tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5430608787370785548.post8764489856201932557..comments2023-10-22T07:47:28.097-04:00Comments on BlogClump - Blogging About Associations From a Gen Xer: DiscountsMatt Baehrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01261516528674311768noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5430608787370785548.post-63446092771532390622008-07-31T12:07:00.000-04:002008-07-31T12:07:00.000-04:00One danger in offering membership discounts is tha...One danger in offering membership discounts is that people begin to expect it and defer joining or renewing until a discount is offered.<BR/><BR/>If you feel discounts are helpful, it may be better to offer them for educational programs, products, or other things, not for membership.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5430608787370785548.post-60988541030103499362008-07-23T19:37:00.000-04:002008-07-23T19:37:00.000-04:00Hmm, yeah, obviously I meant to say "what we DO of...Hmm, yeah, obviously I meant to say "what we DO offer is real value." :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5430608787370785548.post-65021779393033328872008-07-23T19:35:00.000-04:002008-07-23T19:35:00.000-04:00Actually, Matt, you'd be surprised how many associ...Actually, Matt, you'd be surprised how many associations offer just the scenario you suggest, through initiation fees or application fees or whatnot. It's not nearly as common as it used to be, but it still happens. Never understood the concept myself.<BR/><BR/>I'm on record as loathing discounts, but I'm not above them -- I have been known to offer the occasional online coupon code worth 50 bucks. And you know why? Well, as much as I hate it, it works. And our first-year retention rate isn't any different for folks who come in with a small discount as those who don't. What we don't offer is HUGE discounts (and, I like to think, real value). Which may explain why we've never really got any complaints about the renewal price. (Though there was this one time a few years back someone sent us a check for some random amount, maybe 50 or 60% of our dues, and said, "This is what I think membership is worth so this is what I'm sending." We returned his payment and wished him well.)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com