Should we form a "proper" club?
- Richard Moss
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Should we form a "proper" club?
Just bashing the thought around, triggered off by thinking about the Cars in the Park at Lichfield.
I don't suggest for one moment an "old fashioned" club that has a monthly magazine and £30+ per year membership fees but really an extension of what we are now. A one-off payment of a couple of quid should pay for all the membership paperwork and so on and we can keep it internet based to keep it cheap and immediate (who wants to wait 2 months to have a "letter to the editor" answered?). That small fee would be repaid many times over through benefits.
Part of the reasoning behind it is that clubs can get good deals that individuals can't. For example, spares suppliers may give discounts and certainly insurance companies will. I know that Adrian Flux give 15% discount for members of www.xj40.com, for example, and they cover drivers under the age of 25 and have cheap breakdown cover too.
It would need a bit of planning and organisation but it may be worth it. A club can gain privileged access to shows (such as the Classic Car show at the NEC in the autumn) often including free tickets as a thank you for turning up (as at the NEC!).
Mal (MG Mal) has just got involved in the Metro owners club so I'm looking for some advice here.
Is it worth thinking about?
I don't suggest for one moment an "old fashioned" club that has a monthly magazine and £30+ per year membership fees but really an extension of what we are now. A one-off payment of a couple of quid should pay for all the membership paperwork and so on and we can keep it internet based to keep it cheap and immediate (who wants to wait 2 months to have a "letter to the editor" answered?). That small fee would be repaid many times over through benefits.
Part of the reasoning behind it is that clubs can get good deals that individuals can't. For example, spares suppliers may give discounts and certainly insurance companies will. I know that Adrian Flux give 15% discount for members of www.xj40.com, for example, and they cover drivers under the age of 25 and have cheap breakdown cover too.
It would need a bit of planning and organisation but it may be worth it. A club can gain privileged access to shows (such as the Classic Car show at the NEC in the autumn) often including free tickets as a thank you for turning up (as at the NEC!).
Mal (MG Mal) has just got involved in the Metro owners club so I'm looking for some advice here.
Is it worth thinking about?
Out in the desert with a 1998 Grand Cherokee V8, 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4L and a 1997 Chevy Tahoe V8. Back home: 1969 MGC GT
- Lord Sterling
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- Richard Moss
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- Joined: Fri Aug 29, 2008 10:48 pm
- Location: Al Ain, Abu Dhabi
- Contact:
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Of course it's a good idea.
What exactly do we have to do, that we don't already do, to become "a club" (as far as an insurer would be concerned)?
Presumably an insurer would need a point of contact to verify the club's status, ascertain numbers and that.
Otherwise couldn't just two guys go "Oh yeah, we're the Dumfriesshire Cosworth Owners Club. Can we get a discount?"?
What exactly do we have to do, that we don't already do, to become "a club" (as far as an insurer would be concerned)?
Presumably an insurer would need a point of contact to verify the club's status, ascertain numbers and that.
Otherwise couldn't just two guys go "Oh yeah, we're the Dumfriesshire Cosworth Owners Club. Can we get a discount?"?
- Richard Moss
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On the insurance issue, as far as I'm aware Adrian Flux didn't want any proof for the www.xj40.com offer. Here's what they said to John who runs it:
www.xj40.com are a "club" in exactly the same way as we are - an internet interest group which, let's be honest, is a damn sight more active than many old-style clubs.Dear XJ40.com member,
Re: Insurance with up to 15% discount for Club members.
Adrian Flux Insurance Services are pleased to announce their association with the XJ40 Owners Club and all its members who enthusiastically support the Club.
We are able to offer up to 15% discount on policies for Club Members and would welcome enquiries from all XJ40 Owners, including younger drivers looking for Classic-style policies as well as modified car drivers and convicted drivers.
Why choose Adrian Flux Insurance Services?
For the past 30 years Adrian Flux Insurance Services has developed into the country's leading agent for Specialist Motor Insurance, providing services dedicated to the specific needs of our clients. This enables us to offer all drivers' competitive premiums and excellent service coupled with special discounted rates for Car Club members.
Our 'specialist' schemes enable us to provide very competitive premiums and added benefits such as free legal cover and ‘Classic’ breakdown cover from only £32 for Homestart and European cover.
Call today on Freephone: 0800 089 0035
I hope that this is acceptable and we look forward to assisting you and your members' and hopefully with the relevant discounts our premiums should be competitive.
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- jago
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that sounds like a fantastic idea. the insurance thing will be a missive thing for me lol......however making the the site an official OC gould give people a change to put back into the forum / site more, by devloping a tech faq section for prospective owners etc...
as for club discounts i think i could get the official club a discount on engine parts.....
as for club discounts i think i could get the official club a discount on engine parts.....
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- Lord Sterling
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Yes it sounds about right, I phoned up the said insurer yesterday for a quote, I was also asked if I belonged to a club amongst other things but they did not ask the name of the club or anything else.Richard Moss wrote:...On the insurance issue, as far as I'm aware Adrian Flux didn't want any proof for the www.xj40.com offer...
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When i saw linking the two. This immediately sprung into my head, Is doug still wanting to sell up on the other site? If so. see how much he wants and have those URL's too? It may cost extra, but that could be a step in the right direction to making the 800 community bigger?
Correct me if im wrong, Jono
Correct me if im wrong, Jono
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- Kyle
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IMO:
A small membership fee is fine.
But as others have discussed above don't do a 'doug'.
Still have free access, but have benefits with full membership, as you point out. If people get help in the first place they will probably be more willing to contribute.
If you do decide to make a charge, it would be interesting to post up how membership fees are spent, and polls could be used for example to decide what to spend it on. I know of course hosting, domains and some other things are essential.
I'm not quite sure on these insurers 'discounts'. They may just be doing it, so that people in clubs will block buy, or so that people think they are getting a better deal when they may actually not be.
A small membership fee is fine.
But as others have discussed above don't do a 'doug'.
Still have free access, but have benefits with full membership, as you point out. If people get help in the first place they will probably be more willing to contribute.
If you do decide to make a charge, it would be interesting to post up how membership fees are spent, and polls could be used for example to decide what to spend it on. I know of course hosting, domains and some other things are essential.
I'm not quite sure on these insurers 'discounts'. They may just be doing it, so that people in clubs will block buy, or so that people think they are getting a better deal when they may actually not be.
Last edited by Kyle on Wed Apr 01, 2009 6:51 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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