What would it take for you to be a member of this club?

[XXX]

Im an advocate for more CG's to join as members of this club so that this Club can be a club to be reckon with and really give maximum value to all as a member . But at this moment as you can see if you have been around the forum there is this debate going about the need to pay to be a member. So Im opening this thread for your feedback as I know most of you can afford the fees since you can afford to maintain a bimmer (sounds familiiar) but what will it take for u to part with that money to be apart of this club so that this club can be around even until for your great grand children. Remember we are talking about the club not the forum.But first let me give a brief explanation to some of you newbies here who are wondering what am I talking about. Alot of you think by signing up to be in this forum you are already a member, No youre not as this is not the Club.. this is just the forum which is owned and maintained by the club....lets just say this is the clubhouse of BMW Club Malaysia as such youre the guest of BMW Club Malaysia who warmly wellcome you to its clubhouse and use its facilities....but as in any Clubhouse you go to, there are rules and regulations to follow which are changed occasionally to suit the situation but this changes are of course only implemented after approval by majority of its members or the committee of which guest may give feedback but have no say in its implementation. So as is any Club business model, its all about membership of which without it the Club will cease to exist. So in this instance, the forum will also eventually dissappear because the Club has ceased to exist as everybody only wanted to enjoy the clubhouse but not being a member of the Club. As such I dont expect to hear a reasoning such as "I use forum only mah why need to pay...I contribute my knowledge enoughlah.." because contributing ur 2 cents will not keep the club afloat. Im also not into the idea of a members only forum as it should be open to all guest except of course certain areas in order to give value to its members...so that more people will know abt the club, but in future when we have enough paid members and can afford an actual Clubhouse, things could be made slightly different in order to maintain that certain prestige of the club, whereby only invited guest brought by members are only allowed....well as far as is this is concerned I suppose its just a dream for now....but with everybodies contribution who knows it will be a reality sooner than we expect.Ok, now for the RM300 question, why should I part with it?...or what should be done only will I part with it?....be nice!

 

[tIANcI]

I believe many do understand the difference between a forum and a club membership. There is a misconception that people would be lured by freebies or lower fees to be a member of a club. Being a member means being part of an unincorporated association. Some are just not keen to do so. They enjoy the forum as a convenient place to chat and exchange stories or share experiences. This is something that I learnt from my other hobby. Also, the cost of keeping a forum afloat per year is about the same as 2 persons going for a good Japanese dinner.

 

[Herbert]

XXX,

Good initiatives and let us hear the responses from CG.

 

[tIANcI]

If you note how come many other car clubs have a lot of members, its usually because of activities. Not TT sessions only. As for my other hobby, the thing that really draws people out are the activities. I think its wrong that one joins a club because of the goodie bags etc. That is merely temporal and does nothing in the medium term even. For me it would be activities. Something I cannot do on my own or organise on my own.

 

[XXX]

As for me its what I can do for the club rather than what the club can do for me...and by contributing to it and taking whatever that comes with it..by doing so maybe at the end of the day I will be rewarded back by the club....with activities and maybe much more once the club can afford it with the contributions made collectively...and that is where Im coming from, hoping that my seed I planted will come to fruitation.

 

[andrewk]

Firstly, thanks for XXX for starting this thread!

For me, my involvement in this forum started in June 2006 when I was looking for a BMW. This was before the BMWCM club was formed, so I really only signed up to be part of the forum, not the Club.

Like tIANcI mentioned, I use this forum as a platform to chat and discuss about the car we drive. We gain tips, advise and experience from other forummers and in return, we give back by contributing our own tips, advises and experience. I play my part by sharing as much useful information I can (aside from the occasional banter) and providing as much help to fellow forummers as I can. I bought my first BMW through the classified section of the forum from a forummer, and sold the same car via leads from the forum to another forummer (and OM). So, I've gained as much as have provide benefits to the forum.

I hardly joined TT due to work and family commitment and even now, I've only ever mostly joined the 7er TT (non official). That also can count in one hand. Also, work and family commitment also makes it difficult to take part in any club activities / drives etc etc.

So for me at least for now, its the partipation in the forum that interests me most. That is why I do understand why some of the OMs are not happy about the cost of maintenance. So, for me, if you want me to p(l)ay my part in upkeeping the forum, I'll be most happy and willing to do so.

As for joining, for now its not my cup of tea. Perhaps until my kids grow up and I've got more free time. Till then, I just plan to stay as a forummer if allowed.

 

[XXX]

Firstly, thanks for XXX for starting this thread!

For me, my involvement in this forum started in June 2006 when I was looking for a BMW. This was before the BMWCM club was formed, so I really only signed up to be part of the forum, not the Club.

Like tIANcI mentioned, I use this forum as a platform to chat and discuss about the car we drive. We gain tips, advise and experience from other forummers and in return, we give back by contributing our own tips, advises and experience. I play my part by sharing as much useful information I can (aside from the occasional banter) and providing as much help to fellow forummers as I can. I bought my first BMW through the classified section of the forum from a forummer, and sold the same car via leads from the forum to another forummer (and OM). So, I've gained as much as have provide benefits to the forum.

I hardly joined TT due to work and family commitment and even now, I've only ever mostly joined the 7er TT (non official). That also can count in one hand. Also, work and family commitment also makes it difficult to take part in any club activities / drives etc etc.

So for me at least for now, its the partipation in the forum that interests me most. That is why I do understand why some of the OMs are not happy about the cost of maintenance. So, for me, if you want me to p(l)ay my part in upkeeping the forum, I'll be most happy and willing to do so.

As for joining, for now its not my cup of tea. Perhaps until my kids grow up and I've got more free time. Till then, I just plan to stay as a forummer if allowed.

Hellooo I said talk about the club not the forum...as I said earlier ur 2cents in the forum is not goin to keep the club afloat..what I want is ur feedback on how is the club going to be able to make you take out the RM300...dont forget when no more club forum also no more.

 

[bmcaz]

Been a club guest for a while now. Been thinking to become official for a loonnngg time now. But the prob is not parting with 300. But to print n fillup form, then go bankin 300.

Its like, "i want to mow the lawn this weekend" but the weekend never comes if theres online form and m2u or CC or paypal i wouldve done on the go

I rajin at the forum coz i use tapatalk iphone app. So while waiting for clients, or while wife is nagging i play with the app

Anyways, will find time to be official member. This forum has saved me THOUSANDS, 300 is not much to compare

 

[andrewk]

dont forget when no more club forum also no more.

How is that when the forum existed before the Official Club?

Anyways, my suggestion is to get more benefits that is not related to club activities, e.g. discounts on parts and service from workshops, wider range of F&B discounts, both not only in Klang Valley but also other major cities /towns across the country. That way, for those who are out of town and cannot see the "value" when they cannot participate in Club activities can also benefit as members.

 

[mizhan]

For me it has never been about tangible benefits. I just want to be a member of an official BMW club, fullstop. Not bothered about forums, tt sessions, tshirts, caps, stickers etc. which is why i haven't collected renewal goodies :tongue:

 

[XXX]

How is that when the forum existed before the Official Club?

Anyways, my suggestion is to get more benefits that is not related to club activities, e.g. discounts on parts and service from workshops, wider range of F&B discounts, both not only in Klang Valley but also other major cities /towns across the country. That way, for those who are out of town and cannot see the "value" when they cannot participate in Club activities can also benefit as members.

Last time the forum was just that a forum which was run by individuals just like ur proton tiara club, proton waja club, myvi club...but now it's taken Over by BMW Club Malaysia and the direction is different from what it use to be...it's suppose to be a tool to get members to join the club...Unfortunately like somebody said earlier it's a double edged sword.

...good suggestion but how are we to tie up with this merchants when we don't have the numbers ...when everybody only want to use the forum...so that means in order to add value to the club we need more members...but then again all don't want to join because got no value...so how??

 

[Ecc0]

..im willing to pay membership because I know it helps this forum to exist, or if there is any other use of that money..good..but thats all about it..other that that I cant see any significant difference between OM and CG and i think its quite wrong..

 

[andrewk]

...good suggestion but how are we to tie up with this merchants when we don't have the numbers ...when everybody only want to use the forum...so that means in order to add value to the club we need more members...but then again all don't want to join because got no value...so how??

Like i mention in the "other" thread which you have also commented on, there is always a tipping point. If you cannot raise the number of benefits, then lower the membership fee. When you have sufficent members to gain more benefits, then you can start raising the fee again. Just like property developers. First phase always the cheapest. As more phases get built with more amenities, subsequent phases also increase price... If majority only wants to use the forum, then it is simple, either stop these forum-only-users, or charge them to use it. Both have implications. Weigh the pros and cons; and just impliment.

One thing for sure, no solution is going to make EVERYONE happy. Do what is right for the Official Club and all of us, regardless OM or CG, will have to live with it, like it or not. Only time will tell if the decision made is right or wrong.

But to put things into perespective, at the end of the day, its "just" a Car Club and forum la.... so chillax and have fun la...

I think i've said too much on this issue already... paiseh....

XXX, if I do come one day for TT, one cold one (or hot one) on me ya!

Peace bros!

 

[seewai]

Been a club guest for a while now. Been thinking to become official for a loonnngg time now. But the prob is not parting with 300. But to print n fillup form, then go bankin 300.

Its like, "i want to mow the lawn this weekend" but the weekend never comes if theres online form and m2u or CC or paypal i wouldve done on the go

I rajin at the forum coz i use tapatalk iphone app. So while waiting for clients, or while wife is nagging i play with the app

Anyways, will find time to be official member. This forum has saved me THOUSANDS, 300 is not much to compare

Bro, I don't believe I've met anybody in flesh and blood before I decided to join as OM. The reason I join is as simple as mizhan's.

I PM'ed Yazmeen (then secretary) for procedure, transferred to a MBB account (club's account IIRC), emailed the scanned copy of membership form + car reg card, that's it. All done without moving my arse further than 1 meter (to access the scanner) from where I'm sitting and typing this message.

To me, it seems pretty simple to submit application as OM.

For the price of 1.5 tanks of VPower Racing, you get goodies, TT's, drives, and more importantly, getting to know people you'd never thought of knowing, which to me is priceless. Yes I have a family too, I work too. I'm busy too.

 

[tIANcI]

Let's be realistic, at the moment there is no way in hell you can tie up with merchants. There is no volume. You need high high volume to play that game. In this forum, vendors are playing the cat & mouse game, cannot tell price, must PM la. This is already showing that the vendors do not wanna show their hand. If this is already happening, how to get merchants to participate even? Clubs are about fun and a sense of belonging. There is area need to separate CLUB and FORUM if not the whole issue gets very muddy.

Okay ... simple thing like Club House, that is not easy to have with a mere RM300 per year per member, unless you have 26,000 members and only 260 use it. RM300 per person does not take you far at all as some have rightly pointed out. Look at a golf club ... you pay membership, then subscription and then you pay to enjoy services. Its PAY PAY PAY ... but you have the notion of exclusivity. Member's privileges. It with the profits from the services etc that a club survives on and to use the moneys for the benefit of members. The club grows when the members spend more than their mere subscription.

 

[XXX]

Andrew...but the thing here it's not about the fees, it's the mentality that I pay xxx amount I must get xxxxxx amount but in the first place u need to invest first in order to get ur rewards...but no it's I want my rewards first then only I invest....that's the reason why I started this thread to find the real reasons why one does not want to join...for you it's bcos u only want to use the forum and will not join other activities as u don't have the time, and rm300 does not justify to be paid just to use the forum...fine since that is how u feel abt it...and if ur conscience is clear so be it.

 

[tIANcI]

...but the thing here it's not about the fees, it's the mentality that I pay xxx amount I must get xxxxxx amount but in the first place u need to invest first in order to get ur rewards...but no it's I want my rewards first then only I invest....that's the reason why I started this thread to find the real reasons why one does not want to join...for you it's bcos u only want to use the forum and will not join other activities as u don't have the time, and rm300 does not justify to be paid just to use the forum...fine since that is how u feel abt it...and if ur conscience is clear so be it.

Well ... Malaysians are stingy and selfish. Period. But let's be fair, to each their own. Some may feel family is more important. Some may want to enjoy the freebies. Some like the TT sessions. Like for me, its about activities and I do not expect it for free. We have to pay ... but at least for me, I can say. Yeah ... join the club then got things to do with people who have the same interest. Socialise la ...

 

[seewai]

RM300 is broken down into RM150 one-time-registration + RM150 1-year membership.
Sign up now (mid-year), it's RM150+RM75.
Annually is RM150, not RM300.
Ah, maybe if by year 2012 end economy no good I'd pay RM75 for Jan-June 2013 :4:

 

[Herbert]

Ah, maybe if by year 2012 end economy no good I'd pay RM75 for Jan-June 2013 :4:

or lesser usage of your M//, or a lighter right foot on the pedal or move gear to N going downhill.

 

[Mad3]

RM150 is worth for me to contribute to BMW club to keep it going on, its like a brand to me, though i dont go too many TT's or join activities due to commitments. Nice to see people posts their rides and satisfied with it, where i can also learn a bit or two about technical stuffs or where is the best place to service/repair their cars.
Also i can enjoy to see dramas or funny postings of people who has too much free time, release tension sikit.
peace out.