From: johnson@spectra.com (boyd johnson)
Newsgroups: misc.consumers
Subject: Re: Anyone ever hear of "Natl. Assn. of Female Execs (NAFE")? (SUMMARY)
Date: 12 Oct 92 23:17:23 GMT
Organization: Spectragraphics Corporation

Thank you to everyone who replied about my request for information about
the National Association of Femail Executives (NAFE).

I got five email replies and one misc.consumers reply.  There was a
combination of good and bad reports.
All five email replies were from people that had limited exposure to
NAFE and the one newsgroup reply was from the director of a local NAFE
group.  Imply whatever you want about objective insight from that.

Two of the replies were from people who were upset that NAFE had
automatically charged their credit cards for a second year of membership
including this unbelievable comment from one of them:

> After the first magazine, I decided I was not interested.  They
> immediately quit sending me anything, but NEVER refunded my money, even
> after numerous requests on my part.  They told me I had to get the
> money back from my credit card company, and the credit card company
> said I had to get a refund from NAFE.  But NAFE adamently refused to
> give me a refund.  What a run around.  On top of that, a year later
> NAFE automatically billed my credit card for another year's
> membership!!  Can you believe it?

The other one that was automatically charged for a second year said
about the bi-monthly magazine:

> I got exactly one issue in one year.

I'll include a few more comments:

> Quote me if you wish, but please don't use my name.  I wouldn't want
> people to know I wasted my money with these people.
> 
> I was on their mailing list ~10 years ago, and
> decided to sign up.  For me, it was a complete waste of money.
> ...
> Don't know about the rest, but the credit line was no great deal.  I
> get better offers in the mail all the time.  And most of the other
> discounts are also available from lots of credit card issuers.

Now on the positive side:

> I got the magazines on a regular basis.  No problem there.  And they never
> billed me automatically for the next year.  So I have no complaints.  As
> I said though, I never tried any of their other "benefits"

> I've been a member off and on for about three years.  They have a nice
> magazine "Executive Female" that you get along with the subscription
> that I have enjoyed reading.  As for the other perks, well, I've never
> used them.

From the misc.consumers article:  (If you've seen it hit 'n' now)

> This is a great networking organization.  I've been a member for several
> years and I'm the director of the Triangle Network, a business and social
> network for women in the triangle area (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill, Cary, 
> Garner, etc. North Carolina). We are a member network affiliated with NAFE.

> Even if there are no local networks in your area, the magazine alone is 
> worth the $29!  If you travel, the contacts in other cities can be 
> invaluable.  NAFE sends it's members a network directory listing 
> directors, phone#, address, etc. for local networks all over the USA.  
> You can contact the various directors in the cities you'll be visiting
> to find out about local meetings/events that you can attend while you're 
> there.  All the discounts you get on various services (hotel rooms, car 
> rentals, insurance, etc.) are nice, too.

> >It came bulk rate.
> Bulk rate is used by everyone today :-) 
> >They claim to have a "local organization in virtually every major city
> >-- including the one nearest you", but they are not listed in the San
> >Diego phone book.
> They may just be poor :-)

> Please remember that the local networks are separate from the national
> organization.  Most local networks have annual dues and meeting fees, too.
> The Triangle Network dues are $20/yr.  So, for $49/year you get national 
> and local membership in our area.  Each network sets their own fees and
> operating structure. The great thing about local networks is that they
> are unique!



-- 
======== Boyd Johnson    nosc!spectra.com!johnson  San Diego, Ca. ========
Newsgroups: misc.consumers