[Johnny B]

I have been invited to attend  a meeting of the local chapter of the above named organization next week.

Has anyone here had any experience or dealings with them, and if so, how beneficial did you find it?

Thanks in advance,
John

[Arnold Palmer]

Yeah.

Not very.

Met some good people though. And after a year's membership I'm now a fairy good public speaker.

[Lee Pryor]

Total waste of time and money. Good for meeting like minded people but that's about it.

[Arnold Palmer]

I went in 2010. The fate of some of the members:

IFA -company closed by HMRC following some kind of scam.

Printer - gone bust

Employment lawyer - stopped trading

Plasterer - stopped trading

There are of course success stories too, take the window cleaner. He's doing pretty well although he's only got one job that he still does today that he got through BNI, an underpriced fortnightly shop front for his accountant.

[lal]

  Hi Johnny, i  agree with lee's comment above, i was invited to one as a guest here in Galway about 4 years ago,
  the meeting was held once a week in a hotel, 6.30am start, after talking with members to find out stuff, membership
  is paid over the year in instalments, i think it worked out about 1,400 euros a year, which i wasn't impressed with, a small
  amount of members get work from it, the rest struggle to get work, members are all from different trades & professions,
  from solicitors to builders, the point of BNI is networking between members, after the meeting i attended, i spent a couple
  of hours googling BNI to research it, it was started by an American, who's made a fortune out of it, its Global, but the bulk
  of the stuff i read from ex members was negative, the idea sounds great, but its hugely Flawed, SAVE YOUR MONEY.

[Dw]

I saw this post this morning and was about to comment “I’m on my way to one as a visitor right now, i’ll Let you know” but for some reason my account was blocked (no idea why??)

Anyway I attended and I agree, a lot of like minded people and it’s a lot of money by the sounds of it, as someone mentioned above anything can happen to the other companies and then it become a waste of time (even more so)..... oh well, I tried it

[Splash & dash]

I have been invited to attend  a meeting of the local chapter of the above named organization next week.

Has anyone here had any experience or dealings with them, and if so, how beneficial did you find it?

Thanks in advance,
John

Been asked to attend but didn’t bother as hurd bad reports by others so gave it a miss

[Smudger]

Was a member for 2 years - you will only get out of it what you put in - I would never refuse an invite - you have nothing to lose only business to gain !

We built up some great contacts which still come up with work or people they know ringing us up

You do need to be of a certain mindset - embracing what networking can do
Darran

[lal]

Was a member for 2 years - you will only get out of it what you put in - I would never refuse an invite - you have nothing to lose only business to gain !

We built up some great contacts which still come up with work or people they know ringing us up

You do need to be of a certain mindset - embracing what networking can do
Darran

Hi Darran, what happened after 2 years ?

[Smudger]

it gets a little intense after a while and although work was still coming in when looking at the cost and time to other advertising i felt i would get better rewards elsewhere

i still get regular work from the members even tho i'm not in it anymore - but i certainly recommend going for a brekkie meeting even if you don't join up 

Darran