Richardsdeals
TUG Member
I went to my first "owners update" ever today. We are at Old Town Alexandria on fall break with the family. Here are some observations:
1) Sweepstakes: We were offered a $75 AMEX Gift Card, $100 Restaurant Gift Card or a chance to win up to $1000 AMEX Gift Card. The "chance to win" was a draw from a group of cards, with the lowest being $50. Of course, you have to go to the presentation to find out which one you draw. I got suckered into the sweepstakes......and we ended up with $50.
2) "We just want your feedback". Of course the pitch was the Owners Update was nothing like other resorts. We were told we could sign ourselves in and out. A group presentation. Only 45 minutes.
In reality, we never saw a sign up list. We were never asked for our feedback about the resort. We were in a group with one other owner, then paired with an agent for the sell. I had to say no very clearly multiple times to get out....over an hour later. Not too bad from stories of 2 hr+ pitches I have read about.
3) "If I throw out enough numbers to confuse you, you will eventually give me all your money." Okay, the sales guy did not say that. But, he threw out so many configurations it was crazy. He tried his best. Here is what it costs retail......oh, here is a foreclosure for a discount......oh, here is how you can get a bunch of points using PIC and basically work the system for only $12K....
4) "You won't even spend $12K....then you are dead to me." Okay, he didn't say that either......but I am still laughing at how quickly things turned when we gave a firm "no". All the different configurations he presented me with to "take home and consider" were snatched up from in front of me, he went from chatty to getting up and showing us the door and then wouldn't even look us in the eyes when we saw him in the lobby later. I laughed.
So, there you have it. I don't think I will ever get my wife to go to another presentation. She was still in shock hours later how the sales guy went from "our best friend" to "jerk" in 10 seconds. I don't think I will waste any more vacation time on one either.
1) Sweepstakes: We were offered a $75 AMEX Gift Card, $100 Restaurant Gift Card or a chance to win up to $1000 AMEX Gift Card. The "chance to win" was a draw from a group of cards, with the lowest being $50. Of course, you have to go to the presentation to find out which one you draw. I got suckered into the sweepstakes......and we ended up with $50.
2) "We just want your feedback". Of course the pitch was the Owners Update was nothing like other resorts. We were told we could sign ourselves in and out. A group presentation. Only 45 minutes.
In reality, we never saw a sign up list. We were never asked for our feedback about the resort. We were in a group with one other owner, then paired with an agent for the sell. I had to say no very clearly multiple times to get out....over an hour later. Not too bad from stories of 2 hr+ pitches I have read about.
3) "If I throw out enough numbers to confuse you, you will eventually give me all your money." Okay, the sales guy did not say that. But, he threw out so many configurations it was crazy. He tried his best. Here is what it costs retail......oh, here is a foreclosure for a discount......oh, here is how you can get a bunch of points using PIC and basically work the system for only $12K....
4) "You won't even spend $12K....then you are dead to me." Okay, he didn't say that either......but I am still laughing at how quickly things turned when we gave a firm "no". All the different configurations he presented me with to "take home and consider" were snatched up from in front of me, he went from chatty to getting up and showing us the door and then wouldn't even look us in the eyes when we saw him in the lobby later. I laughed.
So, there you have it. I don't think I will ever get my wife to go to another presentation. She was still in shock hours later how the sales guy went from "our best friend" to "jerk" in 10 seconds. I don't think I will waste any more vacation time on one either.