so i got my first bill for dues for the foretravel motorcade is it really worth the 85 bucks a year to be a member
Absolutely! Everyone talks about the discounts for parts or service, but the best is the same camaraderie we share on the net, only in person at rallies and motorcades.
Agree 100% Brett, just on the discount on parts & accessories more than off sets the fee. Only been to 2 Motorcade Rallies, loved both and yes will do more as time permitts.
10% discount applies at FOT, and MOT, in person or for any parts shipped to you - that is why I stay a member - although I do like what John McKee is doing with the Motor Sports Chapter
The motorcade club membership cost keeps owners in contact with Foretravel as well as serving the members with discounted parts. Rallys are a plus but like all memberships, you get back when you use the privileges that the membership offers. This provides a way of knowing other owners. Everyone has the one thing in common. They own Foretravels and can share information. The magazine is good but I would like to see more articles about members in it. I think the value is well worth the membership. DAN
I have found that the parts discount is next to worthless, I can in most instances obtain the same parts elsewhere for much less of a markup. The only reason I remain a member is the friendship with other FT members in all parts of the US. I am ADAMATLEY opposed to the discriminatory membership regulations that exclude some FT owners. As far as the Magazine is concerned it is nothing but an advertising piece, by the time any news of chapters is sent out is it old and stale. The one thing I would like to see is an ACCURATE and up to date directory so we can identify coaches that display the LOGO and number. I have never understood what takes so long to get it in the mail and no one has ever been able to give me an answer. A solution would be to post the membership info on the web site in a form that was searchable but I doubt that there is this capability in NAC. Like elbows, everyone has an opinion.
Gary B
If you look, I think $75 is the national Motorcade and the additional will be your regional (or in the case of Motor Sports - common interest) chapter dues. Barry B. can speak to how active the California chapter is.
We have not been able to attend chapter functions ourselves (schedule conflicts), but they look like a lot of fun (especially the last one in Doo-rant, Okielahoma ;) ). We've attended one Grandvention and had a great time meeting folks and putting faces and voices with names. We're planning to attend the 2012 one in Mineola. We wish we'd known the Buddy Rally had all those technical seminars - we would have done that in Nac (here's another example of where a more Internet-enabled club would be a benefit - more timely and complete info on upcoming activities). The Motorcade trips aren't really our style of travel, so we haven't done any (but they give us idea for our own travel).
For us, the parts and service discount has been worth it (especially around David Flanagan's remodeling shop ::) ) Out there on the west coast (I believe that's where Mike, the OP is), Oregon Motorcoach Center is also honoring the Motorcade discount. Oregon Motorcoach Center now a FT Authorized Warranty Center, offers MC discount (http://www.foreforums.com/index.php?topic=11590.0)
Michelle
I totally agree with Brett and most of the other responders. Audrey has family in Virginia and so we make an annual trip to the east coast each year. We check to see if we can fit in a chapter rally with our itinerary and usually can fit in the Grandvention. The camaraderie and friendship developed have been incredible.
In addition to the great quality and features of the Foretravel, the Motorcade Club and it's activities, and Foretravel people (that we have met and are going to meet) are the main reason we would never consider owning a SOB.
Lets see, I got a $10 discount last year. I needed a Foretravel specific body part that cost to the tune of around $100. I could of had it made locally for about the same money. As to access to expertise, I call that customer service. You should not have to be a member to have that access. Now if the dues were down in the line of the FMCA dues, I might consider. And the FMCA has a much nicer magazine! The paper and ink quality isn't as good as the Motorcader, but the content is more what I need. But I have to admit that we use the Motorcader to assist us in planning our own trips.
The Motorcader is a great looking magazine but lacks in technical articles. They spend big bucks to put out a very nice quality, good looking, marketing travel piece advertising their group tours and rallies. The recipes are thrown in to make it look friendly and tie members together. In reality it is advertising, and advertising is a write off.
So the only benefit I get as a Motorcader member is the 10% discount that cost me money.
The true worth of the MC club is the members and the information. At two rallies we weighed all tire positions. That was free but not a benefit if you did not attend. I believe you get what you put in. Rallies are great and I learn a lot at then looking at other coaches and modifications. The tech tals and the friendships are worth much mre then te FMCA group to me. The discount is not enough but it does help. Also at rallies we have received certificates for 50 to 100 bucks off an event or service too. Not every time but every so often. Really running a coach cost a lot and this is a minor expense but provide a value that is more than dollars and cents.
To me, MC is a means for Foretravel owners, who are interested in doing so, to participate in rallies, caravans and get the magazine to see the latest coaches and company news. Is the 10% discount really a discount? Let's face it, FOT marks up parts pretty steep. You have to be a MC member to have work done in Nac. or you're really overpaying.
But, then again, FOT has the expertise about every coach they ever built, and that's worth the premium labor prices...(assuming they put the oil cap back on after an oil change)... ;) Parts?...you'll get hosed every time... >:(
p.s. I pay high prices for tech services in Cincinnati as well...there's no escaping it unless you can do maintenance yourself
Wow ! :o
"You have to be a MC member to have work done in Nac.... "
Really? You do? As a new member, I'm still on my 1st year free thing. For me, I don't like traveling in a group nor do I like putting decals or other signs on my RV. Just a personal thing, like no bumper stickers on my cars either. But - you have to be a member to get work done in Nac?
Absolutely not! You don't even have to be a Foretravel owner to get service at FT. All you need is a motorhome.
Sorry Steve, I said "or you'll be overpaying" in my usual stupid kind of humor to incite other responses from other members... ;D
As I said, we'll all be likely to pay large sums of money when we help the training of other people to become motorhome technicians and diesel mechanics... :o ;D >:( :( ;)
The 10% Motorcader discount on parts and labor is still available at TN RV. You may have to ask for it and it may not be available in the future. The DW and I do not enjoy crowds and controlled activities. Some of the Motorcader events have been attractive but they frequently conflict with other activities we had planned. Our biggest objection, however, is the price. There are hidden benefits such as the presence of service personal, etc, but still we feel we get a bigger bang for our buck by traveling solo or better yet with one or two other coaches.
I think the directory is a plus and also wonder if it could be put "online"?
There is a version (not real-time up-to-date) online. You do have to be a MC member and signed in to view it, of course (for security purposes). It's got 3 versions - alphabetically by name, by state, and by MC number. It's up through MC number 16838 as of today.
Foretravel Luxury Motorcoaches (http://www.foretravel.com/motorcade/directory.php)
Michelle
Michelle, it's most definitely out of date. We are listed as one before the last entry (we are member #16837) - and we joined we when bought our coach in November 2009! :o
Michelle, That list comes and goes, it was not there a couple weeks ago. It is of no use as you cannot sort it. The website does not even list the current officers.
Gary B