Connections Renewal

[buzz5985]

I had posted a couple of days ago about keeping my Connections membership last year, because of the savings etc.

I think I am going to have to cancel my membership. Last year the membership was $70. I saved that eating at Beaches and Cream!!! But I just got my renewal notice in the mail $139.95!!!!! I might even consider renewing if they offered more restaurants, etc. But they haven't added any more. Just the amount you can order. I don't know - but you don't double your price and not offer more selections. How many times can you eat at the Outback????

 

[SeaWitch]

Start the cancellation process. You never know what they will end up offering to keep you. I agree though - $140 with no added benefits?? They must be crazy!

You might want to do a search on this topic, seems to me that someone posted about this several weeks ago...

 

[buzz5985]

They did up the amount of Gift cards you could order to 20. The postcard says up from 10, but I believe I could have gotten 15. I have 30 days. Just might order 7 day park hopper plus tickets and just drop the membership. It was nice to have. Made gift giving very easy. But I wish they had more restaurant choices.

 

[chris1gill]

You might need to try to cancel a couple of times BUT... they should offer you 100.00 in household rebates for you to stay on... it's usually the third thing they offer, after that they really cancel you!!! If on the third try it's not offered, just hang up & try again.... with the rebate (it's a quarterly rebate) it's worth it....

 

[buzz5985]

What are the rebates? What do you have to do? Just call and say I want to cancel and customer service starts offering you things? Thanks

 

[chris1gill]

That's exactly right... just call & say you don't think the service is worth 140.00 & you don't think you can get your money's worth... they'll go on their spiel about where you can save, then if you say you still want to cancel, they'll offer something else, then you say you really don't think you could recoup the fee & then they should offer you the 100.00 in household rebates (can be anything utility bills, groceries, anything...) Each quarter you redeem another voucher... I mean it's a pain to put the 140 up in advance, but you do get the rebates as long as you send them in... (they send you the forms to send in)... sometimes they'll only offer 60.00, but hold out for the hundred, or if they offer 60, counter for 100...

We belong to 3 programs now, so there's no way I could pay the fee without the rebates!!! We're also doing Galleria & the Security Plus programs for the Home Depot & Lowes discounts (we're building a house, they'll come in handy!)

 

[DisneyKidds]

I'll have to watch my credit card statement. I got a renewal notice about a month or so ago. It stated that my membership would be renewed at the rate of $89 and charged to my cc unless I called to cancel. My original membership fee was $69 thru my cc. I can live with paying the extra $20, but $140 would be a stretch.

Connections is now part of DealPass. DealPass does offer various membership programs, one of which is called Simple Escapes I think. Seems to be similar to Connections but offers more locations where you can get benefits. The membership fee is $140. If that is what they want to charge you see if they are offering you the expanded service. Who knows if the people at DealPass even know much about the Connections program they acquired.

 

[buzz5985]

Thanks for the info. What is the reward program for Home Depot and Lowe's?

 

[chris1gill]

Both programs allow you to buy gift cards at 20% off for Lowes/Home Depot/Kmart/Target/JC Penney & a bunch of others.
The Galleria program lets you buy 20 cards & the 24ProtectPlus lets you buy 30 (I don't know why there's a difference in the number you're allowed!)

I received the 100.00 rebate on both programs & I got a 25.00 gift card for signing up & then when I signed up through www.netflip.com I got 8.00, so 133.00 total.... I think it's worth it, although I hate having to come up with the 140.00 up front! I have to say I enjoyed getting 20% off on all my christmas shopping!!!

 

[buzz5985]

Thanks - I'll have to look into it.

 

[Pumbaa_]

I had posted recently regarding my renewal problems. Here is the post:
Connections Renewal

Make sure you order everything you want and get it before you cancel. If you don;t it is too late! You cannot decide to not renew WITHOUT cancelling your current membership. Very frustrating!!!!!

And I was offered no other options. If I had, I would have renewed. I saved a lot of money on my 4 trips in the last year.