The Central preview

[GMan82]

Been a minute since I last posted, but figured I’d post my experience from today’s presentation for my stay at the Central on HGVC regular club points. They called me about a week ago and offered me the usual gifts + $25 Visa card in addition. I chose the $250 maintenance fee credit because that’s my favorite. Others I think were 70k Honors Points, $300 Visa card, and something else.

The guy was super nice and not pushy. He noticed I’d been to many presentations and hadn’t bought so he asked me if I wanted to know anything, then went a little bit into future acquisitions, and then said the smallest he could offer so that I could get into HGV Max was about $12k and an Amex card to pay it off 0% APR for 12 months. I politely declined.

Normally, we would be permitted to leave. However, this time? He said I had to sit for the remainder of the hour (45-50 mins) and brought me to an empty desk because HGV is cracking down on people leaving early.

That’s the reason for this post: this new thing where they make us sit for the hour elsewhere. I should have just peppered him with questions about Max, resale, honors conversions etc.

Also I could overhear someone who has $97k in “equity” being sold an additional $12.7k upgrade to the Central. Oof.

 

[HuskerATL]

interesting....I have heard of plenty that are released well less than the hour when the sale's person knows that they aren't going to buy so I know that is not a corporate policy. Either it is their policy at central or he was just being a jerk to make you "earn" it....

 

[Chris-ATX]

Interesting. We've often gotten to the "no" parts fairly efficiently, but then the manager, the financier, the final closer... all of those take time and more attention. It's draining. Honestly, if they made me "sit in a corner" I'd be super fine with that for the balance of the hour! though it sounds pretty petty to me and I like your suggestion of just peppering with questions and then on the hour getting up and departing.

More seriously though - if the sales people could convey actual, truthful and accurate information, I would find the updates much more useful to learning about the ecosystem and how to get more utility.

 

[GT75]

if the sales people could convey actual, truthful and accurate information, I would find the updates much more useful to learning about the ecosystem and how to get more utility.

Well, then they would be actual updates instead of something called updates (aka. sales presentations).

 

[dayooper]

@GMan82 So, what were the new acquisitions they talked about?

 

[1Kflyerguy]

Normally, we would be permitted to leave. However, this time? He said I had to sit for the remainder of the hour (45-50 mins) and brought me to an empty desk because HGV is cracking down on people leaving early.

I have also had this happen, in Hawaii two years back the salesperson, said we had to stay for the full 60 mins, and left us to sit at his desk until our time was up.

But last year in NYC, the agent discussed our recent resale purchase on the walk to his desk, we sat down he asked if would interested in buying into the Club to get batter access in NYC and enhanced honors exchange.. I said no, and we were out the door in less than 5 mins with the agent.

 

[JohnPaul]

@GMan82 So, what were the new acquisitions they talked about?

Probably Blue/Green and/or Diamond.

 

[GMan82]

They spoke about bluegreen a lot and when I mentioned that I thought bluegreen was a subpar system, his scripted answer was about how they acquired Diamond and brought the properties up to standard.

A lot of countries were mentioned but I didn’t get a chance to snap a pic of the list arranged by country because he was watching me like a hawk.

I’ve had them release me in 5 minutes and be on my way the last time I did this. He seemed nice, but I think this was a petty move on their end. He ended up finding me again at about the 45 minute mark and let me go. I used the time to complete some emails so it wasn’t a total bust. It just delayed me finding my fave NYC bagel place for lunch.

 

[letsgobobby]

They spoke about bluegreen a lot and when I mentioned that I thought bluegreen was a subpar system, his scripted answer was about how they acquired Diamond and brought the properties up to standard.

A lot of countries were mentioned but I didn’t get a chance to snap a pic of the list arranged by country because he was watching me like a hawk.

I’ve had them release me in 5 minutes and be on my way the last time I did this. He seemed nice, but I think this was a petty move on their end. He ended up finding me again at about the 45 minute mark and let me go. I used the time to complete some emails so it wasn’t a total bust. It just delayed me finding my fave NYC bagel place for lunch.

most important question:

what IS your fave NYC bagel place?

We like Liberty (very close to W57th) and Brooklyn Bagel Co but there are many we haven't tried.

 

[HuskerATL]

most important question:

what IS your fave NYC bagel place?

We like Liberty (very close to W57th) and Brooklyn Bagel Co but there are many we haven't tried.

Liberty can have a long line but good bagels...

 

[jp10558]

The one presentation I went to I had to sit for the whole time, I was like, OK I have a book on my phone I'm enjoying, and no one else on the trip is going to be up anyway. I doubt I'll get offered presentations cause I'm just resale. A $250 MF credit might be worth it IDK.

 

[Eric B]

He said I had to sit for the remainder of the hour (45-50 mins) and brought me to an empty desk because HGV is cracking down on people leaving early.

Presented with this sort of thing at an owners' update, my response would be that I committed to spending an hour with him providing me information. I would therefore decline to leave his desk for the hour or until he let me go. None of the agreements to attend a timeshare presentation I've ever seen have included an obligation to sit in an empty room without the company of a sales representative for any amount of time.

As an alternative, I would offer to wander around the sales floor and assist with educating other folks on the intricacies of the use of what they already own or are considering purchasing. That might expedite things....

 

[frank808]

With some of the sales people I have experienced, I would rather sit using my phone for the remainder of the time, than listen 30+ minutes of lies.

Sent from my SM-S928U using Tapatalk

 

[Eric B]

With some of the sales people I have experienced, I would rather sit using my phone for the remainder of the time, than listen 30+ minutes of lies.

Sent from my SM-S928U using Tapatalk

I don't know, but I've been told that listening to me for about 30 minutes or so can be a bit annoying at times. I'm always happy to share the pain....

 

[HuskerATL]

I don't know, but I've been told that listening to me for about 30 minutes or so can be a bit annoying at times. I'm always happy to share the pain....

hum.....my wife tells me the same thing but I don't think it requires 30 minutes...

 

[Eric B]

hum.....my wife tells me the same thing but I don't think it requires 30 minutes...

Right there with you; I'd bet he only lasts 5 minutes with me or you tops....