Small NRA vent...

[JoseM]

I'm a member of the NRA and I've read several threads that had things against them...but they are the largest RKBA group in the country and I feel even if you don't support everything they do, if you are a gunowner, you should be a member....

...but with that said, I just re-upted my membership for a two-year stretch about 4 or 5 months ago (i.e. I have another 1.5 years left in my membership) and yesterday I receive a "will you extend your membership to help fight the 2008 democratic candidates" mailer. Now that's annoying. I don't really mind all the other junk they send to me trying to sell stuff, I usually don't buy but as long as they get some people to buy then it's turning a profit. But when I am not even half way into my paid membership and they want me to extend? Isn't that a bit ridiculous?

As another side note...I would love to be able to fork over the $500 to become a life member, but that's not possible right now. Heck, if I did it, they'd probably still send me mailers to extend my membership!

Like the title says...a "small" vent.

 

[PakWaan]

Lifetime membership is now $1000 - but they now have an extended pay plan for lifetime memberships - 40 payments of $25

 

[YZR]

I get the same requests and find it moderately annoying myself. I can see if it was 6 months prior to expiration but 1 1/2 years? Gimme a break!
I'll still renew when the time is right though.

 

[Shipwreck]

Never mind....

 

[jrfoxx]

I'm NOT trying to argue or stir anything up, but is some mail really that big of a deal? I get junk/unwanted mail from LOTS of places all the time, and it doesnt bother me or get me all worked up at all.I simply throw it away.Problem solved.I really dont get how so many people seem to be upset about some letters.Now, the video thing, I can understand, as you do actually have to go out of your way to send it back to not get billed and the fact they pay return postage is irrelevant.I'll agree they shouldn't just send them out like that (although it doesnt bother me, as I really like the videos and always buy them).I also agree with not getting the free items they say they'll send.Still not a huge deal, as i's just some free trinket, but that is just really bad form on thier part to not follow through in my opinion.
As for the life member thing, unless it's changed since I became one a couple years ago, they do have a really good discount for vets who are listed as disabled by the VA, regardless of the percentage of disability, and they dont even ask for any proof, its done on the honor system, which I felt said alot for them, personally.I think it was like $400 for vets with disability, with monthly payments of $25.Pretty good deal, and I think it shows thier respect for those who have served, which is sadly something you dont see very much of these days.I beleive they have a heavy discount (if not free) yearly memberships for current active duty too, which I feel is also a very good thing on thier part.The NRA is FAR from perfect, juslike all of us, but they are certainly the bes game n town, and I feel they do an AWEFUL lot for RKBA, and without them, we'd likey all be going to the local government armory once a month fr the "privledge" to shoot our bb guns and muzzleloaders (if we were still even allowe dthose), and only dream about the good old days when we were allowed to keep our guns at home, and we could have pretty much any gun we wanted.

 

[Shipwreck]

Never mind...

 

[Slugless]

They're not the only ones. I had a subscription to Consumer Reports magazine.

I dropped it to get the on-line CR internet subscription.

Every few months I get an offer to re-subscribe to the paper magazine even though I have the internet subscription.

 

[bhp9mm]

i got that today and i have over 2 years left on mine almost 3 years 8/30/2010

 

[Vonderek]

The DVD came with a postage paid return envelope. You stick it in the envelope and put it in your mailbox. It takes more effort to take out the trash. The free gifts take a long time to receive but so what? Do you REALLY need the ballcap or keychain that bad that quick? You can get a lifetime membership for $600 payable at $25/quarter for the next six years. Just call membership services and ask about that deal. I think anyone can afford that plan. If the mail bothers you throw it out. Eventually they'll get the idea and stop wasting resources by sending it to you. I really don't understand peoples' gripes about these things. Are these issues really the crux of why you joined or can you put them aside for the bigger picture of what the NRA is about?

 

[Jorg Nysgerrig]

And, I also never got the free gift they offered... I finally called about it 2 weeks ago. Many people I have talked to usually never get whatever it is they are offering for free.

Did you send back the card that came with your membership packet that said to send your free gift? There is an extra step that most people seem to skip.

The duffle bag is fairly low quality and fairly small, not really worth losing sleep over.

 

[Robert Hairless]

That's awful. It's persecution. Is there no cure for the nagging heartbreak of premature renewal notices. We must stop these horrors. Let's all resign from the NRA tomorrow in protest. Send them a message.

As another side note...I would love to be able to fork over the $500 to become a life member, but that's not possible right now. Heck, if I did it, they'd probably still send me mailers to extend my membership!

That's a real thigh slapper, Jose.

You ought to be on the stage. There's one leaving in a few minutes.

If I went into the hat business, babies would be born without heads.

A girl phoned me the other day and said, "Come on over, there's nobody home." I went over. Nobody was home.

I could tell that my parents hated me. My bath toys were a toaster and a radio.

Once when I was lost ... I saw a policeman and asked him to help me find my parents. I said to him, "Do you think we'll ever find them?" "He said, "I don't know kid ... there are so many places they can hide."

 

[ArmedBear]

LOL Robert!

I became an "Easy-Pay Life Member" at a booth at a big shooting event.

That's what Vonderek is talking about.

I pay about $25/month and soon I'll just be a life member and instead of paying, I'll donate as I see fit for specific reasons.

I've got the money, but I just liked this way better.

BTW as a member, you can influence the NRA. As a naysayer, you really can't. If you want the NRA to do some things differently, then become a member and take part in the process.

I was an LP member, but the LP has gone nowhere and is going nowhere in the political scene. I figure I can have more influence if I'm active in a party that actually tries to win elections.

 

[PumpAction]

There was another thread about this and the solution was to email the NRA and ask to have less mail sent to you. I sent the below message to [email protected] and I've received only a handful of letters versus 3x per week originally:

My NRA membership number is XXXXXXXXX and I would like to be placed on the "Do Not Promote" list to reduce the number of mailings and e-mails I
receive from the NRA.

 

[-terry]

I'd like to donate to the NRA, but not join, not get the emails or the mails, not get the "scary" warnings, etc. Have to find a way I can donate anon.

 

[brickeyee]

You all do realize that most if the money requests come from the Institute for Legislative Action (ILA)?

The NRA keeps its tax exempt/education standing by keeping the lobbying separate from the rest of the NRA.

ILA does not get ANY money from your annual dues.

 

[Linda]

Just to elaborate on NRA-ILA...,
they are the ones in your Statehouses, fighting for your gun rights.

Become a Life Member...you will rarely get mail from the NRA. I *may* get mail from them 3 times a year, besides my magazine. Hey, I would much rather get mail from the NRA, than the two dozen or more credit card solitations I get per week. And by the way, any magazines that you may be subsribed to, do the same thing in wanting to extend your subscriptions early. Does everyone get their panties in a twist over that?

 

[dirtyjim]

i think their money could be better spent on other things besides the constant flow of junk mail i & everyone else seems to get. most of the time i don't even open it, it goes straight to the trash bin. i donate a little when i have the extra money, not besause they sent me an envelope to put the donation in.
i renew my membership when i go to one of the large gunshow because i get into the gunshow for free & get a discount on renewing my membership

 

[bakert]

The NRA does get enough replies to pay for the mailing and have money left over for other useful purposes. Just exactly how long does it take to throw junk or unwanted mail in the Trash can?? Much ado about nothing!!

 

[Str8ShooterEsq]

Like Linda, I get almost no solicitations from the NRA since I became a Life member. Anyway, I hardly notice them among all the other junk mail I receive. At least 2-3 credit card applications per day. And don't get me started about junk e-mails. Too numerous to count. And obscene to boot.

 

[elrod]

To my way of thinking, the NRA mailings are self-defeating. When you see who it's from, it's thrown away without even being opened (at least mine is). The really important stuff hits the trash unopened along with the other tripe. If they only solicited when it was a matter of real importance, then (I believe) the response would be greater. It seems it is a matter of shouting "WOLF" every day or so, rather than when it's needed.

That, along with a buck and a half, will get you a cup of coffee!

 

[Nitrogen]

[size=+3]If you don't like getting all the crap in the mail, e-mail "[email protected]" and tell them you want to be put on the "Do Not Promote" or "Limited Corrospondance" list.[/size]

That way, you won't get all of the crap. I did it in April, and less than a month later, all the crap stopped.

 

[Mannix]

Why bring up such trivial complaints here? It's a a waste of time and bandwidth.

Call/Email the NRA, and ask them to stop/cut back on the crap sent to your home. Problem(if you could even call it that in the first place) solved.

 

[dmftoy1]

There was another thread about this and the solution was to email the NRA and ask to have less mail sent to you. I sent the below message to [email protected] and I've received only a handful of letters versus 3x per week originally:

My NRA membership number is XXXXXXXXX and I would like to be placed on the "Do Not Promote" list to reduce the number of mailings and e-mails I
receive from the NRA.

+1 on same complaint
+1 on same solution

I very rarely get any mail from the NRA now and it was dead simple. Took me all of 30 seconds to type the email and maybe 2-4 weeks before it took effect.

FWIW

 

[Robert Hairless]

People can go on and on about how important the NRA is - and I am likely to agree with them. But, you don't treat your members like this and expect them to stick around..

Right on! I don't care how important the NRA is or the way it helps me stay a gun owner. I'm in it for the duffel bag, and if I don't get one I'm outa here.

What did I get when I joined years ago? Nothing at all. Did Wayne LaPierre even remember to send me a birthday card? Nah. Not even a stinking postcard.

So I figured, maybe if I became a Life Member he might give me a call or something, ask "How's the family? Who's your favorite on American Idol?" Nothing. Not one stinking phone call.

And all this time whenever NRA/ILA asks for money I send them money. Every time. Does he drop by, shake my hand, ask if he can mow the lawn or cut the shrubbery or maybe even pick up the beer cans the kids throw on the road as they drive to high school every day? Nope.

Now I find out that everyone else is getting a duffel bag, except the guy who didn't ask for it and he shouldna had have to ask anyway. But I din't even get promised a duffel bag. What the heck kinda gun rights organization doesn't give a guy his duffel bag? Or gives cheap ones?

I dunno how much longer I'm gonna put up with this. The Million Moms March gives nice T shirts. If they'll give me a duffel bag too, I'm gonna quit the NRA and join The Million Moms March.

And I don't like it when a guy can't criticize the NRA for stuff like premature renewal notices without a bunch of people making fun of him. It's my right to criticize anything I want without anyone saying I'm wrong.

 

[dmftoy1]

I don't know what your problem is . .LaPierre is always over here . .mows the lawn, cleans my guns after I'm done shooting and right now is headed to the kitchen to get me a beer . . .

My NRA EPL got me a cool hat signed by Charleton Heston . .I'm a member of the silver bullet brigade.