feeling very generous this time). She also promised she wouldn't call back for a whole year, so I did what I always say I wouldn't do. Usually light bulbs arrive within a week when I owe them money; this time, they deposited money from my bank card immediately the next day, and I haven't seen the wind chimes yet. It's been over 3 weeks.
If I ever buy from any of those organizations again, or from anyone else, I will not pay over the phone. I have been agonizing over this for 2 weeks. NEVER GIVE YOUR CREDIT CARD INFO, BANK CARD INFO, OR EVEN SOCIAL SECURITY NO. TO ANYONE WHO CALLS YOU.
A followup of that last one:
I have still not received my merchandise from the Handicapable and Disadvantaged of Los Angeles, CA. It has been since October 14th when they cashed my bank card. They haven't used my number for more withdrawals, but they haven't sent me the order either. The Better Business Bureau of Los Angeles has no listing for them. I probably won't purchase anything from any of these companies again. It is too bad, but one time being taken is too many.
Also see Arizona-Based Telemarketing Firm Settles FTC Charges of Selling Household Goods by Misrepresenting Themselves as Handicapped or Disabled and Telemarketer Agrees to Settle FTC Charges of False Representation Implying that Employees are Handicapped.