If you're a Penn Stater, a Centre County resident, or just love craft beers, Otto's in State College has been a landmark and mainstay for over 20 years. Some dedicated fans even went so far as to but "lifetime memberships" with perks like discounts and free birthday entrees.

Now the pub has announced they're unilaterally ending the program in 2024.

I know there are so many bigger problems out there, but this is the kind of petty crusade I need right now.

I get it. When I bought Craftsman Tools, I bought a lifetime guarantee. It's not my fault Sears went bankrupt.

I love a good petty crusade. I got your back!

Note: the Craftsman brand is now owned by Stanley-Black & Decker.

But in this case Sears didn’t go out of business. They just said - “We aren’t going to honor that warranty that we told you would last for your lifetime anymore. You can buy a new less comprehensive warranty every year but you have to pay us for it annually”

My biggest gripe with this situation is that Otto's didn't offer any avenues to mitigate the loss incurred by those with the prior "lifetime" privileges.

I’ve said I’m other places, the food and beer at Ottos is great but customer service has always been poor.

I haven’t seen the back of the “lifetime membership” card, but it did appear there was an attached expiration to it if either your life or 2024.

There stuff is ok, it used to be better and I wish they exhibited some variety. They expanded into distilling and I think spread themselves too thin.

And now the brand is sold at Lowe’s…I wonder if they would honor that guarantee?

Ya know, you’re exactly right and I’ve just never thought of it that way. I was always excited to go then left feeling kinda mixed on the experience. This explains it.

Hmm... Did the terms of this membership have fine print that essentially allowed them to do this? Something like "Terms subject to change any time at owner's discretion."?

It's just a stupid move. Instead of viewing it as a promotion that bought them customer loyalty, they determined it was too costly and decided to alienate their most loyal customers rather than reevaluate their model.

This is a sign of a business on its way out. All they're doing is sending more people to Axemann, Robin Hood, HVBC, and Antifragile.

Craftsman still honors the lifetime warranty

"Lowes will honor all lifetime warranties no matter where the CRAFTSMAN hand tool was purchased. We ask that customers bring in the item, and we'll replace it if we have the product. If we do not have the product, customers can call the Customer Care Hotline (883-331-4569)."

"The wall" music store has entered the chat...

A grandfathering policy for long-time, existing customers with a new annual membership for new club members probably would have been the way to go, with increasing menu prices to stem the losses from the 15% discount. That might also encourage fencesitters to join the club under the new terms.

That CEO bankrupted a few companies I seem to have read.

And my axe!

Now we just have to throw Otto's into Mount Doom! Quick, everyone to New Zealand!

That's what class action lawsuits are for. If the business won't do what's right, sue them.

I remember they’d also sort of be hush-hush about their daily specials. Like I’d hear from a friend that they’d have 1/2 off pizza on Sunday’s. So my wife and I went on a Sunday. Didn’t see this mentioned anywhere on the menu, and the server didn’t mention it, so we had to ask if that was in fact a promotion in order to get the deal.

Then a few years later we went back on a Sunday (would make trips to state college for Trader Joe’s and to have the wife’s ring cleaned at Kranichs etc..) and they said they no longer did that because “they were losing too much money”.

They're half way there! At least they've increased menu prices!

They've already technically ended the "lifetime" program and reduced the amount of pub club benefits. They just gave prior members their 2023 "subscription" for free, as long as they've patronized the establishment in 2022. Everybody else with a pub club card has apparently been stricken from the rolls. Here's their wording from an email:

OTTO'S:

Many of you have had friends and relatives who have asked “when will you begin taking new members again?” Well, we are pleased to announce that beginning January 2, 2023 memberships will be available to “The New Pub Club”. Description of the membership is attached.

 All memberships will renew on an annual basis and will include some new and revised benefits each year.  Some of the adjustments have been made based on requests and comments from current members, others out of operational necessity. For current members who have visited Otto’s in the past 12 months, there will be NO fee for 2023.  Annual fees for memberships will renew in January of each year regardless of the date of original membership purchase.

Not sure why the formatting went wonky...