What is this club coming to??? All I see on here is the same old names moaning all the time but as soon as something goes wrong with your car, where do you come first before going to a specialist garage, HERE, asking for help and advice, hence saving you more than your membership renewal in one go.
The membership went up a year ago and you’re all saying you haven’t been able to save the extra £1 a month it’s going to cost to renew your membership this year!!! Yes people have had a very hard time of it recently but you are driving around in a 3ltr car with a group 20 insurance band. I bet you didn’t kick up this much fuss when your insurance went up this year or you would have sold your cars by now for a grand to some chav :roll:
As for why should I pay for the events when I don’t go to any. TUFF if you can’t find the time or money to get to at least one of the big events then that’s your problem. We have big events up and down the country and you’re saying it costs too much to drive your car to just one of the more local events. Why don’t you just go out and buy a Prius and stop worrying about what’s the biggest turbo I can fit on my car.
I fully understand that we have a few members from more far afield like Scotland, Ireland etc etc and to be fair to these guys I wouldn’t want to travel hundreds of miles for an AGM and these guys “might” have a good argument.
An AGM is a formal meeting and a legal requirement. I have been a member of a few clubs in the past and if I wanted to voice my opinion about how the club was run I had to travel to attend the AGM. This is the way AGM’s are done, just accept it.
This club is so much more than an internet data base. The commitee bend over backwards to try and keep us guys (and girls) happy. You moaned about the forum going down all the time, so the club did something about it (as voted for by it’s members) and now you’re moaning about why the cost has gone up. You can’t have it both ways. Either we have a server that is cheap and nasty and goes down all the time or we have a server that stays reliable and you pay for it.
I could go on and on but for now that’s it.
Simon, I know I said that I wasn’t going to renew this year (for personal reasons) but after this outrage I think this club needs all the support it can muster, so my cheque will be in the post shortly
When i bought into the GTO scene a few years ago,i thought great i got Ferrari power for mini money but that’s where it stops you still have the servicing cost’s of a Ferrari at that point i decided to for-fit on other things to carry on with my passion and always will
As for the subs there cheap as chips, you want a reliable and successful service you have to pay for
OK what if you have two forms of memberships Part membership: giving you access to the web only and having to pay supplements at events that the club puts on
or Full: giving you full access to everything.
Only takes two different colour membership cards
blody hell ,spot on there damon well said
30 or 40 quid a year i would gladly pay more if it was needed to keep the club going socialy and on the net just because some people use the club just for information to keep their car on the road and not take advantage of the social side thats their loss its there if they can be bothered but to say they shouldent pay as much is crap ,like everything in life you get out what you put in and if your not attending some of the meets well its your loss
30 measly pound , thats all it costs to renew , it was 20 pound for years and everyone was happy to pay that
i spend double that on booze a week , some spend it on fags food etc
i cant believe people are moaning that its a 50% hike as it was always £20 all the years ive renewed , very sad really if the meets aren’t to your taste or you dont want to travel that far try organising something local to yourselves and im sure people will come and the club would offer support, just look how Elton did with the Kent bbq , petrol’s gone up loads more than that in the past few years yet people still fill their cars
dont exactly know where im going with this now :lol: :lol: except it pisses me off as its such a tiny amount
Ian is quite right too as the old server was a ■■■■■■ nightmare and that did make you wonder why you bothered paying £20 when you couldn’t even log on
[quote]30 measly pound , thats all it costs to renew , it was 20 pound for years and everyone was happy to pay that
i spend double that on booze a week , some spend it on fags food etc
i cant believe people are moaning that its a 50% hike as it was always £20 all the years ive renewed , very sad really if the meets aren’t to your taste or you dont want to travel that far try organising something local to yourselves and im sure people will come and the club would offer support, just look how Elton did with the Kent bbq , petrol’s gone up loads more than that in the past few years yet people still fill their cars
dont exactly know where im going with this now :lol: :lol: except it pisses me off as its such a tiny amount
Ian is quite right too as the old server was a ■■■■■■ nightmare and that did make you wonder why you bothered paying £20 when you couldn’t even log on
Craig :)[/quote]
Craig
Think of it this way doesn’t sound so bad
New membership: 77p a week
Existing:58p a week
I’ve had my car for 5 years now, the longest I have owned one (5years tomorrow to be precise). I’ve renewed my membership again and will continue to do so whilst I own a GTO.
My membership total added up comes to £140 which I saved with the help of this club in the first year of ownership.
I’ve been to a couple of events but due to work etc can’t make as many as I would like, but that’s my choice.
I browse the club website every day just to see what’s going on and what info there may be.
I look at the membership as £30 towards helping keep my car on the road and running, as well as being part of the club.
I have just had My car maped & MOT’d by Eurospec, to have the car mapped properly cost me a third of the previous tuner who also blew my gearbox (expensive trip to silverstone). The hourly rate that Erospec charge is VERY good.
If not for this Club I would not know Eurospec exist, the money I have saved by sending my car there would pay for a lifetimes subs, not to mention all the things I learn every week just by reading the forum.
I bet everyone could find a single instance when something they have read, or dealing with a trader they would not know exist’s has saved them a fortune. £10 extra! stop winging and pay up or its Your loss. it costs me more than that a day to slowly Kill myself with cigy,s.
Jeff :x
**Okay… here’s the rub… blame me if you want… If I remember rightly, it was actually me that put forward the figures we are talking about at the last AGM for renewal fees. Tough!
£30 works out at £2.50 per month or just over 58 pence per week!!!
I wonder how many of you actually lose that much down the back of the sofa without realising?
As for moaning about those of us that seem to benefit at subsidised events, from everyone elses membership fees… Get a grip! If you bothered to attend those events (your choice), then you would see for yourselves just how some of your membership fee works and exactly how much enjoyment you would gain from it. If you haven’t tried it then stop moanng about it.
Perhaps some of you should also take into account some of the time consuming organisation that goes into club events etc… all done by members who don’t get paid for it and never, never, ever moan about it!
As for bringing us kicking and screaming into the 22nd Century for voting purposes etc at the AGM, sure… put a proxy/email/video link system in… which would of course entail all the extra work in posting out proposed meeting agendas etc. You’d only moan that you weren’t there when unforseen business requiring a vote came up!
If you can’t afford to suddenly find £30 at this time of year (and I know some are struggling right now due to no fault of their own), why the hell weren’t you putting less than the cost of a decent pint or half a packet of fags in a glass jar each month?
At the end of the day… if someone can’t be assed to use the benefits of membership properly to their own advantage, then it’s their own fault.
im amazed this post has come to this , i only asked originally about figures , i even replied a while back and realised after it was the post i started , unbelievable :?
I’m amused as to how each and every one of you are missing it… The most important part of
what I had said in my last post has not been addressed or even had a hint of an answer…
It was Craigs original post showing concern as to why we have such a low number of members
that are renewing this year that started this off…
True the rise in the club annual fees was decided last year as others have already said and
wonder why having known it for the past year nothing has been said until now… Might that be
because we have always had stamped on our heads that its only decisions like this that can be
altered and decided on at the AGM… and we are only days away from this years AGM where
members who were unable to voice their opinions then are doing so now before this AGM passes
again without knowing an over all general feeling toward what was decided last year… So you
can hardly blame anyone for waiting a year before voicing their opinions now !
The bigger picture becomes much clearer if you red between the lines of whats being said… It’s
clear that those that can afford to add the extra cost to be able to enjoy the added benefits thats
part of the clubs membership fees are unwilling to accept that if the club renewal fee was to
become a two tiered charge for a years membership it could mean that they to would have to dig
a little deeper in their own pockets to still enjoy what others that cant afford the extra are at the
moment already paying for them to enjoy.
Surly if you are one that can openly say that a 50% rise is just a pittance then why have I not
seen a single post that says… I don’t mind chucking a little extra in on the day to help with the
cost of keeping what others are clearly paying for us to enjoy now ?.. We can all accept that the
cost of keeping a well maintained and constant connection on the forum could rise each year…
But I’ve never seen a post that says… Hay guys the cost of running to forum has again risen this
year so as a club we’ll have to review and cut back on some of the fringe benefits that the club
offers in your annual subscriptions as well as ask you all to dip a little deeper into your pockets
when it comes to this years subscriptions… It just seems that more are concerned about keeping
the cost of a good booze up from rising than what this club was originally intended to be, a
haven for those that own a gto and in need of help and advise as well as trying to keep the cost,
or owning one of these cars as sensible as possible… It just seems some are out to upset others
that would rather see all their membership fee go toward the smooth running of the club rather
than pay for others personal entertainment
I know its another of my long post and I sorry for that… But there’s one thing thats really getting
my goat… Why do we have to belittle this club by referring to any new member that has been
fortunate enough to pay a fraction of what our gto’s originally cost by calling them… a Chav ?
I think it’s insulting as well as alienating any new member causing them to question whether he
or she falls into that category by being a new to the club and must make them feel looked down
upon by us… It’s not their fault that our cars have dropped in value. :?
Using the word “ Tough “ at the end of your first sentence comes across to me as being a little
aggressive so had to reply…
[quote]**
As for moaning about those of us that seem to benefit at subsidised events, from everyone elses
membership fees… Get a grip! If you bothered to attend those events (your choice), then you
would see for yourselves just how some of your membership fee works and exactly how much
enjoyment you would gain from it. If you haven’t tried it then stop moanng about it.
**[/quote]
You’ve just confirmed what some of the members are obviously thinking… If it’s that good
then it must be costing both the club and ALL it’s members quite a bit of money…
[quote]**
If you can’t afford to suddenly find £30 at this time of year (and I know some are struggling right
now due to no fault of their own), why the hell weren’t you putting less than the cost of a decent
pint or half a packet of fags in a glass jar each month?
**[/quote]
And we all knew out personal finances were going to take a sudden dive six months or a year
before it happens… Yah! right… and when the Council tax bill comes in or your car is broke and
you need it for work then you look at that jar and say… “ I mustn’t touch that “… get real.
[quote]**
At the end of the day… if someone can’t be assed to use the benefits of membership properly to
their own advantage, then it’s their own fault.
David**[/quote]
Ok… So I can only speak for myself but… to attend this years AGM would mean I have to get an
MOT on my car… buy a Road Tax… and drive it all the way up there in only one gear… once I
arrive having already spent around £150 that is if my car passes its MOT without needing any
work done to it for it to pass… I then would have to find the cost of staying over night if I wanted
to take advantage of the fringe benefits provided as well as paying for meals, petrol and anything
else… kinda makes taking advantage of the fringe benefits a little expensive don’t you think ?..
and find it insulting to be told by some one who is enjoying the benefits that I’ve helped pay for
to say… I cant be assed
I have already lost over £300 buying supposedly good working parts to repair my car from club
members… I suppose I could have placed them back on the forum for sale and rip another poor
member off and paid for a taxi to this year AGM … But I’m not like that
I know its only £10 extra and have already sent my membership payment off and to be honest I
don’t really care if I receive the extra benefits or not… But that is not why I joined this club and
feel the knowledge and help as well as the friends I’ve made being a member is worth every
penny… But you can’t argue with those that have a valid point and without others that see their
point and give their support they will never be listened to and is no different than seeing how
heard those that do take full advantage of all the benefits are fighting to make sure they don’t
become less of a benefit than they already enjoy now.
[quote]**Okay… here’s the rub… blame me if you want… If I remember rightly, it was actually me that put forward the figures we are talking about at the last AGM for renewal fees. Tough!
£30 works out at £2.50 per month or just over 58 pence per week!!!
I wonder how many of you actually lose that much down the back of the sofa without realising?
As for moaning about those of us that seem to benefit at subsidised events, from everyone elses membership fees… Get a grip! If you bothered to attend those events (your choice), then you would see for yourselves just how some of your membership fee works and exactly how much enjoyment you would gain from it. If you haven’t tried it then stop moanng about it.
Perhaps some of you should also take into account some of the time consuming organisation that goes into club events etc… all done by members who don’t get paid for it and never, never, ever moan about it!
As for bringing us kicking and screaming into the 22nd Century for voting purposes etc at the AGM, sure… put a proxy/email/video link system in… which would of course entail all the extra work in posting out proposed meeting agendas etc. You’d only moan that you weren’t there when unforseen business requiring a vote came up!
If you can’t afford to suddenly find £30 at this time of year (and I know some are struggling right now due to no fault of their own), why the hell weren’t you putting less than the cost of a decent pint or half a packet of fags in a glass jar each month?
At the end of the day… if someone can’t be assed to use the benefits of membership properly to their own advantage, then it’s their own fault.
David**[/quote]
Well if everybody leaves because of your attitude there will be nobody left to subsidise your parties… just a thought!!!
I think Alan makes some very valid points. Neither of my two GTO’s are currently on the road and to be honest I’d feel a little stupid travelling to a GTO UK event in a 306.
When I joined I wanted to benefit from the shared knowledge and that was all. I didn’t realise there was an underlying social side. Now there is nothing wrong with that and I can see a great advantage in meeting others who share my same interest.
I have owned my GTO TT since 2001 and in the beginning relied on Mitsubishi to do my servicing and repairs. Yes costly - but I was prepared to pay the price in order to enjoy driving a fantastic car. Now when things started to go wrong I could and perhaps should have paid Mitsi the money to keep me on the road. Instead I decided to have a go at repairing the car myself.
This forum has given me the confidence to do it and I have always appreciated the help found on here.
So what’s my point? People join the club for different reasons - some for information and help, some for the technical discussion about performance modifications, some for the social scene, I am sure there are many others. My idea of different levels of membership is to cater for these different level of interest. I do accept it would be more administration for the club.
Now distance from the AGM and events is obviously an issue for some. Some people love driving lots of miles and it doesn’t bother them - great. For me and others like me I hate travelling long distances in one go. To put it nicely the road system is this country is generally unpleasant. Also some type of events don’t suit people. Some prefer classic car shows - others modern car shows, boat trips, parties, bbq’s - everyone is different.
So what about the extra ten pounds? I would think the low level of renewals given by the figures at the beginning of this post says something. Personally I don’t see it as an extra ten pounds - I see it as a 50% increase and I expect many others do to. It is now becoming clear that some of the increase is due to using a better server - great that makes me feel better about spending the extra.
But then I think hang on…have a look at the accounts and see that event expenditure has risen by over £4000 between 2008 and 2009. Now that’s a lot. Again I don’t have a problem with it if I can see how that benefits me and more importantly the club. If a good 75% of these events are promoting the club - I don’t have a problem. But that doesn’t come across in any news, newsletter, letter, forum announcement.
Everybody will stomach a nasty pill if they know it will make them feel better.
[quote]Okay… here’s the rub… blame me if you want… If I remember rightly, it was actually me that put forward the figures we are talking about at the last AGM for renewal fees. Tough!
David[/quote]
Amazing stuff!! you had been a member for all of about 5 minutes and you have made such a difference ‘WELL DONE!’
If I was in my 20s 30s the GTO was my only car and I was clueless when it came to anything mechanical then yes the membership would seem great value. but none of those things apply to me.
I have 3 other vehicles all taxed MOTed and insured. I have owned my GTO for more than 8 years and in that time its never been SORN’ed or off the road so to speak, considering that and the fact that it only gets driven high days and holidays, any 'additional increase in expenditure on it is not welcome.
To all you party go’ers first and foremost THIS IS CAR CLUB not ■■■■■■ FACEBOOK
I give up, every year we have a few people who will find something to moan or argue about, we will never be able to please everyone, fact.
The bottom line is this, you are here because you want to be, no-one comes round at stupid o’clock and holds a gun to your head and forces you to sign up. If you leave, we thank you for your contributions over however long your stay has been and wish you all the best for the future.
Every year we ask for volunteers, shall i start a poll to guess how many people put their names forward and FULLY commit themselves to helping run the club ? At a rough guess it’s somewhere between nil and zero. I’m not talking about arranging meets or events because even that is the same people each year, for who we are deeply indebted.
Please don’t take this the wrong way but if the only contribution a member can make is to moan, then maybe one of the free on-line car forums is where you belong or are maybe better suited.
For the sake of making a point, the term ‘you’ is generic and not aimed at any singular moaner.
Sorry but i don’t do the hug a hoodie approach or offer free cuddles to those in distress, just my way of thinking.
[quote]Please don’t take this the wrong way but if the only contribution a member can make is to moan, then maybe one of the free on-line car forums is where you belong or are maybe better suited.
[/quote]
Is there any other way to take that Mark? Oh and we have never heard you moan about anything :lol:
Perhaps Your views have a bit more of a vested interest …certainly better for you to have members that will line your pocket than people that actually understand these cars …No offence of coarse :roll:
