USCCA

[Griffen]

Does anyone know anything about the USCCA (US Concealed Carry Assoc) or have membership experience with it? I'm trying to decide as a new CHL what/which CC organizations are worth joining or looking into.

[OldCannon]

I think it fills a niche for people that don't have access to communities such as this forum, but let me give you fair warning, Tim Schmidt, who runs USCCA, is a hardcore salesman.

He WILL spam your inbox almost every day telling you to extend your membership or buy a report, etc.In this month alone, I have _18_ emails sitting in my folder from USCCA. I had to make a special folder and filter just to handle his spammage. Frankly, I think that practice tells me a LOT about the person running the organization - you are a money pinata to him and he will whack it constantly.

I will not be renewing my membership. Their magazine isn't all that hot either.

[RPBrown]

I think it fills a niche for people that don't have access to communities such as this forum, but let me give you fair warning, Tim Schmidt, who runs USCCA, is a hardcore salesman.

He WILL spam your inbox almost every day telling you to extend your membership or buy a report, etc.In this month alone, I have _18_ emails sitting in my folder from USCCA. I had to make a special folder and filter just to handle his spammage. Frankly, I think that practice tells me a LOT about the person running the organization - you are a money pinata to him and he will whack it constantly.

I will not be renewing my membership. Their magazine isn't all that hot either.

I had the same problems a few years ago and did not renew my membership after only 1 year.

[tqu9047]

Same here, lasted one year. Still get e-mails to buy reports etc. Am considering marking next e-mail as spam to stop it.

Tim

[cbucher]

I actually joined a short time ago before I found this forum. I wish I hadn't but will let it run it's course for this year.

[longtooth]

We on the Mod board thank you for the compliments such as above. We do our best & want to keep it that way.
LT

[Beiruty]

I was banned with no warning. To add salt to the insult I got a hate pm from one of their mod. It was full of obscenity and had reference to musty war experience. I do not miss that non-association a single sec

[terryg]

you are a money pinata to him and he will whack it constantly.

I am so very sorry, but I simply must stea... borrow that from you!

[cougartex]

I agree with everyone above, after one year I did not renew my membership.

[wgoforth]

Wow.... wondering how my experience is so different. First month or two, I did receive various offers every few days. Now more like once a week. Some I even want. Some tell me of updated articles on their site. But guess what? I RECEIVE AS MUCH FROM THE NRA. In fact, I called the NRA and chewed them out for it, after having already clicked that I did not wish to receive offers. NRA told me they didn't want me to miss these! I finally called Life Member services who immediatly apologized and said they would correct such.

Anyway.... I consider the magazine to be well worth the cost. Great advice on carrying and self defense. Kathy Jackson edits it and is a respected person in the self defense arena. I was sent as a member offer 2 cd's of all back issues that are the full color scanned magazines and not just text. The magazine has no ads at all and is all instructional info.

FWIW

[OldCannon]

Wow.... wondering how my experience is so different. First month or two, I did receive various offers every few days. Now more like once a week. Some I even want. Some tell me of updated articles on their site. But guess what? I RECEIVE AS MUCH FROM THE NRA. In fact, I called the NRA and chewed them out for it, after having already clicked that I did not wish to receive offers. NRA told me they didn't want me to miss these! I finally called Life Member services who immediatly apologized and said they would correct such.

I'm weird. I actually track that kind of stuff in my inbox. I have nowhere near the amount of useless email from the NRA as I do from Tim, and I even get NRA Instructor "spam". I'm glad that you like the USCCA and what it has to offer. I was careful in selecting my words, because I would _not_ call it a rip-off. One could even say that the materials provided by Tim are of outstanding value relative to the price he is asking.

In fact, here's the first few lines of what I got thrown at me last night (bringing the total September USCCA count up to 19):

Code: Select all

8-Hours Left: Be the Early Bird & Get the Worm.

Dear fellow USCCA Member, 

This is just a friendly reminder that your chance to *lock in* your low renewal rate and get the truck-load of bonuses is set to expire...

...in just 8 (eight) hours.

In fact, depending on when you're reading this, it may already be too late.

=> Your Last Chance: Renew Now. 

They're all this way, which specifically tells me that Tim isn't operating his business on a relational level. I'm working at starting my own business, and I have YEARS of experience at marketing to targeted audiences. The first rule is: Treat customers BETTER than you want to be treated yourself. I don't see that from the USCCA.

I just can't imagine that a single one of us would PAY to join a service, only to be bombarded almost _every day_ to pay even more for that service. I just find the USCCA exhortations enormously insincere.

[wgoforth]

Wow.... wondering how my experience is so different. First month or two, I did receive various offers every few days. Now more like once a week. Some I even want. Some tell me of updated articles on their site. But guess what? I RECEIVE AS MUCH FROM THE NRA. In fact, I called the NRA and chewed them out for it, after having already clicked that I did not wish to receive offers. NRA told me they didn't want me to miss these! I finally called Life Member services who immediatly apologized and said they would correct such.

I'm weird. I actually track that kind of stuff in my inbox. I have nowhere near the amount of useless email from the NRA as I do from Tim, and I even get NRA Instructor "spam". I'm glad that you like the USCCA and what it has to offer. I was careful in selecting my words, because I would _not_ call it a rip-off. One could even say that the materials provided by Tim are of outstanding value relative to the price he is asking.

In fact, here's the first few lines of what I got thrown at me last night (bringing the total September USCCA count up to 19):

Code: Select all

8-Hours Left: Be the Early Bird & Get the Worm.

Dear fellow USCCA Member, 

This is just a friendly reminder that your chance to *lock in* your low renewal rate and get the truck-load of bonuses is set to expire...

...in just 8 (eight) hours.

In fact, depending on when you're reading this, it may already be too late.

=> Your Last Chance: Renew Now. 

They're all this way, which specifically tells me that Tim isn't operating his business on a relational level. I'm working at starting my own business, and I have YEARS of experience at marketing to targeted audiences. The first rule is: Treat customers BETTER than you want to be treated yourself. I don't see that from the USCCA.

I just can't imagine that a single one of us would PAY to join a service, only to be bombarded almost _every day_ to pay even more for that service. I just find the USCCA exhortations enormously insincere.

Ahhhh.... on that one, I guess I don't recieve because I did take advantage of the offer! I also didn't see it as a negative. After joining, they stopped running ads in their mag. That made the cost go up. By sending this out, it allowed us to lock in future subscriptions at the old price. Regardless of his intent, it is a plus for the subscribers. Since I accepted that offer sometime back, I'm not receiving those ads. As I say, I get one a week or there abouts.
No prob to me, just apparently not everyone views it in same light,

Are there others here pleased with the service?

BTW, I am not under the mistaken thought that this is a non-profit organization like NRA.... the co wants to make money I am sure... It's the American way afterall.

EDIT: Similar experience with NRA... after joining NRA at their free level, I was asked to join their basic. I did. I was then sent mail asking me to become Life Member... I did. Now being asked to join Endowment level.... I won't. I also receive spam from Life Lock and various insurance co's marked NRA. I don't begrudge any of that, some I like. But it's not much different than USCAA offering next levels. Too, I have never been sent a product by USCAA without request and told to send money now that they have sent it to me (a DVD), as I did with NRA. This is NOT NRA bashing. I would join again and tell others to. But, pointing out that the selling process is similar.

Edit again: Just went through my mailbox...and IF I include their "Concealed Report" which isn't spam...it's informative material on gun and shooting related information.... then I'm getting on the average of 2 e-mails a week from them.

[TraCoun]

I've been a USCCA member for several years. I believe Tim's e-mails have slowed down, but they still appear. Mostly, for me, it's the news letter, with a fair number of "special" items. I just treat it like any advertisements, give a quick look and decide whether it's worth pursuing. If not it's deleted.

I get a fair amount out of the magazine, especially things to add to classes (I'm an NRA Instructor and Training Counselor).

Thanx,
TraCoun

[OldCannon]

I get a fair amount out of the magazine, especially things to add to classes (I'm an NRA Instructor and Training Counselor).

Thanx,
TraCoun

As an NRA instructor, I know how tough of a job it is to be a TC (which is why I'm not one ), so my hat's off to ya!