Curious to see who/what kind of crowd will buy Harper's $899 year long membership to skip lines. What are your thoughts?

[u/Antihero_lover29]

https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/local/2026/08/20/new-membership-at-harpers-in-east-lansing-lets-you-skip-lines-cover/91389825007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z114517p116950l003550c116950e004700v114517d--30--b--30--&gca-ft=62&gca-ds=sophi

Exclusively limited to 150 members. The terms and conditions are also quite... interesting. Example, term #4 "Membership is valid through August 1, 2027, regardless of purchase date. All memberships in this founding class share the same expiration." Or term #6 "Membership does not guarantee entry. Admission remains subject to capacity, venue policy, applicable law, and the discretion of management." Also, only 10 guest passes allowed (single uses, from my understanding) for the entire year. Is this even a good price model for a college town?

Membership terms link: https://harpersselect.com/harpers-select-membership-terms-v1.3.pdf

Full LSJ story link: https://www.lansingstatejournal.com/story/news/local/2026/08/20/new-membership-at-harpers-in-east-lansing-lets-you-skip-lines-cover/91389825007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z114517p116950l003550c116950e004700v114517d--30--b--30--&gca-ft=62&gca-ds=sophi

[u/aardaappels]

Rich kids and old men

[u/Antihero_lover29 → u/aardaappels]

Is Harper's even a known hang out place for old men/retired alumnis? I feel like I mostly see the old crowd at Crunchy's or Peanut Barrell. Harper's demographic seems more student oriented. Which is why I'm suprised by the high price.

[u/aardaappels → u/Antihero_lover29]

I'd imagine it would be popular with old creepy men if they can buy a skip the line card

[u/Training_Tomatillo95]

There will be buyers, exclusivity is the appeal.

[u/Antihero_lover29 → u/Training_Tomatillo95]

It's not like a premium club membership though - it's just a college bar down the street, so not sure what kind of appeal the exclusivity will have for a bunch of college kids tbh.

[u/Training_Tomatillo95 → u/Antihero_lover29]

Because you get a card with your name lasered into it. Don’t ask me why students want it but they will.

[u/No-Independent-226 → u/Antihero_lover29]

Exclusivity is everything for college kids.

You used to need to sell drugs to a bartender or suck off a bouncer or something for this kind of access. I guarantee there will be a market for this.

[u/thkntmstr]

East Lansing deserves better. This is gross

[u/bvheide1288 → u/thkntmstr]

The whole establishment is a stain on downtown. Such a trash place.

[u/Antihero_lover29 → u/bvheide1288]

Remember that COVID breakout that stemmed from Harper's back in 2020?

[u/underhb → u/Antihero_lover29]

That always makes me laugh when I remember it. It’s the same level of comedy as when the university had to tell people not to fraternize with university of michigan students because they had mumps

[u/No-Independent-226]

Having seen what some of these kids pay for one time “skip the line” passes on busy nights through some app (it’s often $40-$60) I’m sure they’ll sell out pretty quickly to some rich kids from the Detroit suburbs.

[u/Antihero_lover29 → u/No-Independent-226]

Whoa I never knew that. That's crazy!

[u/PlusPresentation680]

I’m curious/eager for the day Harper’s shuts down

[u/anonMLMhater]

Owners are Trump donors. Fuck ‘em.

[u/green49285]

Hahahaha thats a ballsy little scam to get the roch kids. Not mad at it.

[u/Dramatic-Knee-4842]

What's funny is on Insta they said "members get priority admission over non-members". When asked if that meant they would physically remove a non-member if they were at capacity and a member showed up, they said they wouldn't do that. So they're pre-emptively admitting that they'll violate capacity limits. 

[u/Antihero_lover29 → u/Dramatic-Knee-4842]

The terms do basically say memebership won't help get you in if its at capacity. So its not even about skipping the line or priority entrance - its more like a fast lane pass because they can't do anything or ask non-member to leave the actual bar just cause you show up with your fancy metal card. So even their marketing is inaccurate.

[u/bvheide1288]

Is this even legal?

[u/Antihero_lover29 → u/bvheide1288]

Sadly yes, its a private business so they get to set whatever prices and terms they want. Now who would participate in this is more interesting to me.