westpier scouts

I AM active in the local forums in Germany (#2 country, when you just look on the number of active caches) and at the moment I'm seeking contact to the GAGB, the British Geocaching Association (#4 geocaching country). I know that I won't change the world by posting in this forum, but I hope to generate solidarity in other countries as well. To reach the one, who brings awareness to his local forum and spread the news around the world, and I know, that I'm on the right way, when I read posts like this: But I won't write directly to G$, neither email, nor snail mail. It won't change a thing. Others may feel free to do so, I'm sure, I will join them, just to leave no stone unturned, but I won't initiate it. My goal is to persuade other cachers to list their caches on other platforms also. OX

Don't assume that they are paying attention to this thread. Write to them personally with your concerns and make it clear that they will get no more money from you until they address them. Get everyone you know to do the same thing. I'm not writing to G$ any more, neither in this forum, nor to them directly. They won't react either way. I'm writing to the whole community, those who are affected and those who are backing our protest. So, my above question lasts: What are your answers?

Let's go back to the topic, please. The question is: what can we do aginst the arrogant way, G$ is treating their European customers? My answers would be: A ) Don't renew your PM until G$ changes this intransparent and unfair pricing-sceme. B ) In order to keep GCdotCOM attractive in the way you want, strengthen other (international) platforms by uploading your caches there as well. What are your answers?

In my opinion A ) 99% will renew. B ) If GS was illegal, they should know this. If they were legal, we should know this. C ) 99% will stay. Sad, but I think nothing will happen... I think we don't have to be that negative. I don't want to boykott G$, I just want to be treated as a customer and not a doormat. Yes, most cachers will stay (me too - but not as a PM), and that's ok. But the more caches will be uploaded also on other platforms, the more these platforms become real alternatives, the sooner G$ will have to react on our protest. So my opinion is: If you want to stay at GCdotCOM create an account on another platform! Join in the protest. Spread it over your national Geocaching forums.

Great post! I personally would change it to: ... "I'm not obligated to renew it so I ... CHANGE" In my opinion the time for complaining is over. G$ has not and will not react in any way. So what can we do? A ) Business as usual: paying whatever G$ wants to renew the membership? B ) starting a little revenge by writing to European tax-authorities, with ... hmmm ... what goal? or C ) thinking about geocaching beyond G$? Yet there is no real alternative, but with more and more players and caches, the existing platforms will become real alternatives and THIS schould worry G$. Because every happy cacher on an other platform means G$ loses attractivity. I don't want to leave GCdotCOM, but I already have an account on another platform.

It is not begging to send an email to them to tell them what has upset you, why, and what you are doing about it. That is really the only thing that puts a direct correlation between the loss of a premium membership and this issue. I seriously doubt Groundspeak will take the time to compare the ID's of expired memberships with the angry posters on this topic. Assuming, of course, that you want them to get a message from your decision. Just not renewing without saying anything, with their regular fluctuations in paid membership, will not even be a blip on their radar. Yes, normally I would agree with your opinion, but after reading about the experience TheGeckos made with writing G$, I'm sure G$ gives nothing about the concerns of it's customers: No, I won't write G$. I'm sure, they know what's going on here in this thread and not-reacting in any way is a total lack of respect for it's customers. Sad but true. Geocaching is important in my life, but it IS NOT my life and breaking with G$ doesn't mean breaking with Geocaching in general

Have you written them and told them that? Odds are that they stopped reading this forum thread about 400 posts ago. No, I haven't. I won't go begging. If they don't react on all these complaints, then I'll react my way. G$ is not the world. There are alternatives and they get even more attractive with every day, G$ refuses to take a stand.

This is exactly the point! Nothing is forever. A clear statement like "We're working hard to improve Geocaching for you, please help us to help you. We have to raise the annual fee to an amount of XXX USD" for all PM's worldwide and only a few people would complain. But to raise the membership costs without prior announcement, just for some PM's (the Europeans) and there just for those who klicked the wrong PM-renewal button, lackeys bringing some flimsy excuse and still no official Groundspeak statement is extremely unprofessional and an arrogant slap in the face of all the eejits like me, who are paying for Groundspeaks profits. To be honest: Yes, I'll miss the pocket querys, but I won't let someone treat me like a doormat. My PM-renewal is now due, but I will not extend my Premium Membership under these circumstances.

(I haven't read the posts after this one I'm replying on now, so maybe someone else replyed on this before.) Dear Moun10Bike, what are you trying to tell me: I'm a Premium Member for at least 4 years now, but only with non-recurring payments. And now you're telling me, that I'm a Premium Member with a minor status, even though I payed the same full amount than every other PM? I now have to pay 33% more, just because I have chosen the wrong way of payment? Is Groundspeak now dividing between Members, Premium Members and Premium Premium Members? Well, thank you very much for this unbelievable arrogant kick in the a... That makes my decision to renew or not renew much more easy: Thank you for the wonderful past 6 years of geocaching with Groundspeak and bye bye.