This post was written by Leslie Day

Welcome to Ask AP529 where YOU get to utilize OUR brain wrinkles to find answers to your most burning BTS questions. This question comes from Stefne of the AP529 Admin team. She asks: 

Can you do a deep dive on Weverse memberships?

Answer: Absolutely!

Okay, let’s start as if you became ARMY yesterday and you’re seeking a Weverse membership. What are the membership options that currently exist?

If you log into Weverse, click the shop button and it should open in a new tab. Once you’re in the BTS shop, click on “products” and then the “Membership” tab. (I am doing/showing this from a laptop, but it works the same on the phone app, the placement is just different).

If you’re in the US shop, the only option you can see is the $22 membership which gets you access to raffles, pre-sale concert tickets, and media drops “for members only”.

This is all that is available on all three stores now: Global, US, and Japan. If you are under the Global or Japan tabs, you can still see the old Membership: Merch Pack options, though it’s marked as discontinued.

Photo caption: If you don’t know how to change shops and currency, you can use the toggles at the top of the page.

So, if you're a new ARMY, purchasing a membership is an easy endeavor. Pay $22 (or the equivalent in your currency) and you get access to:

• Special media drops in Weverse (which you find under “Media”, see below)

• Entry into special raffles and events (signed posters, pop-ups, fan calls, music showcases, etc,)

• Raffles for pre-sale concert tickets

• And a membership kit (though you have to pay for shipping).

I have utilized and enjoyed all these benefits–including a code to get D-Day Concert tickets–though I have never won a raffle.

Seems straight forward, right?

Not if you’re an older ARMY.

If you purchased the now discontinued membership package for $150 (USD) that included four membership boxes per year (not including shipping) and you were allowed to have memberships under all three stores (Global, US, and Japan), you may be left with too many or not enough “credits” for all Merch Boxes depending on if you did or didn’t renew your membership in time. (See the bottom of the page for pictures of each merch box, most of which can still be purchased if you’re willing to pay on E-bay.)

There have been eighteen merch packs released since the inception of the merch pack membership (2021). The last 8 have been celebrating OT7 and the members’ solo projects. I accidentally bought both a US and a Global membership when the yearly renewal notifications came out in 2022 (I had just purchased my US membership) and got confused as a baby ARMY. When I figured out that there were three different “stores” I didn’t mind, because I was able to obtain the older Merch Boxes that were released before I became ARMY. (I wanted the Merch Box 1 poncho so much and I checked and waited, and checked, and waited and I was finally successful!).

Between June and October of 2024, there were a series of notifications/updates stating that the Merch Box membership was going to be discontinued. I was lucky as I had just renewed my Global membership. I ordered my 4th allotment in the US shop with Merch Box 15, Yoongi’s D-Day pack. That meant I could get 4 more with my new Global membership and complete my photo train that the seven Merch Boxes create with the inclusions.

But others were not so lucky. Many did not re-up their memberships and could not get Tae’s Merch Box (17) which sold out quickly, and is now discontinued. And there are still #19 and #20, which are coming in December 2024.

So, I think the confusion comes in with those who want the complete set of member Merch Boxes and can no longer purchase that type of membership package.

What does this mean for the future of Membership Packs?

There is a bit of speculation, but nothing is known for certain. Here are the questions I still have:

• Will merch boxes be on sale later for all membership holders for a price (+ shipping)?

• This would enable people to purchase Membership Boxes they weren’t able to get, but still desire to have.

• Will there be more than the announced 20 Merch Boxes? (Will there be more in the future?)

• What will happen to those people with Merch Box credits left over?

There are no answers yet. I’m sure that Weverse/HYBE have answers to these questions, and new notifications are coming. Feel free to speculate in the comments, though.

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CREDITS

Weverse, my brain wrinkles, Doc of AP529 Admin