UK Cobra Club Membership

Call me cynical but where are my subscriptions going?
Whilst negotiating my AC Cobra purchase I thought it would be a good idea to join the Club. I rang the Membership Secretary's number (amazingly only 6 miles away from where I live) and had a very fascinating conversation with Pete (a fountain of knowledge who actually BUILDS Cobra's since leaving the Army). I subsequently joined the Club online - two weeks ago. My bank account has been debited very promptly with the subscription fee but I haven't received any sort of "Welcome" pack that I have come to expect when joining this sort of Club. From what I've read on this Forum no-one seems to know when the next issue of SnakeTorque is due out, and the "blame" seems to be directed at the Membership for not submitting articles ... errr? Don't I even get a Membership Card? I was hoping for a list of local Club Meet venues but I've had to resort to using this Forum (excellent, well done Robert and all Moderators) in an attempt to find out information I would have expected by snail mail in a joining pack. Seems I'm not the only one to question this - check out the Guestbook.

Come on, a Club is not just a website ... or is it?

Phil
"The Older I Get, The Faster I Was"

[robert]

Phil

I saw your comment on the guest book and have responded below FYI.

"I can only echo Colin's comments below - spoke to Pete Jones a couple of weeks ago on the 'phone (he's only 6 miles away) and subsequently joined the Club online. Card has been debited very promptly with subscription fee but haven't received any sort of "Welcome" pack that I would expect when joining a Club. Call me cynical but where are the subscriptions going? "

Phil, the club is run by Volunteers. We all have day jobs and families and we don't get paid to do this, we do this because we enjoy it. If it takes a little while to get your welcome pack, then it takes a little while. If you would like dedicated support, then I would suggest you subscribe to one of the kit car magazines instead. Robert (Forum Admin)

Can I stress we are ALL volunteers, from the Ed down to the reps, we DO NOT GET PAID FOR THIS and have our own lives to lead. Marion has hundreds of memberships to get out during this time of the year, and normally takes 1 week off work to complete a large batch. That is her holiday time she is using. Please be aware of this in the future, we are only a small club.

We might have a fantastic mag, regional reps, area co-ordinators and website, but that is only through a small minority putting a major amount of time into the club.

[TINKA]

Phil, the club and everyone who is involved with it, does it for the love of Cobras. No one gets a penny for their trouble and effort and neither do they want any. All the information that you want is in the Mag and as I have said the next issue is at the printers as we speak. The reason that the mag is sometimes late is there is nothing to put in it, as none of the members have sent any articles to be printed in it. This is a Club Magazine run by someone who has a full time job and family as well, and has to find the time to sort out the mag as well as build a Cobra and answer endless phone calls ( sorry Peter). Your welcome pack will be with your first mag and you should get it in the next week.

I can only add the comments that I made to Roberts response ...

Point(s) taken but .... for £28.00 (a year?), hundreds of members? Please check out the UK Cobra Club Homepage (1200 current members @ £28.00 = £33,600pa or is it a "one-off" fee?). The description of the Club on the Homepage gives the impression that this is a Professionally run organistaion (like the Jaguar Owners Club that I have subscribed to in the past) and as such I expected a similar service. I think that you should make it clear on the Homepage that the Club is run by Volunteers and that "reasonable endeavours", and "mutual interests" form the basis of the Club's relationship with it's members, and something to the effect that the Membership Pack will be dispatched in "due course"?

It's no good waiting for a cynical old codger like me to complain - make it clear from the outset. (Please)

Phil
"The Older I Get, The Faster I Was"

[robert]

I have locked the other post to avoid confusion.

Phil

With all due respect, I think your expectations are unrealistic.

Secondly, if you joined online, it clearly states 12 months membership. http://cobraclub.com/crc_shop/produc...products_id/31

The website presents a professional image as my philosophy has always been If something is to be done, then better do it properly.

I would suggest you come to Stoneleigh where last years accounts will be presented and you can fully understand what we pay for as a club. The mag and posting is a considerable expense.

"12 Months membership of the UK Cobra Club, includes between 5 & 6 issues, reduced cobra insurance, regional news and updates and CRC event information."

So, as I said before - £28.00 per year x 1200 members = £33,600 (per annum).

Look, I really don't want to get involved in all the "internal politics" of this, I'm sure that everyone in the Club has their own reasons for doing what they do, and that they do it for very unselfish reasons. I just don't think that the Club should be trying to present a "Professional" image when, at the present time, it is incapable of reaching new Members expectations, based on the image of the Club presently offered. Basically, I was sold a Membership that has not met with my expectations.

Nuff said

Phil
"The Older I Get, The Faster I Was"

[robert]

>offered. Basically, I was sold a Membership that has not met
>with my expectations.

Your expectations are unrealistic, do the maths.

It costs around 5K per magazine to print and distribute. Each member does not pay £28, only new members, renewals are cheaper.

Please don't jump to conclusions until you are fully conversant with all the relevant information.

Nuff said now.

>It costs around 5K per magazine to print and distribute. Each
>member does not pay £28, only new members, renewals are
>cheaper.
>
>Please don't jump to conclusions until you are fully
>conversant with all the relevant information.

So why didn't you tell me that in the first instance? That is the answer to my original question "Where are my subscriptions going?". It's no good bleating on about "Volunteers", "Love of Cobras", "Family Commitments", and the rest of the justifications ... a straight answer was all I wanted in the first place ... Thank You, we got there eventually!

(I'm actually a very nice bloke - honest !!!)


Phil
"The Older I Get, The Faster I Was"

[robert]

The club is a limited company, that information is freely available at Companies house, they even have a website you can search on.

If that was all you wanted, then why start complaining about membership cards and welcome packs???????

[Miket]

Phil

Perhaps if you ask nicely they might possibly refund your membership, I would if I was membership secretary, personally I don't want a member like you in our club. ;( ;( ;( ;(