Craig Sheppard
Hall of Fame
Hey, does anyone remember the USTA Lifetime Membership option? I think it used to be in the $300 or $400 range... I don't see that option any longer on the USTA web site. Have they stopped offering this?
USTA Lifetime Membership
- Thread starter Craig Sheppard
- Start date
Craig Sheppard
Hall of Fame
$160 is the current price for a 5-year membership... basically pay $40 for 4 years, they give you a 5th free. $300 wouldn't be cheap for a 20 year old... basically you get membership the next 50 or 60 years of your life for $300....
Craig Sheppard
Hall of Fame
Yeah, that's definitely not worth it. When I was growing up, it was around $300 or so I think... but that was when a year's membership was $25. I don't really play leagues, but for tournaments you need the membership too. Hardly a year goes by when I'm not entered in at least one of those. But $750's too steep for me as well...
Craig Sheppard
Hall of Fame
What kills me is, for the tournament player, you have to pay the membership fee, and STILL pay the $25-35 per tournament per event to play! The membership is really geared towards leagues, not tourneys....
PBODY99
Legend
What a "lifetime" membership tries to do is get enough money so that the interest will cover the cost for the Life of the membership. I paid an amount that may have turned out to be a money loser for the USTA, if the return on the $200 from 20 years ago just didn't keep up with the inflation rate of the membership. The usual long term rate of return quoted is 7% for the S & P 500 (1925 to 1995) adjusted for inflation of course.
slice bh compliment
G.O.A.T.
Yeah, either that OR
the money is not being invested well
OR
some of it is paying for Arlen and co.'s limousines and fancy hotels.
LoveThisGame
Professional
I became a USTA Life Member in 1970 for $100, tax deductible (went to junior tennis). What a deal! Whata country!
Edit: went, not wents!
Edit: went, not wents!
Last edited:
winks
Rookie
Not saying it wasn't a good or bad deal, but $100 in 1970 is a lot more in today's dollars. According to the CPI index, it's about $520...
Consumer Price Index (CPI) 1800 to 2016
LoveThisGame
Professional
bleach, you nailed it. winks, don't overlook the tax deduction. Not huge, but one of my better investments.
At the time I figured I would play tournaments as long as I could. As soon as I could afford it, I acted.
At the same time, I took a life subscription to World Tennis. After awhile, WT came with the USTA membership, but then it was spun off. WT tried to get me to pay for a subscription, but I pointed out my lifer. WT did expire in a bit, but I gained more than my payment.
I just checked the USTA site and could not find that they still offer lifetime membership.
At the time I figured I would play tournaments as long as I could. As soon as I could afford it, I acted.
At the same time, I took a life subscription to World Tennis. After awhile, WT came with the USTA membership, but then it was spun off. WT tried to get me to pay for a subscription, but I pointed out my lifer. WT did expire in a bit, but I gained more than my payment.
I just checked the USTA site and could not find that they still offer lifetime membership.
I just signed up a couple of weeks ago, and I'm certain that the lifetime offer was somewhere when you get to the payment option page. I figured I had better not opt for that since I'm 47 (47 yr old body+teenage adrenaline level=more injury prone) and just getting back into tennis-plus I've never tried leagues before.
LoveThisGame
Professional
raiden031, a life membership was tax deductible because the money went to junior tennis, or so I was told. Yesterday, I checked the USTA web site and don't see the life memberhip being offered.
Eviscerator
Banned
LOL,,,first of all it is still offered. Second, rest assured they were not losing money on it, they are just making much more now. Some people have forgotten how inexpensive it use to be for a lifetime membership. It was just a few years ago that they raised their prices across the board. The % of increase was most dramatic for the lifetime membership though everything went up pretty high. The trouble is that they have cut back on services, awards, manpower, etc. all in the name of maximizing profit at the alter of the almighty dollar.
BreakPoint
Bionic Poster
The last time that I saw the USTA Lifetime Membership offered on the renewal form was about 4-5 years ago and it was $400, if I remember correctly. I should have taken them up on that deal then. Dang it!!!
I would have broken even in only 10 years (assuming they don't even raise the rates again, which of course, they will).
I would have broken even in only 10 years (assuming they don't even raise the rates again, which of course, they will).
West Coast Ace
G.O.A.T.
FYI - didn't see it on the website either. But if you call the 800-990-8782 line the messages do mention Lifetime membership - they're closed for the holidays so I didn't get to talk to anyone (will on the 26th) - so I don't know how much it costs.
r2473
G.O.A.T.
Do you think you got your $200 worth
ChaelAZ
G.O.A.T.
Yeah, currently $750 per person.
https://www.usta.com/en/home/membership/individual-memberships/adultmembership.html
I do the family so myself, my wife and two sons get it for something like $280 for 4 or 5 years. Just renewed and don't recall specifics.
Since I am 50 this year the $750 would be a good deal since I do play on living past the 2o year return on investment at today's yearly member pricing, but prices will go up for sure and make it a better value.
https://www.usta.com/en/home/membership/individual-memberships/adultmembership.html
I do the family so myself, my wife and two sons get it for something like $280 for 4 or 5 years. Just renewed and don't recall specifics.
Since I am 50 this year the $750 would be a good deal since I do play on living past the 2o year return on investment at today's yearly member pricing, but prices will go up for sure and make it a better value.
D
Deleted member 23235
Guest
i vaguely remember 400 ~20y ago.... figured i'd break even in 16y... but that's a naive way to calc...
https://www.saving.org/inflation/inflation.php?amount=400 (400 in 1999 is $600 now)
so given the cost increase from 25 -> 44 (not sure when this started), i think i'm just recently breaking even... (presuming it's been 44 for the last 5 years)
but if i paid $200 (like Ronaldo point out, then definitely a good deal)!
D
Deleted member 23235
Guest
$653 according to this calculator... https://www.saving.org/inflation/inflation.php?amount=100
Ronaldo
Bionic Poster
Yes, easilyDo you think you got your $200 worth
r2473
G.O.A.T.
Do you think you got your $200 worth
I don't know man. You could have used that $200 to buy the equivalent of $700 worth of blow and hookers I'm told.
Moveforwardalways
Hall of Fame
You have to factor in inflation though. In 18 years, a yearly membership might run $100 per year. That $750 back in 2019 will look like a steal.
No way that price is worth it especially as UTR is starting to gain traction, Ultimate tennis or Grand Prix are all option
CosmosMpower
Hall of Fame
USTA sucks as a whole, I hope UTR swallows them up
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