The idea of this seems to be good, just click on an interest and off you go, this may be the case for some who have tried but it can also be fraught with rip offs. Apparently Meet Up (faceless/robotic organisation) charge a fee to anyone using them as a launching pad, still trying to find out what this fee is! Then what happens is some individuals have created certain meet ups and charging people a set fee per year. How does this work? I would look at meet ups as something to possibly delve in to now and again, maybe join a few walks or whatever/whenever.
Say for arguments sake someone set up a social group and decide to ask £5 per year from anyone joining, they could get 10/20/30 or more, even at 30 at £5 per head they are making £150 yet they could be here today, gone tomorrow, we may have an email address for them or even met them once or twice, but they could disappear in a whisper, of course reading the Meet up site, they don't involve themselves in any disputes with such things so just when something looks to be good it is ripe for fraud. I have asked one person with a group who wanted money up front (to cover his costs!!) to tell me how much he has had to pay the Meet up site but fobbed off...Humm
Would you pay a sum up front for joining a meet up.
The idea of this seems to be good, just click on an interest and off you go, this may be the case for some who have tried but it can also be fraught with rip offs. Apparently Meet Up (faceless/robotic organisation) charge a fee to anyone using them as a launching pad, still trying to find out what this fee is! Then what happens is some individuals have created certain meet ups and charging people a set fee per year. How does this work? I would look at meet ups as something to possibly delve in to now and again, maybe join a few walks or whatever/whenever.
Say for arguments sake someone set up a social group and decide to ask £5 per year from anyone joining, they could get 10/20/30 or more, even at 30 at £5 per head they are making £150 yet they could be here today, gone tomorrow, we may have an email address for them or even met them once or twice, but they could disappear in a whisper, of course reading the Meet up site, they don't involve themselves in any disputes with such things so just when something looks to be good it is ripe for fraud. I have asked one person with a group who wanted money up front (to cover his costs!!) to tell me how much he has had to pay the Meet up site but fobbed off...Humm
Would you pay a sum up front for joining a meet up.
I have been on meetup for years and didn't pay anything. Perhaps they have changed their policy or you are confusing it with those who organise meetup events perhaps?
The system can be exploited, i.e. organisers just trying to get members to join pricey workshops etc but this is easily seen at the first hurdle!
I have been to a few meetup events (of my interest) and found it an interesting and useful way of getting to know others - fairly locally - who I have something in common with.
The sticking point (and why so many groups fold) is due to not having a venue, i.e. many are held in public places - quiet pubs/cafes etc. There should be no charge for this but the organiser may want to cover their costs and ask a minimal fee. I have never heard of an annual cost so I wouldn't worry about that.
Hi Amy, I raised this concern as I looked at my local area and there was a 'social club' the chap has asked anyone who wants to join pay £5 per year to cover his costs, I sent him an email to ask what costs and he replied the costs of using the meet up App.
Hi Amy, I raised this concern as I looked at my local area and there was a 'social club' the chap has asked anyone who wants to join pay £5 per year to cover his costs, I sent him an email to ask what costs and he replied the costs of using the meet up App.
Oh that's the App, (I don't think any app is free is it?) i.e. it's free online via a computer! There isn't one person governing an area anyway....most odd. What you are explaining is just one incident I feel.
Have you tried joining online? It IS still free, i.e. I just checked it on Wikipedia (which was last updated Feb '17) - 'The service is free of charge to individuals who log in as members'.
I am not sure if your understanding me fully on this one Amy, Yes anyone can log on to Meetup but in this particular instance there is a group on there in my area which I would have liked to have joined and the chap organising this group is stating anyone interested would have to pay him £5 a year, he is saying this is to cover costs of him using the MeetUp site. I am now trying to get some response from MeetUp themselves but they are not being at all forthcoming.
I am not sure if your understanding me fully on this one Amy, Yes anyone can log on to Meetup but in this particular instance there is a group on there in my area which I would have liked to have joined and the chap organising this group is stating anyone interested would have to pay him £5 a year, he is saying this is to cover costs of him using the MeetUp site. I am now trying to get some response from MeetUp themselves but they are not being at all forthcoming.
Oh I see....well you will get email notifications of all up and coming new groups in your area aligned to your interests so what you describe here is highly unusual; I have not encountered this.
Have you seen the post I made today - with you in mind? It's this link # 35
http://www.healthypages.com/community/threads/what-are-you-currently-thinking.87554/page-2
To host your own meetup costs something like £10 a month. £5 joining fee is ridiculous but asking for a donation if it's a pub meetup every session of say £1 fine, or if it's a yoga class (or whatever) then charging the standard fee, also fine.
To be honest, I did not think this would not cost anyone anything and money would be made for Meetup from adverts etc.,
So if anyone is thinking about setting up a walking group or such like we would be charged around £10 per month for the privilege of trying to enhance the lives of others, I am at a loss as to how there are any groups going at all.
My main concern as mentioned was the fact of being asked to pay £5 a year into someones bank account for his social group, when I may only want to try one session, plus how do we know a group is even going to continue for a year.
I have been in touch with Meetup but their reply is just gobbledegook to be honest, and why do they persist in quoting everything in dollars when I clearly asked them not to being from the UK.
Thanks for your input Darren
Two separate issues there.
1) I don't think there are any adverts. Shame they don't do it based on ad revenue like FB etc do. It's the free community meetups that I'm surprised exist. Ones based on fitness or skill classes etc I get.
2) Yeah, he's taking the piss. No way I'd sign up to a meetup for the same reasons you give.
jeannie - that's an unfortunate experience that is in no way typical of meetup! As mentioned, you should be getting email notifications for the topics you ticked as being interested in i.e. other events happening local to you. If not, check your settings.
I am not sure if your understanding me fully on this one Amy, Yes anyone can log on to Meetup but in this particular instance there is a group on there in my area which I would have liked to have joined and the chap organising this group is stating anyone interested would have to pay him £5 a year, he is saying this is to cover costs of him using the MeetUp site. I am now trying to get some response from MeetUp themselves but they are not being at all forthcoming.
Anyone who sets up a meeting on meet ups can charge for people to attend. I could set up a mindfulness meetup....I would charge people 5.00 to attend for my time and expertise.