Before I call PDGA HQ, how long should it take to receive my membership package? I renewed on 2/28/08. If it takes 4-6 weeks to process and 3 weeks to ship, then the last possible day it should take to receive is 5/1/08, i.e. a week from today. Has anyone renewed after that date and received their membership package already?

This is a record year for memberships, the PDGA is far behind schedule. Just shoot Addie an email letting her know you've not received it yet. Or call the office for immediate results.
But please keep in mind a record year is good for all of us!
And the PDGA staff works very hard for very little pay, because they love to help players like us. And telling them thank you is always nice too.

I wouldnt worry just yet. I renewed on 12/15/07 and I havent got mine yet.

Dear Members,

The membership fulfillment process is much more complicated than anyone could imagine. We sympathize with those who have been patiently waiting for their packages for what might seem like an inordinate amount of time.

The office is currently working on a chart which should give members an explanation of the fulfillment process and a general timeframe of when to expect delivery of their membership packages based upon the date that they joined and some of the other variables that affect fulfillment time like:
- Eagle, Ace or Birdie Club membership
- Ordering merchandise with membership
- Ordering custom items with membership (bag tags, etc.)
- Timing of the release of the magazine (inserted in new member packages)

As I have stated in a previous thread, the US Postal Service guarantees delivery of our packages via media mail in three weeks but based upon the complaints we are receiving, I find this guarantee very suspect. We are currently reviewing alternative shipping methods in order to speed up the process but the cost to the association will be much more. The tough question that we all need to ponder is, would it be wiser to spend association money on faster shipping or on programs which promote our sport?

Please look for the above mentioned chart to be posted at PDGA.com as soon as it is completed.

Thanks in advance for your patience and understanding!

Regards,
Brian Graham
PDGA Executive Director

Brian please thank everyone in your office for their efforts, i'm sure they are working as best they can to get orders filled in a timely manner. FYI, i did receive the second release of the magazine but havent received my initial renewal package. no worries at my end for this, i understand some of the logistical issues there seems to be this time around. ive already sent addie an email about this and im sure eventually i will receive the renewal package just like everyone else will. thanks again, martinb.

Brian,
I completely understand. No criticism intended. Just wondering if I was the exception or the rule. Thanks.

Brian,
I completely understand. No criticism intended. Just wondering if I was the exception or the rule. Thanks.



I completely understand everyone's frustration in this regard as we here in the office are also very frustrated. The most important thing for members to know is that once the office processes your membership, which is within one week of receiving it, you are an active member and are eligible to receive all of the benefits of being a member. Event directors are e-mailed a list of active members just prior to their tournament so if you have not received your membership card, they can still verify that you are active.

Regards,
Brian Graham
PDGA Executive Director

I still have nothing to show from renewing besides the mag( wich I really enjoy and have recieved in a timely maner) I was contacted about shipping a third package... we changed the address from my home address to my work address still nothing think it has been 2 weeks! when I talked to the guy shipping them he stated about 10 days.... I also heard some people had there's express shipped whats the deal Brian? Should I pay you guys for another shipping company to ship it faster :confused:

I still have nothing to show from renewing besides the mag( wich I really enjoy and have recieved in a timely maner) I was contacted about shipping a third package... we changed the address from my home address to my work address still nothing think it has been 2 weeks! when I talked to the guy shipping them he stated about 10 days.... I also heard some people had there's express shipped whats the deal Brian? Should I pay you guys for another shipping company to ship it faster :confused:



I don't know what to tell you. If we have shipped three packages to you and you have yet to receive anything, you may have to consider the possibility that the problem is on your end. Is it possible that your packages are being stolen out of your mailbox? I would think that a thief would look to steal a package rather than a disc magazine, which would explain why you have received the magazines. Please give it a few more days to see if your package arrives at your office and notify us if it does not. We would be more than happy to send it to you via another method.

Regards,
Brian Graham
PDGA Executive Director

I still have nothing to show from renewing besides the mag( wich I really enjoy and have recieved in a timely maner) I was contacted about shipping a third package... we changed the address from my home address to my work address still nothing think it has been 2 weeks! when I talked to the guy shipping them he stated about 10 days.... I also heard some people had there's express shipped whats the deal Brian? Should I pay you guys for another shipping company to ship it faster :confused:



I don't know what to tell you. If we have shipped three packages to you and you have yet to receive anything, you may have to consider the possibility that the problem is on your end. Is it possible that your packages are being stolen out of your mailbox? I would think that a thief would look to steal a package rather than a disc magazine, which would explain why you have received the magazines. Please give it a few more days to see if your package arrives at your office and notify us if it does not. We would be more than happy to send it to you via another method.

Regards,
Brian Graham
PDGA Executive Director



Thanks for the reply Brian and the work you are doing!
That is what I was thinking that maybe someone was taking it so I had it shipped to my work address! I cant for the life of me figure it out.... just dumb luck I guess :D

I think you should make it an option whether you would like a package or not. Personally I'd rather see the money it costs for the package, to process, and shipping go to some sort of advertising or course building.

[quoteThanks for the reply Brian and the work you are doing!
That is what I was thinking that maybe someone was taking it so I had it shipped to my work address! I cant for the life of me figure it out.... just dumb luck I guess :D

[/QUOTE]
Could be the local delivery guy, too, if you live rural like we do. It's completely random which of several spots around our house and yard a package might end up delivered to. That's why when I order stuff on line I have it delivered to my office.

I still have nothing to show from renewing besides the mag( wich I really enjoy and have recieved in a timely maner) I was contacted about shipping a third package... we changed the address from my home address to my work address still nothing think it has been 2 weeks! when I talked to the guy shipping them he stated about 10 days.... I also heard some people had there's express shipped whats the deal Brian? Should I pay you guys for another shipping company to ship it faster :confused:



I don't know what to tell you. If we have shipped three packages to you and you have yet to receive anything, you may have to consider the possibility that the problem is on your end. Is it possible that your packages are being stolen out of your mailbox? I would think that a thief would look to steal a package rather than a disc magazine, which would explain why you have received the magazines. Please give it a few more days to see if your package arrives at your office and notify us if it does not. We would be more than happy to send it to you via another method.

Regards,
Brian Graham
PDGA Executive Director



Thanks for the reply Brian and the work you are doing!
That is what I was thinking that maybe someone was taking it so I had it shipped to my work address! I cant for the life of me figure it out.... just dumb luck I guess :D



I received my package last week thanks for a speedy delivery /msgboard/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Thank you Eric! ;)

Addie,

After renewing my membership, I got this message (in a timely fashion also ;)):



Welcome John Rock Stewart #4693,





Thank you for your 2008 membership with the PDGA! To view your membership details please go to www.pdga.com (http://www.pdga.com) click on �Membership� and insert your PDGA number or your last name. As a renewing member look forward to receiving your 2008 card, the International Disc Golf Center brochure, plus, new for 2008, an exclusive bag tag for renewals only. You�ll want to collect them each year! This package will be mailed via USPS and may take up to 4 - 6 weeks to reach you. Your patience is appreciated. Look to receive your first issue of Flying Disc Magazine as well, if this option was chosen. You will enjoy this bi-monthly publication that will keep you informed of PDGA Tour information, news and Board/Staff articles. The PDGA pages of the magazine will also be available online at www.pdga.com. (http://www.pdga.com.)



It's been quite a while ago since I renewed ( maybe 8 or 9 weeks :confused:)and I still haven't seen anything else sent to me so I'm curious, are the renewal bag tags similar to last year's tags? Could it be that the floods in Iowa are making it difficult to get mail across the Mississippi River?

It's been 8 or 9 weeks since i renewed too and still no magazines, membership card, etc. in the mail. hope i get them before 2009 :p

does the magazine get mailed by the PDGA or ...?

Well, there goes my theory about the floods hindering transportation across the Big Muddy. ;)

Memberships have been running about 2 weeks behind the already slow media mail rate. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience of the delays. Because of these delays, which we are not sure why they exist as nothing had changed since years past regarding processes, we have recognized the problem and have since switched to a Business First Class shipping rate. This new rate should cut shipping times in half! This does not help the delay of so many of our members; however, we are fixing the issue as to insure speedier deliveries for the future.

Our internet and phones are down at HQ so I am working from home this afternoon...which is why I had a chance to view the discussion board. PLEASE call the office or send an email (although calling gets a much quicker response) should you have further inquirers.

Thank you all for your support and know that we are grateful for you giving us the feedback we need in order to make some changes.

Sincerely,
Addie

Well it's been what, 3 or 4 weeks since I called and still nothing :confused:. No mag, no renewal package, no call to see if further assistance is required, NOTHING!!! A 20 year member getting treated like my membership is meaningless!!! I'm very dissappointed. And obviously I'm not alone. I mentioned this situation today at the weekly handicap round and guess what? A local player said he renewed in FEBRUARY and he hasn't received anything either!!! Except he has gotten 2 copies of the mag.

FEBRUARY!!!

In an attempt to have a more calm, easy going personalty calm the situation, I asked my wife DeLynn to call the PDGA office to find out what she could about the problem. She got to talk to Jason who told her that since I renewed in April, my stuff had not been processed (or shipped - I'm not totally clear about that part) yet. But I was told when I called 3 weeks earlier that it HAD been shipped and they had no clue why I haven't received it yet. Addie admitted to me that she was way behind in these duties, but she would try to fix the shortcommings on the PDGA's responsibilities.:confused:


Come on now, there is a problem with the staff we are paying for to do this stuff. Addie says she has to work from home to get stuff done. What is happening at the IDGC? Brian G., what are you doing to fix this problem? Aren't you the last in the line that we can call on to take care of our PDGA? At least Hoeniger and Gibson could get the basics out to the members in a decent timeframe. If we need to do this stuff ourselves, let's get some refunds on the money we keep sending you each year to be members of this organization (an org. that is slowly slipping further away from serving the members and only serving the administration).

****, 20 years as a member and can't even get the most basic services this year. Now I'm glad I couldn't afford to renew my ACE club membership (wait, maybe that's why I've been put on the who cares list :p).

John,

I am sorry to hear you have not received your membership package. I want to correct your statement in that I am "behind on answering emails", not my duties, which is why I must work from home in my email replies. I have about 50 emails coming through every day with inquiries regarding "Where's my stuff?"...doing the math, you can imagine how full my inbox gets and leaves little time to work on what I truly need to work on which is member benefits and membership drives. Please trust that with all these inquiries I have most definitely brought this to Brian's attention. We are going to be making some changes.

Lorrie did an awesome job as the memberships manager for 10 years. No doubt about that! As my first year as memberships manager, not to mention the 7% increase in memberships, I appreciate your patience in me learning what she has mastered. They are definitely hard shoes to fill but I am trying my best.

We are currently researching the delays and are just as frustrated as our members... believe me.

I am not sure why you, or your wife, was told that your package hasn't shipped. Please always ask for me if you would like details regarding memberships as I am the one that has the most up to date information.

Now, having read this, I am not able to look into your situation as I am at home without the database. I try to remember details of each personal situation but reality makes that impossible. With only one person in the memberships department, working for over 11,000+ members, I am sincerely devoting my time to you all. I am deeply sorry for the delays this year. I do not have anything to contribute to it as we process memberships weekly, same as before, and we send them to our fulfillment house within two days, same as before.

We have upgraded our shipping to Business First Class, as I have mentioned previously. This should help for future shipping. The media mail rate was entirely too long.

We are most grateful for your membership over the years John. Please call me at the office tomorrow.

Sincerely,
Addie

I've tried more than once to call to find out the situation, each time getting more dissappointed. When you figure out the real problem, you call me. Or maybe have Brian call me whenever he can squeeze in a little time for my concerns.

I renewed in March and got my stuff last week...fwiw.

Well it's been what, 3 or 4 weeks since I called and still nothing :confused:. No mag, no renewal package, no call to see if further assistance is required, NOTHING!!! A 20 year member getting treated like my membership is meaningless!!! I'm very dissappointed. And obviously I'm not alone. I mentioned this situation today at the weekly handicap round and guess what? A local player said he renewed in FEBRUARY and he hasn't received anything either!!! Except he has gotten 2 copies of the mag.

FEBRUARY!!!

In an attempt to have a more calm, easy going personalty calm the situation, I asked my wife DeLynn to call the PDGA office to find out what she could about the problem. She got to talk to Jason who told her that since I renewed in April, my stuff had not been processed (or shipped - I'm not totally clear about that part) yet. But I was told when I called 3 weeks earlier that it HAD been shipped and they had no clue why I haven't received it yet. Addie admitted to me that she was way behind in these duties, but she would try to fix the shortcommings on the PDGA's responsibilities.:confused:


Come on now, there is a problem with the staff we are paying for to do this stuff. Addie says she has to work from home to get stuff done. What is happening at the IDGC? Brian G., what are you doing to fix this problem? Aren't you the last in the line that we can call on to take care of our PDGA? At least Hoeniger and Gibson could get the basics out to the members in a decent timeframe. If we need to do this stuff ourselves, let's get some refunds on the money we keep sending you each year to be members of this organization (an org. that is slowly slipping further away from serving the members and only serving the administration).

****, 20 years as a member and can't even get the most basic services this year. Now I'm glad I couldn't afford to renew my ACE club membership (wait, maybe that's why I've been put on the who cares list :p).



Dear John,

We have already made several adjustments and improvements to the fulfillment process this year due to the amount of time that it is taking for members to receive their packages. Believe me, we here in the office are even more frustrated than you are about this unacceptable delivery time. Unfortunately the changes we have already made will have little effect on your package as it was already processed in the old system and according to our records is enroute to you. My own son joined in the same week that you renewed and he has yet to receive his package either. Changes we have already made include the installation of a new computer server here in the office, adjustments to the internal membership batch process and a switch from media mail to first class shipping. I have also already approved several other changes which will allow our fulfillment house to begin the fulfillment process on the same day that a membership is received instead of the one week to ten days that the old system required. Unfortunately these changes will have little effect on this years delivery time but should drastically improve fulfillment time in 2009.

Bottom line is that we fully recognize that there is a major problem in the fulfillment process and we have already implemented changes to fix the problems. As with most problems, once you recognize that there is one and make adjustments, it usually gets worse for a little while before it gets better.

Our most sincere apologies go out to all members that have been adversely affected.

I renewed in December, and still have not received a thing from the PDGA except a receipt...Although Addie has been very nice the three or four times I've called.

Towards better understanding...Is the "Fulfilment House" a seperate entity from the office? If so, who is the fulfilment house?
Can you maybe explain the method of getting memberships processed?

Towards better understanding...Is the "Fulfilment House" a seperate entity from the office? If so, who is the fulfilment house?
Can you maybe explain the method of getting memberships processed?



PDGA member fulfillment is handled by Breiner Enterprises, a private business. BEI was awarded the fulfillment contract by the PDGA Board several years ago following an RFP process.

The membership fulfillment process is very complicated to explain due to many factors that affect the actual ship date such as personalized merch ordered, the release date of the magazine, etc.

add me to the list
not seen my tour card
not seen my package
only saw one mag and that was through the club renew

Members,

Please read the following announcement:

http://www.pdga.com/msgboard/showflat.ph...;gonew=1#UNREAD (http://www.pdga.com/msgboard/showflat.php?Cat=0&Number=848269&an=0&page=0&gonew =1#UNREAD)

Thank you for understanding the delays. If you have an email in my Inbox, I ask for your patience in my response as I have 176..opps..177 now... that require detailed research before answering.

My first year as Memberships Manager...wow...what an initiation! Next year should be a breeze. Please pray that it is. I know we all will!

Sincerely,
Addie

9-10 weeks we are currently experiencing? I renewed in January and haven't seen the renewal package or any of the magazines. Can I get a few points rating increase for my inconveniences? :P

Hi Taylor,

Let me help walk you through this...

Send me an email [email protected] and/or phone the office and let us know you haven't received your membership package so we will be aware that you are still waiting.

I show a process date of February 27th. Yes, you most definitely should have your items by now and sorry to hear they haven't reached you.

I look forward to speaking with you through email and/or phone to verify we have your correct address on file. Once your address is confirmed, we can get your items reshipped.

Thank you,
Addie

PS - as far as extra points for ratings?... I'll see what I can do if you can get everyone to contact me through phone or email instead of on these message boards. ;)

Hi Vinnie,

Same as my response to Taylor and I am sorry you haven't received yours as well. However, with yours, I do see a COA listed on your record for June... which makes me add the following:

All,

When phoning the office or sending a message to "Change of Address" off our contacts page, please also inform us you have not received your package. We do not hear/see that notice as a "Where's my stuff?" inquiry but simply a change of address. If we are notified within a message, this triggers the COAs to reach me and I will then send the order to reship the package.

I will have a FAQ section off the memberships page when the new website is up and running. These type of questions will be listed and hopefully lessen the confusion on procedures for all.

Vinnie, please send me an email and/or call. The reason I ask members to do this is I do not want to forget anyone and when answering message boards, which I SELDOM have time to read them, I am generally away from my desk and it is difficult for me to remember.

Thanks again for understanding and we so apologize for the delays this year.

I joined on May 11th, I still have not received anything in the mail.

I joined on May 11th, I still have not received anything in the mail.

I'd say; try to be patient, it's only been two weeks.
Have you tried contacting Addie Isbell ([email protected]) directly? I'm sure you'd get a reply much more quickly than through the message board.