If I was in business and had these kinds of comments, I would make some changes in a hurry. We see it happening in other businesses. It is time for CW to take note. I don't go to CW unless I have to.
GrandmaLee wrote: We were considering joining, but we keep on hearing negative things about this Good Sam Club.....now not so sure
As with many things, it's the negatives that usually make the news as opposed to the positives. Seems to me the folks operating GS are actively getting their arms around the things that irk RVers and they will continue to make improvements to things under their control. For one thing, they are not afraid to have open discussions with forum members about the products and services.
I certainly would not hesitate to join.
Just my opinion.
For me, I have always gotten my money back on a GS membership just by the savings at parks. The fact that I can now use it for CW is just an added bonus, since I never bought the president's club membership prior. So if I save even a $1 with it on that, I'm doing good IMO.
To me the issue is "fairness". The idea that folks who pay for memberships are told there are benefits to being a member among which is "special members only pricing" and then providing the same pricing structure to folks who are not members is just plain wrong. I am not talking about special sales etc...that happens and as pointed out if you become aware of it in time you can usually resolve that by producing your receipt.
No the issue is that a "contract" is entered into between the "club and the member" and that contract should be honored. The problem with this is that there is nothing illegal about a company changing its pricing policy; disingenuous, deceptive maybe but not illegal. Certainly if one travels enough and avails themselves of the Good Sam discount they may recoup the cost of the membership. However, please remember that some folks were members of both Good Sam and CW Presidents Club and each of those memberships were to provide member only benefits....that to me is the issue......a promise broken.
I joined GSC on Tuesday or Wednesday last week. Paid my $20 thinking, yea it would pay for itself with the purchases from CW. I found out the very same thing about the supposed discount for members only. This only applies in-store. Internet price for everyone else is the member price in-store. So misleading. I'm 60 mile round trip from the nearest CW, so that's not going to happen very often. I've been having trouble with the website; most of the time it is not working or takes forever to come up. Once signed in, whenever I wanted to visit a different member benefit page, it would direct me to sign in again but not accept my login. I sent three emails, made several calls and finaly just said the hell with it. I requested my membership be cancelled and reimburse my fee. I should not have had to work so darn much for such a minimal return. Ridiculous. Never again.
RusLwt001 wrote: I joined GSC on Tuesday or Wednesday last week. Paid my $20 thinking, yea it would pay for itself with the purchases from CW. I found out the very same thing about the supposed discount for members only. This only applies in-store. Internet price for everyone else is the member price in-store. So misleading. I'm 60 mile round trip from the nearest CW, so that's not going to happen very often. I've been having trouble with the website; most of the time it is not working or takes forever to come up. Once signed in, whenever I wanted to visit a different member benefit page, it would direct me to sign in again but not accept my login. I sent three emails, made several calls and finaly just said the hell with it. I requested my membership be cancelled and reimburse my fee. I should not have had to work so darn much for such a minimal return. Ridiculous. Never again.
That pretty much sums up my experience
I guess if you lived close to a store and wanted to use CW for service, 22 point inspections, instore purchase and events, etc, then it could be worth it. Just saving on shipping would be a bonus!
BTW, I am an Amazon Prime member because of the free or 3.99 shipping, which I use ALL the time. 3.99 1 day shipping pays for the membership fee for one or two uses per year.
Unfortunately, CW clearly says the free shipping for GSC members is for a 'limited time only' and has a bunch of exclusions
Pay attention here, GSC/CW:
1. If the 'free shipping' were to be permanent, if the 'members only coupons' were to be frequent (monthly?), NOW it could be a deal! I'd pay $20-25/yr for those benefits.
2. If GSC were to somehow quantify the savings to members on ERS, RV Insurance, etc (ie Members save 20% on ERS, or Members average 30% savings on RV insurance), then it could be worth it.
3. Stop advertising (or implying, depending upon your stand on fine print) that members will save money at CW. Yes, it can be an in-store benefit only, that's allowed, but it should be CLEARLY spelled out, not misleading.
I really hope GSC + CW (Marcus, where are you?) read this thread and address the issues. I've given my best suggestions above, I hope it helps
Why would they respond to you on this matter? I think all they have to do is read the blogs above. This is not RV.Net specific, these type of comments are appearing in other forums as well. I had my own bad experience and vented it on this and other forums. I think that leading people to believe that if they join GSC they are the "ones" who get the CW discounts up to 30%. Anyone can access CW website and get the Internet price which is the same price I got in the store. I drove 60 miles round trip for what I thought would be a better discount. That was just one of the reasons I quit my membership after only 3-5 days. The rest had to do with the website and the weak server you must be using. Your website rarely came up and when it did I had difficulty accessing benefit areas. I am forever done with GSC.
For me, I have always gotten my money back on a GS membership just by the savings at parks. The fact that I can now use it for CW is just an added bonus, since I never bought the president's club membership prior. So if I save even a $1 with it on that, I'm doing good IMO.
I have never been to a park yet where my GS membership got us a discount that we could not have received in some other way, AARP, pay in cash, or just by asking. At this point in time the only real benefit that the membership offers us is the 8 cent discount with the new RV Plus card and the free shipping for online purchased at CW.(which is only a temporary thing)
Steve
Retired Teamster
2012 Jayco Eagle Superlite 31.5RLTS
07 F250 PowerStroke U Y B
We just purchased our first travel trailer (used 2004 Flagstaff 25LB) on 4/18/12. I joined the GSC on 4/20/12.
Upon my very first request for a reservation near Bristol TN (on race week) at a GSC CG I was told that they did not extend discounts during race weeks. There rates had already gone from approx. $40 to $97 (race week rate and honestly this increase was expected) per night plus tax and they still refused the discount although they wave the GSC banner(and others) proudly on their website. I told GSC about the incedent and they asked me for details so they could look in to it. I haven't heard anything yet.
* This post was
edited 05/02/12 03:10pm by Dega500 *
My membership expired two days ago. Why? Same reason as many others: I got the membership in the first place to get the extra PC pricing. Now, every Joe out there gets what I get without the membership. No thanks.
Marcus, this thread is a few days old now and no response from you. Are you not listening any more?
Bob & Susan
Jessica & Melissa (sometimes)
Shelby the Beagle
2003 Dodge Ram 1500
2011 Gulf Stream Ameri-Lite 23BW
Offline
