We joined for one year. I didn't renew because it served no purpose to us. We also have AAA and get better benefits using it.
Yes they did send us lots of "offers' and I believe they sold our info to others as well. Nothing perks up your day like a offer for low cost cremation in the mail!

I didn't join for just the reasons you mentioned. So much of it would be of no use, thus an awful lot of junk that would have to be sifted through for something that 'might' be of use.

I wonder if you can just get the magazine and be opted out 'immediately' from your info ever being shared or recieving 'any' other offers they think might be useful. Over the years I have worked to get an awful lot of junk mail stopped.

We joined several years ago..then got bombarded with all kinds of insurance crap. DH applied for one of the "Will NOT Be Turned Down" policies..and was TURNED DOWN (because he was diabetic).

I still get all kinds of crap from them...and toss it in the garbage.

I once belong to get the discount at hotels. Finally quit and still got the discounts. I read somewhere that it is not like it used to be, it's turned into a big business.

I've been a member since I turned 50 (over 10 years ago). The discounts are fantastic. You can use your AARP card for dicounts in all sorts of places--hotels, travel, restaurants, theaters, and often local stores and shops. My mom and aunt both had their supplemental health insurance and it was excellant as well--almost always picked up all of what Medicare didn't cover, and I've never had to fight over a claim with them.

My husband always reads their magazine from cover to cover (I sort of browse through it).

Monetarily, it's worth it if you will use the benefits. If you stick the card in your wallet and forget it's there until it's time to renew--then, no maybe it's not for you at this time.

Also, they do lobby for us seniors. We're an easy group for Washington to target in many ways, nice to have someone fighting for us.

"I wonder if you can just get the magazine and be opted out 'immediately' from your info ever being shared or recieving 'any' other offers they think might be useful. Over the years I have worked to get an awful lot of junk mail stopped."

Yes, but you gotta work at it!

DH joined because of a $500 discount on his car purchase.
BIG mistake as that got us on all the mailing lists, as others said. I DID get us removed, but it took loads of phone calls and letters to do so.
The magazine is largely irrelevant to us and our issues.
AAA has better merchant discounts.

I won't join, and we will let his lapse when it expires.

I didn't join either because I don't want the flood of junk mail. I suppose if we are interested, we could go to their website to read occasionally.

You do get quite a few discounts using the card--I think 15% on motels etc. Yes you do get alot of stuff, most of it goes into the trash. Many here who had the medical have dropped it due to the fact it apparently does not cover much as it is a supplement to medicare. But if you have NO insurance it probably better that nothing.
As to the magazine and newsletter, I skim thru it as it does have some good articles and ideas and does have articles from many well known people. And yes they do have a lot of people in Government to represent us. If you can get a good instructor their driving course is excellent and refreshes us oldies as we drive. Another thing, it does present what the seniors are doing in other states and gives all of us ideas. I would try it for a year or so, but tell them not to sell your name.

I've been a member for years, and I don't get a flood of junk mail. If I did, I'd still want to join AARP. I usually find some useful information in their magazine (and the other publication), and I like the idea of supporting the most influential senior lobby in Washington.

The discounts are nice, but AARP is so much more than discounts, and certainly much more than a sponsor of insurance plans.

I considered it when I went on Medicare. Wasn't impressed, so never joined. I still get some of their mailings.

I would suggest you do a lot of research on AARP before joining.

Sue

I signed up for a couple years and then discontinued. I was hoping to get good discounts on something but didn't find that to be the case. I got a a fair amount of junk mail solicitations related to aarp. I did actually find some of their publications interesting. I don't share their politcal viewpoint and that was probably the main thing that caused me not to sign up again. Just don't care to support some of their lobbying efforts.

There's a similar game in Canada ... up here the letters are "CARP".

Pretty heavy into insurance promotions, I think - was a member for a year or two, some time ago.

Whidbeykathy,

I'm interested in how one gets low-cost cremations in the mail!

New systems coming out all the time ... but who'd a thunk that! Would it work online, too, do ya figger ... but maybe the heat'd melt the fibre?

ole joyful

Thanks for the info, everyone. I think I'll pass to day since we have AAA anyway. I certainly don't need anymore junk mail.

I joined for a year, but it was of no use to me.

I think my sister has supplemental insurance through them.

My daddy had their insurance, and it was completely useless. I got a virus on my computer from their website--it even told me it was unsafe. Nope!!

We both stopped after too much selling of our name to advertisers. I also checked out many of their stands on issues and found out I was often at the opposite opinion. I think they used to be much different than the AARP of today. Today I think they are in the "lobbying" and insurance business. Most "senior discounts" can be had just for the asking.

I get junk mail from them and I never have been a member so they must get lists. No way would I join.

Please give it some thought before you decide. It took us almost a year to get them to stop sending us junk mail. I documented every call to them trying to get our name off their list. For months we would get at least one mailing a week. Out of frustration, after all the calls, I took the time to pack up three months mailings from them, and sent them back in their postage paid envelopes. I took them to the post office and ask if I could legally send it back and their first response was to say, they had more complaints regarding AARP, and yes, stuff as much as I could in the envelopes , I never heard from them again.

There are equal or better "deals" online and through other sources if a senior is looking for discounts.

AARP is a strong political lobby with a socialist agenda. Not for me.

Every time I see the acronym I am reminded to send another check to my fave 2nd amendment organizations. Thank you.

When they send me their invites to join I stuff the prepaid envelopes full and send them back.

Never have and I can say I never will...Don't like their politics...they sold us seniors out for the Health care Bill.

Like Susan, I've been a member for years and get no junk mail relating to seniors. I like their magazine, the discounts, and their political leaning.

I'm with gemini40 and wildchild, we dropped membership like a hot potato when we found out they supported the health care bill, our friends also dropped them. There were articles about how many thousands of people were dropping out over the health care bill. Baloney on them looking out for seniors.

Linda~

DH and I cut up our cards and sent them back last year. Not my cup of tea; I'd rather find another way of obtaining "senior" discounts.

Ed did you actually read my post? It seems you often look at posts for the sole purposem of being onery? Doesn't that get tiring?

I'm a member and I mostly use the travel discounts, and the home and auto insurance for AARP members through The Hartford as those rates are the most affordable for us. Other junk mail, I just throw away. Between travel and insurance deals, you more than make up for the subscription fees.

I totally agree with the above posters.

Don't like their politics...they sold us seniors out for the Health care Bill. I didn't renew because it served no purpose to us. We also have AAA and get better benefits using it.

I don't share their politcal viewpoint and that was probably the main thing that caused me not to sign up again. Just don't care to support some of their lobbying efforts.

I cut up my cards and sent them back..and when I get junk I send that back in envelopes that have return postage. I haven't miss their membership.....You don't need them.

We belong and I have my supplemental insurance through them. (It's actually The Hartford.) It only costs about $7 for multiple years and Harry likes reading the magazine. As far as junk mail, Harry reads every piece we get. Keeps him occupied for a while :-) Plus, you can't be sure AARP is responsible for all the junk mail that comes along just because it has to do with aging.

As far as politics, I have no idea where they stand except (hopefully) for the good of seniors. Lord knows we need somebody in Washington lobbying for us!!

Aarp is not like it used to be. As for getting discounts I get those without the card, senior discount. You have to ask for them.

AARP magazine is a somewhat interesting read. But my AAA membership has better travel discounts. So I let it run out after one year.