NFPA...Please STOP the INSANITY

[tkb]

OK today I got a letter from the president of the NFPA begging me to join.
It had a stamp on it that says they are a nonprofit organization.

It is no wonder they are non profit.
If I wasted as much money as them on marketing I would be nonprofit too.

A week never goes by that I don't receive a catalog, email or some other mail from the NFPA wanting me to join. I even get invoices for a membership that I don't have.

I was a member for one year about ten years ago but I didn't find it very useful for the money.
The discounts on the books weren't enough to justify it, and a sticker just didn't do it for me.

I know where they are and buy books from them every few years, so I wish they would leave me alone. I will come to them.

If they stopped all the mailings they could probably lower the membership price.

All I ask is STOP PLEASE.

 

[480sparky]

OK today I got a letter from the president of the NFPA begging me to join.
It had a stamp on it that says they are a nonprofit organization.

It is no wonder they are non profit.
If I wasted as much money as them on marketing I would be nonprofit too.

A week never goes by that I don't receive a catalog, email or some other mail from the NFPA wanting me to join. I even get invoices for a membership that I don't have.

I was a member for one year about ten years ago but I didn't find it very useful for the money.
The discounts on the books weren't enough to justify it, and a sticker just didn't do it for me.

I know where they are and buy books from them every few years, so I wish they would leave me alone. I will come to them.

If they stopped all the mailings they could probably lower the membership price.

All I ask is STOP PLEASE.

Have you bothered telling them all this?

 

[peter d]

They are obviously doing it because they get results from it. What we may call annoying is actually good business.

But for the record, I'm sick of getting all that stuff too.

 

[iwire]

I know where they are and buy books from them every few years, so I wish they would leave me alone. I will come to them.

That is what gets me, if someone needs an NFPA standard the NFPA is going to get the sale.

It makes as much sense to me as the United States Postal service advertising.

 

[tkb]

Have you bothered telling them all this?

Of course not. Maybe if they stopped all I would get is bills.
Just a friendly rant.

 

[iwire]

They are obviously doing it because they get results from it.

You really think they are getting lot of impulse purchases of the Standard for the Installation of Foam-Water Sprinkler and Foam-Water Spray Systems or maybe people buy NFPA 1581 Standard on Fire Department Infection Control Program as a Christmas gift?

 

[peter d]

You really think they are getting lot of impulse purchases of the Standard for the Installation of Foam-Water Sprinkler and Foam-Water Spray Systems or maybe people buy NFPA 1581 Standard on Fire Department Infection Control Program as a Christmas gift?

Probably not.

Logic tells me they probably wouldn't be pouring tons of money down a rat hole if they weren't getting sales from it. But then again, maybe they are wasting tons of money on marketing with no tangible results. If they are, then that's just bad business, plain and simple.

 

[480sparky]

.....It makes as much sense to me as the United States Postal service advertising.

Same as

........

 

[joebell]

NFPA 1581 Standard on Fire Department Infection Control Program as a Christmas gift?

Sounds like a gift for the guy that has everything


Joe

 

[bphgravity]

Its funny that this same conversation is occuring over at the ICC Website. All "big" things and their actions become the target of the "mob" mentality we have as human beings, and especially us Americans.

By the way, as a non-profit, all the finacial statements produced by the NFPA are public record and made available to the NFPA members and public alike. It is not hard to see where and how money is being spent, and where and how money is being taken in.

 

[chris kennedy]

Ah yes, the tree killers. I get a chuckle out of my membership renewal forms. I have never been a member. But if they send out tens of thousands of them some will sign and send a check. A while back my wife opened one and was ready to write the check and send it in.:roll:

But I cannot bad mouth the NFPA as I am waiting for a book from them as we speak.

 

[iwire]

is not hard to see where and how money is being spent, and where and how money is being taken in.

OK, it sounds like you have looked.

Does it make sense to you to advertise a product that is in most cases a 'must have'?

 

[bphgravity]

ok, it sounds like you have looked.

Does it make sense to you to advertise a product that is in most cases a 'must have'?

no...

Most of the money spent by the NFPA is on trying to get jurisdictions and OTHER countries to adopt NFPA codes and standards. Most of the money the NFPA takes in is from government grants, publication rights, and OTHERS advertising on the NFPA website and publications...

 

[peter d]

Does it make sense to you to advertise a product that is in most cases a 'must have'?

If anything, it seems to me that they are trying to sell more than just one set of standards to a particular trade. For instance, an EC who does more than just plain electrical work might want to buy some fire alarm and life safety standards to add to his collection. I know this was the case when I bought NFPA 72 and I was interested in buying NFPA 1 as well.

Of course this is just pure speculation on my part.

 

[joebell]

If anything, it seems to me that they are trying to sell more than just one set of standards to a particular trade. For instance, an EC who does more than just plain electrical work might want to buy some fire alarm and life safety standards to add to his collection. I know this was the case when I bought NFPA 72 and I was interested in buying NFPA 1 as well.

Of course this is just pure speculation on my part.

I know I'm guilty of that. In addition to NEC, NFPA 72 I also have NFPA 70E, a couple of misc. fire alarm design books and I think it's NFPA 20 (fire pumps). I work near there distribution center in Avon MA so its very convienant.

Joe

 

[Fulthrotl]

If they stopped all the mailings they could probably lower the membership price.

All I ask is STOP PLEASE.

it won't ever stop. ever.

i get the same mailings you get. i have only bought a code book once.
they have spent $40 a year for the last three years sending me stuff.

i need a couple books from them, but i am almost afraid to order them.
if they are this annoying with one purchase, three years ago, i don't
want to encourage them.

 

[peter d]

I suddenly have a craving to buy some NFPA products.

 

[Cow]

Same as

........

What's wrong with that?

 

[480sparky]

What's wrong with that?

Well, those of us who drink milk are already sold on it. Those of us who don't never will be. I just don't get it.

I mean, Homer nevers goes into Moe's and orders milk.........

 

[Cow]

Well, those of us who drink milk are already sold on it. Those of us who don't never will be. I just don't get it.

Ok, I can live with that, even if I don't agree with it.:smile:

Coke/Pepsi haven't changed their taste much yet they're still huge advertisers......should they stop too?