So it needed a little double trouble on this one……

 

Vixen and I recently grabbed the Membership Portfolio as we felt is the life blood of Think Bike, and the primary point of contact, and we have shaken the tree to get Membership back on track.

With the expert help of MadX, our developer whiz, the new database is up and running, and even with the few oddities we have come across, it is working 1000 times better than the old, and has increased functionality.

Changes to the Membership Team’s Processes

We begun by emailing all members that indicated that they were having membership related issues - both active and expired – to check on their details and resolve their queries as speedily as possible, while ensuring that all new members signing up were attended to immediatly.

We have also created a link here on the website for members to validate and update their personal details with ease directly onto the database, as well as a link to be able to check on the exipry of membership.

Please take a few minutes to check your details, and update if necessary, as this will ensure that we have all your correct information on our records. Bearing in mind that most of these details are used on your membership card we request that you please complete all the fields as comprehensively and accurately as possible, when and if you do have updates.

While all of this was going on, we invested in a card printer to be able to generate our own membership cards. The cards are plastic credit card type card and have a stunning new front image that has been artistically designed by our very own RichardVZ as well as containing all your ICE information the reverse side. The joy of having our own printer available means that we have we cut down on delays waiting for printers to get back to us, as we can now issue and post cards within a few days of receiving new on-line applications! The first 100 have already been dispatched. Printing our own cards has also assisted us in saving on costs and this has been passed back to you in the reduced Membership fees.

One of the biggest complaints about membership is that there has been no communication from time of application onwards so we addressed this as a priority.

We have put the following into place to counteract this as a start:

 

Changes to the Membership Fees

After taking note of the many suggestions that have been posted, by members and visitors to the forum, the Membership Team is pleased to have been able to announce the new pricing structure for Think Bike Membership.

Historically, membership was priced at R350 a year and by the time the membership pack was prepared (dog tags, laminated card, reflective stickers, DNRs, patch & badge) & posted and RoadCover paid; only R45 was going back into the campaign. Bearing in mind as well, that should our esteemed Post Office have lost the pack, or if the member hadn’t claimed it in time, Think Bike had to pay to replace or post it again, replacing the goods at a loss to the Campaign.

So we have taken a leap forward and as of the 21st June 2011, our new annual membership fee has been reduced to R190 per year. We have also retained the membership option for Under 16’s; this will cost R120 per year (with the option to include RoadCover at an additional R60 if required).

Annual Membership will still include our fantastic members-only special from RoadCover and the pack itself will now include the "credit card" style membership card containing ICE information (this replaces the laminated card), which will be sent via registered post to the member along with 2 DNR's and a covering welcome letter with RoadCover information.

This has allowed us to greatly reduce the cost of the packs and will ensure that the majority of what you pay goes towards the campaign that you have chosen to support.

It also means that you will receive your card and DNR stickers, within three weeks (postal service dependant) of making your membership payment and you can start to use it immediately at all those stores that offer TB Membership discounts!

All other items that were previously included in the pack, including the Dog Tags, can now be bought directly from the TB Online Shop, and are already up and available for sale.

www.shop.thinkbike.co.za

But most of all - to our members - you are the life force behind Think Bike - we wouldn't be anywhere without you - thank you for your support and all the patience you have had while we sort all of this out

 

Ride Safe,

 

Safron (SmartTart) - Portfolio Head for Membership

 

Cindy (Vixen) - Membership's ViP 2IC

 

Adrian (MadX) - Membership's Miracle Worker