Anyone know about "Better World Club"?

[drwex]

I have had the organization "Better World Club" (http://www.betterworldclub.com/) recommended to me as a replacement for AAA.

Reasons given include: better or comparable service, more eco-friendly and progressive policies, and they offer Bicycle Roadside Assistance. That alone is so cool that I'd be interested in trying them out.

They claim to be willing to match AAA membership rates, but money is not a significant factor in my making this decision.

Comments

[keyne.livejournal.com]

qwrrty has been pushing for us to join BWC for ages.

So I let the AAA membership lapse, since he agreed to sign us up for BWC. Predictably enough ... let's just say we were uncovered when I got stuck in a snowbank, so I whipped out my cell and called BWC. Not only can you not join on the spot, as you can with AAA, but you have to call during business hours for membership issues and then wait several days before you're covered for anything. :( So I called AAA, re-upped, and got myself pulled out of the snowbank.

I think I'll stick with the Evil Empire for the foreseeable future.

[marmota.livejournal.com]

I was dubious of them as they were suggested to me by my insurance agent at American Consumer Insurance Agency... and a little research showed that the same guy founded them both.

http://www.zoominfo.com/people/Rofsky_Mitch_12785610.aspx

Also, they've bought out a number of travel agencies, which has me
questioning their focus and long-range goals.

[awfief.livejournal.com]

The thing about AAA is that they have a network of independent tow companies on call. I haven't found AAA to be evil, but the tow companies themselves to be the evil ones.....Anyway, my only worry would be how BWC stacks up for coverage. I never biked so far away from home that I couldn't call a friend or housemate to come get me (or get myself to a bike shop).....

And BWC would have the same "evil tow company" issues.

[skreeky]

While I hate the things AAA lobbies for politically, financially it makes sense for us. Does BWC give you the same auto insurance discounts? Is their assistance network really as comprehensive? Will they send me free maps?

I do try to use enough services that I'm pretty sure they're not making any money off of me to spend in Washington.

[ahf.livejournal.com]

The network that AAA has is not unique. There are several other providers out there who have a similar network, most do not have a big direct to consumer marketing segment though. As is usual, offer a lower than normal rate to the providers, but give them more volume. Many insurance companies or manufacturers will outsource the towing you get with a policy or new vehicle to AAA or other providers. From looking at the website, I was unable to tell if BWC was using one of the existing outsourcers.

Note: I work for one of the outsourcers, we have a large percentage of the OEM towing market.

[wotw]

AAA offers such a fantastic array of services at such a ridiculously
low cost, that I've always been baffled as to how they can possibly
exist. The whole thing makes not a shred of sense to me but I'm sure
glad it's there.

[cos]

I've thought about them for several years but I keep waiting to hear about actual experiences with them from people who've had to use them when their cars broke down, etc. So far, I haven't heard such stories, so I'm still with AAA.

[srl.livejournal.com]

I bought a BWC membership for the year that I did my cross-country bike trip. I never needed their bicycle assistance, but if I were taking a long tour again I'd do it again. Since I don't own an auto and AAA doesn't do motorcycle roadside assistance, I have no interest in AAA.

There's also a good bit of evidence that AAA is anti-bicycle in practice, though some of this may be FUD popularized by BWC. It's hard to tell, but the likelihood that any of it is true makes it hard for me to consider ever owning an AAA membership.