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2005 Society #56808 02/27/05 06:26 PM
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,149
AZlightkeeper Offline OP
Super Wacko
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I called HL about renewing the society membership and they held me off because they said there are some changes.....
Anyone have any inside info?


Jim
Re: 2005 Society #56809 02/27/05 07:30 PM
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MrsTLC Offline
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My guess is...higher membership fee :rolleyes:


Ruthie
"Where words fail, Music speaks"
Re: 2005 Society #56810 02/27/05 08:01 PM
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Bob Ott Offline
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Ruthie and I must be on the same wavelength. The way things seem to be going with Harbour Lights lately, profits now appear to rule over what used to be family. How Sad.

bobo

Re: 2005 Society #56811 02/27/05 08:27 PM
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Bob M Offline
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The days of the Harbour Lights we know and love may be changing. Some of our forum members have said it in the past, "Harbour Lights is in business to make money."

Perhaps the free piece with a paid Collector Society membership may someday become a thing of the past at the pricing level we were used to. "Give-aways" may be less frequent. It was certainly good PR, but maybe it has become cost prohibitive.

I'm still waiting for the latest releases via autoship, and they haven't arrived. I did receive a reply from a rep at my dealer who apologized for the delay and blamed it on a paperwork problem. I'm a patient man and I'm willing to wait. If for some reason my reserved flag# goes south, that will be the end of autoship for me. I'll join the people who just purchase what they like.

:rolleyes: Bob :rolleyes:

Re: 2005 Society #56812 02/27/05 09:09 PM
Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 3,759
DANIEL Offline
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If Harbour Lights raises their membership,
I am sure it is because they have to.
The Harbour Light we knew from the 90’s was on their way up.
Always better sales each year to cover their expenses. Now they have to face
Budgeting and refocusing on what is important and what is not.
They are running the company with higher cost and probably 1/3 the sales they had in the late 1990’s. I am one of their biggest fans and I quit my auto shipment two years ago.
Why. I had to cut back. If I and other collectors have to cut back, Harbour Lights will have to finds means of compensation.

I agree with Bob, the Harbour Lights we once knew is fading away.
But,Not because they want to,
but because of necessity.


DANIEL
Re: 2005 Society #56813 02/27/05 09:43 PM
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 6,227
flacoastie Offline
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It will be interesting to see what is up. I tried to renew my membership about 2 weeks ago and was told that they weren't accepting membership renewal at that time. I have always renewed in February since the memberships began in 95. Also, when I asked about the St Augustine Regional and about the Gold Piece Rules this year I was told that they didn't know what the rules were and that St. Augustine was setting the rules this year. First they outsource the Reunion, then they don't know the rules on the Gold Piece, now they aren't renewing memberships. What next? The last year of Limited Editions? Only time will tell.


Rich
Re: 2005 Society #56814 02/27/05 10:15 PM
Joined: Mar 2002
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Bob Ott Offline
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You know, Rich has a very good point that I hadn’t thought about. Will the Limited Editions end? That last Issue Number that I know about is #326, Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal. Will #399 be the last and final one? The GLOW’s start at #400.

In addition, the Harbour Lights Web Site has fewer and fewer options. Is that also on its way to oblivion?

Just curious.

bobo

Re: 2005 Society #56815 02/27/05 10:16 PM
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 2,156
S
SThompson Offline
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Quote:
Originally posted by flacoastie:
The last year of Limited Editions? Only time will tell.
Well if that happens it will certainly save me money. No Limited Editions, no collecting for me!!! I would guess that with the loss of limited editions Harbour Lights might as well close their doors. Perhaps that is what your prediction really should be? Bob perhaps that could be a poll that should be started. For those of us that are collecting limited editions would you continue to collect if Harbour Lights were to produce only open editions?

Re: 2005 Society #56816 02/27/05 11:20 PM
Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 13,047
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This thread kind of reminds me of the game you play by placing a group of people in a circle and one person starts by telling a joke to the person on their left. Each person in turn tells the person on their left the same joke and by the time it gets back to the beginning, the story is SO DIFFERENT!

I do concur that by NOT saying what the changes might be to the Collector's Society, Harbour Lights opens the door to all kinds of speculation from 'higher dues' to 'close the doors.'

You're all welcome to speculate, of course; that's one of the purposes of these Collector Forums (and it's a free country, too.)

I've repeated this story a couple of times to some of the people at Harbour Lights:

Quote:
People COMPLAIN because they love you, not because they hate you.

If you go to a restaurant and the first time you're there, the service or the food is bad, you don't complain. You don't go back and you probably tell many friends you wouldn't recommend the place.

If, on the other hand, you go to a restaurant 10 times and on the 11th visit the food or the service is bad, you DO complain.

You complain about the situation because 1) You know they can do better 2) You like the place and want to return and even, perhaps because 3) You've 'invested' yourself into this restaurant. You consider yourself part of the reason the restaurant is succeeding.
The people who gather in the Collector Forums do so because we like Harbour Lights, the company and the product. We've got money and time invested in our collecting. We've made friends around the products and the real lighthouses. We've travelled to meet some of these friends and visit lighthouses and to attend Harbour Lights' events.

We don't want these things we like to go away. And so, while we don't have any real 'ownership' in the company, we do have a kind of 'investment' in the company and its products.

And so we speculate, and we 'worry' and we try to figure out 'what this really means.'

For the last 10 years, the Collectors Society been a great bargain and there have been some nice Society Exclusive pieces to buy and Membership Gift pieces as well.

Let's see if Harbour Lights can speed up the announcement of what changes they are planning for the Collectors Society.

Re: 2005 Society #56817 02/28/05 12:12 AM
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,102
Bob Ott Offline
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Great response, John. Silence is sometimes more devestating than the truth if it were known. Sort of like the politician's answer, "NO COMMENT."

bobo

Re: 2005 Society #56818 02/28/05 12:47 AM
Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 13,047
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I talked with Jim Gullo a bit ago on the phone and he said that there was some question about 'choices' we might make as Society Members in 2005-2006.

Not sure what that means... but perhaps someone could come in here and speculate. smile

Re: 2005 Society #56819 02/28/05 12:37 PM
Joined: Jul 2001
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Shortcake Offline
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BoBo said;
Quote:
That last Issue Number that I know about is #326, Sturgeon Bay Ship Canal.
Gee I'm on Autoship and the last LE number that I have is #313 confused confused confused


Stephanie


God may have created man before woman,
but there is always a rough draft before the masterpiece.
Re: 2005 Society #56820 02/28/05 12:47 PM
Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 13,047
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Bob was talking about the highest LE# Announced, not necessarily received by him.

Re: 2005 Society #56821 02/28/05 02:28 PM
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,102
Bob Ott Offline
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You're right, John. Thanks for the clarification.

bobo

Re: 2005 Society #56822 02/28/05 05:05 PM
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,125
Bill and Judy Offline
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Well, whatever!! Harbour Lights is a great company and we'll continue to support them as long as we can. Judy

Re: 2005 Society #56823 02/28/05 08:18 PM
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 6,227
flacoastie Offline
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I called again today and renewed my membership. I talked to Kathy and she said that there are changes coming but she wasn't sure about what they were. The only thing she did say was the changes were good ones.


Rich
Re: 2005 Society #56824 02/28/05 08:39 PM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 408
Bigbird Offline
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Okay, since we are all rumour speculating (or is that speculating and rumouring confused ), I'll bite. Maybe the renewals are going to have different levels available with different renewal fees and better "rewards" at the higher levels!?! OrRrRrR... maybe the renewals are going to be offered again like they used to be (ie 1yr @ $39, 2yrs, @ $76, 3 yrs @ $112)?!?!?

I was in the last group that renewed with the 1-2-3 yr. option so this will be my last year before I have to renew, so it doesn't apply to me yet, but I'll be interested tosee what's up their ol' sleeve at Y&A!!
smile
Steve


Health through education, for a much misguided nation!!
Re: 2005 Society #56825 02/28/05 10:15 PM
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 3,681
MtnHkr Offline
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Hey Steve (Bigbird) have you noticed that one more post and you will become a WACKO! Looking forward to your next post and your continued activity on the forums.

Bert smile


Bert

No mountain is too tall if your first step is belief. -Anonymous
Re: 2005 Society #56826 03/12/05 10:56 PM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 408
Bigbird Offline
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Well thanks for reminding me!! laugh

I have been busy (and stressed) with the moving and all, and hope that I will not only be able to continue to keep up with you guys (though I have a more limited computer usage as I share the phone line with my folks - until I can get a permanent residence), but that I get my mail forwarded and/or they pick up my address change off the HL site as I want to get my update for this year like everyone else :rolleyes:

I'm operating out of a PO box until I find where I'm going to land and then I'll either ride out the 6 mos. that it's rented for, or then change to a permanent address. I also hope that I'll get financially set enough to be able to still go on the lighthouse excursions that I have/had planned confused confused . Problem is, I work in retail and being near 50, am having a little more difficult time trying to find a second job to work around my retail job hours. eek

Oh well, enough about me; on with the lighthouse chatter. :p

Steve


Health through education, for a much misguided nation!!
Re: 2005 Society #56827 03/12/05 11:06 PM
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 3,681
MtnHkr Offline
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Congratulations Steve. You made WACKO. From the sounds of things you are one busy individual. Good luck and keep us posted. Sure want to see you getting out there on those lighthouse excursions.

Bert smile


Bert

No mountain is too tall if your first step is belief. -Anonymous
Re: 2005 Society #56828 03/13/05 12:07 AM
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 3,102
Bob Ott Offline
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Well Steve (Bigbird),

I sincerely hope that things work out for you. I remember your first post when you joined the Forum. You have been a consistant valued and much appreciated member.

bobo

Re: 2005 Society #56829 03/13/05 11:13 AM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 408
Bigbird Offline
Wacko
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Well, as John Wayne would've said, "Aw shucks, ma'am, that's mighty nice of ya"!! laugh

Steve


Health through education, for a much misguided nation!!
Re: 2005 Society #56830 03/21/05 08:58 AM
Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 12,331
Bob M Offline
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It appears that rumor control has gone into the sleep mode. Maybe with in-store events/signings beginning we'll get a few hints into what may be coming in the last half of 2005.

Will one of them be a light near you? Could there be a popular light that Harbour Lights hasn't made yet that will appear in the last part of this year?

confused Bob confused

Re: 2005 Society #56831 03/21/05 10:23 PM
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 351
Jim Chesher Offline
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Let's put an end to the rumors. I received a letter from HL today talking about the changes to the Society membership. Membership will remain at $39.00. The gift is Hilton Head Front Range and the Society Exclusive is Hilton Head Rear Range. They indicate that the gift is bigger and better. The Legacy is going away in paper form after the next edition. It will be available via the internet only. Also the cloisonne pin, print and available ornament will be retired. wink


Re: 2005 Society #56832 03/21/05 10:39 PM
Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 8,949
WackoPaul Offline
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Jim this has all been posted in another thread..

the other thread


Onward to The Land of the Midnight Sun!
Re: 2005 Society #56833 03/23/05 10:25 PM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 907
CAVR Offline
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Shall we start another rumor ...... like whether or not Harbour Lights is going to be releasing the Owls Head -Maine piece for the second half of 2005

Any takers?

(I can't wait any longer!!!!!)


-Christopher
"CAVR"
Re: 2005 Society #56834 03/27/05 03:34 AM
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 107
Don M Offline
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Posts: 107
Christopher,

I can only hope that this rumor is true.

Don M


Don M
Re: 2005 Society #56835 03/27/05 09:30 AM
Joined: Dec 1969
Posts: 12,331
Bob M Offline
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Quote:
Shall we start another rumor ...... like whether or not Harbour Lights is going to be releasing the Owls Head -Maine piece for the second half of 2005.
Hi Chris, ... I believe your prediction may become fact. Owl's Head is long overdue and there has been a constant flow of requests for this particular light.

When collectors speak, Harbour Lights listens!

smile Bob smile


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