Giving out notes to people at a tour

[justav]

In the process of going through what has been a nightmare experience with the timeshare industry I have had several thoughts and emotional reactions.

One reoccurring thought I've had has been to go on a tour and hand out notes or fliers to everyone on the tour and leave them in places like the washroom and reception area telling people to just say "no, the tour ends now, I need to go." and direct them to TUG if they are genuinely interested in a timeshare.

I wouldn't want to put this site into jeopardy, but wondering if MODs can weigh in or PM me.

The other thing I was considering was take the tour and once in the sales room with many others stand up and yell 'Everyone just say NO, don't sign.' I figure the worse they can do is ask us to leave and to do it at least once would be sweet revenge.

Has anyone ever heard of this happening? Or witnessed it themselves?

 

[ace2000]

I think you should seriously consider starting an Occupy Wyndham movement.

 

[l2trade]

I doubt anyone you come in contact with was going to buy anyway. Everyone is there for the free gift. If you stood up and shouted, my guess is that if you are lucky, maybe one person who is going to buy hears you... But, that person will probably buy anyway because your public spectacle will make you appear like a nutter as they kick you out. I'm sure the sales staff is well prepared to respond to an outburst just like a comic responds to a heckler.

It is much better to speak the truth about timeshares where people are more receptive to listening. In the sales presentation, it is too late to stop them. At the pool afterwards, there is plenty of time left for them to rescind.

 

[ronparise]

Ive thought of renting a billboard on I-4 thats says something like "Buy timeshares resale for pennies on the dollar, 407-xxx-xxxx...mywebsite.com"

either that or wear a shirt like this to the timeshare presentation and at the pool

I wouldnt make a scene at the presentation...It might make you feel better, but it wont do any good

 

[Numismatist]

:ignore: I put some TUG stickers in the elevators

 

[amycurl]

I kind of like the idea of the billboard...I was thinking that kind of public education should be part of TUG's mission. Is TUG organized as a 501(c)3? If so, I would be happy to donate beyond my membership fees for something like that.

"Considering Timeshare? Research resale before you buy...and check out www.tugbbs.com!"

 

[justav]

Stickers, good idea. Fliers on the vehicles would be good too.

If I ever decide spending two hours of my time going to a tour just for my own entertainment is worth the 2 hrs I will wear that tee shirt.

I would think there would be more than one person willing to buy in the room, otherwise I can't see all the effort for such small return. You can't make enough off one sucker like myself to sustain the operation they are running. But I agree bursting out would be likely be more of a cheap thrill for me than productive.

 

[Talent312]

I'm not sure its a good idea to engage in conduct could result in a criminal complaint for:
-- Disorderly Conduct (for creating a disturbance);
-- Criminal Mischief (for leaving "trash"); or
-- Trespass (after you are told to leave).

IMHO, the better protest is one done outside the property or surrepticiously.

 

[theo]

I have mixed reactions...

In the process of going through what has been a nightmare experience with the timeshare industry I have had several thoughts and emotional reactions.

One reoccurring thought I've had has been to go on a tour and hand out notes or fliers to everyone on the tour and leave them in places like the washroom and reception area telling people to just say "no, the tour ends now, I need to go." and direct them to TUG if they are genuinely interested in a timeshare.

I wouldn't want to put this site into jeopardy, but wondering if MODs can weigh in or PM me.

The other thing I was considering was take the tour and once in the sales room with many others stand up and yell 'Everyone just say NO, don't sign.' I figure the worse they can do is ask us to leave and to do it at least once would be sweet revenge.

I can certainly understand your anger if you succumbed to the misrepresentations and exaggerations of a deceitful timeshare developer sales weasel. That said, I'm not convinced that spending your time raising a ruckus on the property (...trespassing charges? disturbing the peace?) is really the best possible avenue to channel your ill will (...or to win the hearts and minds of others voluntarily present in the slaughter pen).

I'm also not persuaded that invoking TUG's name during the hypothetical ruckus is necessarily doing this site (or its' owner, Brian Rogers) any particular favors, but Brian can surely weigh in for himself on that point.

In my opinion, the people who are going to buy from a developer are likely going to march straight ahead and do so --- with or without your (or my) input, regardless of you (or me) making a scene on site.

I do like the billboard idea, since it does not require invading the timeshare property uninivited, or creating a "scene" on site. That said however, billboard space ain't cheap; who is going to pay that freight?

Without seeking to appear callous, my own view is that if people choose to allow themselves to be "sucked in" by just the lure of a few free trinkets of dubious and limited value, and then willingly subject themselves to hours of browbeating, followed by relenting and grossly overpaying for a product --- without ever having done any actual homework or prior research on the actual market value of that product in advance, well....
I would respectfully submit that God gave us all free will and the power and ability of choice.

The final punctuation mark on my lack of sympathy here is also the fact that, by law, the developer sales weasel must provide, in writing, clear and specific instructions on how to cancel the purchase contract within a clearly identified time period (3-15 days, depending on the state). I frankly can't manage to muster much sympathy for someone who can't be bothered to read their contract (before or after purchase) on a multi-thousand dollar purchase and further, also can't be bothered to read the cancellation rights and instructions that were provided to them, in writing, by law, right along with the sales contract!

Charles Darwin might have opined that this is essentially a matter of Caveat Emptor (Buyer Beware).

 

[e.bram]

Fraud in the inducement is certainly a reason to break a contract, even if it took longer then the rescind period to determine.
If the tour is during an owner update they couldn't charge you with trespassing in a common area.

 

[justav]

TUG is the only good thing I've seen in relation to timeshares, that why I first asked the question about what the MODs thing because I wouldn't want to bring negative attention to the site or unwittingly make people believe this site is yet another timeshare scam.

I really am thankful to the owner for making this site. I've learned so much in the two days I've been a member about timeshares thanks to this site and its users. My tag name Justav stands for "just another victim." That is how I felt when I joined TUG but with the knowledge I've gained I no long feel like a victim.

I agree with you theo on many points. I realize I need to pay the price for letting myself get suckered in and not taking the time to review the contract and understand my rights. But to that point, I feel I've paid my dues even though I still owe on the loan. I feel Orange Lake has taken enough from me in what has been by far and large the poorest financial decision in my life.

My proposed antics are just that, antics, which with time will fade under the light of judgement.

 

[theo]

I sympathize with your predicament, but...

I feel I've paid my dues even though I still owe on the loan. I feel Orange Lake has taken enough from me....

Unfortunately, how you "feel" matters not at all in the eyes of the law in a matter concerning a voluntarily executed loan and / or contract...

With all due respect, rather than expend any time or energy on any "antics", imho you would likely be better served by consulting legal counsel to see if perhaps some sort of mutually agreeable arrangement and settlement can be attained with the developer / lender. Frankly, it's unlikely --- but you won't know if you don't at least inquire...

 

[justav]

I've got arrangements made to have a consultation with a lawyer specializing in commercial law to discuss my options and possible consequences should I walk away voluntarily from this agreement I signed voluntarily.

I've been in contact with the company on the timeshare also. They've asked I try to sell it and have told me after 120 days of non-payment it will go to foreclosure. Right now they are not entertaining anything else.

After 30 days, I'm at day 18, of missed payments perhaps there might be more dialog. After 30 days of missed payment my account will loose its good standing.

 

[TUGBrian]

I cant see any resort having an issue with you telling them about a Timeshare Owners information site.

I would however prefer you not to present TUG as a "you need to leave this resort right now and go to TUG" sort of solution to people on a tour...that would not likely go over very well with anyone at the resort...and is simply not necessary.

We get a very large % of members from individuals who have run into TUGGERS on vacation and struck up a conversation (after all, just about everyone staying at a timeshare resort is either an owner, or renting from one!).

TUG can help anyone who finds it, so there isnt any reason to ruffle feathers at the resort....yet you can still easily inform any owners you meet/see about a site that will truly benefit them as owners (and especially if they have not purchased yet).

If a resort has a problem with an owner actually doing all his research before buying (or after buying but before recission period)...then there is something very wrong there in the first place.

 

[Hyatt7788]

If nobody buys from developer, there wouldn't be a resale market

If everyone tries to buy from resale market or is as smart as every Tugger, you wouldn't get any deal.

Someone's loss is your gain. Knowledge is power and money.

 

[e.bram]

An extension on Denise's how to get rid of a TS.

Bring some TUG flyers to a homeless shelter and soup kitchen and point them to the Bargain Basement showing them how they can easily get some folding green.

 

[DeniseM]

An extension on Denise's how to get rid of a TS.

Bring some TUG flyers to a homeless shelter and soup kitchen and point them to the Bargain Basement showing them how they can easily get some folding green.

Wouldn't that be fraud?

 

[e.bram]

Denise:
Fraud? By whom?

 

[Talent312]

Fraud in the inducement is certainly a reason to break a contract, even if it took longer then the rescind period to determine.
If the tour is during an owner update they couldn't charge you with trespassing in a common area.

Once your signature is on a contract, the four corners of the document governs the relationship. Simply being told something different than what shows up in the contract is not fraud. Your failure to read or comprehend a contract is not fraud (unless you were blindfolded). It is fraud, if you can show by extrinsic evidence that the seller did not intend to honor their obligations under the contract "as written." Of course, one can claim fraud, even if it isn't. Then the question is, who has the bigger stable of lawyers.

Your presence is a license limited by the conditions of your reservation. There is likely a clause buried in the fine print somewhere that they may terminate early for various reasons. If you are then told to leave and fail to do so, you could be charged with trespass after warning. As you ride off in the back seat of a squad car, yell out that you will sue them.

 

[Mel]

Perhaps a good way of "helping" would be to distribute flyers telling the new owner to visit TUG to learn how to make the most out of their new purchase, from others owners just like them.

Once they get here, we may or may not convince them to rescind their contract. By phrasing the invite in that way, the resort has little to argue that you are impeding their business (though if they're smart they will check the site out, and could still ask you to stop).

The other reason this might work better is that you're not accusing buyers of being stupid - let them come to that conclusion on their own.

 

[vacationhopeful]

You need to hang around "the believers" verses Tuggers. Most people who know what an owner's update is, do not go. Bad coffee, stale donuts, and wooden chairs to listen to half-truths spoken by street hustlers?

As for the believers, they buy whatever is being sold because the sales person said to upgrade to get that dream/best unit, VIP phone line, a free unit upgrade, and your family will remember you for all time.

 

[ronparise]

the Wyndham Owners Forum has developed a business card that you can download and print to hand out when you are staying at a Wyndham property

 

[Cheryl20772]

the Wyndham Owners Forum has developed a business card that you can download and print to hand out when you are staying at a Wyndham property

When I stay at a Wyndham I use that card, but have the TUG card printed on the other side. When I stay at a non-Wyndham, I have some just TUG cards and carry some in both my purse and my pool bag. Whenever the conversation with other guests comes around to our ownership I always ask if they know about the owner forums online. Then give them the card; so they can check us out later on. I write my username on the card; so they know who referred them if they deside to join us. So far nothing seems to have come of that, but still.... otherwise how could they know?

 

[bigrick]

One time on our way in to a presentation at a high priced resort with top tier maintenance fees we spoke with another couple who'd been trying for a long time to trade in to here. They were there this time on a resort-rental-and-presentation-package.

I swapped cell numbers with them before we separated for our presentations.

Later that day I called him and asked if they'd bought. He said yes because they really wanted to come here more often.

Then I told him of various sites to check TODAY where the units were selling for much, much less. I told him about TUG. I suggested after verifying the sale prices that he call the resort and cancel TODAY. TODAY is the day to cancel. Cancel NOW; you can always pay full price again in the future!

He seemed much happier at the end of our chat.


You cannot save everyone but you can save some!

 

[justav]

Someone's loss is your gain. Knowledge is power and money.

Knowledge is power, knowledge is to be shared.

The business card is a good idea. If ever I find myself on a timeshare premise I'll take such cards.