Was there a reason? A reputation, or just straight up they were not taking new members? That seems harsh.
To OP.
Sounds like your getting boned. Did you try speaking with a senior member of the club about the membership fee? Not that 40 is a lot of $. It should be for 12 months, not 3 or 4 because keeping track of it that way would take time an $ for them. They should have just told you to wait until january.
As far as finds go. Dude. If it looks like its UNC, its probably bought.
You like the hobby. Go it alone, with a close friend. I go alone. Leave when I want to. Try another club in a few if you want.
gl an hh.
I exchanged emails about the dues i was reminded of by them.
I said i was good as id joined in april and they said that it wasn't a 12 month membership but that each year starts in January and their policy was that anyone joining in October or November would get the rest of the year and uptill that month the next year but not those joining before it, that pissed me off to begin with.
I was lucky to join in april but those joining in the summer were going to get fleeced, it wasn't about the amount of money but its unfair to say the least.
Along with the other things i listed it was a great way to get a years dues and then spend them in three months and then get another years dues...basically exploiting the new members for the benefits of the old members who had better chances of winning silver, formed clicks that were stay that way, no programs for new members or those who knew little about the hobby.
It was and is a form of Ponzi scheme where new members dues are being used to buy silver and then the experienced were taking it from finds of the month with little chance of new members getting anything as they learnt the hobby.
when you add to that the ability of some to enter what some saw as obvious bought items to win silver then im thinking selling their 'used' finds and buy yet more.
The whole club is not new member friendly, the older members not mixing, holding onto tips and techniques like their lives depended on it and every challenge squarly benefiting the most experienced members..well i was putting $20 a month into the raffles and was glad to do it, but if theres nothing there to appeal to new people, no help with selecting a machine, selecting a place, techniques to dig, get permissions, find old places.
Heck in one day on here you would get more questions answered then a year in the club and you didn't have to pay $40 for it.
There are good members there but not enough to justify reminaing as a member and feeling my yearly dues were ripped off and those of new members id talked to through the year who joined
