FYI - NFMAS Member Discount Discontinued

[joseph]

The issue of having a formal NFMAS discount at the local stores continues to arise in the forums here on RC. NFMAS is not about getting store discounts, instead it's about the hobby and providing a way where local people can discuss and learn from each other's experiences. The discounts were only a perk, or added benefit, for becoming a member and attending the meetings. The whole point of the discounts in the first place was to help gain new members and provide an extra incentive to support local stores instead of purchasing online. From this point forward NFMAS will not hand out member cards at the meetings and if any store wishes to give any sort of a discount then it should be between the store and the customer. I hate to see it come to this, but since the whole discount issue continues to arise then I think that the best option is to just do away with any formal NFMAS discount all together. Thanks to everyone for your understanding in this matter.

- Joseph

 

[SSweet1]

No biggie, I always forgot to ask about it anyways, I just figured they were already giving me a good deal.
Carrie

 

[mpdharley]

That's also how I feel. Lately though it seems to have become a thorny issue. As Joseph said, the club is not about discounts, it's about the hobby.

I also want to echo Joseph's thanks for everyone's understanding.

Mike

 

[ReefNeck]

It wasn't a big deal to me nor very often in this forum until jjinjax came along and posted his "New lfs policy" thread.

And even in that thread I posted how I did not get a discount on a pump I bought and that it didn't matter, I bought it anyway.

I also mention not getting one on some underpriced fish at another store. Again, Didn't bother me because I got them at the posted price which was about $8.00 under what it should have been and that is the price they charged me. Still a great deal.

It's fine with me if there is no "discount" for members but I don't see that it has become a big issue on here other than the one thread and that person quickly became "moved on".

Anyway, It's a shame that it has to come to this where we can't even have membership cards to show to fellow reefers and use to get new members excited about coming to a meeting.

I know I have pulled mine out many times when talking to someone about the club. I won't be doing that after this month since it will have expired and would look as if I am no longer an "active member".

 

[ReefNeck]

Double post

 

[tbass]

I have never asked for a discount , but Dan at Dan and company over on fleming Island always gives out a discount . But thats not why I go there . He is very friendly and has what I need and has a lot of fish. oh and if someone is interested in a manitis shrimp he had one in stock the other day.

 

[mikeatjac]

Sounds fine to me joseph. Only have been a member a few months and have not used it yet any way. I do not think like Reefneck that you need one to show you are a member, I like the name tags better.

 

[ReefNeck]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7047219#post7047219 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mikeatjac
Sounds fine to me joseph. Only have been a member a few months and have not used it yet any way. I do not think like Reefneck that you need one to show you are a member, I like the name tags better.

Do you ever have anything nice to say?

I never said that I "NEED" one to show I am a member!

What I said was "It's a shame that it has to come to this where we can't even have membership cards to show to fellow reefers and use to get new members excited about coming to a meeting."

And I'm glad that you don't' "think like" me! A world of clones would be a very boring place! But please, don't put words in my mouth either.

Name tags do a heck of a lot of good when in a store on a Wednesday talking to someone who is just starting a reef tank and telling them about the club and how great it is. I don't wear one daily!

It's like in your professional career, Do you just tell everyone your phone number or do you have a business card that looks more "Professional"?

Come on people, This site seems to be turning into a let's bash on Keri site! If that's what this club is going to be like then I don't need it. From the people I have met and spoken to I had a very good impression of this club but then there are those few that run their mouths and make the club not so appealing!

 

[mikeatjac]

Nope I don't whip out my card and show it to people that may want to be members. Instead I tell them about about benefits you gain from the group knowledge. The card is just paper.

In my professional career a card is just a paper, it is me that they they are buying from. My card is just has phone number. I am not blasting you, I just disagree with you. We don't need a card.

 

[mbdave]

I wanna card.....

I wanna card.....

I want to be the guy with the card!!! I want the stores to demand I take thier discount because I got THE CARD!!! Bow down to me, show your appreciation, LOVE ME!!!!! I'm a member!!:smokin: :bum:

 

[mecold]

Discount or not, I am still going to come to the meetings and I am still going to buy things from the stores. The meetings are always fun. Plus, it is a chance to get rid of the corals that need to be trimmed , and a nice place to get frags as well. The stores have been helpful, and priced right in line with many online livestock companies anyway.

 

[ReefNeck]

Re: I wanna card.....

Re: I wanna card.....

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7047711#post7047711 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mbdave
I want to be the guy with the card!!! I want the stores to demand I take thier discount because I got THE CARD!!! Bow down to me, show your appreciation, LOVE ME!!!!! I'm a member!!:smokin: :bum:

You can be a smart ___ all you want. I have never once shown my "card" at ANY LFS nor have I ever been asked for it!

Forget I said anything in this thread! Seems my wife and I are not good enough for this "Club"!

 

[mikeatjac]

Forget it reefneck. I have never said you were not good enough for this club or "the wife". We are talking about a card. Stop reading between the lines.

 

[Discdogge]

I've ( personally, I dont speak for anyone else) never asked for a discount, but knowing one may be available is some cases is great since Im a budget reefer, however, wether there is or not isnt going to keep me from shopping or attending meetings.

 

[nikonosis]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7047445#post7047445 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by mikeatjac
Nope I don't whip out my card and show it to people that may want to be members. Instead I tell them about about benefits you gain from the group knowledge. The card is just paper.

In my professional career a card is just a paper, it is me that they they are buying from. My card is just has phone number. I am not blasting you, I just disagree with you. We don't need a card.

blah

 

[Lageo04]

No more cards or discounts, That's ok not why I joined the club in the first place. It's nice to get together once a month to exchange ideas and to get to know people with the same interests.
RC has tons of forums where you can get info from but I like the NFMAS forum where local hobbyists can exchange thoughts and see how each others tanks are doing. Let's all stay happy.

 

[joseph]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7048049#post7048049 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by Lageo04
Let's all stay happy.

Indeed. Let's all stay happy. When I posted this thread it was meant to be an announcement and I did not expect it to turn into this. When I said to do away with the member cards I meant it as we should not have a card that represents a discount at any store. Instead we will probably put together some basic business style cards containing the basic info for NFMAS like the web address, contact info, meeting info, etc. Instead of these cards being handed out at the meetings we will probably give them to any store that will volunteer to put them out in an effort to help inform newcomers about NFMAS.

Please, let's all relax a little. Remember, this is supposed to be a fun hobby.

 

[teach]

Alright class! Let's try to show a little better representation of our club. Threads like this make us sound like a bunch of 4th graders. I cringe every time you guys start the fighting and bickering. If SSweet, Discdogge and I had it out in a thread, what would you all say? "Cat fight."

 

[PelagicMagic]

sunday night enterainment.

Reefneck, Mikeatjac meant nothing directed towards you. Lets all get along.

 

[ScubaTC]

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7048172#post7048172 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by joseph
...we will probably put together some basic business style cards containing the basic info for NFMAS...

:thumbsup: Thanks for clearing things up Joseph! When I first read your post I also wondered why the club cards were being discontinued as I did not think they were explicitly given out for the purpose of LFS discounts.

I wouldn't want to see Reefneck or his wife leave the club over situations like how this thread drifted off (or any member for that matter). In Reefneck's defense many types of clubs have cards. Sometimes while your talking to someone about a club that you're a member of and if they seem interested it's habit to pull a club card out from your wallet and give it to them. I was a member of a start-up muscle car club, First Coast Chevys, way way back in the day of my '69 Camaro RS Z28 and most members would even display the club card on the dashboard at the Saturday night hangout places like Honest Charles. Does it gain anything? ...not much except for letting others know you are a member and that the club exists. Now I'm not saying we should start putting them on our tanks or around our fish so they can have some bling bling to wear, but you get the point.

<a href=showthread.php?s=&postid=7048172#post7048172 target=_blank>Originally posted</a> by joseph
...Please, let's all relax a little. Remember, this is supposed to be a fun hobby.

I'm surprised how this thread turned out too. It's completely logical that someone would address the announcement and question why the club is doing away with club cards. I would have, but Reekneck beat me to it! I know the card thing was mis-communicated in the announcement, but IMO this was all Reefneck was trying to do.

IMO this club is a medium for us to meet and enjoy the hobby with others and to gain from member's experiences and knowledge as well as constructively contribute back to the club by sharing and helping others. From my first two meetings that I have attended I can see that this club is a "good crowd" and everyone means well.