AARP

dex · ‎03-09-2010

Does anyone subscribe and think that it is a good deal.I have been getting mailings from them for over ten years and they never give up on me...anyway this morning they have included a membership envelope in our newspaper.These people are spending a lot of money trying to get new members.

Mistreatedbycs · ‎03-10-2010

The people I know that belong to AARP are all for the "discounts".

Just the word discounts makes them all excited to be a member.

The problem with discounts is no one know what the original price should be, they believe and I mean believe that this card/membership allows them

to buy at a much lower price than anyone else.

I don't know first hand if the pricing is that good but it would be interesting if someone that's not a member vs someone that is a member get a quote. But I heard some plans are just for AARP members so there wouldn't be anything to compare.

I guess when you get old you get to the point of believing you need to be "entitled" to lower costs for everything....it's that senior citizen discounts that have been embedded in people's minds.

2blonde · ‎03-10-2010

FYI.......you don't have to be "old" to belong to AARP. They start sending notices to people when they aren't even 50 yet (that's not old in my book).

Yes, I belong to AARP; I joined when I was in my late 50's. It's only $15 per year, and I do enjoy the monthly magazine they send. Other than that, I really don't use my AARP card for anything. I usually get good discounts through other avenues.

Laura loves cats!

Luvitorleaveit1 · ‎03-09-2010

My husband and I totally resisted the join us mail from AARP for years until recently we decided to give it a try since the membership was only $16 for the year I think. We have used them for the discounts since we travel alot but I do still shop around. My parents were members for many years and were satisfied. They do spend a lot in mailings though because even though we joined a couple of months ago we are still getting mail to join so I don't understand how they update the records on their end.

Sooner · ‎03-10-2010

I never remember where the discounts or, and never remember to ask!

AARP is basically an insurance company targeted at older folks.

2blonde · ‎03-10-2010

@Luvitorleaveit1 wrote:
My husband and I totally resisted the join us mail from AARP for years until recently we decided to give it a try since the membership was only $16 for the year I think. We have used them for the discounts since we travel alot but I do still shop around. My parents were members for many years and were satisfied. They do spend a lot in mailings though because even though we joined a couple of months ago we are still getting mail to join so I don't understand how they update the records on their end.

@Luvitorleaveit1 You're so right. When I recently renewed, they kept sending me renewal notices, even a month after I had received my new card. They are pesky whether you join or not!

Laura loves cats!

jlkz · ‎12-02-2013

@dex

A lot of different types of businesses are out to get new members / users or to get former ones to renew or rejoin.

Magazines and newspapers are full of cards / envelopes to make new and rejoining folks " active ". As a matter of fact, before I try to read anything nowadays, I tear out and discard the solicitations. It has gotten so bad that when I get the AAA magazine, I just toss it.

As for the discounts, they are there in the AARP program:

one restaurant group has them all day, every day.... 15% at Carrabas, Bonefish Grill, Outback, and Denny's. 10% at Michael's Craft; free donut with coffee at Dunkin' Donuts among others. Some outlet mall management offices have special discount booklets too.

The articles in their AARP magazine are very useful and informative; resources are cited / provided. Especially useful if you are responsible for elderly relatives. Nice to have all the information available for them or yourself !

One last thought about the discounts, I usually ask if there are any AAA or AARP or senior discounts available. You'd be surprised at what all is available and not advertised !

One example, I happened to come across an older flyer for our trash service at home ( it was thumb tacked under the current one ). It mentioned a senior discount: I had overlooked this generous discount for two years. Got the discount and alerted my next door neighbor who also took advantage of it. It saved over $100 for each of us !

Advice: try it for a year.

We make a living by what we get. We make a life by what we give.
Sir Winston Churchill

henderson · ‎03-18-2010

They lean politically to the left and I don't agree with most of what they are promoting/lobbying for. However, we get a discount (home, cars) from our insurance company if we have a membership. We've found that the AARP hotel discount is much better than the AAA discount and we've saved money in the past for that.

software · ‎06-08-2016

Agree, my late parents were on a great policy through AARP.

$100/month for each and it covered all their co-pays and out-of-pockets that Medicare didn't. It was a good way for them to budget for health care costs. It was a benefit for them. I think it was United Healthcare.