NRA logic ????

[Ale-8(1)]

Total disclosure: I have been a Life Member for many, many years. I support the NRA fund-raising solicitations for the PVF and the ILA as much as I can, whenever I can. That said . . .

Today I received the latest ILA solicitation package, which included the usual several pages of "propaganda" which I have come to expect and ignore even though I usually send them a few bucks. This time, though, they have really done a funny (?) thing. The piece of paper where you indicate how much money you're sending this time includes your name and full snail-mail address as well as your membership number. This time, however, there was a blank where you are to affix your "confirmation sticker" which you find elsewhere in the package. This sticker includes your name and full snail-mail address, and you are to stick it immediately adjacent to the printed information of the same.

The indicated purpose of the sticker? To acknowledge that you received the package!!!!

Hey, NRA guys . . . if I hadn't received the package how could I be returning the form along with my donation???

The more I deal with these "communications" the more I'm convinced that the NRA thinks its members have single-digit IQs . . . and I'm not the least bit happy about that. And no, I'm not responding to this solicitation.

:roll: :roll: :roll:

 

[welder]

I understand what you are saying. I just upgraded my soon to expire membership to Life a few weeks ago. I gave some gift memberships and the recipients have received their letter telling them about those memberships. My credit card has been billed etc.
'
Yesterday I get a letter with big red letters across the front stating, "FINAL NOTICE" and it informs me that my membership has expired. Great.

I too get disgusted with the silly surveys and stickers that are akin to the old publishers clearing house junk and just throw it away. The organization is too good for this crap and a good reorganization is in order.

 

[mohavesam]

Nothing new. Sweepstakes mail used stickers years ago. You had to return the donation page with 4-5 stickers found elsewhere in the mailer, as if it mattered.

If your coffee is working, you'll understand the NRA uses several advertising suppliers to solicit for their operations.
Hey, paying for lobbyists greasing the palms of our Congressmen and Senators has NEVER been cheap!
And it isn't getting any less-expensive anytime soon!
It is the American way.

 

[speedsixman]

I got the same package with the sticker in it. Just another gimmick to generate a response.
The NRA has taken a cue from all the other mass mail solicitors, and at least some of it must stick, or they would quit sending that junk.

I don't really get that annoyed with all the junk mail, I just throw most of it away and send a few bucks when I can because I realize that all their lobbying efforts are expensive to do.

Myron

 

[Rick Courtright]

Hi,

I've been a Life Member for quite a few years (mid-'80s?) and haven't gotten many solicitations the last few years. Is that because I never answered them? I dunno...

I do contribute frequently, sometimes thru gift memberships, but most often these days thru the "Add a buck" programs offered by various vendors. I'm not sure if those extra bucks go into NRA's general fund coffers, to ILA, or are split. But all parts of the organization need support, so I don't lose sleep over it.

Rick C

 

[ronto]

I wonder what their "Postage" and "Printing" budget is? They seem to waste a lot of money on their mailings. I usually put most of them in the recycle bin.

 

[steveodtw]

I wonder what their "Postage" and "Printing" budget is? They seem to waste a lot of money on their mailings. I usually put most of them in the recycle bin.

That's long been a pet peeve of mine with the NRA. I don't know of any organization or company that spends anywhere near as much money and effort sending multiple mailings of 6 page letters, color die cut inserts, surveys on oversized paper in oversized envelopes. All for the purpose of an unending revenue collection campaign. Of course I understand the cause. I read my American Rifleman cover to cover. But there seems to be no effort to control these costs, which have to be immense.

 

[Ruger Packer]

That must have been what mine was. I didn't even open it.... it went straight in the trash. The only thing from NRA that I open is the monthly issue of "American Rifleman".

 

[bsnake]

My wife & I are both Life Members.
About 5 years ago I called them & requested they not send me all their mailings.
I now only receive mail from them once or twice a year.
Instead of complaining about the mailings, why not make a simple phone call & stop them???

 

[Pat-inCO]

The indicated purpose of the sticker? To acknowledge that you received the package!

Hey, NRA guys . . . if I hadn't received the package how could I be returning the form along with my donation?

Actually, it is a "marketing ploy" to get you to look at the rest of the material.

If you are going to send them some money, do you think they would refuse
said money if you didn't have the sticker? :shock: I don't either.

 

[Ruger Packer]

My wife & I are both Life Members.
About 5 years ago I called them & requested they not send me all their mailings.
I now only receive mail from them once or twice a year.
Instead of complaining about the mailings, why not make a simple phone call & stop them???

Probably for the following reason(s):

Press "1" for English
Press "2" for other
Please enter your membership number
Please state your name
Please verify your address is correct (gives address on file)... Press 1 if correct, press 2 if Incorrect
Etc
Etc
Etc
Etc
Etc

Earlier this afternoon I had to deal with TWO companies that have this asinine method of customer service. It was enough to try my patience.

 

[RKB]

My wife & I are both Life Members.
About 5 years ago I called them & requested they not send me all their mailings.
I now only receive mail from them once or twice a year.
Instead of complaining about the mailings, why not make a simple phone call & stop them???

This actually does work. A few years back I called them and informed them that the next mailing that they sent me that included a response envelope for donations would be returned to them with my membership card in it, and all future donations would cease. The only thing I get from them now is my membership renewal notices - zero junk mailings.

 

[RugerHound]

Do keep in mind that the junk mail stuff is done by a 3rd party. If the NRA didn't make money on it, they would switch 3rd party marketers!

I never thought about calling them, but may do that as it does seem to work according to a couple posters. Great solution!

 

[Jim Puke]

Why do you guys let this bug you so much???

Contribute or throw it in the trash...it is not like this is the only junk mail you get.

If I were the NRA and y'all gave me all of this grief over trying to raise money to benefit YOU...I would tell you to stick your membership.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

Yes. We have to remember that annual dues are not, cannot be used for the NRA's political activities. I'd be surprised if they even begin to cover the daily operation expenses and magazine subscriptions.

The ILA and PVF are the "active" NRA programs and are financed by all the solicitations we receive in the mail. Those who do not contribute are doing NOTHING to enable the NRA to continue its efforts in our behalf. Life Members need to remember that the money they paid to achieve that "elevated status" was long ago spent and perhaps more than others need to contribute when asked. As I have said before, I contribute as much as I can, whenever I can. It's not a lot, but it's what my budget allows.

My point in the original post was not a condemnation of the solicitations per se, but a comment on what I see as somewhat lower consideration of the IQ of the general membership. Perhaps it's just that the NRA doesn't monitor the content of these solicitations with the firms that prepare them as closely as they should. I dunno.

It's our NRA, and we must support it as much as we can if it is to be able to carry our interests forward.

JMHO

 

[bsnake]

It's our NRA, and we must support it as much as we can if it is to be able to carry our interests forward.

JMHO

I still contribute to the NRA even though I'm a Life Member. There are lots of ways to contribute without getting the stuff in the mail.
I use the "Add A Buck" program mentioned earlier and contribute directly at shooting events and gun shows.

 

[Ale-8(1)]

All contributions gratefully accepted!!

:mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

 

[redhawker]

My wife & I are both Life Members.
About 5 years ago I called them & requested they not send me all their mailings.
I now only receive mail from them once or twice a year.
Instead of complaining about the mailings, why not make a simple phone call & stop them???

Sometimes I think people just like to complain...Recommend the above if it really bugs you. I did it, and like bsnake, I get maybe 1 or 2 mailings a year now. (Life Member BTW)

Why do you guys let this bug you so much???

Contribute or throw it in the trash...it is not like this is the only junk mail you get.

If I were the NRA and y'all gave me all of this grief over trying to raise money to benefit YOU...I would tell you to stick your membership.

Again, if you don't bother to make the phone call recommend the above. How hard is it to delete an email or throw an envelope in the round file? Why do they do it? Why do they waste the money? Well, I heard that if an organization or company gets as little as a 5% return on their mailings then they're making money. Do you think they'd continue to do it if it didn't make them money? BTW - If you're really serious about the fight for our rights you can opt out of having the printed magazine (American Hunter or American Rifleman) delivered and save the NRA that much more money towards the fight. You can still get the magazine online if you do that.