To Renew or, Not Renew.....

[Ex Skyline]

....That is the question. Can anyone help me out here ? I mean, what real advantages are there in being a PCGB Member? Maybe saving a couple of pounds here and there on this and that. A copy of that "ok, sometimes, I guess" magazine once a month and.....what else? I don't seem to get much for my £63 (couple) and, a lot of people on here just have "Guest of the Club" on their avatar's and they all seem to go to meets and enjoy the Forum so, i'd just like to know, really, what is the point?
PS: I am NOT a Grumpy old Man []!!

 

[chrisjcoe]

Do you take your car to any shows in the club area? You generally get reduced entry fee and guaranteed entry even if the rest of the event registration is booked up.

 

[pauljmcnulty]

I mean, what real advantages are there in being a PCGB Member?

Personally, I could easily leave the magazine to be honest. I get plenty of discounts, probably enough to cover the membership or at least a good chunk of it.

The main thing is the events. If you don't do the local stuff then you probably don't get to see all that's available, and remember you can go to any of the regions, not just your most local.

It's an interesting question as to where Clubs go in the future though. It's all well and good that groups like the Facebook one spring up and offer what, on the surface, is a free option. Unfortunately there is still a real benefit from having the two larger Clubs, but without members they'd cease to exist. We'd lose the relationship with Porsche, including both AG and GB, lose the bigger events like the Cotswold Rally or Brands Hatch next year, lose the great headquarters and archive, the forum would change as it became a private one with completely different advertising interests and single-owner issues over freedom of speech.

That's just off the top of my head, and there's probably loads more that would be lost without PCGB and Tipec. If people don't join, then they will shrink to a size too small to be useful. IMO we should reduce the fees substantially to get more people to join, giving even more buying-power and influence: imagine 100,000 members at £20, rather than 10.000 at £60? The trouble is, a pound a week isn't really unaffordable to people who run Porsches, so the level of fees isn't really relevant.

It's about the perception of what you get back for your subscription, and if that's not obvious to you then either you aren't using what's there, or you need to tell us what you'd want from the membership that we aren't already offering. We get so little feedback it's untrue, and there is always the option to change things if only we knew what the members want! [&:]

Thanks for raising it though. Even at last week's conference there was little discussion of what we could do better, mainly because no-one ever suggests anything. I think we're missing a lot of things we should do differently, we just don't have a clue what they are.

 

[GlennS]

To be honest, I rarely open the cellophane on the magazine. Sorry and all.

However, 15% discount on my car insurance, 10% discount on my AA renewal, half price tickets to the Silverstone Classic, half price tickets to the Donington Historic Festival and, of course, a discount from Porsche on parts. All that means I gain financially from being a member of PCGB and TIPEC (I am member of both because I enjoy attending events with both). The Silverstone Classic ticket discount alone more than pays for one club membership.

groups like the Facebook one spring up and offer what, on the surface, is a free option

Not really, the Facebook group is no substitute for a proper car club and it isn't trying to be, I think I even say that there []

 

[pauljmcnulty]

the Facebook group is no substitute for a proper car club and it isn't trying to be, I think I even say that there

Hi Glenn,

Hopefully I didn't come across as criticising the FB group. On the contrary, I welcome it as the way forward.

Only a fool with his head in the sand would have failed to spot the fact that people aren't coming to major events in the same numbers now. Read the thread on the "breakaway" of the early Registers to DDK, and the success of the independant "for-profit" Classics event, and that's exactly what I don't want to see happening with the so-called "middle-years" cars. Thinking the 964 and 993, and the transaxle cars here.

If you go to any of the open events, such as the Cotswold Rally or Tipec's (significant this []) single National event, you see a better turnout of the most active people in PCGB than at something like last year's Chateau Impney or this year's Silverstone Classic. The whole 911 record was a wonderful thing, but it left a VERY empty car park when they were on track. It was frightening to see how few non-911s turned out, given that they are something like a third of the CLub's members. [&o]

I hope we can continue to welcome all owners of the cars to the Club in as many non-paying ways as possible: the forum, events, advice, it's all part of supporting a community. Some will pay year after year, often without ever being seen or heard. Others will "freeload" for year after year, and again that's fine as they aren't adding to the costs, but are adding to the numbers. Some come and go, or might move on to other cars yet still stay part of the "family".

The FB tansaxle group is merely an extension to that: it supports us all, and opens us up to a new market we have missed out on so far because of our crap website. That's at last changing, but it will have to be inclusive of the other groups that have paved the way. []

 

[GlennS]

ORIGINAL: pauljmcnulty

the Facebook group is no substitute for a proper car club and it isn't trying to be, I think I even say that there

Hi Glenn,

Hopefully I didn't come across as criticising the FB group. On the contrary, I welcome it as the way forward.

Indeed not, I was supporting and in agreement with your position that such things can't be replacement for a "proper" car club.

 

[Ash944]

I'd join the club but I think £60 is a little to much and just because I run a Porsche doesn't mean I have cash to spare for this, now if it was £20 I would join.
I've been a owner for just over a year never been to a Porsche meeting (don't think there advertised enough here and I'd probably be a little out of place anyways) but the discount on parts would be good as I'm trying to do most work on the car myself.
There must be a way of having 3 different classes of membership like at local gyms ( gold silver bronze ) with each one giving different benefits

 

[garyw]

ORIGINAL: Ex Skyline
I don't seem to get much for my £63 (couple)

I'd drop the couple bit as I only think it means you can both vote... so there's a saving - add a Direct debit payment and it's £8 saved []

I've found that the more events you do go to, the more people you meet and then it become even easier to enjoy the club to its full potential.

What you say though is a very good point and if the club keep letting the membership disappear to smaller webgroup like DDK then the question will be asked more and more...

It's the little things like everytime there's a pre73 post that the reply is always the same- go to DDK
We don't allow advertising in people signatures, yet a link to a 'competing' website seems fine [&:]
I know it seems small and petty but it creates things further down the line.

 

[MartinRS2K]

For me the £60 Renewal (£55 by direct Debit) pays for itself on the Valuation alone. Having my car with a Porsche Club Agreed Value gives me the security that if the worst was to happen then I know I will get back the value of the car not what Glasses Guide or similar says. []

Then you add in OPC Parts Discount, Local Club Nights, Regional & National Event with entry discounts, The Magazine (boring at times but still has some informative bits in it) and all the fellow members I've met at Club Nights and Shows.

 

[PAUL RUDDY]

Mines due this month and the jury is still out, club mag although well put together doesn't interest me as its 911 biased as is most of the club, local club nights have some good lads attend , I have my car insured with Locktons and a club agreed valuation but it was like pulling teeth to get it, forum is far too serious and it would appear to me that majority of users are non members.

I think the forum should be closed to non members personally, it's club funded so it should be a perk of membership.

Best part of Porsche ownership so far was the Dinslaken trip which we organised ourselves for 2013 and have organised again for 2014 including our own FB page and soon a website.

I think lots of car clubs are struggling at the moment, Internet forum based groups and FB groups seem to be gaining popularity over the traditional 'Annual subs and a magazine' car club.

Still 50/50 at the moment, I'll decide at the NEC where I rejoined last year.

Cheers

 

[944 man]

The only people who will benefit from closing the forum to non-mmbers are TIPEC. Without non-members contributions the forum will be dead.

I do agree about the clubs 911-focus, but this has always been the case. If anything, 924/944/968 members are better catered for now than they were when I was a member (for many years). During this time they were very much the poor relations, good for bolstering club finances but little else.

 

[pse_SC]

Still 50/50 at the moment, I'll decide at the NEC where I rejoined last year.

Well, I'll be there to try to persuade you to stay []

 

[Mike_Pollock]

I'll be there too - Friday and probably Sunday

 

[pauljmcnulty]

Really interesting comments, thanks. []

I guess you'd have to say that if you were prepared to pay £20 per year, it's not a huge leap to Tipec membership at £33 or PCGB membership at £55 (with direct debit). The difference is 67p per week, which really isn't unaffordable. That said, I agree that it's on the high side. BMW club is £45, for example, and the Merc club £35. Given that you should be able to recoup most, if not more than, the membership fees in discounts it's counter-intuitive to hear that people can't afford it: they are exactly the people who could benefit most from the savings! I do understand the viewpoint though, as forking out a lump sum is different to a tiny amount weekly.

Interestingly, the Merc owners club offer a £10 discount for receiving an online-only magazine. Something that will be a factor in the future for all clubs with magazines.

Paul, my view, and that of most of the membership, is that the forum should be open to everyone. We have the closed forums, of course, but most of it is open. The forum is incredibly cheap, and more than covers it's costs from members who come to the Club via the forum first. It's actually the most cost-effective way to attract members: massively cheaper than having a stand at shows. Closing it to prospective members would lose us a fortune, and excluding the non-members with experience and knowledge would make it pretty useless. It's about 50% members to non-members, not a bad proportion really.

I suppose my opinion is that some people will always want to be members, others wouldn't join if it was £10 per year. What's changing is that a lot of what used to be only available through car clubs is now free, but it's still not the whole experience by a long way. It's down to the individual how much they put in to a social club, and that largely determines what they get back out.

 

[PAUL RUDDY]

ORIGINAL: pse_SC

Well, I'll be there to try to persuade you to stay []

If/when you succeed don't let my wife hear the price , do they do pensioners discount...[]

Cheers , Paul

 

[tref]

ORIGINAL: PAUL RUDDY

Best part of Porsche ownership so far was the Dinslaken trip which we organised ourselves for 2013 and have organised again for 2014 including our own FB page and soon a website.

Paul, can you keep me posted on that please? I am afraid I don't do Facebook, but there are a couple of us from Dorset planning on doing something for Dinslaken 2014. If you wish we might be able to work together, and bring over the regional gazebo/flagpole/blah, blah... could be useful if it is as hot as this year... or rains! R26@porscheclubgb.com

Tref.

 

[Purnell]

Message for Paul Ebbs i will be going to the nec on
The saturday will you be trying to talk me in to staying
In the club or call me a silly billy ???

 

[Ex Skyline]

Some very good points Ash and Paul. I agree entirely []. This part of the Forum is excellent (but, hey, you don't have to be a member to enjoy it) However, the rest is totally pro 911 and, sometimes, I get the feeling we are most definitely thought of as the "poor relations" []!! In addition to this (and I will probably be in the 5h1t for saying so) but, I have the bad luck to be in the most boring region of the lot, R23 []!! They do absolutely NOTHING as a group except, maybe meet up at a pub once a month and guffaw at each other or, maybe meet up at a Stately Home once in a while on a sunny day and, polish holes in their (911) bonnets [][8|]!! I posted a thread on R23 about Le Mans 2014 and, it was there for a month and NO-ONE even bothered to reply []!! I then put up a sarcastic post and one person had the decency to respond. This blinkered ignorance makes me SO Fcuking ANGRY []!! Iv'e had enough, and, for that reason.........I'M OUT!

Pete'.

 

[andy watson]

ORIGINAL: pauljmcnulty

Really interesting comments, thanks. []

I guess you'd have to say that if you were prepared to pay £20 per year, it's not a huge leap to Tipec membership at £33 or PCGB membership at £55 (with direct debit).

Or Tipec at £50 for 2 years!

I have not after 12 years renewed, and for the first time joined Tipec.

 

[Indi9xx]

I get the PCGB magazine every month.. it costs me £XXXX.XX a year and I do not even get a membership card

It is of course as an advertiser..

The circulation of the club magazine is much less than the other Porsche magazines I advertise in, but I see it as a double wammy, if I was to pick up a customer from it, he is likely to remain a Porsche owner for some time, rather than it being a fad for them, but mostly it is about supporting the club. I do the same for TIPEC and have supported both clubs for years.

I think clubs are an important thing, but, unless you enjoy popping down the pub to meet some people once a month, it is not everyones cup of tea... And I think to get your moneys worth, you need to do that...

Although.. and I might not be popular for saying this.. I do think that perhaps a percentage of the revenues from club memberships should be provided to the local regions so they can have a kitty to spend on doing some things to actually make the local members feel like they get some real benefits from their membership, directly, which might make more members turn up to local meetings and events. Not sure how it would work, but it is just an idea, as I think the local regions and what they do, or do not do, make or break if someone is likely to renew or join.