Thursday, November 17, 2011

Good Sam Club members: "Marketing tools?"

The CEO of Good Sam Enterprises, Marcus Lemonis, in an interview Nov. 11, described the company today as a "financial services company that has some clubs and magazines as marketing tools." He said the company's future would go in a new direction, away from magazine and book publishing (Trailer life, Motorhome, etc.) and clubs. "Roadside assistance has become the product of the day," he explained. Good Sam is also parent to national RV dealer network FreedomRoads LLC and Camping World retail stores. What do you think about this? Please leave a comment.

95 Comments:

At November 19, 2011 at 2:38 AM , Anonymous Dennis the Menace said...

It sounds like he is only speaking what already is in place. We don't mind being marketed to, just wish there prices were reasonable? How about Just "Sam's Club"? Maybe a Walmart/Good Sam Club? LOL Just feel offended most of the time at their prices at Camping World.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 3:53 AM , Anonymous Howard Hammerman said...

Thanks for the news. I suspected as much since editorial content of the mags seems to go down each month while the advertisements go up. Good Sam now seems like a company to get us to buy insurance on the RVs when they work, to buy insurance for the RVs when they break down, and to buy gadgets for the times in between. No way will I renew my subscriptions.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 4:25 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I enjoy their magazines and since they started out as "help" for RVers, I think they should stay the way they are.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 4:33 AM , Anonymous westerndrifter said...

Sounds like their intention is to exploit our interest in the RV life for profits in the insurance industry. I have no problem with them profiting from insurances and other avenues to help support the Magazines and clubs that are the reason that most of us belong to Good Sam.

If it is their intention to reduce or eliminate their support of the RV life by reducing support or eliminating the magazines and clubs, then I can just as easily eliminate them. There are other providers of insurance available.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 4:43 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am disappointed. There several companies that give me roadside assistance. If the Motorhome Mag is gone and the Good Sam club. Then they have lost all of my business. We don't have a Camping World store in our home area. And yes, I marked the other survey as one having a large class A

 
At November 19, 2011 at 4:46 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

We were members of GS years ago but didn't use it enough to justify the cost. But, recently we rejoined when they had their $12/yr. offer. With a Class B motorhome we have little use for most of their services so only enjoy the magazine and an occasional discount at a GS park.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 4:46 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Wonderful! Now Good Sam is a bank (Financial Services Organization) and look where they have got us. Perhaps it's time to start an Occupy Good Sam movement or else Good Sam members will be the 99% and Good Sam the 1%. Reminds me of when I was a college prof and management referred to students as FUs (Funding Units).

 
At November 19, 2011 at 4:49 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Gee..It's so much fun being a Marketing Tool! For most RVers Good Sam has little or no value, Camping World is an overpriced Toy store. If you can find it at Camping world you can find it elsewhere for much less. I avoid them both. I'd rather spend my money with local independent famlly run stores. I dislike corporate greed.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 4:50 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

IT SUCKS, MONEY MONEY

 
At November 19, 2011 at 4:53 AM , Blogger Richard said...

He had better do something, they are in debt up to their ears.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 4:54 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Does this mean we will be getting more junk mail?

 
At November 19, 2011 at 4:58 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I emailed Good Sam Customer Service early this week asking about this. Customer service denied any knowledge of their CEO saying it.

I emailed back and told them that was the final straw, and I was no longer renewing.

They can find another "marketing tool", and I wasted many years paying them dues.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 5:01 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Not happy about this.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 5:07 AM , Blogger Mikee said...

REALLY!?!?!? I guess that the intention is to only offer GS perks to those who have a policy of some sort with them??

 
At November 19, 2011 at 5:16 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

If I was not a life time member, at this time I would not join Good Sams. It needs to the RVs club and not another selling tool for the RV Dealers.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 5:21 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I just hope they stay solvent because our extended service plan is through them. I think Campers World needs a lot of improvement i.e. high prices poor service poorly trained techs.
Just my opinion!
Tom S
On the road in 06 Dip

 
At November 19, 2011 at 5:43 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am sure we are great marketing tools,but. I only use Good Sam as information and great stories and campground info. Insurance I have with others and I do shop at Camping World. Hope it doesn't change. Jack

 
At November 19, 2011 at 5:44 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

This should be no surprise to anyone. For the last several years Good Sam / Afinity Group's sole purpose has been to sell merchandise and insurance while pretending to care about their members and families. They took a good organization and turned it into a money making machine.... and this proves it's all about MONEY ! GORDON

 
At November 19, 2011 at 5:44 AM , Anonymous Dr. L. L. Sims said...

Any change in direction will be an improvement over the present philosophy. I don't find membership in "GoodSam" an advantage in my RVing experience.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 5:45 AM , Anonymous Glen Scofield said...

I have subscribed to Trailer Life for several years, now. This last issue is my last one. The magazine has begun to bear out the statement above: that readers and club members are just tools for a larger, more lucrative effort by the Good Sam parent organization. That is a true shame: RV'rs like me need the constant availability of experts and enthusiasts in order to enhance our own skills and to encourage RVing. Trailer Life and Motor Home magazines have become essentally catalogs for gear and units that are not needed or wanted in the place of real, useful articles, advice and technical information.

While their efforts may be good for the bottom line of Good Sam's parent company, they will be bad for the average RV'er like us.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 5:55 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

You mean the good spam company? They would make a lot more money if they didn't send out all the crap in the mail. The only thing I get out out of them is the camp ground discounts for membership. As far as camping world should be called rip off world.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 6:03 AM , Blogger David and Donna said...

This direction became painfully obvious many months ago when I downloaded the Good Same Highways magazine and found it full of advertizement for Camping world. Maybe three camping articles at best. There could have been more, but they got lost in the Camping World advertisements.

David Driver
Emery, SD

 
At November 19, 2011 at 6:10 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

If they want me for my wallet they will be sad as my wallet is closed.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 6:11 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Truth at last. I'm so tired of all that junk mail. Magazine primarily of ads. Takes only a few seconds to page through it. Only use Good Sam membership to get a discount at campgrounds. Sometimes wonder if it is worth it....

 
At November 19, 2011 at 6:11 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Yes, it is pretty easy to see that Good Sam is more commercial than ever (I think). We are full time Good Samers. We purchased road side emergency assistance through Good Sam. We purchased insurance for some of our vehicles through Good Sam until the cost become too high and we had to switch.
I believe Good Sam is not so much the real "Good Samaritan" any more for varied reasons. Most rvers have "paid-for" or purchased the needed help that once was offered by caring fellow travelers. Therefore, you and I don't need to offer our help to the one needing service.
Our well cared for motorhome is over 10 years old. But, we still received offers from Good Sam for extended service until recently. I called and ask that we be taken off the mailing list.
Understanding the reasons and needs, doesn't mean we like all the changes.
We are glad to be "Good Sam"ers. We have been treated with immediate and courteous attention in every call.
Road Side Assistance purchased through Good Sam has been a great benefit to us.
For sure, we are not about to cancel our Lifetime Membership.
Good Sam RVers are just down to earth good people.
In general, I think, most RVers are ready to assist another whether they/we are members of a club or not.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 6:11 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. I truly will miss the magazines, etc. Lot's of interesting news and tips in them. They are a window to the world.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 6:13 AM , Blogger Jeff Glazer said...

The Good Sam magazines are all excellent products. I also have my RV insurance and extended warranty through them. I had my ERS through them but switched to AAA when they tried to screw a traveling companion after a breakdown.

I make use of their retail stores and web site, but I also look for options. Their "President's Club" is just too cute for their own good. They make you pay a membership fee for the privilege of buying at the same price at which their competitors sell.

But if they are looking to base their new business model on their RV dealers they had better spend a lot of time and money upgrading the quality of their service departments. My local service department is nothing short of awful, and I have heard many stories about others as well. They consistently miss promised deadlines, don't perform the repairs that they said they did, and lie about the most trivial things. But they are great at making excuses.

Wake up, Good Sam! Make sure your business model and the needs of your customers are in line.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 6:16 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have been watching the evolution. I think it is radical change from the orginal concept of Good Sams... a source for RVers. I will continue watching but so far, I am not a fan.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 6:30 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

If they are going to go primary road side service they need to get more tow services involved. We had a blow out on our fiver last week in Louisiana. We were about 20 miles from a good sized town. When we contacted Good Sam, we were advised it would be 70 minutes before someone would be there. (and in the past we have usually added at least 30 minutes to the time estimate) That is unacceptable! We have Big Foot on our fiver, so my husband changed the tire. We are seniors, so it took about 40 minutes to change the tire. We also tow with a MDT so we have the air compressor with all the tools available.

Sue

 
At November 19, 2011 at 6:32 AM , Anonymous Gary Ft Collins, CO said...

I think it is a great philosophy if he wants to lose loyal customers. I have already been using Good Sam products and services less and less. Now that I am just a marketing tool I see no reason to support Good Sam.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 6:33 AM , Blogger Rick Long said...

Apparently he doesn't understand that we had a choice for Road-Side assistance, Good Sam or Coach-Net and we chose Good Sam because we are MEMBERS of the GOOD SAM CLUB. Drop the CLUB and watch your marketing tools disappear.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 6:45 AM , Blogger Dick Slater said...

This proves the point that the Good Sam Club has been heading in this direction for quite a while now. It's just a business...they really don't care about OUR main interest...camping and having fun in the great outdoors.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 6:59 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

When a good "club", that for the most part we member-driven and providing services to their members, is taken over by a organization that is in business to sell RV's, RV supplies and maintenance services, then this is the result you get. Less for the members, more for the company, more profits for Camping World. A few "tweaks" to how Good Sam did run the business was all that was needed. Now the corporate mind-set rules. Sad.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 7:14 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Last year my hubby paid the fees to become a gold gs member to the tune of $250. Now, we have a membership to nothing. This is just the way of the world, get the money, screw the customer.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 7:30 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

For some time now Good Sam has been telling us they are consolidating the various companies. Your President Club membership will be part of Good Sam and all one card. It makes sense they put more into insurance since we all know there isn't a poor insurance company. Its a business and if we don't like it we can look elsewhere.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 7:45 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Service and assistance to Good Sam members will give way to pursuit of the dollar. Another example of the exploitation of Americans by corporate greed!

 
At November 19, 2011 at 7:47 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

The fact is that since Good Sam is dependent on advertising dollars, the reviews of RVs, products, and services are useless. A honest review that is negative will result in a loss of advertising dollars. Good Sam no longer serves the interests of their customers.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 7:48 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Will not renew my Good Sam or Camping World membership. Are there any GOOD RV clubs around? Not a full-timer yet but love the lifestyle and the people involved. Don't mind the ads in the mags as long as the RV content is good. I know there are online mags but thats not the same as a printed one.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 7:58 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

If that is the direction they have chosen, more power to them. There are other clubs and organizations anxious to fill the needs of RVers. And more will be created as more needs are left unattended.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 8:03 AM , Blogger Keith and Edna (Surfside 2001) Travels said...

FMCA also offers 10% discounts at RV parks too. Camping World prices are higher than those you can get off the internet from others who most of the time ship their products free. I enjoy the magazines and will miss them. I too are both a ERS & ESP customer.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 8:05 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

From reading most of the below comments, I think the CEO had better find other ways for the company to make a profit. I'm sure he and the board are doing that now but from my perspective , you're about to jump from the pan into the fire.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 8:20 AM , Blogger Martin said...

Anyone with any intelligence at all would see this company is in business to pick the pockets of anyone who cares little about the price of things they purchase.

They continue to market to the affluent rver who thinks if it is bigger and costs more it has to be better. We use some of their services because we recoup more than the cost of the membership but it is getting more difficult year by year. The emphasis on the high dollar rver will ultimately cause their collapse. They will desert them in droves when fuel costs etc become unbearable even for those who now rationalize this bigger is better and ever more costly lifestyle. Many of the large and costly rv producers are bankrupt or are on the edge of financial Armageddon.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 8:32 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

That famous principle,"Follow the Money" once again raises its head.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 8:46 AM , Anonymous Bonnie A said...

We are full time rver's and have been GS memebers for years..we purchase rodeside assistance every year and have even used it once with good results BUT we will not renew again..to much junk mail, prices to high at Camping World. Walmart has as good a selection of camping products for less $$!! The magazines are nothing but ads so will not miss them and that is a shame because they used to be informative and useful to travelers. So bottom line, we don't care what you do with "your company" you have gotten the last of our business. The camping discounts suck and often are not honored unless you take the worst site the campground has so certainly not worth the money.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 8:49 AM , Blogger walt66 said...

Sounds like he is only interested in money, had their roadside service program years ago, got screwed for a tow bill and dropped it. Like Highways Magazine, but lately it has become a Camping World ad. If they go by the wayside, no great loss, something else will fill the void.
Walt

 
At November 19, 2011 at 8:56 AM , Blogger PapaS said...

It's interesting how Marcus Lemonis story changes depending on the audience he is speaking to. Not long ago I had an email about all the good changes they were making to Good Sam.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 9:23 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

As full-timers, we joined GS last year and renewed again this year. But it will be the last year! I cannot stand CW stores, especially their service depts. They do shoddy work, are very difficult to deal with, etc. And the stores themselves are overpriced. I had an issue with a refer and had to go to Dometic to get it resolved (which they did quickly and efficiently). I would much rather deal with local RV repair shops and stores and will not renew my GS or President's Club memberships when they expire. GS seems to see us as only a way to make money.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 9:25 AM , Blogger safari99 said...

When I started RVing a few years back I was excited to get Lifetime Membership in the Good Sam Club. Now I feel trapped. The value that I thought I saw in club membership is not there. I thought I was joining a club that offered camping and maintenance information which was very important for a newbie like me. Instead, most of what I get is marketing "junk". Information that I do not want or need. It is a waste of resorces to send it to me and a waste of my time to have to deal with it. I feel like I have been decieved........... I want my lifetime membership money back. I have a motor coach and find that FMCA membership offers everything and more than I had expected from Good Sam membership.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 9:26 AM , Blogger rvlovers10100 said...

As far as I am concerned Good Sam Club has turned into a typical big-dollar organization with no interest with its members, unless they want to buy insurance, road side assist or any other give us money and we hope you don't use it. The reviews I have read of people buying RVs from Camping world, especially used,as well as the prices they charge made me drop my president's membership and I did not renew my Good Sam's membership either. I am betting that the CEO doesn't even travel by RV or has ever owned one!

 
At November 19, 2011 at 9:31 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

The less I buy from Good Sam whatever, the better I like it.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 9:46 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Leave Good Sams ALONE!!!!!

 
At November 19, 2011 at 9:52 AM , Anonymous Danny said...

We've been members for seversl years but will not renew. We just can't afford to buy another shredder, burned out three on all the junk mail.
Hate the new Camping World Catalog they started sending out instead of Highways. Everything is over priced
at CW,try J C Whitney and Sportsmans Guide instead

 
At November 19, 2011 at 10:15 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

FMCA also offers 10% discounts at RV parks too. Camping World prices are higher than those you can get off the internet from others who most of the time ship their products free. I enjoy the magazines and will miss them. I too are both a ERS & ESP customer.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 10:21 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I believe the good Sam's Club membership will continue to decline if they continue in the directionthey have been going.The Good Sams Club used to be about its members. The members don't seem to matter to the club anymore.
Money is the only thing they care about. I most likey will drop my membership when the renewal comes up.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 10:44 AM , Anonymous Rick Watson said...

That sucks! I feel bad for the people who paid to be Lifetime Members of Good Sam. I just won't renew my membership when it comes due.
I understand that they are a business and need to make money. However, if they are now a "financial services" company instead of a company that has a mission to help RV'ers, I don't need that. Good bye Good Sam.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 11:32 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

We have enough financial services companies thank you and we don't need to be inundated with more marketing calls or mail.
We joined Good Sam for the comradery of the local rv'ers. Even 10% off of some rv campgrounds is not a big deal as there are some that offer up to 50% off--so that is not a big feature of Good Sam.
Sounds to me like another Wall Street ploy---maybe we should OGS---Occupy Good Sam!

 
At November 19, 2011 at 1:12 PM , Anonymous Bob Gleeson said...

I am a member of the Good Sam Club and always interested in Camping World's special and deals. I have purchased numerous items for our rv while wintering in Florida. The only disappointment is when I'm home in Canada and wish to purchase from Camping World, the shipping costs are exorbitant and therefore a disappointment.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 1:30 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Disappointed to discover that the RV clubs are "just marketing tools," especially since the membership rate for a Good Sam Club in Texas just increased from $2 per rig to $5 per rig, plus the members have to have individual Good Sam memberships! Since combining Camping World and Highways into one magazine, it has not had the interesting articles as in the past--mainly just advertisements. Also, the Motorhome Magazine does not have the quality content of the past. Debating whether to continue my subscription to that since they will not allow you to download articles that you would like to have for reference in computer (like many other periodicals allow) unless you pay for both the digital and print version. My husband prefers the print.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 1:35 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

It is unfortunate the quality of the magazine contend has gone down hill and shopping in Camping World is not as much fun as it once was. Now we are seeing some of the reasons why.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 2:11 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Might just as well take this approach, Trailer Life magazine was nothing but a series of ads with an occasional informational article. Too bad as it used to be a great magazine.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 3:20 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I think the Good Sam CEO is way out of touch with the avarage member and with his attidude will run Good Sam into bankruptcy

 
At November 19, 2011 at 3:37 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

GOOD SAM IN THE PAST HAS ALWAYS BEEN AN INDICATOR OF RELIABLE CAMPGROUND RATINGS, QUALITY CAMPGROUND DIRECTORIES, AND USEFUL ROAD ATLAS PRODUCTS FOR US. AS FOR DISCOUNTS AT CAMPING WORLD, THAT HAS BEEN A JOKE FOR SOMETIME. I STOPPED PAYING GS MEMBERSHIP ABOUT 4 YEARS AGO WHEN I REALIZED THE GOOD SAM ORGANIZATION. HAD SHIFTED ITS PRIORITIES TO PUSHING PRODUCTS RATHER THAN SERVING ITS MEMBERS. I REALLY MISS THE HIGH QUALITY MAGAZINE THEY OFFERED IN THE PAST.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 3:47 PM , Anonymous Jerry said...

Lemonis will use every method at his disposal to seperate the RV'er from his dollars! That is his job...to get Good Sam out of the "Red"...just look at how many millions of dollars they have had to borrow. He has to figure out how to get US, the RV'er to generate the dollars to do it. Good Sam is not for the members anymore, just profits!

 
At November 19, 2011 at 4:58 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Well does anybody find this a copy of what AARP became or it just me?
AARP found out that they could make more money by sell insurance than helping the senior citizens.
and look what has happened to them.
I was good sam member and have read Motorhome mag for at least 10yrs but not anymore.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 5:08 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am currently looking around for a substitute and found many that are supplying the exact same services if not more.It is a shame that my club is now using me as a payment, rather than a member.The down home feel has lost it's glitter and C**ch N*t is what I am looking at now when my dues end next year....x@#@**.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 5:20 PM , Blogger Unknown said...

Well let see if you want to take all the people that the company's spend a lot of time and $$ working to get, and then also throw all the people that work for all these company's out,and get rid of all the customers that are there who want the old magazines with all the articles,and RV comparisons,and product test out with the bath water, well i like many others will bail out and leave you in a NY minute. I do not need another road assistance or financial company to try and take more of my money for there benefit and i get nothing in return, so you go make your changes and enjoy your now world with out me and many others!!

 
At November 19, 2011 at 5:45 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have found Escapees RV Club to be the best there is. I have seen Good Sam Club go to the commercial side of life for the past several years. It's too bad, because at one time they were a great organization.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 6:05 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

the inevitable beginning of the end for the former Affinity Group. perhaps things might have been different had they paid attention the the few things they were doing somewhat correctly.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 7:02 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hey, Lemonis-- if you make over 950 thousand Good Sam members mad and they leave, who are you going to "market" to???? You better remember who built the organization you're trying to destroy. We can go and form another club and you'll be out in the cold bro.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 7:12 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

We have been part of GS for a number of years mostly for the magazines and campground discounts. It is sad to say that Club members are marketing tools. We have been members of Family Campers & RVers for 30 years. This is an all volunteer group who is most interesed in camping, not selling you something. They have a website and have chapters in most States & Provinces.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 7:24 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Each year at Good Sam renewal time I weigh the value of the membership against all the junk mail and wear-and-tear on my shredder. Each year the scales tip a little more toward no renewal.e

 
At November 19, 2011 at 8:02 PM , Blogger oRV said...

I have been a Good Sam Club member for decades and am a Life Member. If it wern't for that Life membership, I'd simply part ways as it is quite clear that the present management cares little for we long-term Samaratins who were part of a once fine service organization. Today's Good Sam Rallys are now over-priced sales events and my once treasured Motor Home Magazine has grown thin on the content while the pages are now geared toward selling us products they want to sell. . . especially the page after page of RV sales in the back. I want my Good Sam back with a halo above his head and a heart filled with caring about one another. Change is inevitable and sometimes even good. . . GREED is never good. Just one humble old man's opinion. . . as always, Orvil Hazelton

 
At November 19, 2011 at 8:19 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

You could see this coming down the road several years ago when they got affilated with the affinity groupe.At one point they were rumors of bankrupsy.Why can't the wheelers and dealers leave well enough alone?

 
At November 19, 2011 at 8:48 PM , Blogger Photoking said...

Clearly the beginning of the end. I never DID feel they were good value, now I know why under this sort of leadership.
How long will it be till they go bankrupt?
I will not be dealing with them.

 
At November 19, 2011 at 10:39 PM , Anonymous 1Nshort said...

Well...it does not sound good. When you treat your members like cash cows, they go away. No members, no support..no money. They will go bankrupt. It's sad, but there are other alternatives that do care about RVing and Camping. Ex Good Sam members wll move to, including me when the time comes.

 
At November 20, 2011 at 6:36 AM , Blogger jassy said...

We were long time subscribers to MotorHome mag but stopped when it became so anemic. After a few months of seeing Highways mag's page after page of advertisements, I am done with that as well. Not impressed with Camping World's Service Dept either. We have had some expensive bad experiences there. This new direction is the final straw. This once loyal member is no more. This will be my last year in Good Sam. We belong to FMCA, Coach-Net, and our newest club, Escapees -- which has the best magazine ever.

 
At November 20, 2011 at 10:08 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Escapees, definitely.

We took the Good Sam Club's $12 per year deal, thinking it was a members-oriented organization, but that was in the old days. It's a spammish, scammish deal here and now. They should pay ME for the time I spend shredding and tossing out their junk mail. Escapees has the right attitude and a good magazine.

 
At November 20, 2011 at 11:38 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Too much junk mail. Overpriced and underperforming extended warranties. Camping world is overpriced and their service departmet is to be avoided at all costs.

Good luck. And farewell.

 
At November 20, 2011 at 12:26 PM , Anonymous Phantom said...

I don't mind being marketed to however it seems to go to the extreme. At least one e-mail a day from Good Sam or Camping World. I am also a member of AAA and AARP and am retired military. As such, the additional benefits of Good Sam Club are minimal. I do enjoy the magazine, but the ads are really taking over the publication. But, ads are taking over in a good share of the magazines to which I subscribe as well.

Why can't the membership dues for both the Good sam Club and the Camping World president's Club be combined. The benefits seem to overlap especially since they are jointly owned.

 
At November 20, 2011 at 2:41 PM , Blogger Bobzilla said...

When I purchased my first RV last year, a Class C Motorhome, it seemed like a good idea to join the Good Sam Club. I'm disappointed with Mr. Lemonis' and can't imagine that there will be any need to renew my subscription when the time comes around...

 
At November 20, 2011 at 5:56 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I already thought about dropping Good Sam. They really didn't have that many benefits ie gas discount like they once had. All they did was generate mail for the insurance stuff. Those prices were high and service questionable as mentioned in some blogs.

 
At November 21, 2011 at 10:00 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Another company going in the wrong direction (forgetting about their customers who made them who they were). I dropped my membership a while back because of this and their incessant advertising.

 
At November 21, 2011 at 9:07 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have been a member since 2004 but Camping World's President's Club sells that Chinese junk at premium rip-off prices and GS fills my mailbox with repeated junk. If I got a quote and don't buy I am not interested. How can they save me more money than I already pay for insurance? If my MH is older than they will sell extended warranty for don't send me an offer. Like other "big" corporations they keep getting deeper in debt and can't make enough profit to survive without curtailing or eliminating services.
Marcus Lemonis just impresses me as one who hasn't experienced RVing. He's just a CEO. I probably won't renew when my current membership expires as I don't use anything from them except the Highways and Motorhome Magazines.
pacearrow96

 
At November 22, 2011 at 12:46 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I've been a Good Sam member since 2005. I use the Trailorlife campground directory 'like a bible'. I feel that if I stay at a Good Sam park, or one rated well by Good Sam, that I do NOT have to worry about the park's quality, security, or services. I use the Good Sam RV atlas ALL THE TIME. It sits on my dashboard. I do have Good Sam Roadside assistance, and fortunately, have never had to use it. But, if I did I would EXPECT it to be outstanding. Recently I met another RVer who has had both Good Sam Roadside assistant and coachnet. She felt that there was not much difference. She has had good success with both. We DID have a problem with a blowout on our TOAD. We were fortuante to be able to get to a Pilot Truck Stop. It was a Sunday, in the middle of Nowheresville, USA. The people at the truck stop called a tire service company they used. He came, and fixed the tire. I called Good Sam, they told me that if I had called them 1st, they would have covered the repair, but would have had us 'towed from the truck stop' (where would they take us on a Sunday?). I called AAA, and they said, 'send us the bill' we'll pay it. I was not impressed with Good Sam.
If Good Sam is NOT going continue with Trailorlife, the Atlas, campground ratings, and the clubs, then I will not be a Good Sam member for long. I own a medium size RV and travel in it 6 months a year. An RVer from LI, NY.

 
At November 23, 2011 at 2:52 AM , Blogger John T said...

I have a GMC tow vehicle with a 5 year/100k road side assistance warranty and I can change the tires on my trailer. Why do I need GSC anymore? Ditto on the outrgeous prices at CW.

John T

 
At November 23, 2011 at 7:59 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I'm new to RVing so I joined Good Sam right away. The magazines, books, guides and tips have been very helpful for me. I learn from each one of them and look forward to seeing new publications. Even the advertisements are a learning tool for me. It would be a shame to see them change.

 
At November 24, 2011 at 8:52 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am of mixed emotions. I understand that bills need to be paid but I am not one that will use their trip planning that much and i would like to see the magazine go back to being helpful to campers and not cater so much to RV dealers.

 
At November 24, 2011 at 3:34 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Totally frustrated with Camping World. The Madison, WI store charges $111.00/hr for service. My repair took less than 3 hours, but they charged me 4 hours because that is what the computor told tthem to charge. The manager said there is nothing he could do about it. I will never have a repair done at Cmping World again!! What's right is right, and charging 4 hours labor for 3 hours work is just wrong.

 
At November 26, 2011 at 7:02 AM , Blogger K.C. said...

Well, personally I think that Lemonis was just defining a business model - Camping World and the Good Sam Club have to make money in order to stay in business. This is the same for all businesses. And since I want to keep the Good Sam network around, I'm okay with this change as long as they continue increasing the benefits of members which Lemonis has previously indicated as the direction of the club.

 
At November 27, 2011 at 3:07 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I have been a gs member since 1979. I am now considering dropping them.
I belong to FMCA,and am considering Escapees. times have changed and so have my needs and attitudes. I am also wondering why I pay dues to both good Sam and also to Camper world. I can buy Rv stuff there without belonging to either and note also that Wal mart is selling more and more rv stuff. Roadside service towing is through FMCA. Don't use extended warranty although I get a dozen requests from GS a year to sign up. I put their membership fee in the bank and pay for repairs out of that account. My account pays 100 percent without argument or lawyers. I think GS as I know it is a thing of the past. Bebop

 
At November 29, 2011 at 5:44 AM , Anonymous Lifetime Member said...

I think that the further they vary from the original company the more savvy RVer's will be departing the fold. If the services we signed on for are not there then we won't be either. Granted that things have to change with the times but enough is enough we didn't join to finance a bank.

 
At December 4, 2011 at 8:46 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

All of the comments should be read by the CEO and Board of Directors !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The bottom line appears to be a weak future for Good Sam..
Why not survey the consumer needs we are in a down economy and it will not get better for awhile. Our world is much different and old marketing ways will not work. It is time that they RESPECT the consumer and not push all the junk.

 
At January 3, 2012 at 6:34 PM , Blogger Porcelain Floater said...

While we may be marketing tools, I hope Marcus Lemonis has learned who the real tool is. Good Sam is about people helping people - end of story. Once that is lost to corporate greed, Mr. Tool....er um Mr. Lemonis, you lose all your good people.

 
At May 7, 2012 at 3:15 PM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

Asked for SUPERVISOR to call me !
NO RESPONSE
I WAS PLANING ON BUYING CSP BUT NOT KNOW!
NO CALL BACK FROM SUPERVISOR !!!
WHAT IF I HAD SPENT 1,400.00 dollars and had a problem?
Guess I WOULD BE UP THE CREEK WAITING ON MISS PIGGY TO CALL.
GOOD SAM SUCKS

 
At May 20, 2012 at 11:27 AM , Anonymous Anonymous said...

I feel sorry for all of you. The current management is about as cynical as it can get.

 

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