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Just looked through the newsletter from Cody and starting 7/1/13 anyone renewing will not get as many serial number searches. If you renew at the $150 level you only get 5 free serial number searches. You will have to buy additional searches at a package price of 5/$35 or 10/$60 or 20/$110. If you renew at the $250 level you get 10 free searches but get a 10% discount on addition serial packs.
I checked the web site and it currently lists the same member benefits as the newsletter so I don’t know if you can lock in and get the old benefits.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
Bob
I called and talked to them on Tuesday and if you renew before the July date, you will still get the 40 searches with the Wild West Circle membership. ( $150.00 )
January 26, 2011
Offline
All,
I just called and renewed my membership. I was told I would get the 40 searches one last time, but next year its down to 5 
. I think they are going to lose a lot of their firearms members by doing this. Although I really want to support the museum, and appreciate their mission, its hard for a lot of folks to justify shelling out $150 to only get the 5 searches, and then have to pay to get more. I happen to live fairly close and still only get over to the museum once or twice a year, so the free admission doesn’t seem to be that valuable. I would suspect there are some of you that never make it to the museum, but get the membership for the sole purpose of having the SNS’s. As Bob mentioned, I think if you haven’t renewed by now, you may be S.O.L. for the old 40 search deal. Yes, I admit that one serial number search that reveals something unoriginal about a potential purchase could be well worth the $150, but it’s still a little disheartening to be curtailed so drastically all at once. Do any of you think that the WACA board might be able to work a deal so our members might get something a little better for our membership to show support of the relationship between BBHC and WACA? OK, I’ll quit ranting, just a little disappointed after hearing the bad news confirmed today.
Gary
~Gary~
FYI
I talked to Jesi right after the news came out about the change in s/n searches. ( June 4, 2013 ) She stated that most members don’t use that many searches and that is the logic behind the change. I must be the exception because I have used about 30 of them. Since what I am looking for is short rifles, I check everyone out if it falls into the serial number range. I have checked on rifles from Gunbroker, RIA, J. Julia and others. On 3 occasions within the last year, as soon as I got the info back from Cody, I purchased the rifle in question. About half of the rifles I checked on did not match the records and the others just went to high in price for me. I renewed my membership while I was on the phone with her.
I do think that going from 40 down to 5 is way out of line but, that was their choice. Now I am done venting!!
Paul
Just went to their website to buy the $150 membership and it says 5 searches. I’d be willing to be the WACA members here use FAR more searches then the average member. Hope we can get some consideration from them on the number of searches.
Paul,
The logic Jesi gave you doesn’t make any logical sense from the standpoint of salesmanship. If you’re selling something and using an enticement to induce people to purchase the product and they are not taking advantage of the extra incentive, it’s to the sellers advantage not the buyers. It’s sort of like those gift cards that have an expiration date; the company still gets the money. If the museum only wants philanthropic support they should just come out and say so. This just makes no sense, especially for someone from Pa.
Instead of begging for some consideration (crumbs) maybe we should just not renew memberships the next time they roll around. I can’t see any other way to express any real dissatisfaction with this new policy.
I have been and am a $250.00 member and have not used all my searches up in the past and more than likely won’t on this membership. I was thoroughly dismayed when I received their letter informing me of the new policy.
Gene 😡
Gene, I agree wholeheartedly, As a seller who’s customers don’t use the vast majority of product or service they purchase but pay for all of it in advance, I can’t imagine a better business model. Won’t be renewing this time.
Gene, et al
I am just saying what I was told by Jesi. This original post was viewed by about 250 people so they all had a chance to renew before the deadline and get the 40 searches one last time. Next year will be a whole new thing and I may feel the same way you do about renewing at that time.
I don’t know how many members of this forum are also members of BBHC but, I don’t think it would have a big impact on them if they did not renew their membership. This is just my 2 cents worth of garble.
Paul
Every year I renew for the $150.00, but for me, this in only for my 40 "free" searches. Given I am so far away, I don’t know that I will ever get to the Cody museum to enjoy any of them other benefits that come from the membership. Don’t think I can justify $150 for 5 s/n searches, so I’m afraid I won’t be renewing this year. Not saying I use all 40 searches – generally 20 to 30 of them, but I can’t justfiy sending $150 for 5 searches.
Matt
Matt74 said
Every year I renew for the $150.00, but for me, this in only for my 40 "free" searches. Given I am so far away, I don’t know that I will ever get to the Cody museum to enjoy any of them other benefits that come from the membership. Don’t think I can justify $150 for 5 s/n searches, so I’m afraid I won’t be renewing this year. Not saying I use all 40 searches – generally 20 to 30 of them, but I can’t justfiy sending $150 for 5 searches.
Matt
Same here. I won’t be renewing either for only 5 searches.
I’d like to get to the Cody museum some time in my life around the time when the WACA show is going on…just not possible right now.
Brad
Hmmm… I have been on the road travelling the past few days, and this is all news to me. I do not like the direction this is headed in either… it is starting to smell just like Colt. I have been a CFM for nearly 20-years now, and have never used all of my searchs either, but I do not like being reduced to just (15) serial number searches per year. I typically use at least (60) of my free searches per year. I will discuss this with Jessica and Warren at the Cody WACA show next month.
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
I took the liberty of voicing our mutual concerns to Jesi at the CFM. Here is her response:
"Good morning, everyone.
I understand the frustration with the changes. It was determined that changes were needed and a lot of analysis and compromise took place to bring us to this point.
I know that the drop in free serial number searches is the big shocker. Is it unreasonable much to charge a small fee for additional searches? Under the new program, members may purchase search packages (similar to letter packages) when they need more at $7 per search or less. What would a reasonable search fee be? Letter prices have not changed and we have even implemented additional discounts for higher level members.
I am asking that everyone with concerns and questions contact my Division Director, Bruce Sauers at [email protected] or 307.578.4042 as well as the Associate Director of Development , Coy Evans at [email protected] or 307.578.4014. Well thought-out and logical discussion with our members will better help us design the program to benefit all of us. Please let Bruce and Coy know why you are a member, how you feel about the changes, and make some suggestions as how you, as members, would like to see the program structured. You may include Membership Manager Rachel Lee ([email protected]) and myself in your conversations as well.
We look forward to hearing your ideas and suggestions.
Jesi Bennett"
Please feel free to respond directly or you may PM me with your thoughts and I will submit them. Here is a good chance to redirect the program so please give this offer serious consideration.
WACA Life Benefactor Member
NRA Life Member
Thanks Rick for your effort.
Michael
Model 1892 / Model 61 Collector, Research, Valuation
My thoughts…
I highly suspect that the $150 entry level members are the most prevalent, and therefore they are the most important to placate. Cutting their membership benefits from (40) all the way down to (5) serial number searches (an 80% reduction) is way too drastic. If the goal of this revised rate structure is to increase revenue for the Museum, my bet is that it is doomed to fail. In my opinion, a more palatable solution would be to raise the annual membership fee by an appropriate amount (say 10% – 15%), and leave the benefits the same as before.
My nickel’s worth,
Bert
WACA Historian & Board of Director Member #6571L
I do have the $150.00 membership and the only reason for joining was for the s/n searches. Living on the east coast, ( Delaware ) Going out to the museum is not something that is practical for me so, any of the other benifits included with that level membership really are of no use to me. I went ahead and renewed for another year before the deadline and got the 40 searches for one more year. Maybe they could come up with a package that is just for s/n searches.
I miss the days when the Winchester museum was in New Haven and I could just take a drive up there.
Paul
I would think they would come up with a incentive to upgrade to a higher level but there is no incentive any more. I could see it working if they gave us something more, like 7 day a week phone checks or better yet do it online.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
January 26, 2011
Offline
Rick,
Can you just post a link to this thread and send it to the folks Jesi suggested? We can write some letters as well, but this is a good start. I think everyone has been reasonable and respectful in their thoughts so it couldn’t hurt to have them read the posts. Just a thought.
Gary
~Gary~
Hello everyone. I am a $250 "Bison Circle" member. I joined both because I believe it is important to preserve the history of our firearms and for the serial number searches. The serial number searches are the only benefit of membership that I use. While I will probably never use the 80 searches per year that I receive, I do expect to have them if I need them. With the proposed reduction in free searches, I certainly will not renew my membership.
While I understand it is important for the organization to generate revenue, I think it is more important to retain the existing memberships. I have suggested that they keep existing (current) members with the same benefits the member enrolled under. If they make changes (reductions in free searches) it should pertain to new member enrollment only and not to existing member renewal. This would keep me coming back and not wanting to let my membership expire.
These are my thoughts on the matter.
"Midas the Greek God not Madis the Winchester God"
I have taken the liberty of responding to Jesi at the CFM after reading the forum responses on this thread as well as receiving numerous e-mails and having several telephonic and face-to-face discussions with WACA members.
Here is what I sent via e-mail this morning:
Jesi:
Yes, the real issue is the draconian cut to the number of serial number searches. Many long time members (including myself after 21 years) will probably not be renewing their membership after this year if the new rules stand. The value simply isn’t there for most of us. As much as we collectors would like to support the on-going efforts of the CFM members feel that it needs to be a two-way street.
It seems to many Forum members (WACA and non-WACA alike) that the recent adjustments were made by some bureaucrat looking solely at short term revenue enhancement without understanding why many collectors are members of the CFM. Please consider the following:
• Most CFM members never get to the Museum so the free admission benefit has little to no intrinsic value. As an example, Georgia and I have been coming to the Cody show for 15 consecutive years and only found the time to view the various venues 3 times.
• Access to research at McCracken is a valuable benefit but again, it is one that very few members actually avail themselves.
• You have the statistics on how many Warehouse Letters and SNA Letters the average member requests each year. I know that I usually buy a couple of each so that the discounted cost there is a tangible benefit but I would guess that the average value of the discount is probably in the $50 – $75 range.
• That leaves the majority of the benefit attributable to SNAs. If my above analysis is in the ballpark then 5 SNAs is not worth the price of membership.
The recommendations I’ve received fall into two categories:
1. Reduce the number of searches with the $150 membership to something like 16 – 20 and continue to offer packages of additional searches as you are now.
2. Increase the price of this level of membership say to $175 – $200 with a commensurate decrease in searches as above.
I think either of the two suggestions would retain the membership base while lightening the workload and creating increased revenue for the CFM.
Thanks for the opportunity to express our concerns.
WACA Life Benefactor Member
NRA Life Member
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