Good Sam Club "Update"

[IC2]

A week or so ago I received a letter from Good Sam Club aka Camping World. They have 'upgraded my CW "President's Club" membership to a "Deluxe" Good Sam membership. Sure, I've read their glowing letter but have my doubts that I've really gained anything, especially since my local CW is over 150 miles away now, instead of 30. Years ago, 1980-1982 or thereabouts I had a Good Sam membership (recall Trailer Life pushing it) and it gave me absolutely zero advantage. Discounts at RV parks nationwide - I was laughed at to the point the decal came off as KOA offered so much more at the time.

Now - my question - since my renewal is due in a couple months is Good Sam Club worth the effort and the few bucks it costs? We will be taking an extended trip in the spring or fall, depending on outside conflicts. Will this actually do anything positive for me? Do you folks have good things to say about the "new" arrangement with CW?

[SRT]

Quote:

Originally Posted by IC2 A week or so ago I received a letter from Good Sam Club aka Camping World. They have 'upgraded my CW "President's Club" membership to a "Deluxe" Good Sam membership. Sure, I've read their glowing letter but have my doubts that I've really gained anything, especially since my local CW is over 150 miles away now, instead of 30. Years ago, 1980-1982 or thereabouts I had a Good Sam membership (recall Trailer Life pushing it) and it gave me absolutely zero advantage. Discounts at RV parks nationwide - I was laughed at to the point the decal came off as KOA offered so much more at the time. Now - my question - since my renewal is due in a couple months is Good Sam Club worth the effort and the few bucks it costs? We will be taking an extended trip in the spring or fall, depending on outside conflicts. Will this actually do anything positive for me? Do you folks have good things to say about the "new" arrangement with CW?

"My" Camping World is 180+ miles away. I've kept up my President's Club as occasionally I make a large purchase where the discount is nice. Not too sure about this merging of CW and Good Sam's (which I dropped several years ago).

[akadeadeye]

One distinct advantage.

With all the mail you receive from Good Sam, you never have to buy fire starter logs.

Don

[IC2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by akadeadeye One distinct advantage. With all the mail you receive from Good Sam, you never have to buy fire starter logs. Don

I hadn't considered that - and a positive. Thanks

[Gary RVRoamer]

We also dropped our GS membership a few years ago - we did not get any benefit except the 10% discount and (for us) that wasn't worth the annual fee. We did keep a Presidents Club membership because once in awhile we bought stuff at CW and the discount was (barely) enough to offset the membership cost. But we don't buy much as CW anymore and will probably let it lapse when it expires next fall. If we ever do make a big purchase at CW, we can always re-join right on the spot and get the discount.

[demoon]

I hesitate to say this for fear I will jinx myself, but I have been a GS member for almost 15 years and never receive any junk mail. I actually saved a little more than my membership dues with the 10% discount on a recent trip. Camping World - could care less if it is part of the deal - too far away and too high priced.

[smiller]

I don't think there's anything to be gained unless you normally maintain both Good Sam and President's Club memberships, in which case the new combined card is a little cheaper. I guess I got a bit of an advantage because when they combined my two memberships the expiration date was the longest of either membership, so I ended up getting another two years of President's Club for free. Whoopee.

[Arch Hoagland]

We signed up for three years on the last renewal. We also got a letter about the upgrade but I didn't read it, just so they don't charge me anymore for it.

Ours pays for itself as we travel around the country a lot and the 10% helps a lot. We are also KOA members and I'm an Elk.

Staying at Elk's RV parks costs about $15 to $20 a night.

[Dick Noble]

We are life time members so not having to pay for the Pres. Club is a plus.

[Mr_D]

We are Charter Lifetime Members and hardly ever belonged to the Presidents Club. After 55 years of RV'ing there really isn't much we need.

[Clifftall]

I let my Pres. Club membership expire last year. I have a Good Sam Card and make good use of it each year. I was in CW the other day and they offered to renew my GS card for 20.00 and like mentioned above it would be honored at both. The only problem was that they processed it as a new membership in stead of extending my GS to April 2013 as my current GS is good till April 2012. Now I have two memberships. Lucky me. They told me that CW is making that mistake quite frequently. Now I have to wait and see if they combine the two.

[dajudge]

I just got my letter in the mail. I had dropped my President club membership since I
can buy anything online at cheaper prices than CW. Since the expiration date on the GS card is not till next year, I will try it and see how much I save. I seem to remember years ago there were many more campgrounds giving GS discounts than at present.

[99-Am.Star]

We join the President Club back in December, and they told us they were merging the two. Also said that it would called "The Club" from now on. Saved the cos the first use in the store.

[Steve N Sal]

I let my GS membership lapse a few years ago. The only thing that I liked was the monthly magazine. All the junk mail you get is just that JUNK! As far as my Presidents card or whatever they call it now I never seemed to use anyway. I don't make many trips into a Camping World or at least when I do go I never seem to be buying anything.