Does anyone have any experience dealing with "Home Assembly" out of New Britain CT, or "Stuff-4-Kids" in El Toro, CA? They advertised in the last issue of Countryside, so I'm hoping they are reputable. Both companies require a fee for a starter kit. So far, I've only invested stamped self-addressed envelopes. I am hesitant to send any money 'til I know more. Stuff-for-kids says they are a member in good standing with the National Homeworkers Association. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

-- Rick in SW West Virginia (Rick_122@hotmail.com), March 04, 2002

Answers

I have not had any experience with Stuff-for-kids. However, the Homeworkers ads run all over the continent, by many different people. The one that the newspaper I worked for contacted, we ordered the product and received a bunch of beads, some fishing line, etc and a pattern that was next to impossible. You had to make a sample and send it in within a certain timeline. Then, if your work was acceptable, you could pay for more materials. They were making money from home. You could do the same.

Or you could look at some of their other options. One was to run ads in the paper, get people to send you $2 and a SASE for instructions on how to make money from home. What they returned to these people was a piece of paper telling them to run ads in the paper, ask people to sent $2........ you get the picture? Much easier to get away with in the US, no tolerance in Canada. Our newspaper refused to run the ads.

There are some legitimate 'homeworking' ads out there. But a job should not require you to send money. Be cautious and trust your instincts. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

-- Bernie from Northern Ontario (bernadette_kerr@hotmail.com), March 04, 2002.

Any time a co. wants a fee up front it's questionable. Any of the shows that talk about these work at home cos. always say it not legit if they request a fee to start. I tried one of thoes sewing cos. years ago(before I was any wiser)I can't remember which one, and they rejected most of my quilt blocks. They bought just enough to try and pacify me. I'm not a sloppy sewer and have sold other work and have had people seek me out to do sewing for them. I have also never seen anything that they produced in a store anywhere. Check the co. out in their states BBB before you send them anything.

-- Terri in WV (mrs_swift_26547@yahoo.com), March 04, 2002.

I should have added that the Home Assembly ad you are referring to may not be the same as the Homeworkers ads to which we responded. I would perhaps check with Countryside to see if they did any investigating before running the ad - they might solve all your problems.

-- Bernie from Northern Ontario (bernadette_kerr@hotmail.com), March 04, 2002.

I've never seen one of those that was legitimate. Good standing with the National Homeworkers Assoc? These kinds of companies and you too can make up all the "associations" and fancy sounding credentials you want all day long. These companies make money from selling you 'kits' , supplies, etc, etc. They've been around for decades and I have yet to meet anyone who actually made money from getting involved with them.

-- Dave (multiplierx9@hotmail.com), March 04, 2002.

in fact, do a little searching on National Homeworkers Association and you'll see that hundreds of different people claim to own it and run it. One such claim is from the Independent Homeworkers Alliance out of Canada and they claim to have 10,000 different work from home opportunities.

-- Dave (multiplierx9@hotmail.com), March 04, 2002.

The other trouble with this kind of piecework, 'cause that's what it is, is that your work may never be up to snuff for them, so you've wasted money. Also, no bennies like insurance.

Proceed with extreme caution. Just because they say they're a member of something doesn't mean they are, nor does it mean that the association they belong to is any good either. A lot of places do not check out their members bona fides, they're only interested in the dues check not bouncing.

-- GT (nospam@nospam.com), March 05, 2002.

I have never made any money in any deal packaged and sold as a money maker. I temper this with the observation that most folks are negative and generaly will tell you why you can't make money on a certain task.

My wife sews, and sells. I routinely make more simply buying stuff from a ad in the paper and reselling it the next week. Our running joke is the less you work the more you make (think about that).

-- Marc (toymeister@hotmail.com), March 05, 2002.

I know that years ago Snugli baby carriers started as a business for ladies at home to sew. There are tons of women who have designed cloth diapers and covers and sew them. They aren't cheap either! Check WAHM (Work At Home Mom) Some of these have turned into big business.

-- Joyce Dingman (joycedingman@yahoo.com), March 06, 2002.