Donita Is Back?

[heathpack]

OK, but I'm not a moderator and I can't shut her down. I can only state how I feel about it, just as others state they feel positively about her. Democracy in action. It's good to her both sides, just like when you read Tripadvisor comments about a resort, there are good ones and ones that did not like the resort.

Here you have good comments about this and comments not so good. Then you get to decide for yourself. It's a forum, that's how it works.

You take issue with how I'm going about things, I'm merely taking issue with how Donita is going about things.

She presented herself in a certain fashion, and is being greeted with the result of that fashion. Had she presented herself differently, she may have received a different result. TUG exists because of so much skepticism about the timeshare industry, it is through this lens that we all see things. Her posts have not done anything to alleviate my skepticism.

I'm sorry, Democracy is not shouting someone down before they have a chance to fully articulate what they need to say.

A forum should be about discussion, not stopping discussion. Yes, many internet forums are about piling on abuse until someone who is not liked leaves, but those are the lousy forums. TUG is way better than that.

I understand that you think Donita is lousy and you want her gone. You say you cannot shut her down only the mods can. But you and others can make her go away by piling on abuse. I would bet you have already made her go away.

I am just pointing out that you wanting her gone does not mean that everyone wanted her gone and that maybe you should take that into consideration. If you respect my desire to hear what she says, you get in return a better more useful board- I stick around, I contribute, and so do many other reasonable people. If TUG becomes a place where people get shouted down and run off, many will leave. Just food for thought when you consider how to respond in a situation like this.

H

 

[Numismatist]

I'm sorry, Democracy is not shouting someone down before they have a chance to fully articulate what they need to say.

A forum should be about discussion, not stopping discussion. Yes, many internet forums are about piling on abuse until someone who is not liked leaves, but those are the lousy forums. TUG is way better than that.

I understand that you think Donita is lousy and you want her gone. You say you cannot shut her down only the mods can. But you and others can make her go away by piling on abuse. I would bet you have already made her go away.

I am just pointing out that you wanting her gone does not mean that everyone wanted her gone and that maybe you should take that into consideration. If you respect my desire to hear what she says, you get in return a better more useful board- I stick around, I contribute, and so do many other reasonable people. If TUG becomes a place where people get shouted down and run off, many will leave. Just food for thought when you consider how to respond in a situation like this.

H

I never said I want her gone. I never said she's lousy. I don't like her veiled threats to members considering she's trying to sell herself and that other company. It makes a very bad impression coming from someone who is trying to get me to use her services. That's my one critique. I also did not like the idea of a 'member' using a thread to promote a business (which is against TUG rules) especially without attaining the TUG moderators permission to do so first.

These are my only issues. As I said, I know nothing of the other company or the $9,000 fee issue mentioned here. I'm well aware of the previous positive comments about Donita in past threads.

I'm commenting on how this recent re-introduction felt to me - a potential customer in her eyes.

 

[heathpack]

I never said I want her gone. I never said she's lousy. I don't like her veiled threats to members considering she's trying to sell herself and that other company. It makes a very bad impression coming from someone who is trying to get me to use her services. That's my one critique. I also did not like the idea of a 'member' using a thread to promote a business (which is against TUG rules) especially without attaining the TUG moderators permission to do so first.

These are my only issues. As I said, I know nothing of the other company or the $9,000 fee issue mentioned here. I'm well aware of the previous positive comments about Donita in past threads.

I'm commenting on how this recent re-introduction felt to me - a potential customer in her eyes.

Ok, well, whats done is done.

I totally appreciate your perspective and I am not saying what you think is wrong.

I diagree with your methods, but thats life in the forum world. I've said what I felt needed saying and will stop commenting further- not that I feel like I couldn't or shouldn't, just that there's nothing different to say.

Cheers,
H

 

[Margariet]

I really don't care if this person called Donita was a good employee in an exchange company. We all know these people. They are great in their profession but they can be the worst managers or accountants. And it doesn't make them professional companies. It doesn't make a difference whether we know her or not or whether we are long term members or not. Her PR and marketing for her new organiazation is until now very bad. She doesn't make a good impression.

 

[Carolinian]

I can understand your not picking up this point as you are rather new here, but Donita Cilch was not just a good employee of an exchange company, she OWNED an exchange company for many years, and then was in senior managment of DAE North America after she sold out to them.

I really don't care if this person called Donita was a good employee in an exchange company. We all know these people. They are great in their profession but they can be the worst managers or accountants. And it doesn't make them professional companies. It doesn't make a difference whether we know her or not or whether we are long term members or not. Her PR and marketing for her new organiazation is until now very bad. She doesn't make a good impression.

 

[DeniseM]

I am also working with a great new program called Dream Vacation Network. It really took my breathe away when I first saw it. It offers so many options that are lacking in other programs. I have always wanted you the timeshare owner to be able get the most out of your ownership as I have always felt the timeshare was the very best way to vacation.

How do you interpret Donita's quote in red? She's promoting her new website, and then she says she is "working" with Dream Vacation Network.

When I asked her about DVN, this is how she responded:

That is a question that I would not be able to answer as I am not in sales. It is question that should be asked of the people at Dream Vacation Network. I have only seen the value and not asked about sales. I am not a principal in DVN.

Do you notice that she said she's "not in sales" and "not a principal" but did not say that she is not working with them in some capacity...

This is my guess - Donita came to TUG, after a long absence, and immediately promoted Dream Vacation Network with over the top praise. My guess is that she was considering getting involved with DVN, or maybe already is, and was dismayed to find out that DVN has already been discussed on TUG and dismissed on TUG.

If she's not thinking about selling this product, or per her own words "working with a great new program," then I can't understand the statements she made about it, and her extreme defensiveness.

Since she was a consultant for DAE, maybe she is a consultant for DVN.

Again, just a theory - YMMV!

 

[Zib]

Wow! How mean and judgemental can some people be before they even KNOW?

I don't often participate on the Tug board but this is about the meanest thread I've ever seen! I'm not on either side but I think most are very unfair to say so many nasty things (even called her a SCAM???) I doubt it! Why not give her a chance and wait and see? It doesn't seem that any of her critics have actually ever had any contact or dealings with her. Not one I can find that can tell us of ACTUAL experience with her! Where are you??? Most of you are just stating what you think, not what you actually KNOW from first hand experience with her! I'm surprised this thread is let to go on. It's sounds mean and nasty!!! Sorry, I just couldn't help responding.........

 

[billymach4]

Yes Give her a chance here!

In reading Donita's posting I don't perceive any self less advertising. She just stated a few facts. You folks are all over her like "white on rice".

I have seen the TS Today article, and the comparison chart long before her discussion her.

We have seen many shills and scammers here, and will continue to see the scam characters until the end of time. I am usually a cynic as well.

But please give this person the benefit of the doubt.

I have nothing to lose or gain here either.

 

[MuranoJo]

For $7999 I will guarantee TUGGERS an exchange to any timeshare they want and save them over $1000 from the $9000 DVN membership fees. I will only guarantee you one trade, but that is probably one more exchange than you will ever get from DVN.

Note my post only mentioned that Donita at one time had a good reputation on this board. I never claimed to have information on her true connection to DVN--and I'm not sure anyone does, so why this response?

Some of these threads feel like going back to grade school. Recess is out and here come the bullies.

 

[cbm32]

I have been lied to often enough by timeshare sales reps to not be fond of them in the least. I have also had them be rude to the max when they realized I was really NOT going to buy. Two of the lies were good enough they actually got me to buy a contract (in both cases I kept going up the food chain until I got ahold of someone that would cancel the contract and return my money even though it was well after the recision perioid. This was Wyndham by the way and I had to directly contact a VP in order to get the job done but at least it got done).

With all that said, I fail to see where Donita (and other than talking to her on the phone one time many years ago when she was at DAE I have had no contact with her) has done much of anything out of line here.

I have seen her say that the options offered by DVN make it the most versital she has seen and that she believes it will be a good program for timeshare owners. I did NOT see her really say that was or was not worth 9K.

I believe I saw on her webpage that she would be working "with" DVN when her new company is up and running. WITH, not for. I take that to mean that they will be one of the contacts that she utilizes at times to meet the needs of her clients. Nothing more.

She did point out that people need to be careful of what they post online. Some apparently took that as a threat. Being a member of another board that just settled a law suit over something that someone posted on their board about someone else, I think that might be pretty good advice. I am NOT threatening anyone by making that statement. I just know how much the owner of the other board spent defending that suit and that there WAS a settlement, the case was not just dropped.

 

[shar]

I have been a member of Tug since 1997. When I joined one of the alternatives to using RCI was Donita's. She owned the company. There were many good references to her at that time. As I remember she was the one mentioned most often as an alternative. At some point she sold to Dial an Exchange and apparently worked or consulted with them. I never used Donita's but I have used DAE and they do a great job in my opinion. The only problem with DAE is they do not have the inventory in U.S. that RCI offers.

At this point give the lady a chance. Wait until her website is up and see what she has to offer. She should list and pay fees as any other vendor. All this "guess work" on everyone's part does not make it true. Her non compete may have not allowed her to work on a website prior to this time.

She had a good reputation on TUG in the past. Lets see what she offers. Everyone can decide to take advantage of it or not.

She is right about being careful what you say on the internet. It was not a threat. It was a statement.

Shar

 

[tombo]

A post on another thread was started by a guest who was talked into spending $9000 to join DVN. He was asking for advice. If ANYONE HERE feels like his $9000 investment in a new travel venture was money well spent, please feel free to state your reasons and advise him to join.

Tuggers posted for him to rescind which is the only realistic option IMO. I wouldn't pay $9000 personally and would advise any family member, friend,or stranger to not throw their money away on an unproven venture. Redweek tried to start a new exchange company with 1000's of exisiting members and failed. The outlook for DVN is bleak IMO.

Donita came on that TUG and posted 7 total posts about 2 topics, both of which relate to her personal business.

One topic was to promote and list her web site for her new company. It is not allowed per TUG rules. She wanted free advertising but her links were deleted as they should have been. Once she could no longer promote her personal agenda she had no desire to post here.

Her other topic was DEFENDING a company called DVN which she is by her own admission working with. Can you say personal bias? She destroyed ALL of her objective credibility IMO when she said that this untested, untried, brand new upstart company was the BEST TRAVEL COMPANY SHE HAS EVER SEEN IN ALL OF HER YEARS. Not RCI, II, DAE, SFX, VRI, Wyndham, Bluegreen, etc, etc, etc. Donita said DVN with a $9000 enrollment fee and a zero track record is the best she has ever seen. When asked what could possibly make it worth a $9000 fee she had no response.

Best company ever but no details about why it is so wonderful when asked for specifics? You would think a list of reasons it is so wonderful would be easy to detail with her years of experience. How about listing advantages DVN offers over current choices. Nahh. No details offered, just trust me I am experienced and well known. So was Bernie Madoff..

If some here feel that Donita's wholehearted endorsement of a ridiculously expensive travel company should be blindly accepted as fact, good for you. If some here want to join DVN for $9000 and report back on their great trades over the next few years, go for it. However if Donita wants to say that this is the best company ever she needs to IMO bring some facts to back up her assertion if she expects anyone to agree.

DVN is in my opinion a rip off and will probably fold within a year or two. This is simply my opinion and I have the right to state it. Donita and everyone else has the right to state theirs. Feel free to disagree with me. I will not take my ball and go home. Of course I am not here promoting my personal business and defending my business partners. I am simply posting my opinions with nothing to gain or lose financially.

 

[Patri]

Don't both companies have the initials DVN? I find that strange. Why would you choose the same?

 

[heathpack]

Don't both companies have the initials DVN? I find that strange. Why would you choose the same?

No. One is Donita's Vacations Unlimited = DVU

The other is Dream Vacation Network = DVN

H

 

[tombo]

PS. I have no knowledge of Edge of the World Vacations or
Charles R Wilson, but they are listed with Donita's Vacations Unlimited on her web site as I assume a partner.

There is a previous thread here on TUG from February 2010 where a guest complained about Charles Wilson if any are interested.

I am new to this site and see that there could be a problem with
Mr. Charles Wilson of Edge of the World Vacations. I paid Mr Wilson $895.00 when joining Dae which is a free travel exchange program. He was to transfer a timeshare from me to someone else to avoid me paying maintenance fees for 2010.I am retired and on a budget. He did not make the transaction. From July - Dec he did nothing for the $895.00, and I had to pay the maintenance fees on the timeshare that he did not follow through on. I do not know if Donita is aware of who she is associated with.

Be careful. I paid for services that I did not receive from Mr. Wilson. He willnot refund my money. I will be reporting him to any and all consumer agencies.

 

[Judy]

Carolinian is the only person on this whole thread who sees any value in Donita.

No he isn't. OK, you're technically right in not counting me. I've been away from TUG for a while.

I used to work with Donita at Donita's Vacations Unlimited. I always had good experiences. She gave personal attention to my requests and found me several exchanges I wanted. I've really missed her since Donita's Vacations Unlimited was bought out by DAE.

 

[cbm32]

I have not signed up with her but probably will. I emailed her and got some clarification on what it costs to get started with her.

$25.00 sign up fee and after that you just pay for exchanges.

For 25 bucks I will test drive it and see if it handles well.

 

[BocaBum99]

This is one of the worst company introductions I have ever seen. I know that Donita has a good reputation with some when she was at DAE. I have never been impressed with DAE. They seemed to have good customer service. I just thought they had a terrible business model. When I got here, they had an anything to anything business model. I described what would happen in such a model and time has proven my predictions to be correct.

I believe that Donita through her relationships can get inventory. I know the industry. Without having done any research on DVN, they sound like the very typical Vacation Club. They bill themselves as the anti-timeshare. They get members and then they offer them discount weeks they get from other wholesalers. I deal with a lot of those Vacation Clubs. They buy weeks from me. If this is what they do, then the $9000 is just the starting point of the negotiation. They really only want between $1000-2000 upfront membership fees and then they offer members discount weeks.

If you have contacts, you can get the same such weeks for the same price without having to pay the upfront fees.

I think that Donita may have thought that TUG was filled with people who were her friends. Probably a clubby bunch of old week for week exchangers who love the way it was done in the last milennium. Well, those days are over. Times have changed. Older timers in the industry either change with the times or wither away with the old.

I believe Donita will establish herself again just as a service provider. She seemed to have a good client base in the past. However, this thread will be a set back.

 

[Carolinian]

It might educate some of the detractors if they would go to the Ask DAE board and look at the posts there over time about Donita.

 

[DeniseM]

Carolinian - I don't know Donita, but I was quite surprised that the first thing she did when she came back to TUG was to promote a vacation club with a $9,000 enrollment fee, and then became quite hostile, and elusive, when people asked questions about the club. She may have a wonderful reputation and be a great person, but the way she returned to TUG was a big mistake on her part. YMMV

 

[Margariet]

Carolinian - I don't know Donita, but I was quite surprised that the first thing she did when she came back to TUG was to promote a vacation club with a $9,000 enrollment fee, and then became quite hostile, and elusive, when people asked questions about the club. She may have a wonderful reputation and be a great person, but the way she returned to TUG was a big mistake on her part. YMMV

Right! Well said! What matters is today and tomorrow - not the past.

 

[BocaBum99]

Right! Well said! What matters is today and tomorrow - not the past.

Unless you are stuck in the past.

 

[Carolinian]

Right! Well said! What matters is today and tomorrow - not the past.

What matters when one is considering a new/old exchange company is the record of the head of that exchange company in the exchanging business, not some vague association with a different type of company that she may have had during the non-compete period.

Should we hold screwups by Cendant / Wyndham in their hotel business against the exchange company they own, RCI, in the exchange business?

 

[DeniseM]

Carolinian - have you read all of her recent posts? - With her first 4-5 posts Donita clearly promoted a vacation club in GLOWING terms, and stated that she was "working with them." That vacation club was the focus of most of the posts. Then she got angry and hostile and said she would never post again - it was a major PR mistake on her part.

Why shouldn't she be accountable for that?

Quite frankly, if a newbie did that, they would have immediately been banned as a spammer. She was given a LOT of lee-way because of her previous reputation on TUG.

 

[Steve@BWV]

It looks as if Donita has been back for sometime.

http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=115550

Also, the Dream Vacation Network (DVN) website hosted by google sites is now shut down from public view.