Ok, so we can agree that you paid for a discount?
Can we then agree that what you did, does not constitute a sponsorship?
If I buy a discount membership at Sam's Club,
are they "sponsoring" my house?
My PROBLEM with what they are doing is they are preying on people's feelings ... they are using the magical word "sponsor" to make it sound like something it is not.
In my opinion, as long as they use the word "sponsor" they are commiting fraud.
THAT is a huge deal in my book.
... as for paying for a discount goes, the question is, are they offering parts at a good price? From what I have seen, their prices are not any better than what you could get if you did your own leg work and research.