The Good Sam Club was founded in 1966 based on the principle of the biblical Good Samaritan, wherein the club’s members help other members in need. For most of its existence it has served as a social club for RVers while also providing discounts on products and services. Its annual rallies drew many thousands in their prime, and were a big deal for many RVers.
Today, since being acquired by businessman Marcus Lemonis, the social aspect of the club is almost gone, with only small local club chapters remaining, some shutting down each year because of their aging memberships. The club’s main value today is its membership card, which provides a 10 percent discount at many RV parks and at Camping World.
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For RVers who camp in commercial RV parks more than a month or two a year, the $29 annual membership is likely worth the investment. The same goes for those who shop often at Camping World. But for RVers who camp infrequently and/or don’t shop at Camping World, its value is questionable.
So our question today is whether you are a member of the club. If so, or if not, would you please leave a comment?
I got the membership to get a big discount on a new air conditioner and then let it expire
I am a life member of Good SAM. I have been a member of Good Sam well over 50 years. The 10% discount is not worth a dime after Camping World raised their prices 20%. I find items I want/need cheaper from other venders. I do go to Rallies when nearby. I do not use GS Road Service or any other of their insurance products.
There very well may be some campgrounds that are still only affiliated with GS but I have found that most campgrounds are affiliated with other organizations that I belong to and military/ age related discounts.
Today I would probably not join GS simply because any value does not justify the fee.
I bought a life membership BEFORE Makus Lemonaidus bought it.
I had to say yes but didn’t want to. I also bought a life membership BEFORE Makus Lemonis bought it. I can’t tell you when the last time I used it became refuse to support any business that conducts themselves the way they do.
I purchased a Lifetime membership before “he” bought it. I also subscribed to trailer life magazine before it became a ad magazine for Camping World. At one time I was a member of the Presidents Club at the OG camping world in bowling green.
Joined in early 70s and then bought the life membership in the 80s. Got my moneys worth.
A member of their Emergency Assist program. Not the camping part.
Was a member, but not anymore! Sick of the crybaby tactics of GS and now that they cried to Loves, we lost the great discounts from that fuel station that we received from the Open Roads fuel card. Also sick of their politics! Just not the same company when we started to travel, too bad!
Use to be, glad I let it expire before Lemonis destroyed it.
Yes. Since I live up the hill from a Flying J Travel Center, the five cents per gallon gasoline discount makes my membership worthwhile. Especially now! I use their camping discount as well. I rarely shop at Camping World (I already have everything I need).
We’re charter lifetime members of GS. We joined when it was a social club and great rallies. If we didn’t have a lifetime membership with no annual dues we certainly wouldn’t be members!
The camping discount can be had if you are an AAA member, veteran, or sometimes just for asking. The camping world discount is not a concern because I don’t shop there. Fuel discounts are available with other cards, apps, memberships, so that is not a reason to belong to GS any more. I was a member in the days before it was bought and gutted. I dropped it after that.
Us too, but no longer.
Absolutely not and never will. When the CEO of a company tells me not to shop in his store because of my political beliefs, guess what? I’m not going to shop there. EVER. Yes, I know he backtracked and recanted, but the damage was done. For me, anyway.
Another Charter Life Member here. Used to be a good thing but as the years have passed it has become a hollow shell. At least I have had it long enough so my cost averages out to less than a regular membership per year.
We are Life Members of Good Sam, but don’t shop at Camping World (Gander Mountain) and no longer belong to a local chapter. New Mexico Good Sam disbanded when Good Sam support finally evaporated, so no local chapters. The campground discount isn’t a draw; I can get that same break with AAA or AARP. Also, many of the Good Sam campgrounds are a little careworn and don’t suit big rigs. Wish I could get a refund on my unused Life Membership!
I have been a GS member for many years only because I bought a life membership in the ‘70’s. Since Lemonis purchased it, it has gone to hell in a hand basket! Ripping apart the club and the chapters was the last straw! I will not purchase anything from Camping World any more!
We had it for 7 Yrs. Didn’t renew our membership this year.
As many other companies, they went to the dark side.
Signed up for life membership many years ago. Wouldn’t do it again.
My story is similar – had Good Sam membership for 3 years, just let it expire without renewal. For pretty much all the same reasons given in other comments. Most Camping World retail stores seemingly cleared out at least half their RV parts & supplies for sports gear after acquiring Gander Mountain. Everything I wanted seemed to be online only. So I ceased going to CW brick & mortar locations. When I ordered online, CW took multiple weeks to deliver what Amazon could send me for the same price or less in under a week and often 3 business days. We don’t pass enough Flying J truck stops to recover the membership cost; and RV parks that offer a GS discount, often give the same discount for other memberships. And I hear FAR more negatives than positives about garage service from CW.
We were members early on. Enjoyed the magazine, etc. No longer believe it is worth the cost. Rarely shop Camping World.
We have been members for 5 years now, enjoy the 10% camping & shopping discounts around the country. Have seen some changes over the time, but to my mind, not enough to make me want to resign my membership.
Also members of the Roadside Assistance program and have had 3 calls over the years and received good service.
Years ago then stopped in late 80s. Just can’t think of joining since CW took over. It’s lost all appeal for me. Use AARP and my retired military status and it works great.
On the last year of my current membership. We get enough discounts annually to come out ahead, but it’s to be seen if we will renew. Marcus has literally ruined Good Sam (and CW) as it was. I hate the thought of further supporting him on any level.
A necessary evil. I wish they were as they had been.
I had it for many years. That was before Lemonis. At that time things were good. Discounts at camping world and campgrounds.
The prices at Camping World are now ridiculous. Even after the discount, the prices are higher than most other places. The stores also have a limited inventory and want you to order online and wait for it to be delivered.
They used to offer the Campground directory free every year. Now you have to pay for $30 and it is nothing but and advertisement filled publication with coupons that expire before the year is up.
I’m a regretful Lifetime Member. It seems that the moment I got in the benefits started to decrease, one by one, and now I can’t name a single reason anyone would pay for membership.
Wish I could get my lifetime membership fee back.
Be glad you have your lifetime to regret the lifetime membership! 🙂
we have been since 1986 but since we are selling our MH we will not be renewimg.
Dropped them when the road service cost more and provided less. On to greener pastures.
Joined for the campground discounts.
We got a lifetime membership back in 1996 when we bought our first trailer. it was cool back then. Would I join now? Nope.
Describes me to a tee.
Became a life member in ‘93 when I was elected president of my local chapter, I had been an annual member since ‘79, dumb mistake!
For me, it would be just another unnecessary expense. AAA towing me to a truck repair shop (my MH is a 45 year old Ford) is the only thing I might need since most of my RVing is boondocking.
I have been since I got our rig in 2009, but I’m not going to renew when this one expires. I’m fed up with all the spam email and junk mail from them, trying to sell me more stuff that I don’t need.
I am life member – joined in the 80’s with our first motorhome. It is now less than a shell of what Good Sam and its many chapters represented or Meg Ryan et al envisioned it to be. Lemonus came along and made a deal they couldn’t refuse. Sadly, Good Sam has gone the way of many good companies and operations – ala Motorhome, Trailerlife magazines all under Lemonus’ leadership! I would not join again – there are no benefits of note. I also have the roadside assistance, which I have had for years. renewed this year and they shorted me a month – so my expiration date is 30 days prior to the previous one! No response to my emails either! Thanks for caring Marcus!
Lifetime member here. Had their roadside serve but changed it to CoachNet. We do have their travel insurance. Small yearly price to know you could get home if something medical or worse happened to one of us. Also have their motorhome insurance. Used it only once in 26 years, paid a $10K claim, without hassle.
Member since the 80’s but not going to renew anymore. It’s not the same after Marcus bought it.
When they acquired and discontinued Motorhome Magazine that was enough for us. We sold our MH shortly after anyway so I don’t need them for anything else. Anything Marcus touches goes to crap too. Look at what he has done to Camping World.
I agree. Camping World always had great brand value to me until I recently bought a travel trailer from them. It became a nightmare because their customer service was horrible. I won’t buy anything valued at over $40 from them now.
Not renewing. No longer feel it’s a benefit. FMCA covers everything we need, and you get the same discount at the CG, so why?
We are not currently members, to save money right now. But We again pick it up, especially the good Sam extended warranty and travel assist.
I was a member once, but when I had a tire problem, and they sent a service man with no air compressor, I decided they weren’t much good.
Decades ago (WELL before I started RVing) I received a Good Sam Club offer for a “Life Membership” in the mail. It sounded interesting so I accepted the offer. I’ve NEVER attended a Samboree or other Good Sam event. I have purchased items at Camping World and have stayed at KOA parks. It’s a shame that “Marcus” has basically milked the Good Sam Club for almost all it’s worth, NO longer supports local chapters and, in my opinion, is steadily driving the Good Sam Club into the ground.
We joined for a year. We never found a Good Sam park with vacancy, so we never once used our discount. The RV parks were all 90-100% full-timers.
Yes lifetime member a wish I could get my money back since Marcus Lemonis took it over.
Lifetime membership. Pulled the trigger on that before Lemonis. Good for discounts here and there sometimes. Doesn’t cost me any money, I’ve even got their credit card, rarely used. Probably be closing that account in the near future.
life member from 2005
Life member although it’s no longer the club I joined. As a chapter officer I attended many meetings and had a ring side seat to the dismantling of the club. Those of us that were on the inside at the time were saddened but powerless to stop the Lemonis wrecking crew. Now in his words the club is only a “marketing tool”.
We saw it start to decline, then Marcus Lemonis bought Camping World & it really started going downhill for us. Add to that we’d have to drive 100 miles minimum to get to one … and the sponsored RV insurance price was jacked up & we would have been forced into another price bracket, etc, etc. The real “kiss of death” was being referred to as a “marketing unit”.
Dear Ms. Marketing Unit. (Just kidding!) Hi, Deborah. You will never be a “marketing unit” or even just a number to us. You are one of our very valued readers. We appreciate you and our other wonderful readers sooooo much! And we appreciate your always thoughtful comments, Deborah. Thank you for adding to the conversation, whatever the topic may be. Have a good night. 😀 –Diane
Used to be. Not worth it now.
We also have the Roadside assistance but will not be renewing that bs. Left us sit for 5 hours in the middle of I70. I had to call the service station myself to get help. GS sent me the station phone number and an ETA. After 90 minutes I called the station and they never got the info from GS.
I was for many many years until it became Lemonis’ customer list.
Fools
I’m a lifetime member but only because I joined “way back” when membership actually meant something. Now I wouldn’t join Lemonis’ customer list (as patti panuccio called it).
Have been a lifetime member since 1996, back when membership actually meant something. I wouldn’t do it now, nor would I become a yearly member these days. I see no benefit. Discounts at Camping World mean nothing these days. Our “local” Camping World is generally not very clean, it’s dark, and what supplies they have, I can usually find cheaper online. Clubs are disappearing or gone. I can get discounts at campgrounds with AAA or AARP. The fuel discounts are minimal. In my opinion, I just don’t see any advantages to membership these days.
Yes, I am a GS yearly member. I get into GS discount parks all the time, and I’ve gotten great discounts at Camping World. The last one, about a month ago when I needed a tube of lap sealant it cost $18 at CW but with my membership and because it was on sale online it cost $8. Couldn’t find that price anywhere else.
I am a full timer too so I do look for the parks that offer the discount, or any discount from my other memberships.
We are members SOLELY because of the camping discount it provides. However, to make a small dent in Marcus Lemonis (sp?) revenue stream, I will no longer renew for multiple years. I will renew annually for one year. Thereby I can easily escape if the camping discount is reduced or eliminated. We have dropped all other services Good Sam offers and replaced them with different providers.
Life member since the 80’s. Got a deal for our daughter’s lifetime membership in the mid 90’s. Loved the concept, hated how it has been dismantled. We do use the discount when we are near a CW and need something (right away). Now it’s like I have a “loyalty card” (without the loyalty). Things change…
I recently bought a used Casita trailer from Camping World and I got a Good Sam Elite one year membership for free. I’m not sure if I will renew it, but I have gotten good discounts with it. 🤷🏻♀️
Just for the fuel and camping world discounts.
My experience and opinion is that M. Lemonis has the “Reverse Midas Touch”. Everything he touches turns to Crap. He has destroyed both Travel Trailer and Motorhome Magazines. Many products at Camping World are cheap Chinese junk that need to be constantly replaced (good for Lemmonas). Good products, that we liked and were made to last, were removed from inventory. We had their RV Repair policy, never turned in a claim and at the first renewal the deductible doubled and the premium doubled; we dropped it. I feel like it is a scam. There are many complaints about service, repairs, financing, etc. from people who bought RVs from CW. CW is usually more expensive for RV supplies. We keep our Good Sam membership because it is required to get discount insurance from NGIC. They have the best policy terms we have found from any insurance carrier. We have had claims with them and they were handled quickly and properly. FedEx totalled our trailer in our own driveway and refused to replace it.
We are lifetime members. Joined in the 80’s. Use it for discounts at campgrounds and when we go to camping world.
Bought a lifetime Good Sam membership years ago. It’s only value to me is the 10% discount at campgrounds. We also have Escapees, KOA, US Senior pass, and Passport America. Places that take Good Sam and the Senior Pass seem to be the ones we hit most often.
We stayed in several GS RV parks through out the years, the 10% discount basically paid the sales tax. Most parks only gave the discount on stays less than 4 days as they offered 5 days + 6th day was free.. ordering parts from CW was always a hassle as they were either out of stock or sent the wrong item that had to be returned at my expense. I ordered a spare tire cover with an American flag on it, it was out of stock, a month later I happened to be camping in Chattanooga, TN and went into CW store and bought it there on sale or $3 less than I was ordering it for, called the order number to cancel and thought I was going to have to get an act of congress to cancel the order, never ordered anything again.
The Good Sam membership provides 5 cents a gallon off gas at Pilot and Flying J. We find that discount easily pays for the annual membership cost. We usually camp at State Parks, but on the occasions when we stay at a commercial campground, the 10% discount is nice.
I agree Jane, we use it for the same reasons, fuel and campground discounts. Of course now that I have learned about other ways to save on diesel fuel, we are making fewer stops at Pilot/FJ facilities. I’ve started asking campgrounds for discounts based on AAA, AARP. Escapees and about 50% of the time, I don’t need to use GS/