So irked by my latest Marriott presentation

[SueDonJ]

The OP was complaining about his salesperson's apparent ignorance regarding key features of the VC plan. His ignorance, if such, is sloppy. But it could easily have been deliberate misrepresentation. We hear tons of stories about how the "facts" change, once a salesperson is challenged. Either way, you criticized the OP for wasting the poor man's time, suggesting he deserves what he got. I don't think so.

I don't think that anybody who attends a presentation for the gifts knowing that they won't be buying is in the wrong - it's simply the way the game is played. I also agree that misrepresentation by Marriott reps, whether it's deliberate or out of ignorance, is a huge problem that must be negatively affecting Marriott's reputation.

But in this particular case, the OP related that s/he engaged in just as much misrepresentation as the Marriott rep did! While the OP was correct about how II's system works, s/he was completely wrong about how Marriott DC-enrolled Weeks work within II's system. Considering that Marriott's objective is to play up the benefits of the DC compared to II, and the OP's objective is the opposite, I'd say that they BOTH broke the rules while playing the game. "Epic fail," as my kids would say. The only thing I'm left wondering is why the sales rep gave in and agreed with the OP's misrepresentations about DC-enrolled Weeks. Maybe the rep was eventually as irked as the OP was.

 

[vacationlover2]

Actually I didn't know the answer. The sales rep asked his boss.

 

[siesta]

If there is anything worse than a salesperson who doesn't know what he/she is selling, it's someone who goes to a sales presentation with no intention to buy, simply to get the Reward points. If I were a sales person, I would find that irksome.

I respectfully disagree. IMO what's worse than a salesperson who doesnt know what he is selling ... Is a salesperson who knows EXACTLY what they are selling and choose to either leave pertinent information out or distort the truth, sometimes even flat out lying.

Ignorance is bad, intentional deception is much worse.

 

[BocaBoy]

I don't think that anybody who attends a presentation for the gifts knowing that they won't be buying is in the wrong - it's simply the way the game is played. I also agree that misrepresentation by Marriott reps, whether it's deliberate or out of ignorance, is a huge problem that must be negatively affecting Marriott's reputation.

But in this particular case, the OP related that s/he engaged in just as much misrepresentation as the Marriott rep did! While the OP was correct about how II's system works, s/he was completely wrong about how Marriott DC-enrolled Weeks work within II's system. Considering that Marriott's objective is to play up the benefits of the DC compared to II, and the OP's objective is the opposite, I'd say that they BOTH broke the rules while playing the game. "Epic fail," as my kids would say. The only thing I'm left wondering is why the sales rep gave in and agreed with the OP's misrepresentations about DC-enrolled Weeks. Maybe the rep was eventually as irked as the OP was.

Thank you for your posts. They are among the most objective and balanced of any on this board.

 

[SueDonJ]

Actually I didn't know the answer. The sales rep asked his boss.

Then I'm afraid I don't understand. This is what you said, "He also tried to tell me that if I enrolled my week the yearly fee would cover Marriott exchanges through II. I told him I don't think so, go ask. He came back and said no, that I was right. Again, UGH!"

If you didn't know the answer, why did you tell him that you thought he was wrong? Unless by that point you didn't have any faith at all that he had enough knowledge to answer any questions correctly, in which case I don't know why you'd engage in further discussion with him.

 

[Beefnot]

Susan, how is it misrepresentation on the part of the customer to challenge what they are being fed by the sales rep?

 

[vacationlover2]

Oh boy. I meant I thought the dc annual fee did not cover marriott ii exchanges. That's why I asked him to confirm his statement. I subsequently found out from this thread that it is true.

What I would like to know is why some people think I'm a villain because I went to a sales presentation because they offered me points.

 

[SueDonJ]

Susan, how is it misrepresentation on the part of the customer to challenge what they are being fed by the sales rep?

It's not. I thought this OP was sure the sales rep was wrong when s/he challenged him over something he said that was correct. Now I think I understand that the OP challenged him without knowing what was correct, which changes how I'd characterize their interaction.

 

[jimf41]

I don't think anyone thinks you're a villain. I think DB-wis just phrased his point of view poorly. This topic has come up before and a lot of people feel you shouldn't go to a presentation with no desire to buy anything. But how many of us would be TS owners if the TS companies had never offered any incentive to listen to their pitch? Even folks who bought resale had to buy from someone who took the incentives somewhere along the line.

 

[dmharris]

Oh boy. I meant I thought the dc annual fee did not cover marriott ii exchanges. That's why I asked him to confirm his statement. I subsequently found out from this thread that it is true.

What I would like to know is why some people think I'm a villain because I went to a sales presentation because they offered me points.

Just to clarify, it is my understanding that the DC annual fee covers Marriott to Marriott exchanges using II. The only time you pay an additional fee is when you exchange your Marriott for a non-Marriott. Is this your understanding vacationlover?

You're not a villain. Many of us, including me, are incentivized to attend presentations for the points and to play their game, get information, etc.

 

[pwrshift]

Just to clarify, it is my understanding that the DC annual fee covers Marriott to Marriott exchanges using II. The only time you pay an additional fee is when you exchange your Marriott for a non-Marriott. Is this your understanding vacationlover?
.

Perhaps this has changed since the announcement of the DC plan, but at that time I thought only Mar-to-Mar exchanges were included and if you wanted to go to a Royal resort in Cancun (or other non-Marriott) you had to join II separate from the DC plan.

 

[SueDonJ]

Just to clarify, it is my understanding that the DC annual fee covers Marriott to Marriott exchanges using II. The only time you pay an additional fee is when you exchange your Marriott for a non-Marriott. Is this your understanding vacationlover?

You're not a villain. Many of us, including me, are incentivized to attend presentations for the points and to play their game, get information, etc.

Perhaps this has changed since the announcement of the DC plan, but at that time I thought only Mar-to-Mar exchanges were included and if you wanted to go to a Royal resort in Cancun (or other non-Marriott) you had to join II separate from the DC plan.

You can use your II corporate account to exchange DC-enrolled Marriott Weeks to any other II resorts. You don't pay an II membership fee for that account or for any exchanges made through it into a Marriott resort. But you do pay the II exchange fees if you exchange enrolled Weeks through it into non-Marriott resorts. You can also purchase II Getaways through your corporate account. If you own non-Marriott systems or Marriott Weeks that are ineligible for enrollment in the DC, you will have to keep a separate individual II account for exchanging out of those.

 

[m61376]

Just to add to Sue's comment above, you also need to maintain your original II account after joining the DC if there are any deposits in that account, or any ongoing requests you want continued. Even though you have joined the DC, you will have to pay an exchange fee for those exchanges from the original account.