What has happened to the RSPB new membership supplier?

[darrenm]

I used to be a joint member of the RSPB for many years but in the last few years had let my membership lapse mostly through being a mature student and being very broke but in January this year decided to become a new memeber once again and rejoin.

Today i got a letter from the RSPB saying they were very sorry but they had an unexpected failiure on part of their supplier for new members and that it was unfortunate but they couldnt supply my membership pack. I dont blame the RSPB in this but now wondering what has happened to their supplier of membership packs and if i will get my membership card eventually The letter states i could use the letter to gain free entrance to their sites but i am not too happy with that.

I will be away from home in the next few weeks working in the middle of nowhere working in the field again for the next 6 months and no one will be at my place to collect the post due to me living on my own and how wondering long term will the membership pack be delivered or will it be sent back.

[Paul mabbott]

Probably another small company gone bust. Probably the easiest thing is for you to ask RSPB to send the stuff to another address or even to a post office for collection? Good luck.

[Kayleigh]

I got the same letter you get a free nest box with the pack too..
I would do what Paul suggests and get onto them to get it redelivered to another address..

[darrenm]

i went for the book option and have the old edition from when it was first releasd but thought the new edition may have some more up to date data and if not i can pass it on to a friend if it hasnt got a copy. It's not really the issue and a bit worried that an organisation i have a lot of respect for or one element of it is now not functioning very smoothly

It's a shame if the supplier has gone bust or that other serious problems are getting in the way of new members getting their membership packs and imagine it will put a few first time members off if it isnt soon sorted out. I know my money goes to well needed Conservation projects and spread out over a year is very little but some may not be has forgiving as me and those that have paid a membership fee for a Birthday present may not be too enthralled if they just get a letter.

Come on RSPB sort this situation out soon or you may lose some support and that would be a bad thing for the species you are trying to protect and conserve for future generations to marvel at

I will email them my postal contact address and hopefully when the problem is sorted out they can send the membership pack without it causing too much hassle all round.

[Kayleigh]

TBH it dont bother me as I have the letter so it does not affect my membership.
They did say in the letter they will get the pack out as soon as they can in the new year.
It maybe just hiccup they obviously get the packs from a supplier and who knows what problems they have encountered I will continue to support them as its not the pack I joined for.
I dont go to the reserves as none are local to me I joined for work they do.
So I dont think the delay in the pack will put put people off.

[JamesRamone]

Unfortunately in life things do go wrong from time to time. The membership card is a piece of paper so it's hardly the end of the world.

They will get your gift to you ASAP, and they will continue the excellent work they do for our wildlife.

I'm also sure they will address the matter in hand to ensure this doesn't happen again.

[RosieB]

I rang about mine yesterday and I hadnt had the letter. But it was explained to me that the membership pack suppliers had gone bust, and the RSPB had now gone to a new supplier but it will take a while for them to get it all sorted obviously. They were very helpful and friendly, sad about the old company though, especially with this good contract with the RSPB obviously!

[darrenm]

Thankyou for the information Rosie and very sad news and wondered what had gone wrong.

I am a 100% behind what the RSPB do and consider it one of the very best Conservation organisations in the country and the world.

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by darrenm

Thankyou for the information Rosie and very sad news and wondered what had gone wrong.
..........

It's the credit crunch that we read about and it's affecting a lot of small businesses such as printers. The RSPB isn't the only organisation to be affected - I've come across several such occurrences. The first was that John Lewis-Waitrose were unable to send out their money-back coupons because the printer had gone under; but it especially affects small businesses who tend to work on credit - they give credit to customers but the banks won't give it to them (couldn't pay their bonuses if they gave money to customers, I suppose?).

[Brocakat]

I can only suggest supplying the RSPB with a Post Office box number.

Dare I suggest that you might need this - for your other mail?