Lies currently being told by Marriott sales staff

[dioxide45]

Very well stated, thank you!

I agree with all of your points. In our case, our on-site MVC resort experiences are often superb. I, personally, find that the MVC resorts that are managed by General Managers who come from Marriott (hotel company) lodging (hotel) division, FULL SERVICE Marriott hotels and resorts, are the most capable and skilled of MVC General Managers. In our experience, the MVC General Managers who do not have this pedigree, do not cut the mustard. The same is true for the MVC resorts that have effective, engaged HOA Boards of Directors. I remember, for years, Cypress Harbour had a fabulous GM, and a fabulous HOA Board of Directors. The same is true for Desert Springs Villas (Susan Belleville and Jane Berg, former DSV GM’s will forever be remembered for their contributions and leadership as GM’s of DSV).

In my opinion, MVC falls far short, when it comes to MVC Owner Services, and MVC's web, telephone and App technology. MVC Owner Services, in my opinion, has years of highly inconsistent service, that is more often than not, deplorable service. I blame that on MVC's leadership. Similarly, the antics of MVC's Sales and Marketing division, in my opinion, are disgraceful. You can be sure that MVC's senior-most leadership are well aware of the horrific, bully, deceptive, illegal tactics of these monsters, and does nothing about it, other than condone the culture, behavior, and antics.

In the context of MVC's Sales and Marketing, I've learned to fight back. I have a zero tolerance for their antics and culture, and I deploy every opportunity I have to make certain that MVC is impacted by our dissatisfaction with the horrific culture and deception in MVC's sales and marketing department. In my opinion, the fact that Marriott International (parent company) allows MVC, their "Franchisee," to operate as they do, is just disgraceful.

You could literally replace MVC with any other big hotel branded timeshare company and the statement would still be true...

 

[WBP]

You could literally replace MVC with any other big hotel branded timeshare company and the statement would still be true...

That does not make it right. We've had much more favorable experiences with the former Westin Vacation Club, DVC, and Four Seasons, in the context of their Owner/Member Services departments, technology (website, telephone, and App) and the culture/operations/integrity of their sales and marketing departments.

Out of curiosity, how do you explain responding to the volume of posts that you respond to, on TUG, and to amassing 43,990 posts on TUG? There is something very remarkable about your level of engagement, in my opinion. I am very curious how one can explain those behaviors.

 

[SueDonJ]

If I were going to a sales presentation I'd print out the Abound Sticky thread and hand it over: "This is what I already know, in fact I probably contributed to any number of discussions that allowed it to come to fruition. Read it before you decide to spring your usual sales spiel on me." I don't mean this just for me - any one of us could do and say the same.

But I don't go anymore because of all the nightmare stories I read on TUG and because of one particularly obnoxious encounter with the shark at Shadow Ridge. The one and only sales rep I've ever dealt with wasn't dishonest or cagey and she still makes herself available if I have questions, so there's no need. I get that sometimes the incentives are worth the aggravation and wouldn't say that no one should ever go, but I choose not to.

 

[dioxide45]

That does not make it right. We've had much more favorable experiences with the former Westin Vacation Club, DVC, and Four Seasons, in the context of their Owner/Member Services departments, technology (website, telephone, and App) and the culture/operations/integrity of their sales and marketing departments.

Out of curiosity, how do you explain responding to the volume of posts that you respond to, on TUG, and to amassing 43,990 posts on TUG? There is something very remarkable about your level of engagement, in my opinion. I am very curious how one can explain those behaviors.

I am not defending the actions, just pointing out that for the most part it happens with many companies and it may also be a different experience from one salesperson to the next. DVC was perhaps one of the last to adopt an online booking system and many owners complain about website issues there. Disney itself has a rather lackluster website experience overall. From a sales standpoint, aside from a few outliers, they all work fairly similar. This is mainly a result of the inherent flaws in the product, its pricing and the fact that for many the numbers never add up.

I am not sure how to respond to the last part of your post. Is this some sort of slight on my posting frequency? Is there really something you are looking for me to explain or justify? I seem to recall a prior post of yours where you knock the number of posts some around here have. How can you explain those behaviors?

 

[WBP]

I am not sure how to respond to the last part of your post. Is this some sort of slight on my posting frequency? Is there really something you are looking for me to explain or justify? I seem to recall a prior post of yours where you knock the number of posts some around here have. How can you explain those behaviors?

I'll ask my Forensic Psychologist wife if she'd be willing to explain. Apparently, there is quite a science base on the behavior and subjects.

Buckle your seatbelt.

 

[SueDonJ]

I'll ask my Forensic Psychologist wife if she'd be willing to explain. Apparently, there is quite a science base on the behavior and subjects.

Buckle your seatbelt.

Oh good lord, are we really going to do this again?! We're not lab mice, and those of us who know better appreciate the time and knowledge shared here that makes all of our timeshare usage more valuable. @dioxide45 is one of the most knowledgeable and valuable contributors to this forum and it's just stupid to make remarks that can be taken as derogatory against him. Stop it. If your wife is looking for someone to analyze, ask her why you felt the need to bring it to this discussion.

Cripes.

 

[Huskerpaul]

I'll ask my Forensic Psychologist wife if she'd be willing to explain. Apparently, there is quite a science base on the behavior and subjects.

Buckle your seatbelt.

This website has an ignore feature, correct? I might have found my first use for it

 

[Bodie]

But, hey, who amongst us has a "forensic" psychologist in the family. Although, I did notice National University offers a four week Forensic Science degree.

 

[brezzsent]

I agree, I am not impressed with their tactics. Their style is to, like you said, talk fast and take advantage of impulse buyers on a vacation high.

 

[Dean]

I agree, I am not impressed with their tactics. Their style is to, like you said, talk fast and take advantage of impulse buyers on a vacation high.

The reality is that timeshares would not exist if everyone had the full information available to them thus some type of shenanigans are necessary to sell at all. Best case scenario is they get people who are on the "vacation high" and present things honestly but in the best light and sign them up if they agree. Even the most honest salesperson is not going to tell people about how much they can save resale, tell someone not to buy that can't really afford it or that a given choice is poor for that buyer if the buyer wants to sign. If people approached it today like they do a car purchase with all the data, there would be no more new resorts and the system would slowly deteriorate. Historically car dealers make little on the sale of a vehicle but make most of their money on Financing, add ons, extended warranties and the like; I wonder how that would look in timeshares sales. The last couple of years have skewed that somewhat but it is slowly returning to a more normal state. Of course they do push financing.

 

[suzannesimon]

I know it's pervasive in the industry, but does it bother anyone that the company we've hitched our wagons to tells lies for money?

It’s very disappointing for me. It wasn’t always this bad. I bought from a great professional agent. I have decided to not give them an audience anymore. They are sleazy,

 

[rthib]

People here are proud of the “only buy resale” or “never buy points, just rent.” If they didn’t have any sales, then there would be no resale or rental market. So we have to thank them for making a secondary market.

 

[dioxide45]

People here are proud of the “only buy resale” or “never buy points, just rent.” If they didn’t have any sales, then there would be no resale or rental market. So we have to thank them for making a secondary market.

Well, there could be a rental market if the resorts still existed and were just marketed like a hotel. Pay as you go.

 

[rthib]

Well, there could be a rental market if the resorts still existed and were just marketed like a hotel. Pay as you go.

Points rental was what I was referring. Just renting nights gets you out of the whole timeshare game.
But the “smart” timeshare advice is buy resale and rent points, which require someone to obtain them from the developer,

 

[Bodie]

Went on a sales presentation in Spain and the Salesman exaggerated about how affordable villas in the explorer part of the program had gotten. I checked several countries he had mentioned and they remained as poor uses of Destination Points. If we ever need a few more points for a year, renting them will always be the way to go , rather than making another purchase . We are already at Chairman benefit level and like to free up some of our funds for hotels and an occasional cruise. I have noticed that when a salesperson states that they regularly help clients with their bookings….. that is proof positive that they are dishonest . I hope some of Marriott Vacation Club sales and Management sees this post and stops saying this. It is insulting . Stop underestimating our intelligence !

When we first bought in 2004, we were assigned a MVC customer service rep who was wonderful. (I miss you, Maria!) We always had access and she coordinated everything from reservations, airfare etc. (This was also a time when we could use our Marriott hotel points to book Marriott vacation packages through our MVC rep. No longer). She left MVC some years ago and there went our dedicated relationship. Current CSRs do their best but no longer provide the services they did. That's not their fault; it's the company's. So, yes, if salespeople are stating they "regularly help clients with their bookings" it may not be an outright lie, but "help" is very limited.

 

[davidvel]

People here are proud of the “only buy resale” or “never buy points, just rent.” If they didn’t have any sales, then there would be no resale or rental market. So we have to thank them for making a secondary market.

No one says they shouldn't sell timeshares, its HOW they sell, and the exorbitant added costs, that most people have a problem with.

 

[claraj]

I had an interesting conversation with the sales team in Los Suenos this past weekend. They are able to to sell trust points now, which was the focus of the sales pitch. I asked about Gold weeks and was told they are sold out, which I found surprising (they were not sold out when I visited in August.) Also, I am able to book 2 BR villas on the Marriott hotel website in the Gold season, which I know is different inventory, but I still felt like I was being told certain things to steer me to what they want to sell at the moment.

 

[jwalk03]

I had an interesting conversation with the sales team in Los Suenos this past weekend. They are able to to sell trust points now, which was the focus of the sales pitch. I asked about Gold weeks and was told they are sold out, which I found surprising (they were not sold out when I visited in August.) Also, I am able to book 2 BR villas on the Marriott hotel website in the Gold season, which I know is different inventory, but I still felt like I was being told certain things to steer me to what they want to sell at the moment.

So 24 units x 21 gold weeks means they should have around 500 gold weeks to sell total. And gold is the largest season on the calendar as well. Crazy to think it could be sold out already!

 

[bazzap]

So 24 units x 21 gold weeks means they should have around 500 gold weeks to sell total. And gold is the largest season on the calendar as well. Crazy to think it could be sold out already!

If they can sell Trust Points at Los Suenos now though, is that separately and additional to still selling weeks at the resort or have they found some magical way to convey all the unsold weeks there into the abound Points Programme?!

 

[claraj]

have they found some magical way to convey all the unsold weeks there into the abound Points Programme

I hadn't thought about this possibility before, but if they had conveyed unsold weeks into the Trust, I would expect to see availability with Trust Points and this has not changed when I search Los Suenos using points.

 

[jwalk03]

If they can sell Trust Points at Los Suenos now though, is that separately and additional to still selling weeks at the resort or have they found some magical way to convey all the unsold weeks there into the abound Points Programme?!

No foreign resorts can be conveyed to the US Land Trust.

 

[Hindsite]

No foreign resorts can be conveyed to the US Land Trust.

That doesn't stop those resorts from selling Trust points.

 

[jwalk03]

That doesn't stop those resorts from selling Trust points.

Correct, my point was just that any unsold weeks could not have been conveyed to the trust.

 

[bazzap]

That doesn't stop those resorts from selling Trust points.

Although as I understand it International resorts cannot sell Trust Points, That is what we have always been told and understood for European MVC resorts anyway?

 

[5finny]

Out of curiosity, how do you explain responding to the volume of posts that you respond to, on TUG, and to amassing 43,990 posts on TUG? There is something very remarkable about your level of engagement, in my opinion. I am very curious how one can explain those behaviors.

I for one am very thankful for @dioxide45 's "level of engagement"