Anyone bought into Global Connections, Inc? (june 2009)

[lreinke]

I recently attended a presentation at Global United Travel for a travel club through Global Connections, inc. Does anyone have a membership with them or had any experiences?

 

[Karen G]

this has been discussed before

This company has been discussed before.

 

[lreinke]

It was discussed in 2007. Most of the people that responded had either just purchased or had recently been contacted by the company or a related company. I was wondering if anyone has been using the services since then and, if so, how happy were they with their purchase?

 

[Dave M]

If you decide to join after reading the linked thread and doing the Google search suggested, please don't say you weren't warned! The reason [Karen] referred you to that link should be obvious when you go through that process.

There are a number of different companies that make the same type of offering or that change their names, but the result is almost always the same.

 

[Dave M]

Also, you have received good advice in your other thread about this company and their sales pitch. Please don't buy!

 

[lreinke]

Thank you for your help and insight.

 

[hot2trot]

Two diferent company names here - is this the same?

Karen:

You say this company has been discussed before and had a link to another discussion. The link was discussing GLOBAL VACATION NETWORK. The question above was for GLOBAL Connections Inc. Is this two different companies, or one and the same. Just because it has the word GLobal in it doesn't mean they are connected. It is confusing because I see these companies referred to interchangably. Does anyone know what the relationship is if any? I am particularly interested in Global Connections, Inc. They are opening up a sales office in Southern California and I was thinking about going to work for them. If this outfit is as bad as Shell Vacations, I want to stay away from them.

 

[DeniseM]

I am particularly interested in Global Connections, Inc. They are opening up a sales office in Southern California and I was thinking about going to work for them.

My son - turn away from the dark side!

 

[Bill4728]

I recently attended a presentation at Global United Travel for a travel club through Global Connections, inc. Does anyone have a membership with them or had any experiences?

Karen:

You say this company has been discussed before and had a link to another discussion. The link was discussing GLOBAL VACATION NETWORK. The question above was for GLOBAL Connections Inc. Is this two different companies, or one and the same.


I am particularly interested in Global Connections, Inc. They are opening up a sales office in Southern California and I was thinking about going to work for them. If this outfit is as bad as Shell Vacations, I want to stay away from them.

It appears that Global Connections, Inc. is trying to sell the "Global United Travel" a travel club. Most people here will tell you that travel clubs (where you buy a membership in a club and receive discount travel) is not agood deal at all. At least with a TS, even if you overpaid, you have something real, The travel club memberships are IMHO all hype.

 

[Makai Guy]

Thread on another form re: Global United Travel

http://www.topix.com/forum/city/crystal-lake-il/TRD7IUNVHIRBE09VD

Sounds like just another of the so-called Vacation Clubs that keep popping up under different names all the time.

Note that many of the posts supporting the company sound like they were written by the same person.

 

[toby9116]

Karen:

You say this company has been discussed before and had a link to another discussion. The link was discussing GLOBAL VACATION NETWORK. The question above was for GLOBAL Connections Inc. Is this two different companies, or one and the same. Just because it has the word GLobal in it doesn't mean they are connected. It is confusing because I see these companies referred to interchangably. Does anyone know what the relationship is if any? I am particularly interested in Global Connections, Inc. They are opening up a sales office in Southern California and I was thinking about going to work for them. If this outfit is as bad as Shell Vacations, I want to stay away from them.

GLOBAL VACATION NETWORK and Global Connections, Inc. are either the same or so intertwined you can not tell the difference. Sales tactics are HIGH pressure (what is new?). I do not know about their trade-in policy. I did not participate in that program. What I know is I send them my $730 and they send me toa one bedroom ocean front Hawaii for two weeks. And if we have guests coming for an additional $175/ week we get a two bedroom.
I do not think it is a bad deal.

 

[smarttravel]

100% Legitimate

I recently attended a presentation at Global United Travel for a travel club through Global Connections, inc. Does anyone have a membership with them or had any experiences?

Global Connections Inc. is 100% legitimate. I have been a member for 10 years now. We just got back from staying at the Wyndham Emerald Beach Resort & Spa in Panama City Beach, FL. We stayed in a 2 bedroom ocean front condo on the 21st floor with an amazing panoramic view. The place retailed for $1,816 had I paid retail. However, through my global membership I paid $119 fee and not a dime tax. That's not a $119 a night, but $119 for the entire week.

Here is a little information I gathered about Global from a news magazine called Resort Trades. Global has over 150,000 members; they pay an optional renewal fee of $389 once a year, if they choose. Do the math 150,000 members x $389 = 58,350,000 annually just in renewal fees, that does not include the initial up front fee. So it was reported the company had 79 million in 2008. That's a lot of buying power. This explains how the company can allow its members to vacation for a mere booking fee of $119 that covers them for 8-day, 7-night stays in places that would otherwise cost upwards $2,000 to $3,000 for one week stay. It's all in the numbers. Their property management and financial investment team can do a lot with 79 million. It allows them to continue to maintain the properties they currently own as well as purchase and building of newer and better resorts.

We love Global. We spent our 5th year anniversary at White Oaks Resort & Lodge in a 2 bedroom cabin in Gatlinburg, TN http://www.whiteoaklodgeandresort.com/great-taste-video.asp . Once again an entire week cost us $119. So when I read these articles over the internet that say Global is a rip off, I wonder who is writing these articles. It has been my observation that most of them are people who sat through the presentation, got a complementary gift and found out that it was exactly that a complementary gift. Which means it's not free, but complementary, requiring certain terms and conditions in order to receive the gift. If someone wants a free vacation, go to the park. It cost something to take real vacations.

Suggestion, don't believe everything you read on the internet. If we did Barack Obama wouldn't be president. Research and more importantly interview first hand testimonies. Find someone who has what you want and ask them if they like what they have. Don't we do this with cars, homes, household appliances, etc...?

I had a friend set through a high powered time share presentation by Wyndham, formerly Fairfield. He told me they wanted $30,000 for a time share unit that would cost him an additional $1,000 each year in maintenance fees. Of course, they didn't tell him that had he purchased he would also be obligated to pay property taxes and assessment fees. Compare that to a Global membership where you pay just a 10th of the 30K timeshare and the decision is clear.

Now here is our testimony. We booked six condos last year, two ocean front condos in Kauai, HI, one 2-BR ocean front condo in Panama City Beach, FL, one 2BR cabin in Gatlinburg, TN and two water front condos in Port Clinton, OH. Our total cost was $965 all taxes and fees included!!! Had we paid retail cost it would have been $11,776.

If you are a person that watches your money closely and want to make a good vacation investment, look no further, global is a great deal.

 

[ScoopKona]

Can't the shills be a little more creative?

I think it would be amazing if someone ran up a post-count of a few hundred, THEN starting shilling for the timeshare/vacation club developers. These 3-posts-and-out wonders are really rather lame.


In the meantime, care to explain why there are hundreds of pages for "Global Connections Scam?"

http://www.google.com/#hl=en&safe=off&q=global+connections+scam&start=0&sa=N&fp=ded84f456cbbcaf1


Betcha 50 cents he comes back with a "no, really, it's all legit, honest and for true" reply....

 

[smarttravel]

Global is not a perfect company

Karen:

You say this company has been discussed before and had a link to another discussion. The link was discussing GLOBAL VACATION NETWORK. The question above was for GLOBAL Connections Inc. Is this two different companies, or one and the same. Just because it has the word GLobal in it doesn't mean they are connected. It is confusing because I see these companies referred to interchangably. Does anyone know what the relationship is if any? I am particularly interested in Global Connections, Inc. They are opening up a sales office in Southern California and I was thinking about going to work for them. If this outfit is as bad as Shell Vacations, I want to stay away from them.

Global is not a perfect company, but then there are no perfect company's. Legitimate? dah! Yes, I own a membership. Stayed at the Wyndham Emerald Beach Resort & Spa May 23-30, 2009. For some people seeing is believing. Link to our accomodations: http://www.wyndham.com/hotels/PFNHT/main.wnt?cha=

Global Connections, Inc. is the fulfillment company. GVN (Global Vacation Network) GDV (Global Discovery Vacations) are distributors of the product. Their are about 30 in all and growing. An article in a recent Resort Trades magazine showed 50% of respondents said they had no preference between a legacy and low-fair air carrier. Consumers care more about the price of the air ticket than the carrier. Translate this to the timeshare industry and it becomes obvious that price is what matters. If a consumer can purchase a timeshare from the developer for $20,000 or a similar product on the resale market for $5000 or $6,000... why wouldn't they? That's the Global way, although Global is not a timeshare. It's owns a larger number of its own properties with access to thousands more as a full service travel agency.

 

[ecwinch]

I wonder how long a company can operate when they rent out their timeshares for 15% of the annual m/f and/or less than the exchange fee.

If each member only takes one vacation a year:

150,000 @ 1000 = 150,000,000 against the 58,350,000 they will take in ($389 + $119 fee).

With the out of pocket losses on those deals, I guess they will make it up in volume. That must be a dynamic business model with tremendous long-term viability.

Since SmartTraveller has so much detail on this "tremendous" offer, perhaps he can fill in those details.

 

[ScoopKona]

Since SmartTraveller has so much detail on this "tremendous" offer, perhaps he can fill in those details.

It's kind of like the First Citywide Bank for Change skits on SNL. Of course, that business model made a lot more financial sense.

http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/first-citywide-change-bank/229045/


I wish someone has taken me up on my wager. Next, he'll reply with a lot of made-up (and unverifiable) data showing exactly how the company is legit, profitable, and able to put any traveler at any resort, anytime. I'll bet another 50 cents (or a free Vacation Certificate to the Leaky Lake Lodge, on the charming banks of the Mosquito River, in beautiful Heatwave, Florida.)

 

[Dragoth]

[Advertising in the forums is not permitted, and stating that you have a TS for sale is advertising. Please consider using the free TUG Marketplace. - DeniseM Moderator]

 

[Dragoth]

Nevermind.....

 

[Rose Pink]

It's kind of like the First Citywide Bank for Change skits on SNL. Of course, that business model made a lot more financial sense.

http://www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/first-citywide-change-bank/229045/

That was a great video. I don't stay up late enough to watch SNL anymore. I wonder if Citywide Bank for Change has branches in my neighborhood?

 

[ScoopKona]

I don't stay up late enough to watch SNL anymore. )

The occasional political humor skit aside, you're not missing much.

That clip was from the Phil Hartman days, more than 15 years old.

Sam Vivian of Mad Magazine once said, "Mad was at it's best whenever you first starting reading it."

I think it's the same with SNL.

 

[Karen G]

That was a great video.

That was always one of my favorite SNL videos. Thanks for posting it.

 

[Tesla]

Globan Connection Inc.

This company is just a rude business unfortunately, we see more often of these in US. They will take any advantage possible to collect money from you even if you think they will not. For example, they say after you pay your membership you will pay annual charge of $360 only if you use their service. As a matter of fact you will be charged regardless every year even thou you do not plan you vacation. What they provide to you is just what anyone can get from number of web sites and searches on your own. They charge thousands of dollars for membership but will give you only pain every month when you have to pay large sum of money. If you want to settle, an exit from this contract which is just a piece of scrap you will pay a lot of money and probably you need to hire a lawyer since they will report you to credit history agency. Stay away from these people.

 

[ScoopKona]

The truth slowly emerges.

I wonder when another shill will show up to dispute Tesla's report. I'm sure it won't be long. I bet Global Connections staff has this thread bookmarked.

 

[Dragoth]

I can only speak from the experiences that I have had with this company. (I am making the assumption it is the same one I currently own) It's not a timeshare per se, (although I will admit that when I went to the presentation they stated it was, and that it was actually deeded property that I would get a deed for when it was paid in full, that was simply not true.) It is a Vacation Club, although I never knew that until I mentioned the company to another time share presenter in Vegas and they had heard of it and knew what it was.

I have never had any real experience with any other time share, other than the two presentations I have attended. Although a friend has a 'points' in one that I have discussed briefly with him. I wish I had known about that program when I was in the market to buy, because I take more vacations that are weekend getaways than ones that are week long (which is the only way to book a vacation with my current club).

I can say that if you don't use the package that you are not required to pay the yearly activity fee. I have gone many months past my renewal without paying. When I want to use it, I have to pay the activity fee then.

I have been nothing but satisfied with it, but obviously experiences vary, I'm sure anyone can find someone that wasn't happy with a particular timeshare company.

And no, I'm no 'shill' and I am not disputing anything as it seems this company has many sub-division's and not all seem to be 'honest'. I guess I have been lucky to be with one of the legit ones. The company I am with is BBB accredited and has an A+ rating since 2002, for what it's worth. (I will gladly give more direct information via private messages if you so request).

I believe the presentation I originally attended was being provided directly by Global Connections Inc. and not by another company claiming to sell for them, but it has been so long I can't remember

 

[ChristyK]

Question regarding Request form

Global Connections Inc. is 100% legitimate. I have been a member for 10 years now. We just got back from staying at the Wyndham Emerald Beach Resort & Spa in Panama City Beach, FL. We stayed in a 2 bedroom ocean front condo on the 21st floor with an amazing panoramic view. The place retailed for $1,816 had I paid retail. However, through my global membership I paid $119 fee and not a dime tax. That's not a $119 a night, but $119 for the entire week.

Here is a little information I gathered about Global from a news magazine called Resort Trades. Global has over 150,000 members; they pay an optional renewal fee of $389 once a year, if they choose. Do the math 150,000 members x $389 = 58,350,000 annually just in renewal fees, that does not include the initial up front fee. So it was reported the company had 79 million in 2008. That's a lot of buying power. This explains how the company can allow its members to vacation for a mere booking fee of $119 that covers them for 8-day, 7-night stays in places that would otherwise cost upwards $2,000 to $3,000 for one week stay. It's all in the numbers. Their property management and financial investment team can do a lot with 79 million. It allows them to continue to maintain the properties they currently own as well as purchase and building of newer and better resorts.

We love Global. We spent our 5th year anniversary at White Oaks Resort & Lodge in a 2 bedroom cabin in Gatlinburg, TN http://www.whiteoaklodgeandresort.com/great-taste-video.asp . Once again an entire week cost us $119. So when I read these articles over the internet that say Global is a rip off, I wonder who is writing these articles. It has been my observation that most of them are people who sat through the presentation, got a complementary gift and found out that it was exactly that a complementary gift. Which means it's not free, but complementary, requiring certain terms and conditions in order to receive the gift. If someone wants a free vacation, go to the park. It cost something to take real vacations.

Suggestion, don't believe everything you read on the internet. If we did Barack Obama wouldn't be president. Research and more importantly interview first hand testimonies. Find someone who has what you want and ask them if they like what they have. Don't we do this with cars, homes, household appliances, etc...?

I had a friend set through a high powered time share presentation by Wyndham, formerly Fairfield. He told me they wanted $30,000 for a time share unit that would cost him an additional $1,000 each year in maintenance fees. Of course, they didn't tell him that had he purchased he would also be obligated to pay property taxes and assessment fees. Compare that to a Global membership where you pay just a 10th of the 30K timeshare and the decision is clear.

Now here is our testimony. We booked six condos last year, two ocean front condos in Kauai, HI, one 2-BR ocean front condo in Panama City Beach, FL, one 2BR cabin in Gatlinburg, TN and two water front condos in Port Clinton, OH. Our total cost was $965 all taxes and fees included!!! Had we paid retail cost it would have been $11,776.

If you are a person that watches your money closely and want to make a good vacation investment, look no further, global is a great deal.

The form requires you to choose two destinations and travel dates. Has that ever been an issue for you? Clearly, if you're a working stiff and have to have your vacation time approved in advance, it would be difficult to have to plan for one of two possibilities. Also, what if you had a special event in a certain location on a certain date? Please let me know your experience. I don't believe that every positive comment on this site is disingenuous. Maybe I'm naive...