Related Pages: Transportation, eco-travel
Better World Club
www.betterworldclub.com
Description: Supports a cleaner environment and alternative modes of transportation. Provides Emergency Roadside Assistance, Travel Products and Services, Insurance Products and Services.
Category:
Transportation
Keywords:
eco-travel, auto club, carbon offset, car, auto, vehicle, bicycle
Reviews of Better World Club
Good service, strong ethics
I have been a member of BWC for years and can attest to both their quality as a reliable business, as well as their strong steps towards promoting a more sustainable transportation system.
Brad N.'s keywords: BWC, sustainable transportationDid you think this review was helpful?
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Frank J. and better world club
Dear Frank,
Did you ever join Better World Club?
" an overly intrusive, overpriced business that hides behind a cloak of environmentalism and peoplefriendlyism, much like the overpriced long distance service from which its management graduated. "
What does that statement mean Frank? Don't you think that specifics are in order when you make negative claims like that?
Is your point that the world sucks so don't bother trying to change anything?
I've been a member of Better World Club for 2 years now and I really don't get what your trying to say.
My personal experience w Better World Club has been very good and I will continue to be a member and encourage other people to leave AAA.
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AAA SUCKS BUT BWC IS NOT COMPETITIVE
I have been a member of AAA since it was actually a club devoted to simply helping motorists. It has morphed into a disgusting parody of its once self. But so has America in general.
Case in point is BWC, which is not an improvement over AAA, but an overly intrusive, overpriced business that hides behind a cloak of environmentalism and peoplefriendlyism, much like the overpriced long distance service from which its management graduated.
I have over the decades heard all the stories about AAA being late with tows, etc. and do not exactly doubt the stories but can say that after living in about 20 states and several foreign countries (AAA has reciprocal agreements with other national auto clubs), I have never had to wait so long for a tow that I started pulling out my hair. Yes, AAA is a bunch of profiteering pigs and the articles in its glossy magazine we are forced to pay for are self serving, often misinformed, garbage.
But when I need maps, or in some regions, travelers checks, I can simply go get them.
And the price of AAA is basically the same as that for BWC.
In comparison, BWC is simply not a good buy.
Unfortunately anyone who drives a vehicle of any kind except maybe a bicycle is a member of the cult of earth destroyers. Any other pose is exactly that. It is hypocrisy of the highest order to pretend otherwise.
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100x better than AAA.
I love BWC so much more than AAA, which I had for years. I always had to wait around for AAA, had terrible issues with their "travel" service, and hated their anti-environmental policies.
With BWC I received $$ off for buying a hybrid, and their gas coupons make the membership fee very affordable. Their online newsletter contains useful information, and I'm so happy I found an alternative to AAA!
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BWC
I like the ideology of BWC. I can't rate their service because I've fortunately not needed assistance in the 2+ years I've had coverage, but I like the security of knowing that I'm covered when I'm on my bicycle as well as in my car. They even send 4 coupons, each for a $10 refund on gas, which was a nice surprise. I appreciate their getting the word out that AAA is lobbying hard for roads, car production and keeping Americans in their cars. Of course it made sense once I thought about it, but before reading BWC's newsletters I'd never thought about how un-green AAA would have to be.
Jane P.'s keywords: better world club, BWC, AAA alternativeDid you think this review was helpful?
(2)
Better World Club best alternative AAA
I am so glad I found this company because I no longer pay dues to an auto industry lobby!
I don't use their gas coupons because I want to help the company prosper but my cheapskate sister does and loves this benefit. I actually read every issue of the newsletters because their tips and advice is always timely and funny. I really read it because they can actually make me laugh while they give me bad news (corrupt behavior on the part of the establishment).
The fact that I had to register for sustain lane newsletter in order to vote is one of the many ways they support other small green businesses together forcing the big untouchable industries to start changing some of their dinosaur philosophies of doing business all over the planet.
(psst BWC .... remember me later when I need a tow)
Just kidding ... just kidding
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A great alternative to AAA
A great alternative to AAA. The services are the same, but Better World Club supports environmental organizations and initiatives. Friendly customer service and competitive rates.
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(2)
Better World than AAA
I switched over to Better World Club two years ago. They have great service and $40 in mail in rebates for gas fill ups throughout the year. It almost pays for the membership. I was in a buddy's Jeep that went over a snow embankment and need a winch to get out. The entire winch and tow cost us $35 and we were a great distance from any major town.
Brad H.'s keywords: Better World Club, AAADid you think this review was helpful?
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Great Green Club
I've belonged to the club for a year and a half now and I'm very satisfied. I've had the chance to use them once and they came in a timely manner. I also like how they offer discounts to hybrid cars and offer bike road service. Very cool!
Gabrielle H.'s keywords: club, hybrid cars, bike, road serviceDid you think this review was helpful?
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Better world club
I left Triple AAA & went over to BWC because I care about the environment in which we all
live. It was the best thing that I ever did! I have needed them 3 times and unlike Triple AAA waiting hours for help the guys from BWC came quickly & were very helpful. Between great roadside assistance and all that they stand for I give BWC a 5+ review!
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(2)
BWC has been great for us
We've been with BWC for about 3 years and have only had to call them once. It was great! Like many members, I heard of them from Car Talk on NPR. Perhaps because of listening for many years to that show, when I called I described my problem in detail (couldn't get the car out of "park" as the brake safety switch was stuck). They called back a few minutes later to say they'd found a service provider. Shortly after we got a second call. They'd passed on the details to the shop, and the shop had told them how we could easily fix the problem ourselves- there's a little porthole, not in the owner's manual, where you can stick a screwdriver in and manually trip the switch. I was impressed with both parties for actually thinking and communicating, instead of just putting us on the list, which would have taken up a lot of our time (even if the tow is prompt, you still have to wait your turn at the shop!) and saving us a minimum hourly service charge at the shop. Instead, we were on our way about 30 minutes after we called- no $, no paperwork, just good advice.
We also have the bicycle coverage because my husband commutes to work on his bike when the weather is fair. He's yet to use the service, but he is biking about twice as much since we joined, just because of the peace of mind. He's always happier after biking and is advocating bike commuting (and BWC) to others.
The hotel discounts are also better than expected. We didn't really look into it until the last time we re-upped. I asked for the hotel guide and discovered that we can get a 50% discount at our favorite place to stay when visiting my inlaws (about 20 nights a year- so the discount would amount to about $500 a year for us). Still, I didn't use it last time, becuase we've gotten to know the owner and I feel awkward about now pulling out the discount card. Maybe we'll use it and get a fancier room next time.
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Better World vs. AAA
I was a AAA member for many years, despite my growing discomfort with that organization's stances on environmental issues, because I didn't know there was an alternative. A little over a year ago I found Better World Club and immediately switched!
Last summer I had a car problem - on a Sunday morning, in a small town in southern West Virginia! To my great surprise and delight, I got an immediate response to my phone call to BWC and very quick assistance from a tow service. The tow service operator told me that he'd much rather help BWC members than AAA members because BWC is much more fair to service providers. So we all win!
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Better than AAA
I was an AAA member for many years until I learned about their terrible record on the environment and on consumer safety. I learned about Better World Club and have used their services a number of times and been a member for a number of years. I have always been satisfied.
Paul T.'s keywords: service, insurance, travel, book, flight, rent, carDid you think this review was helpful?
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A worthy alternative!
I just renewed my membership in the Better World Club. I've used their emergency service once and the response was fast, pleasant, and painless. I also used their travel service which got me a great deal for Thanksgiving, including the carbon offset. I've recommended them twice and both people were happy with the results. I was very pleased to get a phone call from a representative who I felt genuinely wanted to know if I was happy with the service.
Jessica C.'s keywords: Auto club, emergency roadside assitance, bike assistance, travelDid you think this review was helpful?
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BWC: An example to other businesses
While so many companies still resist sustainable ways, BWC has been out there proving that even transportation can get greener, one car (and bike -- THANKS for that service!) at a time. I appreciate having the choice to support a business that is working so hard and already being so successful in keeping customers happy, thriving as a business, and being kinder to the planet.
Jana B.'s keywords: sustainable, service, BWC, car, bike, assistanceDid you think this review was helpful?
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I was impressed with their service
I signed up for BWC a few months ago and placed my first service call to them yesterday. I received not one, but two follow up calls from them. The first to make sure someone had arrived on time, and the second to make sure everything went well. It was the follow up calls that really impressed me! I will definitely pass this along to my friends & family.
Melissa S.'s keywords: roadside assistance, better world club, auto club, bicycleDid you think this review was helpful?
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Great Experience - There When I Needed Them
I had an outstanding experience with Better World Club. Last week my car was broken into and the ignition was damaged badly enough that the car was not drivable. When I called BWC I spoke immediately to a live person who was extremely helpful. She called back twice to follow-up with me to make sure everything worked out with the tow. The tow-truck driver arrived in about 20 minutes and was also very professional and helpful. Thanks Better World Club.
Zach L.'s keywords: Better World Club, green AAA, towing, roadside assistanceDid you think this review was helpful?
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Very Happy
I had horrible service with AAA and stopped them years ago - I then became more "green" minded and heard about BWC on Car Talk (NPR). This is my second year and love it. Not only the gas rebate program and other discounts, but when I have had to call for emergency roadside service, is has been great.
Kimberly L.'s keywords: better world club, auto clubDid you think this review was helpful?
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Very disappointed.
After years of having AAA by default, despite being saved from many a roadside damsel-in-distress situation from them, I gave in to the guilt and switched my own car and my husband's motorcycle to Better World Club, the package where they tow you 100 miles if you get stranded, like we had with AAA. It was more expensive but, I thought, worth it because of their good deeds. Well, last weekend my husband was pulling off a major highway in New Mexico when his back motorcycle tire blew out. Luckily, he had my cell phone on him and was able to call Better World Club. Three hours later and a million excuses given to him (by VERY kind, parseltongue speaking workers who weren't, of course, sitting roasting by the side of a highway in NM) during the back and forth "where is this durn town truck?" conversation, no one had showed up. An ex-con with a pickup truck, an I-beam, and some tie-downs later, he was saved and returned back to our fair city. We never heard from Better World again after their last "oh, we're just 15 miles away" call. I can think of no better description of how I feel about this than Nathan Lane's comments in "The Birdcage" upon hearing of an appalling football play: "How do I feel? Bewildered... betrayed..."
Ashley M.'s keywords: broken promisesDid you think this review was helpful?
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Like AAA, but better!
I love them! All of the services of AAA, but GOOD lobbying. Also, gas refunds!
Jen R.'s keywords: better world club, auto clubDid you think this review was helpful?
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User Comments:
Brooke M. says:
Services are not the same. Try the BWC travel department. Or, better yet, don't... because you'll waste your time. more »
R P. says:
Actually, I haven't had to use BWC's travel department yet, but I did use AAA's travel department years ago when I had them - and it was a NIGHTMARE. BWC is, in my opinion, 100x better than AAA. more »
Brooke M. says:
Hi R.P. Sorry about the AAA nightmare. My experiences with them were pretty good, but maybe I'm expecting too much. My BWC irritation was when using their map services, the map they gave me had a road in who-knows... more »