FabSwingers.com > Forums > Swingers Chat > Club membership fees

Club membership fees

By *it of fun cpl OP Couple over a year ago

village between York and Hull

We have been to quite a few clubs but of late due to the recession we have been cutting back. One bug bear is that at some clubs we have been to we have paid the 12 month membership then the admission but have not enjoyed it or are unable to travel all that way again. We think it would be a good idea to offer 1st visit membership of say £5 then the normal cover charge, then if you like it or intend going back you can take out the full membership and get the £5 knocked off. What do others think? would it encourage you to try new clubs?

We know some clubs do not charge admission but most do.

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By *ugartitsandhimCouple over a year ago

North West

In a nutshell YES !!!!! its a lot of money if you wanna try new clubs. and we have been to a couple now and one was s**t yet we are now fully paid up members to a club we will never go to again (GREAT!!!)

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

Most clubs if you ask worth checking you can go in as a guest and try the club with just entrance and then if you enjoy it then you can sign up.

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By *it of fun cpl OP Couple over a year ago

village between York and Hull

"Most clubs if you ask worth checking you can go in as a guest and try the club with just entrance and then if you enjoy it then you can sign up."

I think you will find that you cant im afraid.

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

Like most hobbies there's a cost involved. Clubs are there to make a profit to be able to provide the service in the future and so set their prices accordingly. Clubs can't be sure anyone is ever going to return so why should they discount? The individual should decide how much they can afford on treats and budget for their hobby as a matter of course I would have thought. Loyalty discounts should be after a year of being loyal. Lower prices at the door means poorer maintenance of facilities.

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By *it of fun cpl OP Couple over a year ago

village between York and Hull

We have no qualms with paying at the door or even a small one day membership but as you never know what a club is like untill you have been inside then £30 membership and £30 entry on the door just to find out it is crap is a bit severe. We are not saying membership should be free we are saying that clubs should offer a reduced first time vist.

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

"We have no qualms with paying at the door or even a small one day membership but as you never know what a club is like untill you have been inside then £30 membership and £30 entry on the door just to find out it is crap is a bit severe. We are not saying membership should be free we are saying that clubs should offer a reduced first time vist."

But the club does not operate on each individuals personal preference. If they adopted that suck it and see (pardon the pun) attitude they would go broke as they can't apply prices on the basis of different needs and expectations. They offer the facilities and all of the overheads... yes they can create an ambience but they can't be responsible for how the members interact with each other on those premises. If you think the facilities are poor then ask for a refund.

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By *it of fun cpl OP Couple over a year ago

village between York and Hull

We have done at one club and was told they do not offer refunds as stated in their terms.. which we had read of course!!lol

The same as the club we joined that charged for membership then shut down 4 months after we joined.

We are currently members of 7 clubs, we travel the country on a regular bassis so like to visit a new club in each area and if we like it we go back but we are put off from joining now due to both costs and what the club is like. We never judge a club by the people in there, only by the facilities and the how tidy or clean it is, we have been at it long enough to know that you will not always click with the other guests.

The question in the initial thread is would it tempt more people to go if a day membership was offered. In our opinion it would.

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

"We have done at one club and was told they do not offer refunds as stated in their terms.. which we had read of course!!lol

The same as the club we joined that charged for membership then shut down 4 months after we joined.

The question in the initial thread is would it tempt more people to go if a day membership was offered. In our opinion it would."

Lol probably closed down because of lack of cover charge

Seriously I did get the point of the OP question and there is an element of potentially one time only visitors like yourselves who would be attracted by lower introductory prices, I'm just saying it is difficult for any business to monitor who is visiting or whatever. In my experience if you divulged that info they would charge you more to get their moneysworth!

We have all gone to restaurants and been disappointed at the quality of a meal or service and grudgingly paid the price, because we enjoyed the company of our friends. We just don't go to that restaurant again and advise others not to.

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By *LBishCouple over a year ago

near bury st edmunds

Sorry i agree with the Op, if they gave out more first time discount memberships and same enterance fee, If it is a good enought club then,ppl WILL come back. I know i have taken ppl to our local club as a guest and they have returned to pay full membership etc etc. Now if i had not have taken them they would have not taen the gamble by paying all upfront without seeing it first. So i think its a good way for clubs to attract new members. Club Ish in Ispwich dont have a mebership fee for now anyway, not sure how far it is for you to travel. But i can assure you Club Tease2 Hotel in huntingdon, suffolk, is well well worth the fees. we are regs there i often go alone just for a social when my fella is away. They are so very freindly and always always make new ppl so very welcome. ohh and the cleanest club we have ever been to.x

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By *ex.IncCouple over a year ago

Castleford

It put us totally off La chambre with a £50 membership fee and a £25 entry fee. Plus petrol and then drinks while there and its well over £100 for a few hours.

We try and go to the clubs which couples dont have to pay membership, and are doing just fine.

I could nearly go abroad for a week for the price of a few hours there.

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By *ibrosMan over a year ago

harrow

I don't know if demand for clubs is that great. I should think many clubs have quiet nights and struggle to get numbers in. Annual membership works in favour of the club. Once a member you are more likely to visit there club than try another. Guest memberships can encourage people to try out your club, with no future commitment. All clubs need a regular income stream to enable them to reinvest and improve facilities.

It seems to me that if a club demands a membership fee,you must do your research. There are plenty of reviews on most clubs, just read these to get a feel, whether it would suit you.

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By *anzellMan over a year ago

Essex

Club Lick gives FREE lifetime membership to Couples and Ladies....x

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

"Most clubs if you ask worth checking you can go in as a guest and try the club with just entrance and then if you enjoy it then you can sign up.

I think you will find that you cant im afraid."

there ARE clubs you can pay as a guest so you dont always have to become a full member,also its worth looking around as there are some clubs that do special events where membership isnt required also,you got to remember the clubs are feeling the financial strains aswell so are trying new deals to get people through the doors so like i say its worth your while to look around

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By *ohnsusCouple over a year ago

Chesterfield

To the OP yes it probably would encourage people to go and try a club but clubs are businesses and as such don't have to offer discounts to get new members in our experience. La Chambre has occasional "open days" which give people the chance to come and view it with no obligation. These aren't held at times when the club is generally open (although some members do go to be there to chat to the potential members) and there's no opportunity to play of course, unless you then join and come back in later.

Another point that perhaps should be considered is that clubs tend to be private members clubs, having an obligation to their existing members security and anonimity, and if offering a first time charge would they still have to take the details of the new people if they weren't sure they'd actually join ?

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By *kexplorersCouple over a year ago

Bedfordshire

As a new and nervous couple to the scene, we have been looking at the clubs out there and noticed that you needed to become a fully paid member first and then pay an entrance fee.

We understand that these clubs are a business and need to make money for running cost, however like the OP suggest we feel there should be a separate fee for 'Newbies'.

So for example if membership for the year is £60 and on the night as a couple we both pay £15 each to get in.

Maybe what the club can say it is going to cost £25 each on the night as 'newbies' and if you like the club then we have the option of joining but still having to pay the full £60 for the year.

This way the both parties are not feeling hard done by. Just a suggestion :P

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

gotta say the memberships were putting me off, which is why I go to the attic. no membership, 20 quid for single blokes, 10 for couples and 5 for single ladies. plus its a really friendly place, staff are great and you get a full variety of people in there. check the reviews! And no i'm not getting paid to advertise lol

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By *john121Man over a year ago

staffs

"gotta say the memberships were putting me off, which is why I go to the attic. no membership, 20 quid for single blokes, 10 for couples and 5 for single ladies. plus its a really friendly place, staff are great and you get a full variety of people in there. check the reviews! And no i'm not getting paid to advertise lol"

will be even better when they start having to charge same for all...as they now should be....

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

will be even better when they start having to charge same for all...as they now should be....

true, but for a good night, normally from half 8 till half 3 (though they only close when the last person leaves...), 20 quid isnt bad lol

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By *it of fun cpl OP Couple over a year ago

village between York and Hull

will be even better when they start having to charge same for all...as they now should be....

Not going to get into that argument, but you and I know that is never going to happen!!

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By *john121Man over a year ago

staffs

[Removed by poster at 05/02/11 15:58:55]

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By *john121Man over a year ago

staffs

will be even better when they start having to charge same for all...as they now should be....

Not going to get into that argument, but you and I know that is never going to happen!!"

Only takes one to complain and the club will have to take the consiquences.... You know it's now classed as discrimination from the previous thread with the government web site re discrimination... So don't shoot the messenger.... There is no reason why charging is different apart from profit......

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By *ex.IncCouple over a year ago

Castleford

Does it still count though even if its a private members club? Not too up on it all if im honest. I thought that was only for public venues.

Although i guess if someone complained the owners could refuse entry?

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

".... There is no reason why charging is different apart from profit......

Clubs are there to make a profit.

And since far more men than women are interested in NSA sex, enforcing the new law will simply mean that fewer women go, until the club finally goes out of business.

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By *-and-KCouple over a year ago

Back of Beyond

We looked at going to a North Yorkshire club on the 12th, we were meeting a couple who were already members.

Trouble is this club has increased membership to £45

but because its also Valentines weekend (go figure!) there is also a charge of £10 on top as well!

Now we love meeting couples and we have enjoyed clubs in the past, but no way is ANY club worth £55 for one night. We'd much rather spend the money on a decent hotel, not a barn

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

think most clubs should be a pay per visit rather than membership plus entrance fee think it would get there numbers up for starters

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By *inktherapyCouple over a year ago

Gloucester

There is a new club very local to us that does not charge membership as a matter of course. Mmebership is available - and the fee then gets you £10 off your next visit and other benefits -- you can very very quickly recoup your annual membership fee, should you join. They also are licensed - but are cheaper than a pub, so a great place just to be social with likeminded people, even if you don't end up playing

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By *john121Man over a year ago

staffs

Does it still count though even if its a private members club? Not too up on it all if im honest. I

thought that was only for public venues.

Although i guess if someone complained the

owners could refuse entry?"

On what grounds? Discrimination again?

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By *inktherapyCouple over a year ago

Gloucester

Does it still count though even if its a private members club? Not too up on it all if im honest. I

thought that was only for public venues.

Although i guess if someone complained the

owners could refuse entry?

On what grounds? Discrimination again?"

They can refuse entry to whomever - it will be a general 'they reserve teh right to....'

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By *ex.IncCouple over a year ago

Castleford

Does it still count though even if its a private members club? Not too up on it all if im honest. I

thought that was only for public venues.

Although i guess if someone complained the

owners could refuse entry?

On what grounds? Discrimination again?"

Nope, purely because they reserve the right of admission. Like if you try to go in somewhere pissed. Discrimination if they turn you away for that?

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By *ytraCouple over a year ago

Wrexham

While on holiday we have been to a few clubs in differing places that you can get a day pass into, it works out around £10 more on the entry fee and yes they do take name and address and see ID etc just like a regular membership. Seems to work fine abroad so don't see why it won't work over here

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

"While on holiday we have been to a few clubs in differing places that you can get a day pass into, it works out around £10 more on the entry fee and yes they do take name and address and see ID etc just like a regular membership. Seems to work fine abroad so don't see why it won't work over here"

Probably because of the sheer volume of holidaymakers visiting each year.

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

There's no reason why club membership fees should do anything other than reflect the basic rules of supply and demand.

If the fees are too high there won't be enough demand and consequently too few members to support the venture.

I suspect the problem with reduced membership for first time visitors is that some places would be inundated with people who are only in town for the day, have no intention of ever returning and who'll spoil the evening for the rest of the regular, full price members, who support the club week after week.

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By *john121Man over a year ago

staffs

Does it still count though even if its a private members club? Not too up on it all if im honest. I

thought that was only for public venues.

Although i guess if someone complained the

owners could refuse entry

On what grounds? Discrimination again?

Nope, purely because they reserve the right of admission. Like if you try to go in somewhere pissed. Discrimination if they turn you away for

that?"

As much as you may not like it I would direct you to the government website on discrimination and read for your self so that your are then better informed.

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