# I want my "Charter" back! **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [April 28, 2005, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-my-charter-back/301604 "2005-04-28T19:59:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2005, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-my-charter-back/301604/61 "2005-05-02T15:16:33Z")
OK. I still don’t see why regular members and charter members need to be treated differently. It seems to me it just results in extra work for you guys and hard feelings for members who have to pay the double penalty fees. The funny thing is: I don’t care about the fee. It’s like I’m thirsty and want to get a bottle of water to drink. I go to a store and buy one. I’d pay whatever the price is, within reason. I don’t care. However, it would piss me off if the guy running the store said “Oh, too bad you didn’t come in five minutes ago. We were selling water for $2 then. Now that you’re late, you’ll need to pay me $4 as a penalty.” It’s not that I care about the price, it’s that it’s an unfair system of payment that unnessesarily leaves a bad taste in the customer’s mouth and makes people less likely to buy again. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2005, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-my-charter-back/301604/62 "2005-05-02T16:30:03Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > OK. I still don’t see why regular members and charter members need to be treated differently. They gave us a special deal. Ergo, special rules apply. ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2005, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-my-charter-back/301604/63 "2005-05-02T17:40:56Z")
Why? ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2005, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-my-charter-back/301604/64 "2005-05-02T18:03:21Z")
Because they’re doing us a favor. Is it too much for them to ask that we who get a 50% discount sign up by a specific date? ---
**Author:** ![Ed\_Zotti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/fbc32d/32.png) [@Ed\_Zotti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ed_Zotti)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2005, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-my-charter-back/301604/65 "2005-05-02T18:07:33Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > “Oh, too bad you didn’t come in five minutes ago. We were selling water for $2 then. Now that you’re late, you’ll need to pay me $4 as a penalty.” Will you please lose the idea that if we ask you to pay the regular price, this somehow constitutes a penalty or a punishment? We offered a special deal. Certain conditions were attached. The deal was apparently good enough for you to take us up on it. Now a year later you decide you don’t like the attached conditions. So what do we do? We change the rules so you can still be a charter member. And what happens? YOU’RE STILL COMPLAINING! Nothing personal, kid, but you know what? Put a sock in it. ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2005, 6:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-my-charter-back/301604/66 "2005-05-02T18:14:53Z")
> [@Debaser](#): > > It’s like I’m thirsty and want to get a bottle of water to drink. I go to a store and buy one. I’d pay whatever the price is, within reason. I don’t care. However, it would piss me off if the guy running the store said “Oh, too bad you didn’t come in five minutes ago. We were selling water for $2 then. Now that you’re late, you’ll need to pay me $4 as a penalty.” Perhaps it will feel better to you if you think of it instead like a discount card. “Do you have your CVS discount card?” “No, I forgot it, sorry.” “Alright, then the water is four bucks. Remember your card next time, sir, and we can give you the special price of two bucks.” Or happy hour. “That’ll be four dollars, sir.” “But the sign says $2.” “That’s our happy hour price, sir, like the sign says. 3:00 to 7:00 every day. Come on by tomorrow and we’ll be happy to sell you that same beer for two bucks.” ---
**Author:** ![Debaser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/3da27b/32.png) [@Debaser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Debaser)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2005, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-my-charter-back/301604/67 "2005-05-02T19:07:59Z")
> [@Ed Zotti](#): > > YOU’RE STILL COMPLAINING! I’m not complaining. Really, I’m not. I paid the double price, and haven’t asked for my money back or anything like that. I paid right away and have no complaints… It’s just that I want to see the SDMB thrive, and I think that this policy was a mistake. I think it will cost the board subscriptions, and I don’t want to see that. Time will tell if I’m right. I hope I’m not. ---
**Author:** ![Qwertyasdfg](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/ecc23a/32.png) [@Qwertyasdfg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qwertyasdfg)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2005, 9:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-my-charter-back/301604/68 "2005-05-02T21:13:33Z")
> [@Ed Zotti](#): > > We change the rules so you can still be a charter member. And what happens? YOU’RE STILL COMPLAINING! Have you changed the rules? Last I checked I’m still a “Member.” Certainly this isn’t a big deal, but the board’s handling of this is disappointing. If you have changed it, thanks. ---
**Author:** ![TubaDiva](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tubadiva/32/507_2.png) [@TubaDiva](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TubaDiva)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2005, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-my-charter-back/301604/69 "2005-05-03T01:27:30Z")
Did you send me an email? I’m making another list now and I don’t see one from you. If you can’t be bothered to follow through/follow up, what are we supposed to do here? your humble TubaDiva ---
**Author:** ![aldiboronti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9fc348/32.png) [@aldiboronti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aldiboronti)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2005, 7:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-my-charter-back/301604/70 "2005-05-03T07:07:05Z")
Considering the successful outcome of many of these pleas, I too have a request. I want my youth back. Well, who knows the extent of Cecil’s powers? ---
**Author:** ![BMalion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e274bd/32.png) [@BMalion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BMalion)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2005, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-my-charter-back/301604/71 "2005-05-03T12:22:52Z")
and I want a pony! ---
**Author:** ![AngelicGemma](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/439d5e/32.png) [@AngelicGemma](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AngelicGemma)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2005, 12:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-my-charter-back/301604/72 "2005-05-03T12:57:26Z")
> [@BMalion](#): > > and I want a pony! Oh! I want a kitty! ---
**Author:** ![jdavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f6c823/32.png) [@jdavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jdavis)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2005, 2:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-my-charter-back/301604/73 "2005-05-03T14:18:48Z")
If your Charter Member status has not been reapplied it is because I’m still in the process of doing so. I had to work on Saturday and spent some time making my way through the list of earliest re-subscribers. I will list those I have changed back to Charter Member status at the end this post. I did not work Sunday and I took off Monday so I’m sure there is a backlog of subscribers who made the Monday at noon deadline to renew their Charter Member status. I will start getting to that backlog today. It may take me a while because it is not an immediate process and I have to fit it in amongst my other responsibilities. I do promise it will be done and that I will post to the end of this thread when I believe it is finished. In the interim I’ll post occasional updates. Thanks, Jerry Member to Charter Member status as of 05/03/05 @ 09:15 jweb chorpler ExTank Debaser Heart On My Sleeve Trunk Arhat InkBlot Mr. Peabody CreaseMunky tim314 Mooch Inigo Montoya sqweels Ooner pkbites DirkGntly Silver Fire Vagus da\_pope ---
**Author:** ![Kaotic\_Newtral](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/71e660/32.png) [@Kaotic\_Newtral](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaotic_Newtral)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2005, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-my-charter-back/301604/74 "2005-05-03T19:17:53Z")
Just checking… ---
**Author:** ![Low\_Key\_1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ed655f/32.png) [@Low\_Key\_1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Low_Key_1)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2005, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-my-charter-back/301604/75 "2005-05-04T01:58:23Z")
Just checking (after a slight complication with payment…) ---
**Author:** ![pool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pool/32/4152_2.png) [@pool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pool)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2005, 3:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-my-charter-back/301604/76 "2005-05-04T03:48:30Z")
So I paid via paypal on the 27th, but of course the check did not clear until just recently…Is there any chance in hell that I could have my Charter Membership reinstated? ☹☹☹ pweese! I will never make the same mistake at future resubscriptions ☹ ---
**Author:** ![jdavis](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f6c823/32.png) [@jdavis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jdavis)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2005, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-my-charter-back/301604/77 "2005-05-04T18:35:58Z")
> [@pool](#): > > So I paid via paypal on the 27th, but of course the check did not clear until just recently…Is there any chance in hell that I could have my Charter Membership reinstated? ☹☹☹ pweese! > > I will never make the same mistake at future resubscriptions ☹ Those of you who used PayPal which does have a number of payment types that are not instantaneous will have your Charter Membership reinstated if you initiated the transaction prior to 05/02/05 @ 12:00 pm. It takes a while for the eCheck and funds transfer options to clear. I can figure out who did what when. I’ll eventually get everyone back to the correct status. I will post here when I believe I have completed all changes so if I’ve missed anyone you can let me know. In other words, yes your Charter Member status will be coming back. When? In a few days… Thanks, Jerry ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-my-charter-back/301604/78 "2005-05-06T19:04:05Z")
How come I’m not back yet as Charter Member? I renewed in before the second deadline and was emailed that I would be reinstated. ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2005, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-my-charter-back/301604/79 "2005-05-06T19:07:19Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > How come I’m not back yet as Charter Member? I renewed in before the second deadline and was emailed that I would be reinstated. OK I’m an idiot. It must have just come on today. ---
**Author:** ![kniz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/c37758/32.png) [@kniz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kniz)\ **Post date:** [May 8, 2005, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-my-charter-back/301604/80 "2005-05-08T02:37:48Z")
I just noticed that I am once again a “charter member”, which makes me happy as hell. Thanks to the gods (mods and admins). 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-my-charter-back/301604.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-want-my-charter-back/301604.md?page=5)