Good Sam Club?

[Matt400]

Is Sam all that good?

We just bought an new 5th wheel so with that comes the offers in the mail.

Our insurance (specialised in RV's) includes towing so don't need that but what about other benefits in the standard membership?



What do you like / dislike about Good Sam Club?

 

[Troubleshooter]

Since you already have the insurance and towing, it may not be as important to you. I had them for a year. Liked the camping discount (although only offered at maybe 1/3 of the parks where I stayed, and those were covered by another group to which I belong). Hated the constant parade of junk-mail to buy everything from books to more insurance to renewing my membership "now" (huh? Only been a member for six months and you want more money?) They do publish a monthly magazine, but I found it very generic and it seemed like they never met an advertiser's product that they didn't like. Personally, I allowed the membership to lapse. It took another six months, four letters, and a half-dozen or so phone calls to get the junk mail to cease.



They do hold get-togethers ("Samborees") and have chapters in various parts of the country, if that's something that interests you. Just depends on what your objectives and expectations are.

 

[DonTX]

Yeah, they DO persist with mail. I am a member and it has not cost me, it has paid. Discounts on fuel and food, as well as campgrounds has been worthwhile. It is not a great big thing, but definitely a plus to belong. I suggest you try it for a year.

 

[AClayton]

I have been a Good Sam member for about 5 years now and aside from what has been mentioned above with the added mail and such... . I have found the club to be of benefit for the discounts but what really gets me is how the clubs and chapters seem to plan the weekends and fun based on food. These people eat like crazy and then sit around a campfire at night and eat more. I still enjoy going to the campouts they have and just simply eat much less. My two girls are among the younger campers and indulge in all the attention from the older generations.

 

[RGrizzle]

my wife and i are life time members . yes you do get a lot of mail about the service plans , financing , and road side service . if you are not interested in any of that , just save the mailers and start campfires with them. :-laf aside from the junk mail , you do get 10 % discounts at good sam rated parks and a lot of parks that are not gs parks will honor the discount if you ask . we don't have the road side assistance because most of our trips are local but , i know people that have it and say it really is good if your on the road a lot . if nothing else , it is worth the membership fee to get the highways magazine . it will keep you up to date on rv recalls and new camping products and news .

 

[Matt400]

Thanks for the input everyone, I suppose it couldn't hurt to give it a try.

A quick search turned up this page:

Good Sam Club

but its always nice to hear from non biased folks.

 

[RJOL]

I've been a member of Good Sam for years. I used to get a ton of offers, by mail, from them. Initially I used their online method to ask that they quit sending this to me, but I still got lots in the mail. I finally called them directly and told them that if they didn't stop the junk mail, I'd quit their club. That seems to have worked as I don't remember the last time I got one of their mail offers...

 

[Grizzly]

I was a Good Sam member for many years. At first most RV supply stores and RV campgrounds honored them and gave a 10% discount. Not anymore. Hardly any RV supply store and RV campground offer a Good Sam discount. I quite them a few years back because I don't believe they are worth the fee. What works for me now is AAA discount.