Why such a big step in cost for 2nd member emblem?

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Neal A. Tew

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I'm looking to join, but I'm really puzzled by what looks to be a disparity in membership option costs.

(rounded to nearest dollar)
Membership = $20
1st emblem + $5
2nd emblem +$25 (on sale for +$20)

If I'm going to affix an emblem to my truck, I'd like to do both sides. $5 for one after having paid $20 for membership isn't so bad, but $25 (on sale for $20) for the second one seems excessive.

I really don't want to come across as a whiner. I'm just looking to understand because I'd really rather have 2 emblems than just one.

Is there something I'm missing?
 
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Steve

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Until very recently, there wasn't a $20 membership tier. The base membership was $25, and included one badge. Due to exorbitant international shipping costs for a badge, the $20 Digital membership was added. If, at some later time, the digital members wanted to get their numbered badge, it is only a $5 bump.

So, a badged membership is $25, and a package with two badges is $45.
 

Neal A. Tew

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Until very recently, there wasn't a $20 membership tier. The base membership was $25, and included one badge. Due to exorbitant international shipping costs for a badge, the $20 Digital membership was added. If, at some later time, the digital members wanted to get their numbered badge, it is only a $5 bump.

So, a badged membership is $25, and a package with two badges is $45.
Hi Steve. Thanks for the quick response.

I wasn't aware that a membership could be done in steps. Please indulge me to be sure I understand.

I can join digitally today for $20. If in a few months I decide I want the badge emblems, I can then get one for $5 or 2 for $25?
 

Steve

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@Neal A. Tew Sorry for the delay in replying. I wanted to get clarification from @Corrie and @Michael who are on a three-week road trip.

The digital membership was recently created for international sales, to avoid the exorbitant international shipping costs for a badge. We've had folks in Europe have to pay duty far exceeding the cost of the membership. For that reason, a digital membership package evolved that gave those international members access to the member-only features without the cost of shipping.

The $20 digital membership is only available for international purchase. This will be clarified on the store.

Thank you for understanding, and thanks for bringing this to our attention. The digital tier is new, and you are the first to show us that it needs further explanation.
 

Neal A. Tew

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@Neal A. Tew Sorry for the delay in replying. I wanted to get clarification from @Corrie and @Michael who are on a three-week road trip.

The digital membership was recently created for international sales, to avoid the exorbitant international shipping costs for a badge. We've had folks in Europe have to pay duty far exceeding the cost of the membership. For that reason, a digital membership package evolved that gave those international members access to the member-only features without the cost of shipping.

The $20 digital membership is only available for international purchase. This will be clarified on the store.

Thank you for understanding, and thanks for bringing this to our attention. The digital tier is new, and you are the first to show us that it needs further explanation.
Thanks, Steve!

Much appreciated!
 

Michael

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Hey Guys,

What @Steve is saying is correct. Our friends in Australia and the UK asked if there was a digital version so they did not have to pay costs associated with the physical emblem, so we put that option up hastily. It gives them access, and a member number without an emblem. Since they have a number, they can always get an emblem later.

Short answer: Emblems cost us way more than $5 and we can't afford to sell them for less than $25.

We are still figuring out our pricing structure for digital access vs. physical emblems, and that is why messaging is a bit unclear. We will fix that this year. Don't value digital at $19 and Emblem at $5 - its not accurate. "Membership" has a cost to us, and a value to members - and we need to get more clear on communicating what that is.

We're even considering offering $4.99 a month for folks - and may even include a emblem for free if they commit to a year - but that is all mud at the wall at this point. We're noodling on it.

Let me know if you have any further questions - happy to answer.

Cheers,

M
 

LCM_Scott

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Hahaha y'all are complaining about $25 when I am sitting here like I just spent $25 on McDonalds and didnt get a single thing to show for it but the runs!

Lol, all kidding aside the price difference is a bit different but compared to other car clubs who make you pay monthly dues, buy a banner, have expensive low quality shirts and swag this isnt a bad deal. That is coming from someone who just paid $89 for membership.

Gotta think of it as an investment. Its like your paying to get into an exclusive community of like minded individuals.
 

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Quote from above:
Thank you for understanding, and thanks for bringing this to our attention. The digital tier is new, and you are the first to show us that it needs further explanation.
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Not that this affects me, but this confirms that the USA gets it in the shorts internationally. For example i have ordered small things from Amazon(multiple stuff-some coming from Thailand or China, or even Australia). These are lightweight items of no more than 1 pound thru the mail.
So when President Trump wants to pull out of the international postal agreement, because we pay more than the same item coming in, he makes a very valid point as does the above quoted. Not fair for us, or customers overseas trying to obtain gear from this site.
 

T.Shack

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This does clear this up. To me these are beautiful badges & worth the cost for the second. Shoot i bet nearly one third of the cost is probably in the shipping.
 
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brien

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Not that this affects me, but this confirms that the USA gets it in the shorts internationally. For example i have ordered small things from Amazon(multiple stuff-some coming from Thailand or China, or even Australia). These are lightweight items of no more than 1 pound thru the mail.
not to derail this thread too much, but there was a really interesting and entertaining Planet Money podcast recently that goes into this and kind of how we got here. Worth a quick listen or read if you are interested in learning more about the details, it's pretty entertaining: https://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=634732388
 

Fozzy325

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Hey Guys,

What @Steve is saying is correct. Our friends in Australia and the UK asked if there was a digital version so they did not have to pay costs associated with the physical emblem, so we put that option up hastily. It gives them access, and a member number without an emblem. Since they have a number, they can always get an emblem later.

Short answer: Emblems cost us way more than $5 and we can't afford to sell them for less than $25.

We are still figuring out our pricing structure for digital access vs. physical emblems, and that is why messaging is a bit unclear. We will fix that this year. Don't value digital at $19 and Emblem at $5 - its not accurate. "Membership" has a cost to us, and a value to members - and we need to get more clear on communicating what that is.

We're even considering offering $4.99 a month for folks - and may even include a emblem for free if they commit to a year - but that is all mud at the wall at this point. We're noodling on it.

Let me know if you have any further questions - happy to answer.

Cheers,

M
@Michael I understand what you are saying with the " "Membership" has a cost to us" statement as I ran a web site, forum etc back in the 00's
what you may want to think of for members to only to see is a bit more of a transparent insight of the cost of running such a thing and why sponsorship and membership fees really do count. For example.

Costs per year
  • Website hosting
  • Domain name
  • Web administration and development
  • Email and servers
  • cloud hosting
  • storage space
  • Bandwidth
  • Server rental costs
  • members enrolment gear
  • phone costs - contacting others
  • Office applications for letters and printing
  • Photoshop application
  • movie editing application,
  • postage costs
  • packaging
  • engraving of badge
  • badge cost per unit (bulk of XXXX) number
  • Podcast equipment
  • Podcast application
Once people see this cost then having a free site after paying the $25 is nothing