Hammacher Schlemmer

Full review
Years ago, I worked at the Hammacher Schlemmer store on North Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago. Then, I enjoyed deep discounts on merchandise and made a handsome commission for the holidays. I have always believed in Hammacher Schlemmer’s merchandise, mainly because I saw it take inordinate amounts of abuse when used as floor samples in a high-traffic retail location and it rarely needed to be replaced.

One of the prized items at the time was a $1200 Shiatsu lounger. Kids jumped on it, and tired parents and staff took a reprieve on it. It ran nearly all day, every day, and was not replaced until we moved locations. I witnessed customers scrutinizing shavers, palm pilots and nightvision binoculars. Russian musicboxes were wound and played, rewound and replayed. Handheld massagers vibrated, antique replica banks clicked, and Swiss Army watches ticked without end.

Hammacher Schlemmer History
During my tenure there, I learned a little bit about the Hammacher Schlemmer history, which now spans over 150 years. I was taught pretty much what you’ll find on their website: “We began selling automobile parts and tools when there were only 600 "horseless carriages" in New York City. We introduced the pop-up toaster in 1930. Later, we would offer the first electric pencil sharpener, food processor, electric can opener and automatic coffee maker. Other notable introductions include the first microwave oven (1968), telephone answering machine (1968) and cordless telephone (1975). At their introduction, these products were viewed by many as intriguing gadgets, we saw them as functional problem solvers.”

Hammacher Schlemmer was the precursor to luxury gadget makers like The Sharper Image and Ortho. What sets Hammacher Schlemmer apart from these giants, is the quality of their merchandise, which undergoes extreme and methodical testing before being introduced to the public. This testing is done through the Hammacher Schlemmer Institute, a nonprofit organization founded in 1983. The Institute sparingly hands out “Best” ratings for the best products in particular categories that you’ll find in their catalogue.

www.hammacher.com
In spite of being a part of Hammacher Schlemmer’s corporate culture in the mid-90’s, I’d never ordered a product from them online until this past Father’s Day. Hammacher Schlemmer online is a great site to browse for the men and women who have everything, even if you can’t afford some of the steep prices on the site. Chances are you’ll get your creative gift-giving juices flowing, and make good use of the preset categories Hammacher Schlemmer has created for gift giving. These include sections like Gifts for Him, Gifts for Pets, Gifts for Colleagues, and my personal favorite, Gifts for Under $30.

Some of them are kind of a stretch. I mean, I can’t see myself really getting the Marshmallow Rotisserie for colleagues in any industry. However, the three pages of 12 items per page under the Gifts Under $30 category is filled with great gift ideas. Catalogue lovers will particularly be pleased with the fact that you can simply type in the item number displayed in your catalogue to quickly find your desired product.

The layout is very easy to navigate, with full color pictures detailing the product – most of which depict the product in use. I have yet to stumble across a broken link, and the customer service number appears on nearly every page in case you hit a snag somewhere along the way. I’ve been visiting the site for nearly 6 months now, and their sale section seems to be a staple (in red on the left-hand vertical menu).

Ordering is a very easy process, but it is a pricey one. I purchased a $49.95 small computerized nutrition gadget for my father and it cost $8.95 to ship and this was not a rush or premium shipping arrangement. In addition, because I was shipping to Ohio I had to pay $5.11 in tax. I also opted for the classy dark green gift wrap, totaling $4.95 for a grand total of $68.96 on a $49.95 product. Keep in mind that many of the items Hammacher Schlemmer sells are oversized, which means you’ll be paying for oversized shipping. It was not uncommon when I worked at the store for people to pay anywhere from $50-$100 in shipping and handling. Read their shipping policies carefully and call them with any questions.

On the upside, I did receive an immediate email confirmation following my order and a second email confirming shipment later that same day. I paid with a VISA credit card online and have had no issues with my card since paying for this gift. Delivery was right on-time (two days from placing the order), the package came beautifully giftwrapped (according to my giftee), and I did not have to use customer service for anything. Their website is secured with something called HackerSafe.

So far, the spam factor is a minimum with Hammacher Schlemmer. I’ve received about one email every other week, with frequency increasing a bit around the holidays. I haven’t noticed an increase in any of my other spam email for Viagra, etc. Those are still coming in at the same old steady pace.

Overall
The Hammacher Schlemmer website is a great site to browse for unique gifts for loved ones – especially those who have everything. They charge steep shipping prices though. In some cases, comparable merchandise can be found for cheaper prices elsewhere online, but their product guarantees and testing gives buyers peace of mind that may be worth the extra change.

Company Information

Send email to: customerservice@hammacher.com
Call toll-free: 1-800-321-1484

Should any product fail to meet your expectations, simply return it with proof of purchase, and we will replace it, refund your purchase price, or credit your credit card.

I've also reviewed Lillian Vernon Online Store.