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Could not get unit key until we got the parking pass

I'm the nice guy. I say ok, put me down for the morning of my last day. Do you have anything before 6?
 
If checkin days are Fri, Sat and/or Sun ... they only do the owners' update Sat, Sun, Mon, Tues, Wed MORNINGS with a few follow ups on the last morning (supervisors & agents who got sales). If there is a normal checkin day of Sunday ... Thursday becomes the follow up day.
 
What a pitiful ploy to get attendance at an "owner's update," which is just another timeshare sales pitch.
 
You could always agree to go to the presentation and then not show up.;)
They try this, ask for $20 good faith deposit, so you will show up. DH said it is a $20 rip off but we canceled and they said next time we don't have to pay. There is no next time sir!
My sweet Mother, told them at A timeshare, I am in my 80s why would I want another timeshare, how much longer do you think I will live? Never bothered her again.
I just tell them I am enjoying all the perks of my timeshare now, I'm on vacation, give me my pass please? Thank you! We usually get caught up in presentation stuff if we both check in DH waits in the car!
Silentg
 
My approach at the body-snatcher desk (when I am stuck visiting it) is something like this when we get to the "schedule a time for an update" part:

"Well, that was a great pitch---I bet your conversion rate is near the top of the office. Have you been doing lead generation long? Thinking about getting onto the sales floor itself? I think you'd be good at it. Well, since I know you're paid based on hitting your targets, I'll let you move on to someone who might say yes and quit wasting your time with me. Good luck!"
 
When we did a Christmas week stay at Powhatan Plantation in Williamsburg several years ago (I do not recommend this place for many reasons!), we had to get our parking pass from the other desk. We'd gotten there a full day after we'd planned to because of an epic storm. It was after 10 pm on Christmas Eve, and my husband and three young kids were in the car.

They began pestering me about attending a presentation/breakfast and I immediately said no. They didn't let up, I strongly said no, that I had three young kids in the car, and they continued. Then my husband finally came in to see what the hold-up was. I finally got the parking pass and we went to our room. It was a pain! (We ended up checking out the next day anyway because the room was just not what we expected and was not where we wanted to spend the holiday.) This was before we bought our own timeshare and were using my brother-in-law's. We asked him to complain to RCI about it. It was ridiculous.

At Flamingo Beach Resort in St. Martin, they had their activities booking desk and TS presentation desk together, so if you went there to get help with island activities, they'd pester you to attend the breakfast. We told the woman we'd never buy from a resort, only on the resale market (our second TS closing/transfer is almost complete!). She said no problem, you can still get breakfast and activity discounts. We initially agreed and then it rained for 1.5 days. When the weather cleared, we wanted to get out and hit the beaches, not deal with a TS presentation of any kind, and we canceled. She called us 2-3 times a day, even on our anniversary. We told her we'd changed our minds, we were going out for our anniversary, and we got the cold shoulder for a few days after that. We had to pass by her desk if leaving the resort through the lobby!

At my most recent stay at the Alpen Club in Bavaria, the manager was there when we checked in on a Saturday afternoon and invited me and my friend to breakfast Monday morning. We said we'd think about it, and they put us down for 9:30. We waited until the next day to tell them we wouldn't be available, and they left us alone. They gave us great service the entire visit, even scheduling a doctor appointment with an English-speaking doc for me when I got sick.

I think it varies greatly by brand and location. In Orlando (twice), the Bahamas and St. Croix, there was no mention of a presentation. Williamsburg, both times, there was. It's just something we have to deal with and firmly decline, requesting a manager or complaining to corporate or doing reviews that warn others to say no immediately. Goes with the territory, but it really is annoying about the parking pass! It's outrageous with the room key!

We're going to a Wyndham in Hawaii in April and won't have a car when we check in, so I hope they don't pull that stunt on us.
 
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No you don't, do you?

I like this response, very strong and direct and says a lot more than those five words, but in a diplomatic low stress manner. Well done.
 
Well, I almost always attend the owner's breakfast and/or sales presentation (they are sometimes not one in the same) when we stay at a timeshare and are offered something to attend. Frequently I actually learn something, and frequently the sales rep learns something from me too. Have I ever had a bad experience and left angry? Yes, but not often, and I have been compensated for my time.
 
Wydham PCB

This happened to us this past April. After driving 11 hours we just wanted to get in our room and sleep. It was our first time at a Wyndham, so we didn't know any better. Went to the first desk to check in and then to the other desk to get parking pass. We had to give a deposit (I think $20.00) and was told we would get it back after we attended the meeting with the other offers.

On a different note. We had a friend come in for a few days. We were not at the resort at the time. She went to the front desk told them she was visiting us and needed parking pass and gate code and rooms keys. They gave them to her without any hassle at all.
 
This happened to us this past April. After driving 11 hours we just wanted to get in our room and sleep. It was our first time at a Wyndham, so we didn't know any better. Went to the first desk to check in and then to the other desk to get parking pass. We had to give a deposit (I think $20.00) and was told we would get it back after we attended the meeting with the other offers.

On a different note. We had a friend come in for a few days. We were not at the resort at the time. She went to the front desk told them she was visiting us and needed parking pass and gate code and rooms keys. They gave them to her without any hassle at all.

Ummmm, were your friends on the reservation? I would typically want someone who wanted a key to my room go through some degree of hassle.
 
When we checked in today, we told them how tuggers feel about that, no reaction.

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I guess I have been fortunate, I must have said no to the parking pass ladies/gentlemen about 20-30 times and I have never had a need to yell at them. I said no thank you and no thank you, and then I received my parking pass. The issue only arose occasionally when I hesitated and said yes to an owners' update and then regretted spending my time there.

Same here.

That said, sometimes I pull out an excuse. My current two excuses are: "I'm married and I think my husband and I have to attend together. Well, he's not on this trip." or "He won't do it. I have asked him many times before but he refuses." or for many resorts I ask, "Do you offer free childcare? Because I'd need childcare in order to attend."

I've never attended a timeshare presentation. Not a single one.
 
The only timeshare presentation I ever attended was the one at our home resort and we bought but rescinded the next day for various reasons. This was way before Wyndham was involved. It was a no -pressure presentation. Very pleasant. Really nice real estate salesperson.

Years later, we purchased based on a brochure of the new community they were building there and we just contacted the original salesperson we had and told her we wanted in. Did everything through the mail and took a run up to see the construction. End of story.
 
parking pass

This is not a practice at only Wyndham....I've had this happen numerous times at many of the chain resorts. It's their way of trying to set you up with a "tour" or "owner update" with a list of incentives/perks. I just get the parking pass and say "no thank you" and go onto my room. I've had it happen at Spinnaker resorts, Wyndham resorts, Marriott resorts, etc. Only at Disney resorts do I never have this happen.
 
Got back from a stay in Williamsburg recently. I was recently added to my parent's deed and it was my first time using Wyndham with my name listed as owner and not a guest. When I went over to the 'concierge' desk to get the parking pass I braced myself for update/breakfast pitch or whatever they wanted to call it. However, I was surprised when the lady just gave me the pass and welcome packet (consisting of brochures) without asking. I hesitated and almost asked why I wasn't being invited but thought the better of it and just left. When I got to the room I unplugged the phones as usual, but when plugging them in at the end of the stay there were no messages left. Also no knocks at the door, at least not while I was in the room.

While I'm not complaining, I do wonder how I got taken off the list and whether it was related to something my parents did or did not do.
 
Got back from a stay in Williamsburg recently. I was recently added to my parent's deed and it was my first time using Wyndham with my name listed as owner and not a guest. When I went over to the 'concierge' desk to get the parking pass I braced myself for update/breakfast pitch or whatever they wanted to call it. However, I was surprised when the lady just gave me the pass and welcome packet (consisting of brochures) without asking. I hesitated and almost asked why I wasn't being invited but thought the better of it and just left. When I got to the room I unplugged the phones as usual, but when plugging them in at the end of the stay there were no messages left. Also no knocks at the door, at least not while I was in the room.

While I'm not complaining, I do wonder how I got taken off the list and whether it was related to something my parents did or did not do.

Most likely they had already filled all the available slots. Count your blessings.


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I checked into Smoky Mountain for two days recently and really got the hard press from the parking pass person. When asked to attend the breakfast I replied that I do not do any updates, breakfasts, etc. She insisted I give her a reason why. I told her I didn't need to give her a reason. She got really condescending and aggressive. Ex. You mean you can't give me one complete sentence as to why you feel this way. Then she said sorry you are having such a bad day. LOL! Told her is was perfectly fine until I met her! I have yet to get my follow up review. But when it comes they will get a big fat 1 on check-in.
 
I have yet to get my follow up review. But when it comes they will get a big fat 1 on check-in.

On review sites like Yelp & TripAdvisor the sales weasels are the #1 reason people give negative reviews.
 
Kozman - that sounds like the PP woman who harassed us when we visted at Smoky Mtns. My two worst parking pass experiences were that woman, and Kona. I'm a very quiet, easy-going person and I guess those weasels can spot me because I always get a difficult time at the PP desk. A polite "no" has never sufficed for me.

I'll be curious what happens now, since we've used Ovation to deed back a lot of our points. I wonder if our accounts will be noted in some way. If not, I will look forward to seeing the expression on the PP person's face when I say "why would I want to attend a sales meeting when I GAVE BACK half my points to Wyndham?????"

Edited to add: I gave her a nasty review on our comment card but it apparently didn't do any good.
 
Wow, here at the lodge the front desk bent over backwards for us. We did a 60 day rebook, and lost the room we wanted. They searched for about five minutes, and they found us a better room, which met our criteria.


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I will look forward to seeing the expression on the PP person's face when I say "why would I want to attend a sales meeting when I GAVE BACK half my points to Wyndham?????"

Edited to add: I gave her a nasty review on our comment card but it apparently didn't do any good.

It won't do any good, because don't you know? it is NOT a sales presentation.

In fact, here at Kona, it's not even an Owners Update or a Tour. It's a "SCHOOL". DH fell for it, hook , line, and sinker... Sally at Kona Hawaiian assured him it was a group -only presentation for 45 minutes, a "SCHOOL," no - one - on one, and you had to ask to buy, they would not ask you!!!

I refused to go but it was either go of get a divorce, so I called her to double check, Yep ! 45 -minute Group Time only, no one -on -one .

Do I need to tell you what really happened?

Surely you already know.

So, it doesn't matter what you say or what they say, it's a sales presentation and you NEED to go, no matter what!!!!! Oh no, Because it is a School ... And you Need to LEARN!
 
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I checked into Smoky Mountain for two days recently and really got the hard press from the parking pass person. When asked to attend the breakfast I replied that I do not do any updates, breakfasts, etc. She insisted I give her a reason why. I told her I didn't need to give her a reason. She got really condescending and aggressive. Ex. You mean you can't give me one complete sentence as to why you feel this way. Then she said sorry you are having such a bad day. LOL! Told her is was perfectly fine until I met her! I have yet to get my follow up review. But when it comes they will get a big fat 1 on check-in.

Had the exact same conversation with a woman at Smoky Mountain Lodge. She must have moved over to Smoky Mountain.

Totally annoying -- not what you need after an eight hour drive.
 
Kozman - that sounds like the PP woman who harassed us when we visted at Smoky Mtns. My two worst parking pass experiences were that woman, and Kona. I'm a very quiet, easy-going person and I guess those weasels can spot me because I always get a difficult time at the PP desk. A polite "no" has never sufficed for me.

I'll be curious what happens now, since we've used Ovation to deed back a lot of our points. I wonder if our accounts will be noted in some way. If not, I will look forward to seeing the expression on the PP person's face when I say "why would I want to attend a sales meeting when I GAVE BACK half my points to Wyndham?????"

Edited to add: I gave her a nasty review on our comment card but it apparently didn't do any good.

To my disappointment I have not received an offer to provide feedback. Maybe they weed out the people who would give them a bad review. This young lady was probably in her mid to lower 20's and an otherwise very pleasant easy on the eyes blond until her fangs came out when I refused to dance.
 
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