Rude Call from AOPA Foundation

netsurfr

netsurfr

Pre-takeoff checklist
Joined
Aug 30, 2014
Messages
311
Location
Wisconsin
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Display name:
Jose
So last night I got a call from AOPA Foundation asking for money. I politely told the cold caller that I was not interested and then the guy starts w/ the rude comments such as "oh I see, so you don't care about your fellow pilots then?" etc... I then told him they pretty much guaranteed themselves that I will never donate to the foundation and not renew w/ AOPA. They called my cell phone at night and my AOPA settings show my phones as "Do Not Call".

I called AOPA today and they said they've been receiving similar complaints from other members and that they would let the AOPA Foundation folks know.

Just wanted to share as I hadn't heard that type of cold calling tactics in ages. Not smart to push/pressure/insult the person you're asking for donations from!
 
YUP - that's why I quit AOPA. They call me, email me, snail mail me, it never ends. All they want is $$$$ - stating "We're so close to medical reform, just a little more money".. Nope sorry - medical reform is a non starter - just a ruse for them to try to get $$. No more of mine.
 
FWIW, that's not an AOPA employee calling you. Like most organizations, they outsource it to third party vendors. The telemarketer guy probably gets paid on commission, and doesn't really care what you think of AOPA. It's good you called AOPA to complain.
 
I pay my annual AOPA membership dues, but not one penny more. I do wonder what all the AOPA mailings costs them (and its members). Maybe if they cut out some of that, they'd find more money without having to beg for it.
 
ETres said:
I pay my annual AOPA membership dues, but not one penny more. I do wonder what all the AOPA mailings costs them (and its members). Maybe if they cut out some of that, they'd find more money without having to beg for it.
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This is what I do as well. The mailings probably cost them a good bit every year and I don't even look at them. I read the magazine and that's about it.
 
Meh, I used to think they did some good, but zip on the medical reform, didn't even try to stop the manadatory ADSB BS, I wonder what they actually do with the money and how they have made GA any better or increased our freedoms as pilots.
 
EminiTrader said:
They build capital reserves. We have a big election coming soon!
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I'm of the belief that AOPA Management knows GA is a sunset industry, so they had better hoard cash today so AOPA can continue paying its bigwigs very large salaries for years to come, even after the revenue stream has gone dry.
 
rbridges said:
some telemarketer called me last night and said Jose doesn't care about us. :lol:
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Hahahaha!

Ya, I left AOPA in 2013 and never looked back. One day they'll get with the program but until then, I can do without the Redboard.
 
Archammer said:
Hahahaha!

Ya, I left AOPA in 2013 and never looked back. One day they'll get with the program but until then, I can do without the Redboard.
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I tried reading the Red Board a few times but it just didn't catch my attention as much as POA does.
 
Pay dues to them,get a good deal on my insurance,for the plane. I can remember when the red board was fun and informative,now I don't even follow it.
 
I've never been a member of AOPA and I haven't felt a difference with their insurance when I was young and didn't know about avemco or some of the better brokers out there.
 
frfly172 said:
Pay dues to them,get a good deal on my insurance,for the plane. I can remember when the red board was fun and informative,now I don't even follow it.
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They we're never competitive for insurance. At least for me in a SR22. They we're 30% higher as I recall. But either way. Writing is on the wall.
 
I'm going to take the other side.

There is no support for GA and especially the little ga in Washington other than AOPA. Like all lobbying efforts it's very tough to calculate an ROI. But it's cheap insurance.

I also support the ASF. I really like the work they do. GA accidents rates are atrocious and their effort might help. Once you send them money, they do get pushy. I told the last caller I would send a check once a year and to take me off their lists if they wanted it to continue. Hasn't worked yet.

Alan
 
As with all cold calls I hang up immediately after saying "no thanks, not interested" because really I am not soliciting opinions on the fact that I'm not interested, I truly am not interested, period.
 
Wow. I just now got a call from Alabama asking me if I wanted to buy Viagra... I started laughing thinking about this thread. I told her to call me in 10 years or so and we'll revisit and hung up.
 
I don't let my phone even ring for callers not on my contacts list. Problem solved.
 
The thread title is indeed wrong.
They contract this out, you are not talking to ASF/AOPA.
(they do need to be advised of what their contractor is up to, however so they can correct the behavior or rehire for the position)
but I cannot blame the organization for the rudeness, heck every employer has had an employee like that,...AOPA is a victim here (unless they allow it to continue unchecked)
 
I don't get any calls, e-mails or letters, and I finally stopped their HS Turbine Pilot magazine a few years ago.
 
Let'sgoflying! said:
The thread title is indeed wrong.
They contract this out, you are not talking to ASF/AOPA.
(they do need to be advised of what their contractor is up to, however so they can correct the behavior or rehire for the position)
but I cannot blame the organization for the rudeness, heck every employer has had an employee like that,...AOPA is a victim here (unless they allow it to continue unchecked)
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well, ASF/AOPA bear responsibility for their contractor.
 
EminiTrader said:
YUP - that's why I quit AOPA. They call me, email me, snail mail me, it never ends. All they want is $$$$ - stating "We're so close to medical reform, just a little more money".. Nope sorry - medical reform is a non starter - just a ruse for them to try to get $$. No more of mine.
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So if medical reform passes will you send them some $?


Bob Noel said:
well, ASF/AOPA bear responsibility for their contractor.
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True but they need to be told by their members that the company they hired to make the calls is strong arming their members.
 
AdamZ said:
True but they need to be told by their members that the company they hired to make the calls is strong arming their members.
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absolutely.
 
Just write or email AOPA and ask them to stop phoning you, and they will do as you ask.

That's what I did about six years ago, and it greatly improved my attitude regarding AOPA.
 
Not an AOPA fan, but the question is is the rebuttal in the telemarketer's script? Difference between an employee pushing obnoxiously for a sale and what is in the(you'd hope) approved by AOPA script.
 
Many years ago I called AOPA members services and told them if they wanted to retain me as a member that they should not contact me by phone or email.

Haven't heard from them since. Get an occasional piece of snail mail.
 
Re: Mr

rk911 said:
been looking for a phone that can do "whitelist" rings. care to share what how you do that?
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Not exactly the same thing but I think google voice does that.
 
Update here... yes I figured AOPA contracted a third party for these calls but the consequences of those calls (good or bad) fall under AOPA as the caller says they care calling from AOPA etc...

I did call AOPA to let them know of the incident and the person on the phone was very nice and apologetic about it and said she personally has heard similar complaints. I figured they'd want to know what tactics the third party calling service is using. Today I got a call (message as I was out) from a supervisor from the AOPA membership department. They want to apologize and hear more about the incident to address it w/ the third party company so got to give them props for that.
 
All the calls are recorded and stored, I do wonder if aopa approved the rebuttal script or the company changed it on their own. My guess is aopa approved it after being told that is how the company always does it. Underestimating their membership once again.
 
Re: Mr

rk911 said:
been looking for a phone that can do "whitelist" rings. care to share what how you do that?
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Android phone, Do Not Disturb mode. It has a setting to reject all calls except from anyone on your contact list (or selected contacts, if you prefer).

It's easy to toggle Do Not Disturb mode on and off, so if I'm expecting a call from an unknown number, I'll turn it off temporarily. Otherwise, rejected calls go to voicemail, which gets transcribed and spam-filtered by Google Voice.
 
flyingron said:
Many years ago I called AOPA members services and told them if they wanted to retain me as a member that they should not contact me by phone or email.



Haven't heard from them since. Get an occasional piece of snail mail.
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^^^ This.

One phone call to their desk, 8 or 10 years ago. Easy-peasy.

No phone calls, no wine of the month, all is good -- only downside is that I can't vent and complain about AOPA calls and junk mail any more.
 
I have supported ASF for years and will continue to do so. But I have the same answer to the solicitations I receive over the phone:

"Sorry, I do not commit to charitable solicitations over the phone."

In this day of phishing and hacking moving from the obvious spam emails to phone calls, why would anyone?
 
Well that's a good point Mark. I don't care who it is, I am the only one who selects my charitable giving. Not girl scouts at the door nor callers at night. I got the call on my cell the other night and I told the lady I already donate to the ASF. She acted disappointed because of their matching right now. To think someone at AOPA would approve bullying is . . .well you need to meet some of those human beings, it might restore some of your faith.

My company does something cool: whatever funds I donate to my industry's PAC, they will match 100% to any reputable charity I choose. My choice is ASF because, like Alan, I believe in what they do. I've also met some of the people that work there, which helps my decision.
 
Let'sgoflying! said:
The thread title is indeed wrong.
They contract this out, you are not talking to ASF/AOPA.
(they do need to be advised of what their contractor is up to, however so they can correct the behavior or rehire for the position)
but I cannot blame the organization for the rudeness, heck every employer has had an employee like that,...AOPA is a victim here (unless they allow it to continue unchecked)
Click to expand...

I got a call last night on behalf of AOPA. The contractor, at least on my call, was Infocision. The are very pushy and don't take no for an answer. After politely delcining several times, I finally just hung up. The guy was still jabbering on the on the other end when I hung up. Infocision has a big footprint in this area and employe a lot of people. The local paper did and article on them a few years ago and it was shocking how little of the funds actually get to the charities. I tend to donate directly to charities I am familiar with and understand how the money is being spent.
 
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