Community Forums

rvnewbieingp · 08-09-2013, 02:38 PM

Hi Everyone. Fairly new to RV'ing (have had ours for about 2 mos now). We are heading out on our 3rd camping trip so far and the place we are going asked if we had Good Sam club for a 10% discount. We don't and I haven't even had a chance yet to look into this membership club and what all they offer. Thought I'd ask here first regarding folks' opinions about it. Are their benefits and what they offer worth it? all opinions welcome - good, bad or otherwise.

thanks!

JohnBoyToo · 08-09-2013, 02:52 PM

Welcome !
At the right time of the year your yearly membership cost you $25 and they give you a $25 credit

I think if you spend any money @ camping world or online at camping world or stay at camp grounds that give a good sam discount, it's worth it (IMHO )

EDALLSAILS · 08-09-2013, 02:56 PM

Many people swear by GOOD SAM'S and just as many swear at them. !0% discount is claimed but you can do better than that with PASSPORT AMERICA. Usually 50% Discount and many many locations. Good Sams will FLOOD your e-mail, US Mail box with all kinds of offers. Insurance, Camping world Stores sales etc. With GS you get a window into their so called clubs and rallies which may or may not interest you. Safe travels.. ed

UFO Pilot · 08-09-2013, 02:59 PM

We have it but I am getting more and more aggravated with Marcus Lemonis and his business model every day. Be prepared to get bombed with junk mail and spam email almost every day. I have tried every suggestion to stop the flow and even emailed Marcus himself to no avail. AAA, AARP will both get you 10% off at quite a few Parks. Passport America is by far the best discount program, in my opinion.

JudyH · 08-09-2013, 03:05 PM

We were premier members for awhile but I got mad at them didn't renew. Then I wanted to buy something and they paid me back the 25 to join up again. So we are members again. We don't get their junk mail anymore, as I called them and asked them to quit sending it. They give a discount at camping world, and at some campgrounds. It comes out to be a wash if you join, it will pay for itself. Happy Travels!

GaryKD · 08-09-2013, 03:05 PM

Hi rvnewbieingp,
There are a bunch of clubs and organizations one can join. Consider going to their web site and understand what they offer as benefits. The club is a benefit only if the benefits match how you RV. I am a life time member of quite a few clubs:
1. Good Sam
2. FMCA
3. Passport America
4. Newmar Kountry Klub (owners club)
5. RV/MH Museum & Hall Of Fame

Then I have:
1. KOA Value Card
2. Cummins Power Club
3. Club Yogi
4. Encore Royalty Club
5. America The Beautiful Senior Pass (62+ free entry to National Parks)

Unlike others, I do not get junk mail from any of these organizations. There are more, but I forget them at the moment. The point of this is if you use the membership, go for it.

G.G. · 08-09-2013, 04:49 PM

We are GS members. We've gotten the discount at probably 95% of the places we've stayed since leaving on 7/3. It more than pays for itself since it is so inexpensive.
We also don't get the junk mail.

We're also members of Passport America, but haven't been successful using it on this leg of the trip. Hopefully, we'll be able to use it during the next month.

We've found that both GS and PA have been beneficial. If one doesn't work, the other will, and we've used them both at the same campground. When the PA was no longer viable due to the restrictions, we were then allowed to apply GS for the remaining days.

baraff · 08-09-2013, 07:16 PM

We always end renewing our GS membership whenever we have to buy something at a Camping World. This year we got a free night camping out of it, so it paid for itself.
We haven't gotten the deluge of junk mail, but I don't care, we have a recycle bin.
Personally I like Passport America, best bang for the buck.

Fred1609 · 08-09-2013, 08:30 PM

We are GS members as well. Its always the time when your on the road and you need to buy something at CW and the discount comes in handy. We are currently at 7 feathers in Canyonville, Or. 3 days ago I bought a replacement convertor at CW and saved about $50. I had phoned a bunch of RV service centres before finding one at CW. I know I could have saved money by buying it on line but that's no help when your in a Camp Ground watching your lights twitching. So all in all, the 10% savings, the highways/trailer magazine and the savings for emerg purchases at CW have made the membership worth it IMHO.

datrbone8 · 08-09-2013, 08:38 PM

It's worth the small amount of money it costs by giving you CAmping World and campground discounts. We don't get spam or junk mail.

Mr_D · 08-09-2013, 08:50 PM

We are charter lifetime GS members, not sure if I'd pay to join now though. FMCA gives you as good a discount at the same places and there's not much else other than a bigger discount at Pilot and Flying J for diesel. Even with the discount you can do better with a little looking.

Arch Hoagland · 08-09-2013, 10:30 PM

We've been on the road four weeks now through California, Nevada, Idaho and Oregon.

Every place we've stayed honored Good Sam, except the KOA...which we also have along with AAA.

Well worth the membership price.

jpharley · 08-10-2013, 06:55 AM

You can turn off the junk mail. We are members and receive no junk mail at all. I think you can do it from their website. We eliminated all junk mail whe. We went full time. Took so e time and effort but was worth it to us. We occasionally use our GoodSam membership but usually use PassPort America.

PyrateSilly · 08-10-2013, 07:50 AM

If you are prior military you can get the 10% discount without joining any of the clubs. As a matter of fact you can get a discount at lots of places. If you are not prior military then just ask what discounts they do offer at the CG and most will just go ahead and give you one anyway. Be aware there are some CG's that do not offer any discounts but I have found that those that don't are usually cheaper anyway then the national chains and cleaner and friendlier.
We did belong to GS but since we get most of the things for the RV other places and for cheaper we just have not renewed and I am not sure we will.