Sales Presentation at Grande Vista...thoughts?

[NboroGirl]

I did the sales presentation at Grande Vista this morning. We only agreed because we were checking out of our studio this morning and into a 2BR villa later on, so we had time to kill between checkout/checkin. Plus we got a $300 gift card. I was promised by the guy at Preferred Checkin that it would only take 75 min, even after I told him it ALWAYS goes longer.

Our saleswoman said she is fast and it would only be 60 min. (Never believe a sales person.) We were there 1 hour and 40 minutes.

We own 2 enrolled platinum weeks at MGV (3BR + 2BR) and are Executive level. She offered to sell us 500 points for about $8450 total, explaining how we'd gain access to SO MUCH MORE and inventory with trust points. She mentioned (I forgot what she called it) a way we'd be able to get 6 weeks of vacation for our 2 MGV weeks plus these points. Basically if you book 60 days or less you can get any Marriott timeshare (if it has availability) regardless of location, view, or season, for a fixed amount of points, depending on unit size, which is a fraction of what it would normally cost in points which I didn't know that before. Sorry if I don't have exact details... I didn't take notes and once we went past 75 minutes I was hungry and I lost interest. However, my DH got starry eyed and wanted to take this deal and buy them. I was against it because I don't want points and feel we don't need points. She kept offering to leave us alone so we could discuss it.

I mentioned TUG at one point (I forgot why) and she asked what that was (really?). She asked why I use TUG and I told her it was very informative and I learned a lot. She basically told me I shouldn't listen to people on TUG; that people there don't tell the truth and they're all negative. How would she know if she didn't know what TUG was? Apparently TUGgers aren't in my league because they bought their timeshares for $1 and she said something that made me believe she wasn't referring to Marriott owners so I explained that I only frequent the Marriott forum. Lastly, I should believe her and/or go to a Marriott Facebook page, something with "over 55" in the name (I think that refers to owners with over 5500 points points, but maybe it refers to age?) to get information.

I'd like to get TUGgers opinion on this deal: yay or nay? I really didn't have an argument against it other than I don't want points and felt we don't need points. DH seemed upset that I wasn't interested, even when I told him if he wanted the points to go ahead and buy them.

BTW, we're in one of the remodeled units in building 97. They're very nice. Even the barn door! (It only closes the bedroom off from the shower area. There's a separate door into the bathroom.

 

[vacationtime1]

An easy "nay".

If you ever really, really need trust points, you can rent them for ~$0.70/point (500 points for ~$350) for the years you need them -- with no capital investment.

 

[rthib]

If you really wanted more points, resale points after junk fees are $7/point.
The 60 day thing she was talking about are destination escapes. But not any resort that has availability, but any resort and date that Marriott makes available through escapes.
There are lots of resorts with availability < 60 days but they are not available as an escape. Right now select March days in Branson and Australia are all that is available as an escape.

 

[jme]

I hope you said, "Goodbye and thanks for the $300".
That's enough for one day. Pie in the sky promises. Be glad you walked out.

BTW, $8450 and you could get another great resale week at MGV, and REALLY enjoy what that would do.

 

[Dean]

It sounds like they were pitching the destination escapes which are a good deal when you can get them and they work for your situation. But they are not the norm for most people and most situation. You do not need points unless you need more points to use specifically for reservations. Even then that might not be the best way to get there for many people.

 

[NboroGirl]

Thanks everyone! We did not buy points. I asked DH what it was that she said that made him want to buy points. She said that we would not have access to any units in the trust unless we bought points. I told DH we could always rent trust points to gain access, but he claimed (must've been when I wasn't paying attention) that we needed both our legacy points AND trust points in order to gain access. She never mentioned renting points, I'm sure, but he seems to think that we need to own trust points or we won't have access.

 

[mbstn6254]

Just an aside about The Grande Vista Resort. The last two times I was there they directed me to "preferred check-in". Preferred check-in means you are directed to a side room in the lobby where you sit and wait for a "concierge" to check you in. The real purpose of the preferred status check-in is to sell you MVC and taking a presentation during your stay. From my experience the line at the regular check in the lobby area went much faster as I waited almost 30 minutes to speak to my "concierge". What a bunch of crap. Next time I will politely decline their generous preferred option and stand line with the rest.
You got to hand it to MVC. No opportunity is passed where they are not trying to sell you something. After a 6 hour car ride, the last thing I wanted was the MVC pitch. We are nothing but marks to them.

 

[Dean]

Thanks everyone! We did not buy points. I asked DH what it was that she said that made him want to buy points. She said that we would not have access to any units in the trust unless we bought points. I told DH we could always rent trust points to gain access, but he claimed (must've been when I wasn't paying attention) that we needed both our legacy points AND trust points in order to gain access. She never mentioned renting points, I'm sure, but he seems to think that we need to own trust points or we won't have access.

Realistically there is no difference in using trust points and enrolled points. I have not seen a situation in years where it made any difference and doubt I ever will.

 

[DanCali]

She mentioned (I forgot what she called it) a way we'd be able to get 6 weeks of vacation for our 2 MGV weeks plus these points. Basically if you book 60 days or less you can get any Marriott timeshare (if it has availability) regardless of location, view, or season, for a fixed amount of points, depending on unit size, which is a fraction of what it would normally cost in points which I didn't know that before. Sorry if I don't have exact details... I didn't take notes and once we went past 75 minutes I was hungry and I lost interest. However, my DH got starry eyed and wanted to take this deal and buy them. I was against it because I don't want points and feel we don't need points. She kept offering to leave us alone so we could discuss it.

This is the true part about what she mentioned:

However, you don't need trust points to book this. Any type of Abound points work...

Also, as @rthib mentioned, out of the 90+ resorts, the current availability as of today is as follows... The screenshot is 100% of what they show available - I believe they update it weekly and given that it's Feb 23, it's even less than what it appears to be. So you're not missing out on much...

 

[ChiefIlliniwek]

Just an aside about The Grande Vista Resort. The last two times I was there they directed me to "preferred check-in". Preferred check-in means you are directed to a side room in the lobby where you sit and wait for a "concierge" to check you in. The real purpose of the preferred status check-in is to sell you MVC and taking a presentation during your stay. From my experience the line at the regular check in the lobby area went much faster as I waited almost 30 minutes to speak to my "concierge". What a bunch of crap. Next time I will politely decline their generous preferred option and stand line with the rest.
You got to hand it to MVC. No opportunity is passed where they are not trying to sell you something. After a 6 hour car ride, the last thing I wanted was the MVC pitch. We are nothing but marks to them.

I checked out today after a two-night stay. Pretty disappointing. Room had a strong smell of mold. Overall the resort seemed dirty and worn-out. I wouldn’t consider staying there again.

 

[Steve A]

Just an aside about The Grande Vista Resort. The last two times I was there they directed me to "preferred check-in". Preferred check-in means you are directed to a side room in the lobby where you sit and wait for a "concierge" to check you in. The real purpose of the preferred status check-in is to sell you MVC and taking a presentation during your stay. From my experience the line at the regular check in the lobby area went much faster as I waited almost 30 minutes to speak to my "concierge". What a bunch of crap. Next time I will politely decline their generous preferred option and stand line with the rest.
You got to hand it to MVC. No opportunity is passed where they are not trying to sell you something. After a 6 hour car ride, the last thing I wanted was the MVC pitch. We are nothing but marks to them.

I hate the preferred check in, and as I have posted elsewhere I’ll never go back to GV because of it. Just came back from Cypress Harbor, incredibly easy check in.

 

[hajjah]

I checked out today after a two-night stay. Pretty disappointing. Room had a strong smell of mold. Overall the resort seemed dirty and worn-out. I wouldn’t consider staying there again.

Wait what! Apparently, you were not in a renovated unit. We were there in September and the new units are a complete remodel. You must have been in the oldest units at the resort, which they are renovating all of them. We're going back next month and can hardly wait to enjoy our 3 bdrm, 3 bath renovated unit. You should have requested to be moved immediately.

 

[dioxide45]

Wait what! Apparently, you were not in a renovated unit. We were there in September and the new units are a complete remodel. You must have been in the oldest units at the resort, which they are renovating all of them. We're going back next month and can hardly wait to enjoy our 3 bdrm, 3 bath renovated unit. You should have requested to be moved immediately.

They can't give everyone a renovated unit...

 

[ChiefIlliniwek]

Wait what! Apparently, you were not in a renovated unit. We were there in September and the new units are a complete remodel. You must have been in the oldest units at the resort, which they are renovating all of them. We're going back next month and can hardly wait to enjoy our 3 bdrm, 3 bath renovated unit. You should have requested to be moved immediately.

I was in building 88. I should’ve asked to change rooms. But the place looked full. The bathroom smelled especially bad. Grande Vista still wasn’t as bad as the nearby Icon Embassy Suites. I stayed there last November. That place was disgusting.

 

[hajjah]

I was in building 88. I should’ve asked to change rooms. But the place looked full. The bathroom smelled especially bad. Grande Vista still wasn’t as bad as the nearby Icon Embassy Suites. I stayed there last November. That place was disgusting.

I'm planning to call the resort for an update on what has been renovated. No, they certainty cannot give everyone a renovated unit until they are all completed, but some people could care less about this and are simply happy to be anywhere. A renovated unit is my first priority no matter where I stay, top floor is second for no running and jumping over my head. You would be surprised at how loud some folks are while on vacation.

 

[TheTimeTraveler]

I'm planning to call the resort for an update on what has been renovated. No, they certainty cannot give everyone a renovated unit until they are all completed, but some people could care less about this and are simply happy to be anywhere. A renovated unit is my first priority no matter where I stay, top floor is second for no running and jumping over my head. You would be surprised at how loud some folks are while on vacation.

You'd be surprises how loud folks can be even when they're not on vacation..............


.

 

[grrrah]

To summarize -

Destination escapes are very limited, and you should already have access to the deals.

Trust point inventory and enrolled week inventory are already combined for everyone.

Salesperson either flat out lied (again), or used very deceiving wording to make it seem like you needed to hand money over for either of those.

Also as mentioned, you can buy points for less than 1/2 the cost resale, or rent points for about the price of MF.