rswartsell
Member
...and I really don't like it.
I don't like it anymore than I would a close and old friend inexplicably doing me dirt.
I'll start this by saying that over my many years of annual NRA memberships I have seen some changes. Well, one could posit the environment and the challenges to RKBA have changed, congress has changed. Some change is to be expected.
The complaints;
1. The last two annual memberships that I have purchased, any incentives offered (caps, gegaws, etc.) never arrived. Any number of mailings snail mail and e-mail have arrived for fundraising, so I know they can find me. But... screw the freebies, the Rifleman or any other NRA mag has not ever arrived either!
Now I could get all consumer advocate about this and spend God knows how much time chasing down who to complain to and try to get it fixed. I decided not to thinking all the while that a lifestyle choice (think a grownups version of Boy's Life from the scouts) finally completely morphed into a PAC and I would just go along under the flag of furthering the cause.
2. Along with a flood of other fundraising efforts, I get a lot of advert for the "NRA Store". Straight up commercial enterprise replete with inflated prices for merchandise and shipping knowing we will pay it and chalk it up as "doing our part".
Well I have now had my second experience with making an internet purchase from the NRA Store. The first was a book from Palladin Press about defensive handgun technique. To say I am underwhelmed with the Palladin Press is an understatement. I at least eventually got the rather poor excuse for a book.
I today finally received delivery of the second venture and I think I'm done. I was curious as a CCW guy about the holster T shirts marketed in the NRA store produced by 5.11 Tactical Series. I ordered 2, a white and a black and a "Don't Tread on Me" Gadsden ball cap. I got the box today.
The 5.11 Tactitcal holster T seems nice enough, spandex T shirt with overlay pockets and Velcro closure over each shoulder, for $ 79.95 a pop it SHOULD be nice enough. The ball cap seems to be the cheapest construction possible and bought at $ 15.95, thin gauge cardboard front reinforcement (I'm embarrassed for them). Generally pathetic addition to a collection of through the years NRA caps. There was only 1 shirt, (black) in the box. Seems you find out on delivery when they are out of stock and your item is backordered. The NRA store is not trying to keep up with the state of e-commerce nowadays, like providing expected delivery times or tracking numbers (OK it's fundraising again), the purchase was June 28, delivery July 10, $205.81 for (so far) 1 holster tee and a cheap ball cap.
I'm starting to think (along with what I thought was an embarrassing first response to the Sandy Hook shooting) that the NRA hasn't much respect for me, regardless of how I continue to feel about them. They did have a customer service number on the invoice, couldn't find one on the website. It could be a mistake that I was charged for the backordered shirt. The CS number is "business hours only" but come tomorrow, this time I am calling. I intend to share the theory that fundraising or no, there is more money in good business practice than there is in bad. If they want donations I know they are not shy in saying so, business on the other hand should be "business-like".
In a nutshell, I miss the "old NRA". And yes I miss a bunch of "old" stuff.
Rant concluded.
I don't like it anymore than I would a close and old friend inexplicably doing me dirt.
I'll start this by saying that over my many years of annual NRA memberships I have seen some changes. Well, one could posit the environment and the challenges to RKBA have changed, congress has changed. Some change is to be expected.
The complaints;
1. The last two annual memberships that I have purchased, any incentives offered (caps, gegaws, etc.) never arrived. Any number of mailings snail mail and e-mail have arrived for fundraising, so I know they can find me. But... screw the freebies, the Rifleman or any other NRA mag has not ever arrived either!
Now I could get all consumer advocate about this and spend God knows how much time chasing down who to complain to and try to get it fixed. I decided not to thinking all the while that a lifestyle choice (think a grownups version of Boy's Life from the scouts) finally completely morphed into a PAC and I would just go along under the flag of furthering the cause.
2. Along with a flood of other fundraising efforts, I get a lot of advert for the "NRA Store". Straight up commercial enterprise replete with inflated prices for merchandise and shipping knowing we will pay it and chalk it up as "doing our part".
Well I have now had my second experience with making an internet purchase from the NRA Store. The first was a book from Palladin Press about defensive handgun technique. To say I am underwhelmed with the Palladin Press is an understatement. I at least eventually got the rather poor excuse for a book.
I today finally received delivery of the second venture and I think I'm done. I was curious as a CCW guy about the holster T shirts marketed in the NRA store produced by 5.11 Tactical Series. I ordered 2, a white and a black and a "Don't Tread on Me" Gadsden ball cap. I got the box today.
The 5.11 Tactitcal holster T seems nice enough, spandex T shirt with overlay pockets and Velcro closure over each shoulder, for $ 79.95 a pop it SHOULD be nice enough. The ball cap seems to be the cheapest construction possible and bought at $ 15.95, thin gauge cardboard front reinforcement (I'm embarrassed for them). Generally pathetic addition to a collection of through the years NRA caps. There was only 1 shirt, (black) in the box. Seems you find out on delivery when they are out of stock and your item is backordered. The NRA store is not trying to keep up with the state of e-commerce nowadays, like providing expected delivery times or tracking numbers (OK it's fundraising again), the purchase was June 28, delivery July 10, $205.81 for (so far) 1 holster tee and a cheap ball cap.
I'm starting to think (along with what I thought was an embarrassing first response to the Sandy Hook shooting) that the NRA hasn't much respect for me, regardless of how I continue to feel about them. They did have a customer service number on the invoice, couldn't find one on the website. It could be a mistake that I was charged for the backordered shirt. The CS number is "business hours only" but come tomorrow, this time I am calling. I intend to share the theory that fundraising or no, there is more money in good business practice than there is in bad. If they want donations I know they are not shy in saying so, business on the other hand should be "business-like".
In a nutshell, I miss the "old NRA". And yes I miss a bunch of "old" stuff.
Rant concluded.
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