netty Posted April 7, 2010 Posted April 7, 2010 hahah that was an epic letter, i really wish someone out there would actually see it! p.s. why DID they call it the idiot club? when i was younger i thought it was refering to American Idiot but it is not because the idiot club has been around since the Kerplunk era (i think) back when the IC was cool, they'd give away free stuff to its members. now they charge its members and give really nothing in return (except for presale ticket opportunities that this letter has proven to be more hassle than its worth). I`m not totally sure of the sequence of names the fanclub has had. think it started as the "idiot club" when it was just a fanzine sent out. dont think anything else much was sent out to people. then when it was started on line it was the "All Ages" club and then when it went international rather than only open to people living in the US and Canada it went back to being the Idiot Club. I`m certainly not aware of them ever sending out oodles of free things to members. under any name.
Tripe Posted April 7, 2010 Posted April 7, 2010 For people who are wondering where their $20 goes each year, I imagine a big fat chunk of it goes to Artist Arena to run the club. Arguably, they are doing a less than stellar job with that, but they are a big fat company with big fat overhead costs. They're a business, they're not in this for the love of the band like Andres is. I think there would be a fee to be a member of the club even if it wasn't Artist Arena running it, though. It keeps out the trolls and haters. Few people who just want to slam the band will pay $20 for the opportunity to do so. Especially when they can do it for free over here.
Armstump Posted April 7, 2010 Posted April 7, 2010 Really good letter! I was a member of the IC a few years ago. They promissed a lot, and I've been a member for 2 years, had a lot of fun, but did only one give away and a lil preview of TSAC and that's it. It wasn't really worth the money. It should be free.
Hermione Posted April 7, 2010 Posted April 7, 2010 I`m not totally sure of the sequence of names the fanclub has had. think it started as the "idiot club" when it was just a fanzine sent out. dont think anything else much was sent out to people. then when it was started on line it was the "All Ages" club and then when it went international rather than only open to people living in the US and Canada it went back to being the Idiot Club. I`m certainly not aware of them ever sending out oodles of free things to members. under any name. According to that old Idiot Club newsletter from 1994 you could choose to be a "poor idiot" ($5), "idiot" ($10) or "really big idiot" ($20) . A really big idiot would get a membership card, t-shirt, sew-on patch, fake tattoos, postcard/pictures of the band, a sticker, and periodic mailings to say what the band was up to. Of course whether that ever actually happened or not is anyone's guess.
farley drexel hatcher Posted April 7, 2010 Posted April 7, 2010 I think fanclubs are a pretty old fashioned idea, really XD I was a member of a few back in the '90s. One - for about the same price as the IC - gave me a free pen when I joined. It was a flat pen - on purpose - to make it easier and cheaper to mail out. You couldn't write with it. And IC club members complain! XD
Hermione Posted April 7, 2010 Posted April 7, 2010 I think fanclubs are a pretty old fashioned idea, really XD I was a member of a few back in the '90s. One - for about the same price as the IC - gave me a free pen when I joined. It was a flat pen - on purpose - to make it easier and cheaper to mail out. You couldn't write with it. And IC club members complain! XD Haha yeah that old IC newsletter thing is pretty silly and childish. Funny to look at it now though . I suppose back then without the internet, joining a fanclub was the only thing you could really do if you were a kid who was excited about being a fan of a band/artist. It was more just so you could feel like you were a part of what was going on with your favourite band back then. I'm sure half of them were a total rip off
Tragically Green Posted April 7, 2010 Posted April 7, 2010 Did you ask your bank to reverse the over-draft fee? You'll have much more luck getting the money back that way then by complaining to warner. That seems like a steep fee by the way....I'd go to a new bank. Maybe it's different in Europe, but ussually credit cards are declined when you've reached the limit on it. Did you get charged the over-draft fee when you paid off your bill?...I don't really understand I was dissappointed when I first joined the idiot club as I thought there would be more to it. But my 20 bucks got me access to good tickets for 2 shows and I won a cd so it worked out pretty good. I'll probably end up renewing so that I don't miss out on any contests that might come up. It could definitely be better though.
Isabel Posted April 8, 2010 Posted April 8, 2010 I just think it's a shame that so many people are basing their entire decision not to join purely because of one member's negative experience
Hermione Posted April 8, 2010 Posted April 8, 2010 ^Yeah I agree. I'd say if you're going to a Green Day show, go ahead and join for the presales and possible competitions associated with the show like getting into soundcheck etc. I think it's well worth the money if you're in that situation. If you're not going to a show I wouldn't bother unless you don't mind spending $20 just to use a forum and see a few photos occasionally. If you hear about a specific IC competition/giveaway you'd like to be a part of, you could always join for that once you hear about it - instead of joining just on the off chance that one might happen and being disappointed when it doesn't. But don't base your decision on this person's unfortunate experience, I'm pretty sure it's a one off.
Isabel Posted April 8, 2010 Posted April 8, 2010 Yeah I mainly renewed because of the presales/soundcheck competitions/early entry possibilities, etc.
E!!i Posted April 8, 2010 Posted April 8, 2010 I still think the idiot club should be free, some of us have better things to spend $20 a month on other than a message board that, admittedly does have a pretty good deal when it comes to tickets. I just want that damn Q&A video they did several years ago that was exclusive to the club But good on you, Maybe you could throw a parade and throw the letter and billions of copies of it off a building or something.... isn't it 20$/year?
E!!i Posted April 9, 2010 Posted April 9, 2010 ^ Yeah, it is an annual fee I realized even if I would like to enter to this club I couldn't cause I have no credit card.
netty Posted April 9, 2010 Posted April 9, 2010 which is something that we have asked about before now. the original version you could join if you sent an international money order. I would have joined earlier but for the fact I couldnt find anywhere near me that sold the damned things. hhmmm another thing to add to my mythical/legendary list of bitches about this.
E!!i Posted April 9, 2010 Posted April 9, 2010 which is something that we have asked about before now. the original version you could join if you sent an international money order. I would have joined earlier but for the fact I couldnt find anywhere near me that sold the damned things. hhmmm another thing to add to my mythical/legendary list of bitches about this. what's that?
Nova-Caine Posted April 9, 2010 Posted April 9, 2010 I also asked for paypal and was told that they would consider it, that was over 2 years ago..
LadyPeacemaker20 Posted April 10, 2010 Posted April 10, 2010 Great letter! I've always wanted to join IC mainly for the Q&A videos they released. But frankly, I don't see the point. I'll probably never ever be able to afford the concert because I can't afford it and even if I do, I'll never have anyone to go with. Hopefully IC will take the time to read this and respond but I don't think they will. And if they do, it will probably be a shittastic answer anyway.
syl Posted April 10, 2010 Posted April 10, 2010 Nice! Good Idea about having Adeline records instead of Warner Bro..I think Warner Bro are just all a bunch of money hungry corporate aholes I have heard a lot of people trying to get tickets through Idiot Club presales and ticketmaster were not releasing it, a lot had trouble trying to get pit tickets. Hey Samantha..great letter, I agree 110 %
Tre_Gina Posted April 10, 2010 Posted April 10, 2010 I joined the IC in february hoping there will be some benefits for the summer UK stadium shows and future tours. There hasn't been anything yet but I am hoping it will be worth my $20...
syl Posted April 10, 2010 Posted April 10, 2010 Yeah I joined too as soon as I found out that Green Day were coming to Toronto, on my first try I could not get floor tickets and I got online at 10am like they said and despite spending 30 minutes trying to get floors they kept giving me seats, and then I gave in and got seats the 200 section but when I tried it in the afternoon on my first try I got floor tickets so took those and now I will sell the 200 section 1 or 2 weeks before the concert and of course I will sell it at the price I paid for or less.
Velocity Posted April 13, 2010 Posted April 13, 2010 Well, I finally got my Idiot Club shirt in the mail today. I doubt I'll wear it much but at least I got what I paid for.
syl Posted April 13, 2010 Posted April 13, 2010 Haha yeah that old IC newsletter thing is pretty silly and childish. Funny to look at it now though . I suppose back then without the internet, joining a fanclub was the only thing you could really do if you were a kid who was excited about being a fan of a band/artist. It was more just so you could feel like you were a part of what was going on with your favourite band back then. I'm sure half of them were a total rip off Yeah I joined the IC just recently, I think Adeline Records should run it or maybe the Green Day wives can run it, that would be great...the benefit I got that I was able to get pre-sale tickets, but yeah I wish there was more contests and things, that would be nice.
Holly Posted April 13, 2010 Posted April 13, 2010 I joined Idiot Club this year in case there were any kind of perks involving the UK shows this year, but it is absolutely pants. I thought even if there was nothing for the shows it would at least be a decent fan club for the price but I can't believe how disappointing it is. Great letter, I hope one of the Warner bastards read it and hopefully before long someone will change the club. Grrr.
netty Posted April 13, 2010 Posted April 13, 2010 how many packets of smarties could you buy for $20?
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