Camping World - Thousand Trails Offer

[ChiefJohn]

This is a great offer for "President's Club Members" -- however, makes me wonder what's behind the promotion.

Quote:

President's Club Members Earn 4-Day Getaway RV Business Thursday, May 24, 2007 In an unusual joint promotion, Camping World Inc.'s Presidents Club has teamed up with Thousand Trails to offer a complimentary four-day, three-night Weekend Get-A-Way at select Thousand Trails resorts. Participants also receive a $50 Camping World merchandise certificate and a 30-day "Camping Membership"� valued at $1,000. Camping World's 700,000-member Presidents Club members will enjoy resort-style camping that caters to families with amenities such as pools, miniature golf, tennis courts and Wi-Fi in select locations. Weekend entertainment is also offered at many Thousand Trails facilities. "We approached Thousand Trails earlier this year about becoming our preferred resort camping-system partner for our Presidents Club members,"� reported Mark Boggess, COO of Camping World, which currently operates 76 SuperCenters with more than 500 service bays in 26 states. "They were an immediate enthusiastic partner and made an incredible offer, and I hope our members take advantage of it.'' Thousand Trails LP, a 37-year-old membership camping network that has been gaining new ground lately under the management of new owner Privileged Access, is one of the largest private camping clubs in the country. Member families enjoy more than 81 membership-based campgrounds in 23 states, the result of combining systems like Thousand Trails, NACO, Leisure Time, Mid-Atlantic and Outdoor World.

[ChiefJohn]

This is a great offer for "President's Club Members" -- however, makes me wonder what's behind the promotion.

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">President's Club Members Earn 4-Day Getaway
RV Business
Thursday, May 24, 2007

In an unusual joint promotion, Camping World Inc.'s Presidents Club has teamed up with Thousand Trails to offer a complimentary four-day, three-night Weekend Get-A-Way at select Thousand Trails resorts. Participants also receive a $50 Camping World merchandise certificate and a 30-day "Camping Membership"� valued at $1,000.

Camping World's 700,000-member Presidents Club members will enjoy resort-style camping that caters to families with amenities such as pools, miniature golf, tennis courts and Wi-Fi in select locations. Weekend entertainment is also offered at many Thousand Trails facilities.

"We approached Thousand Trails earlier this year about becoming our preferred resort camping-system partner for our Presidents Club members,"� reported Mark Boggess, COO of Camping World, which currently operates 76 SuperCenters with more than 500 service bays in 26 states. "They were an immediate enthusiastic partner and made an incredible offer, and I hope our members take advantage of it.''

Thousand Trails LP, a 37-year-old membership camping network that has been gaining new ground lately under the management of new owner Privileged Access, is one of the largest private camping clubs in the country. Member families enjoy more than 81 membership-based campgrounds in 23 states, the result of combining systems like Thousand Trails, NACO, Leisure Time, Mid-Atlantic and Outdoor World.
</div></BLOCKQUOTE>

[ISLAPP]

Where is the rest of the story? How do you go about getting it?
Mike

[ChiefJohn]

What you see is all there was agree that it leaves you with the question "When will we be notified and how?"

[Ray,IN]

Thousand Trails has apparently launched a massive membership drive, its not only CW. I received a postcard yesterday advertising a 20 year basic membership for $2,995. A preferred membership was $3,995. This was promoting two new RV resorts(Indian Trails), one outside Indianapolis and the other outside Cincinnati.

[Tom N]

I was never one for accepting something free, in return for that someone trying to sell me something.

-Tom

[SeeTheUSA]

Thousand Trails has made such offers for years . . . what's the catch? You are obligated to listen to a sales presentation.

NOT obligated to buy - just listen. If you feel you are easily talked into something, you may not want to subject yourself to the pitch.

A couple of years ago, we listened and then bought a membership on eBay for about 20% of the quoted sales price. We like Thousand Trails very much, just didn't want to pay any more than necessary.

[Larry in NC]

I agree with Warren & Debbie. Thousand Trials memberships can be bought for far less than the prices quoted at their "free camping weekends".
Look at FMCA's monthly magazine. Usually several offers.
Larry
02' Winnebago Journey
97 Saturn toad
FMCA # 132813

[Jestme13]

we paid $5K for our national membership

[Toby]

We received the same offer from TT in the mail several years ago, except they gave us a $50 gift card to Walmart. We stayed at the TT in Clermont (outside of Disney World Florida).

You are required to sit for a sales presentation. They say no pressure, but thats a lot of markley. I told the guy about 20 to 25 times we were not interested (could not afford it). Then his boss came over. I told him also many times we not interested. The salesman about cried. But finally they gave us the $50 card.

I would recommend that you go and sit thru the sales promotion if you are interested in such a set-up, but do not buy from them up front. They started out at about $9,000 and got all the way down to somewhere around $2,500. Since we are not full-timers, it would not be cost feisable for us so we were not interested; however, for full timers, it may make $ sense.

If you are interested, go to a re-sale shop and shop around. They have diferent levels of membership, depending on what you are interested in, i.e., only the East coast or West coast or the whole US with some more variables.

Just tell the guy you do not have that kind of money to spend on a membership and have him give you his lowest offer and a card. You can buy from him later if he ends up being the cheapest. I found this to be the easiest way to say no. s/Toby

[Zimectrin]

The secondary market is the best place to buy an TTN membership, but you have to be very careful and know what you are buying.

Best way to do this is to get the membership number and call the TTN office and ask:

What is the transfer fee?
What are the benefits included for this membership.

We have seen good memberships as low as 100.00 from friends, but the going prices are more in the 1000-1500 range. On top of that the transfer fee of 750-1000. Then the yearly maintenance fee (400-1000/yr) and you are in this thing a chunk of change.

To make it pencil out you would have to use the membership 25 nights a year for five years. (Assuming 1000 cost 1000 transfer fee, 500/yr maintenance = 4500 or 900/yr. 900/25=36.00/night)

Bet you can can find decent RV parks for 36.00 and you can go where you want rather than where there is a TTN

Now if you are full time the 25 nights is not a problem and there are a LOT of TTN members who are very pleased with what TTN provides.

Just suggest you think this over before you decide.

[NeilV]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Zimectrin:
The secondary market is the best place to buy an TTN membership, but you have to be very careful and know what you are buying.

Best way to do this is to get the membership number and call the TTN office and ask:

What is the transfer fee?
What are the benefits included for this membership.

We have seen good memberships as low as 100.00 from friends, but the going prices are more in the 1000-1500 range. On top of that the transfer fee of 750-1000. Then the yearly maintenance fee (400-1000/yr) and you are in this thing a chunk of change.

To make it pencil out you would have to use the membership 25 nights a year for five years. (Assuming 1000 cost 1000 transfer fee, 500/yr maintenance = 4500 or 900/yr. 900/25=36.00/night)

Bet you can can find decent RV parks for 36.00 and you can go where you want rather than where there is a TTN

Now if you are full time the 25 nights is not a problem and there are a LOT of TTN members who are very pleased with what TTN provides.

Just suggest you think this over before you decide. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

You need to be carefull on some of the bargain memberships. Many are for only the parks that existed when the membership was first drafted x years ago while others include all new parks when they are added. LazyDays does have the best deal, even if you buy an old clunker pop-up you still get a single coast TT Membership and for about a $1000 add-on you get National along with all new parks when they open. The annual fee is closer to the $400 mark and if you want they will give you open storage for free. Your children can inherit without the big transfer fees also.

Even though they are closed parks you can sponsor guests to stay in one of TT's trailers for a fee.

Rangers and security patrols are pretty regular and the parks are maintained pretty well. Canoes, row boats, mini golf etcetera are all included and do not cost extra. You only pay extra if you want to join them for one of the meals or barbyques. Free Wifi too. They are also very pet friendly. They will never turn a member away even if you show up without a reservation. Terms of sale to the current owner provided that even if there was only one paying member left they can not close the parks, even if they sell the parks that provisio is reported to be persistant and will be passed on to the new park owners.

Pencil time: If you take just the free membership provided by LazyDays you recoupe your annual fee if you stay about 8 to 10 days. Many under $40 parks I have stayed at charge extra for the kids and the pets and end up costing $50 to $60. Some will also require an insurance rider if your dog is too big to suite them.

[aktravler]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content"> This was promoting two new RV resorts(Indian Trails), one outside Indianapolis and the other outside Cincinnati. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I can find no information on these. Are you sure they are Thousand Trails and not one of the other organizations?

[Glen Taylor Jr.]

When I bought my new motor home, got a four days three nights stay. Went to the one in Cottonwood Az. Went through the sales pitch. Asked them for a map of where there places were at. East coast, west coast and Texas. Asked them what was in the middle. They were few and far between. If I didn't buy now($5000) now or next year,2007 it would be $70000. Told them later.