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Best firewall for sales staff

kjd

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What's the best firewall to keep these pesky Marriott sales folks at bay? The phone calls usually start about two weeks before you're checking in. Usually by someone who's going to "help" you with all of your tours and restaurant recommendations. They spend more time trying to get you to attend a presentation.

At the checkin process you're usually told to see the concierge who then wants to take up your time convincing you to attend a presentation. After you get to your unit there is usually a message from someone from the sales office followed up later by a phone call to see if "everything is all right". I never get these calls when staying at a Marriott hotel.

I've tried to use the explanation that I'm not interested in buying another timeshare but the calls keep coming. They say I don't really understand the program and that they can give me an "update". What a joke!

Thanks to some of the posts on TUG I think I've stumbled on something that seems to stop or shorten the calls considerably. Instead of saying "I'm not interested" I have started to use the "I don't do presentations because it interferes with my valuable vacation time", or words to that effect.

I was wondering how others handle these annoying intrusions into their vacation time. A creative solution to the problem. There have been reports from several resorts about salespersons conduct that borders on harassment. i've experienced it not only from Marriott but also from other timeshare companies. It's one of the downsides of being a timeshare owner I guess.
 

ronparise

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I hope the Wyndham people dont read this...Phone calls 2 weeks before!!! WoW!

All salespeople know that the prospect for a new sale is an old customer, so its not surprising that they come after us. I have found that the best thing to do is to just say just say no....

These guys are good, and they have heard and practiced for every objection that you can throw at them. Anything short of a no is just another objection to be overcome

If you say no, and mean it and they understand it. that ought to be the end of it. They dont want to waste time either
 

Pens_Fan

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Tell them that you'd really like to but you were just laid off from your job.

Since the vacation was already paid for in advance (at least the timeshare and plane tickets (if appropriate)), you decided to go through with it, but it wouldn't make much sense to waste their time with a presentation when you wouldn't be able to purchase.
 

Old Hickory

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I never have a problem with sales people or their calls. I understand their business and I'm always polite to them.

If I were you (with the issues you speak of), I would seek out a sales manager and ask them how you can remedy the problem(s).
 

sparty

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I never have a problem with sales people or their calls. I understand their business and I'm always polite to them.

If I were you (with the issues you speak of), I would seek out a sales manager and ask them how you can remedy the problem(s).


Yes - I had conversation about this with one of the most senior sales person on Marriott's staff. He told me there is actually a blacklist they have which they are willing (happy??) to do.

So if you really want to try to stop calls - I would suggest calling either the vacation owner advisor or contact customer advocacy with the request.

Let us know what they say and do.
 

Mamianka

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What's the best firewall to keep these pesky Marriott sales folks at bay? The phone calls usually start about two weeks before you're checking in. Usually by someone who's going to "help" you with all of your tours and restaurant recommendations. They spend more time trying to get you to attend a presentation.

At the checkin process you're usually told to see the concierge who then wants to take up your time convincing you to attend a presentation. After you get to your unit there is usually a message from someone from the sales office followed up later by a phone call to see if "everything is all right". I never get these calls when staying at a Marriott hotel.

I've tried to use the explanation that I'm not interested in buying another timeshare but the calls keep coming. They say I don't really understand the program and that they can give me an "update". What a joke!

Thanks to some of the posts on TUG I think I've stumbled on something that seems to stop or shorten the calls considerably. Instead of saying "I'm not interested" I have started to use the "I don't do presentations because it interferes with my valuable vacation time", or words to that effect.

I was wondering how others handle these annoying intrusions into their vacation time. A creative solution to the problem. There have been reports from several resorts about salespersons conduct that borders on harassment. i've experienced it not only from Marriott but also from other timeshare companies. It's one of the downsides of being a timeshare owner I guess.


My husband usually leaves this chore to me . . usually I am very polite but VERY firm (have to use the retired choral director voice . . ) - I tell that that we NEVER EVER want to go to a sales meeting again - ever. One particular person still persisted - I told her that I would let her know right after I checked the Weather Channel - the sweet thing must have thought that I was deciding to recant if the local weather was going to be bad - I told her, no - I was checking to see if Hell had frozen yet.

We still get the annoying message about daily activities. I had to tell them to stop those, too. Enough already . . .

M - in a particularly cranky mood today - even for ME . . however, DH is downstairs making a me a cappuccino - mood should rapidly improve.
 

BocaBoy

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The sales tactics and intrusions vary greatly by resort. Please do not generalize like all are the same. I have been at resorts that call the room every day, but at the Maui Ocean Club we have never gotten a sales call in our villa. They ask you in a very low pressure way when you get your welcome packet if you would like to sign up and that is it. My impression is that they have no trouble filling up their slots, which may not be the case at other resorts.
 

NJMOM2

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How about, if the black list doesn't work, you make an appointment with the first person who calls that is for the last full day of your vacation? Then the morning of the meeting or the day before you call them back and say some friends are unexpectively meeting up with you that day and you have to cancel. That way they will not haunt you to make an appointment & when you cancel it will be too late to make another appointment.
 

griffinhouse

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Generally we don't have a problem with the sales staff. If we don't want to do one we simply tell them no and that is the end of it. However, when on our last vacation I simply unplugged the phone. Took care of any sales calls but also took care of the persistent blinking red light. So much better!!
 

KathyPet

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I definitely think it varies by resort. At our last stay as St. Kitts and Grand Ocean (we own at both) we did not receive a single call.
 

brigechols

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I tell them that my husband did not join us on the trip and that ends the request to attend a sales presentation.
 

windje2000

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I tell them that my husband did not join us on the trip and that ends the request to attend a sales presentation.

+1

"Unwilling" or "unavailable" spouse works like magic. Also gets you off the callback list.
 

paluamalia

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No Appointment Yet???

We got a welcome call yesterday to see if "everything was OK". I was expecting a request for an appointment in the sales office, but no request. We've been here for 2 days and no requests yet!!!
I was kind of hoping for a free round of golf....
We are exchangers and have only done one other presentation with Marriott in Maui 2 years ago, so I don't think we are on a blacklist.
 

mrrick

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Generally we don't have a problem with the sales staff. If we don't want to do one we simply tell them no and that is the end of it. However, when on our last vacation I simply unplugged the phone. Took care of any sales calls but also took care of the persistent blinking red light. So much better!!

Unplugging the phone has always been 100% effective for me. Anyone you'd want calling you already has your cell number.
 

ciscogizmo1

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Well... I never answer the phone at the resort nor do I pick up messages. People who want to get a hold me usually do through texting or calling my cell. Second, at home when they start calling I have caller ID and it works wonders. I was totally against caller id because of the monthly fee but then, when I started getting 10 calls a day and I'd be running to my phone to answer it and it would be a telemarketer. I decided to get caller id and I love it. Mine is voice activated and tells me who is calling so I don't even have to look at the phone. So, I know when Marriott is calling me and I just let it go to voicemail and I don't call back. Good luck!!!
 

dioxide45

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The problem is that the person signing you up isn't a salesperson. Their job is to get you to go. When they do that, they get a commission. They don't care if want to go or not, they don't very often check to make sure you are eligible. They get more money in their paycheck when you sign up.

My issue is that these people are often disguised as a concierge, and I wonder who is paying their base salary. Is it the Marriott sales division or the HOA? I would sure hope that that any bonus they get paid for signing people up comes from the sales division.
 

windje2000

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The problem is that the person signing you up isn't a salesperson. Their job is to get you to go. When they do that, they get a commission. They don't care if want to go or not, they don't very often check to make sure you are eligible. They get more money in their paycheck when you sign up.

My issue is that these people are often disguised as a concierge, and I wonder who is paying their base salary. Is it the Marriott sales division or the HOA? I would sure hope that that any bonus they get paid for signing people up comes from the sales division.

I asked one about this. They only get paid if you attend - signing up and subsequently cancelling does nothing for them. That answer was 'off the record.'

Their title is concierge - it isn't a disguise. Their primary role is getting butts in the seats in the sales office. The balance of their 'concierge' role is employed to get you to open the door to your villa.

I sure hope I'm not paying MF for them.
 

dioxide45

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I asked one about this. They only get paid if you attend - signing up and subsequently cancelling does nothing for them. That answer was 'off the record.'

Their title is concierge - it isn't a disguise. Their primary role is getting butts in the seats in the sales office. The balance of their 'concierge' role is employed to get you to open the door to your villa.

I sure hope I'm not paying MF for them.

You are correct, I didn't go far enough in my post, they only get paid if you show up for the tour. It is all about butts in the door.
 

rthib

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....
My issue is that these people are often disguised as a concierge, and I wonder who is paying their base salary. Is it the Marriott sales division or the HOA? I would sure hope that that any bonus they get paid for signing people up comes from the sales division.

The ones I a have used at Canyon Villas are actually pretty good concierges, getting me some passes to car auction, found us a great out of the way restaurant and some other help.

I have never had an intrusion, if you don't want them to keep calling just return the first call or stop by the desk and say you are not interested.
If they call again I am sure a quick call to front desk will end it.
 

jlepstein1

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They didn't want to talk to us this time

Checked into Ocean Pointe on an exchange this week. We have owned 2 weeks for many years and purchased a third week back in October (resale). When I stopped by the "concierge" to pick up my "gift" the young lady working there asked if we wanted to set up an appointment with the sales team. I asked about the incentive and she told us it was 17,500 MRP or $125. Not bad. But when she asked for my name and looked me up she told me that they could not meet with us because our most recent purchase had been less than 4 months ago. I told her that I had owned my other two weeks for more than 10 years and had enrolled them about a year ago. She rechecked with the sales manager and was told that we were not eligible. Needless to say, I was disappointed. On the other hand, my wife was quite pleased, since she hates to sit through these presentations in order to get $100 in free meals. Next week we will be at Beachplace, also on an exchange. It will be interesting to see if the Ocean Ponte purchase disqualifies us from attending a Beachplace presentation.
 

kjd

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Don't worry about Beachplace. That lobby is so small that the sales guy pounces out from behind his desk and goes into his schpeill before you'll have a chance to get away. When you refuse he'll argue with you.
 

gblotter

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When visiting Maui Ocean Club, the sales tour invitations are not obtrusive. The presentations themselves are very low pressure, and we usually attend for the MRP incentives.

At Ko Olina, the sales tour invitations are more aggressive, and the presentations are quite high-pressure. They won't take no for an answer and they stretch the truth when it suits their purpose. And the presentations usually drag on more than the required 90 minutes. I love Ko Olina, but hate their sales organization.

When visiting Mountainside, we never get a sales tour invitation. Marriott doesn't even have a sales office at Mountainside, so that is likely the reason. I think there might be a sales office at Summit Watch, but we never hear from them.

I have a new tactic for ending a sales presentation. I tell them that I would be happy to enroll in the Destinations Club if they will also enroll my three weeks purchased after June 2010. They have nothing to say at that point.
 
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