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I'm not sure what I got myself into at Eddie's LA show (night 2)...

walkunafraidwalkunafraid Posts: 2,605
edited May 2008 in The Porch
As my girlfriend and I were walking down the lobby to get to our seats, we were stopped by a guy next to a stand that had been set up along the wall.

Being generally nice people, we stopped to hear what he had to say instead of breezing past him and ignoring him (as most people did).

Turns out he had a "tremendous opportunity" to offer us. In exchange for taking a tour of "the Welk Resort" (in Escondido, near San Diego), he was going to give us a free vacation package to Las Vegas, Catalina Island, or San Francisco, along with a voucher for $200 to buy tickets to any LiveNation show.

Sounded unbelievable, but after he gave us the rundown of how it all worked, we decided to sign up.

Now we have a tour set up for May 17. We know what the purpose on their part is -- they think that by giving us a 90-minute tour we're going to be unable to resist buying into a timeshare -- but we really have no desire to own a timeshare in a place we never visit, and never would even if we owned one. Plus, we don't have the money.

So it's going to be 90 minutes of ear torture listening to someone(s) use all kinds of persuasive techniques to try to get us to buy something we really don't want.

Of course, we could just not show up...but then we'd lose the vacation, voucher, and $30 deposit we had to put down.

Anybody else sign up for this at the show? Or, has anyone else ever done one of these "tours"? Are they as bad as I think this one will be?

Aargh...
Everything has chains...Absolutely nothing's changed. - PJ

“The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.” - Albert Camus
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  • walkthamilewalkthamile Posts: 349
    walkunafraid wrote:
    As my girlfriend and I were walking down the lobby to get to our seats, we were stopped by a guy next to a stand that had been set up along the wall.

    Being generally nice people, we stopped to hear what he had to say instead of breezing past him and ignoring him (as most people did).

    Turns out he had a "tremendous opportunity" to offer us. In exchange for taking a tour of "the Welk Resort" (in Escondido, near San Diego), he was going to give us a free vacation package to Las Vegas, Catalina Island, or San Francisco, along with a voucher for $200 to buy tickets to any LiveNation show.

    Sounded unbelievable, but after he gave us the rundown of how it all worked, we decided to sign up.

    Now we have a tour set up for May 17. We know what the purpose on their part is -- they think that by giving us a 90-minute tour we're going to be unable to resist buying into a timeshare -- but we really have no desire to own a timeshare in a place we never visit, and never would even if we owned one. Plus, we don't have the money.

    So it's going to be 90 minutes of ear torture listening to someone(s) use all kinds of persuasive techniques to try to get us to buy something we really don't want.

    Of course, we could just not show up...but then we'd lose the vacation, voucher, and $30 deposit we had to put down.

    Anybody else sign up for this at the show? Or, has anyone else ever done one of these "tours"? Are they as bad as I think this one will be?

    Aargh...

    Seriously, you should have kept walking!
    +--+-Official Upcoming Australasian Tour:Member #9-+--+
  • go prego pre Posts: 662
    walkunafraid wrote:
    As my girlfriend and I were walking down the lobby to get to our seats, we were stopped by a guy next to a stand that had been set up along the wall.

    Being generally nice people, we stopped to hear what he had to say instead of breezing past him and ignoring him (as most people did).

    Turns out he had a "tremendous opportunity" to offer us. In exchange for taking a tour of "the Welk Resort" (in Escondido, near San Diego), he was going to give us a free vacation package to Las Vegas, Catalina Island, or San Francisco, along with a voucher for $200 to buy tickets to any LiveNation show.

    Sounded unbelievable, but after he gave us the rundown of how it all worked, we decided to sign up.

    Now we have a tour set up for May 17. We know what the purpose on their part is -- they think that by giving us a 90-minute tour we're going to be unable to resist buying into a timeshare -- but we really have no desire to own a timeshare in a place we never visit, and never would even if we owned one. Plus, we don't have the money.

    So it's going to be 90 minutes of ear torture listening to someone(s) use all kinds of persuasive techniques to try to get us to buy something we really don't want.

    Of course, we could just not show up...but then we'd lose the vacation, voucher, and $30 deposit we had to put down.

    Anybody else sign up for this at the show? Or, has anyone else ever done one of these "tours"? Are they as bad as I think this one will be?

    Aargh...

    why did you pay a $30 deposit to listen to someone try to sell you something you don't want in a place you don't want to visit?
    There's a trapdoor in the sun.
  • ninerniner Posts: 72
    i find your screen name a little ironic in this situation :)


    we did something like this in St. martin to get a free car rental. we just keep saying we would think about it. i just saw something on tv about scams like this. they will serve you food, compliment you, send in a "manager". we told them we would have to our "accountant" before making any business decisions. there was nothing they could do, so stick to you guns and say no and don't sign anything! good luck!
  • walkunafraidwalkunafraid Posts: 2,605
    go pre wrote:
    why did you pay a $30 deposit to listen to someone try to sell you something you don't want in a place you don't want to visit?

    yeah, it sounds pretty stupid. but the free vacation and $200 voucher for something we'd use in a heartbeat was hard to turn down.
    Everything has chains...Absolutely nothing's changed. - PJ

    “The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.” - Albert Camus
  • walkunafraidwalkunafraid Posts: 2,605
    niner wrote:
    i find your screen name a little ironic in this situation :)


    we did something like this in St. martin to get a free car rental. we just keep saying we would think about it. i just saw something on tv about scams like this. they will serve you food, compliment you, send in a "manager". we told them we would have to our "accountant" before making any business decisions. there was nothing they could do, so stick to you guns and say no and don't sign anything! good luck!

    thanks for the advice! that's pretty much what we talked about doing -- sticking to our guns and saying "no" no matter what.

    i mean, they still have to give the free goodies no matter what, and i'm pretty good at dealing with people who want to get something out of me, so i'm hoping it won't be TOO painful.
    Everything has chains...Absolutely nothing's changed. - PJ

    “The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.” - Albert Camus
  • go prego pre Posts: 662
    walkunafraid wrote:
    yeah, it sounds pretty stupid. but the free vacation and $200 voucher for something we'd use in a heartbeat was hard to turn down.
    are you sure you're getting a free vacation and a voucher, or did that guy just get your $30??
    There's a trapdoor in the sun.
  • walkunafraidwalkunafraid Posts: 2,605
    go pre wrote:
    are you sure you're getting a free vacation and a voucher, or did that guy just get your $30??

    yeah, that part is a given.

    it's a known practice that timeshares do this type of thing all the time. hell, there are people who live off of going to timeshare presentations and getting the free gifts that go along with them.

    the freebies are for certain with these type of things...you just have to sit through the presentation.

    and if you meant the guy might have been a fraud, he wasn't. all of the brochures etc. were valid, and the reminder e-mails from the resort (and website with our reservation time on it) make it abundantly clear that it's for real.
    Everything has chains...Absolutely nothing's changed. - PJ

    “The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.” - Albert Camus
  • wilfmisswilfmiss Posts: 196
    If they pick you up in a limo at the airport, and you see a shovel and a bag of lime in the trunk when they stow your luggage, I would split.

    Oh, and if they take you in a cave that looks like anything from the Temple of Doom, I would run, too.
    3-29-94-FL/9-24-96-MD/9-18-98-MD/9-05-00-PA/4-26-03-PA/5-03-03-PA/7-12-03-PA/10-1-04-PA/9-19-05-ON/9-28-05-PA/5-09-06-ON/5-10-06-ON/6-23-06-PA/6-19-08-NJ/10-28-09-PA/5-20-10-NY/5-21-10-NY/9-11-11-ON/9-12-11-ON/9-2-12-PA/9-22-12-GA/10-11-13-PA/10-18-13-NY/10-19-13-NY/10-16-14-MI/9-26-15-NY/4-9-16-FL/4-11-16-FL/8-8-18-WA/8-10-18-WA
  • SDHSClassof82SDHSClassof82 Seattle Posts: 306
    go pre wrote:
    are you sure you're getting a free vacation and a voucher, or did that guy just get your $30??

    I've gotten two free weekends at a nice casino at Lake Tahoe for listening to a 90 minute spiel. I only had to say no firmly once and I was outta there. Totally worth it.
    “Wind in my hair, I feel part of everywhere...
    Late at night I hear the trees, they're singing with the dead...overhead...”
  • AllieAllie Posts: 2,908
    walkunafraid wrote:

    Sounded unbelievable, and $30 deposit we had to put down.

    quote]
    If it sounds too good to be true it usually is
    sounds to me like you already got scammed out of $30, why did you 'have' to put that down
    and was it $30 per person? (you and your gf)?
    "...like a word misplaced, nothing said, what a waste.."
    "Sometimes life should be consumed in measured doses"
    6-01-06
    6/25/08
    Free Speedy
    and Metsy!
  • ONCE DEVIDEDONCE DEVIDED Posts: 1,131
    A good buddy of mne Did this type of event and his story cracked me up.
    he told them in no uncertain terms that he wasnt interested in investing from word go but took up the offer of a free weekend including meals and a bottle of wine. he went to the presentation for 2 hours and was leaving when he was bailed up by the people who were running it and they asked him if he felt bad for taking all that they offered and not signing on- he just said listen I told you from word go that I wasnt interested but YOU JUST HAD TO GET ME TO COME TO THIS AND THE GREAT OFFER WILL BE TO HARD TO RESIST well im resisiting and wheres MY FUCKING BOTTLE OF WINE.
    go for it I say.
    JUST DONT SIGN ANYTHING
    AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE
  • memememe Posts: 4,695
    Strange the booth was there, guess Ed had no control on this kind of advertisement. But the story made me think of that part of Benaroya when he tells about the guy "serving him papers". So now Lukin is playing in my head :p
    ... and the will to show I will always be better than before.
  • bettermanofthehourbettermanofthehour Posts: 355
    a buddy of mine at work just got back from vacation in florida. they sat in on one of these things down there to get some free tickets to disney and a hotel package i believe.

    he said that at the beginning they were real nice. by the end of the 90 minutes they were down right mean to the people who weren't signing up. they didn't sign up for anything and got their free stuff. but he did say that there were several people that ended up signing up just to get the people off their backs.
    My whole life looked like a picture of a sunny day.


    Summerfest 95, 06 Alpine 92, 98, 00, 03 Chicago 95, 98, 00, 03, 06, 07 Grand Rapids 04, St. John's 05 Milwaukee 08
  • nukebootnukeboot Posts: 1,465
    If you 've ever been able to leave a car dealership without buying a car you should be fine.

    One tip I heard from friend - dress badly for the presentation and maybe don't shave for a few days. They'll move on pretty quickly to the well groomed yuppies.

    :D
    EdSurfingSig_zpsgmyltito.jpg
    I'll ride the wave where it takes me...
  • JaneNYJaneNY Posts: 4,438
    There were a lot of handy tips in this thread! Walkunafraid you'll have to let us know how it goes.
    R.i.p. Rigoberto Alpizar.
    R.i.p. My Dad - May 28, 2007
    R.i.p. Black Tail (cat) - Sept. 20, 2008
  • walkunafraidwalkunafraid Posts: 2,605
    SDHSClassof82 wrote:
    I've gotten two free weekends at a nice casino at Lake Tahoe for listening to a 90 minute spiel. I only had to say no firmly once and I was outta there. Totally worth it.

    Good to know I'm not the only one who has done this. Thanks for the advice! :)
    Everything has chains...Absolutely nothing's changed. - PJ

    “The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.” - Albert Camus
  • walkunafraidwalkunafraid Posts: 2,605
    Allie wrote:
    walkunafraid wrote:

    Sounded unbelievable, and $30 deposit we had to put down.

    quote]
    If it sounds too good to be true it usually is
    sounds to me like you already got scammed out of $30, why did you 'have' to put that down
    and was it $30 per person? (you and your gf)?


    No, $30 combined. It's so that the resort can be sure the persons actually show up. They have a very detailed schedule of times for these tours, so having people not show up would totally screw that up. (And, of course, there would be a TON of people who didn't show up if they didn't have to put any money down...)
    Everything has chains...Absolutely nothing's changed. - PJ

    “The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.” - Albert Camus
  • walkunafraidwalkunafraid Posts: 2,605
    nukeboot wrote:
    If you 've ever been able to leave a car dealership without buying a car you should be fine.

    One tip I heard from friend - dress badly for the presentation and maybe don't shave for a few days. They'll move on pretty quickly to the well groomed yuppies.

    :D

    Nice!

    Best tip so far! :D
    Everything has chains...Absolutely nothing's changed. - PJ

    “The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.” - Albert Camus
  • westsidepiewestsidepie Posts: 627
    go pre wrote:
    why did you pay a $30 deposit to listen to someone try to sell you something you don't want in a place you don't want to visit?


    And how do you know this company actually exists. Maybe the guy had no affiliation with the resort, and he was just trying to scam people out of 30 bucks. Call the company quickly. And, yea, there is an element of S&M to this. Why would you pay someone $30 for someone to verbally torture you?
    To pie I will reply
    But mr. justam
    is who I am

    "That's a repulsive combination of horrible information and bad breath."-Pickles

    "Remember, death is a natural part of the workplace. So, when you see a dead body at work, don't freak out, just ring your death bell." "ting"-Toki Wartooth
  • nowayimfaithfullnowayimfaithfull Posts: 2,051
    walkunafraid wrote:
    thanks for the advice! that's pretty much what we talked about doing -- sticking to our guns and saying "no" no matter what.

    i mean, they still have to give the free goodies no matter what, and i'm pretty good at dealing with people who want to get something out of me, so i'm hoping it won't be TOO painful.


    The problem is, the stuff they sell really isnt all that bad when your amped and maybee drinking. I have seen times when they may of had an open bar. You may go to the sales meeting and they are offering a great deal over 10 years time and be like great we could use a time share condo for 200 a month. Than come home and staighten your thoughts and be like crap what I just get myself into.
    So its really no differant a process, you recieved 1 small getaway for 30 bucks, next time it will be 20 getaways for 12.000 bucks.
    Just be crefull, its not that they are all crooks they just put you in a position to make crazy decisions.
    Some people have religion I have Pearl Jam.


    no more shows
  • walkunafraidwalkunafraid Posts: 2,605
    westsidepie wrote:
    And how do you know this company actually exists. Maybe the guy had no affiliation with the resort, and he was just trying to scam people out of 30 bucks. Call the company quickly. And, yea, there is an element of S&M to this. Why would you pay someone $30 for someone to verbally torture you?

    Thanks for the advice. We have already called the company, seen our names on their website, received multiple e-mails from them, and confirmed that they are indeed real.
    Everything has chains...Absolutely nothing's changed. - PJ

    “The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.” - Albert Camus
  • walkunafraidwalkunafraid Posts: 2,605
    nowayimfaithfull wrote:
    The problem is, the stuff they sell really isnt all that bad when your amped and maybee drinking. I have seen times when they may of had an open bar. You may go to the sales meeting and they are offering a great deal over 10 years time and be like great we could use a time share condo for 200 a month. Than come home and staighten your thoughts and be like crap what I just get myself into.
    So its really no differant a process, you recieved 1 small getaway for 30 bucks, next time it will be 20 getaways for 12.000 bucks.
    Just be crefull, its not that they are all crooks they just put you in a position to make crazy decisions.

    Yeah...that's what I've been hearing. Thank you for that advice.

    Luckily, we have absolutely no interest in timeshares, absolutely no money to spend on one, and have done some research and gotten some great tips to avoid falling into their traps.

    The best I have heard so far, actually, is to bring a calculator to do the math they throw at you. That way when they say we can own a place for only $150/month over ten years, we can input that and say "why the hell would we spend $18000 to stay at a place for two weeks a year?".
    Everything has chains...Absolutely nothing's changed. - PJ

    “The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.” - Albert Camus
  • SDHSClassof82SDHSClassof82 Seattle Posts: 306
    walkunafraid wrote:
    Luckily, we have absolutely no interest in timeshares, absolutely no money to spend on one, and have done some research and gotten some great tips to avoid falling into their traps.

    The best I have heard so far, actually, is to bring a calculator to do the math they throw at you. That way when they say we can own a place for only $150/month over ten years, we can input that and say "why the hell would we spend $18000 to stay at a place for two weeks a year?".

    I wouldn't even engage with them that much. Don't respond positively to anything they say. Just say: 'After seeing your presentation I have no interest in ownership.'

    I'm a big softie and I had no trouble turning it down and cutting short the sales pitch. I felt a bit bad for the salespeople because they seemed so desperate, but you know, not THAT bad. The salespeople are likely to be young and inexperienced. There's a big turnover of staff in that industry. The guy tried to guilt me and I literally laughed at him and said "I'm supposed to spent $20k because you've invested 20 mins of your time on me?" Believe me, it's not like mind control. You'll be fine.
    “Wind in my hair, I feel part of everywhere...
    Late at night I hear the trees, they're singing with the dead...overhead...”
  • nowayimfaithfullnowayimfaithfull Posts: 2,051
    walkunafraid wrote:
    Yeah...that's what I've been hearing. Thank you for that advice.

    Luckily, we have absolutely no interest in timeshares, absolutely no money to spend on one, and have done some research and gotten some great tips to avoid falling into their traps.

    The best I have heard so far, actually, is to bring a calculator to do the math they throw at you. That way when they say we can own a place for only $150/month over ten years, we can input that and say "why the hell would we spend $18000 to stay at a place for two weeks a year?".


    Or just listen to an ipod, Ive said no, but honestly I alsmost did when I was 25, ansd thinking back that is when I was most broke, thank god I said no.
    Good luck.
    Some people have religion I have Pearl Jam.


    no more shows
  • IAmMyselfIAmMyself Posts: 671
    walkunafraid wrote:
    Yeah...that's what I've been hearing. Thank you for that advice.

    Luckily, we have absolutely no interest in timeshares, absolutely no money to spend on one, and have done some research and gotten some great tips to avoid falling into their traps.

    The best I have heard so far, actually, is to bring a calculator to do the math they throw at you. That way when they say we can own a place for only $150/month over ten years, we can input that and say "why the hell would we spend $18000 to stay at a place for two weeks a year?".

    I'm in sales, and that is a buying sign, they will just get harder on you because they think you are interested. They actually want you to come to that conclusion, so they can drop the price on you-then you are nailed! Sucks, I know but very true.

    Your best bet, is to look broke!

    Also, don't let them interfere with the rest of your trip, sometimes they will add on a free breakfast or dinner etc and then set with you during the free meal still trying to talk you into it.
    "Please help me to help you, help yourself." EV
  • CaptainEvenflowCaptainEvenflow Posts: 12
    Reminds me of the time that all five of the branches of military bought me dinner. When I graduated from high school, I ate steak dinners for two weeks while these guys tried to recruit me ( had excellent asvab scores).

    Just have the willpower to kick them in the teeth, and roll them when they are down!!
  • westsidepiewestsidepie Posts: 627
    irieinindy wrote:
    I

    Your best bet, is to look broke!

    Also, don't let them interfere with the rest of your trip, sometimes they will add on a free breakfast or dinner etc and then set with you during the free meal still trying to talk you into it.

    I think these are great bits of advice. Also, if you want to gear yourself up for the experience watch the episode of South Park where a bunch of people get a free weekend at a ski resort in exchange for listening to a 90 minute presentation of time-shares. It turns into a weekend from hell, but it is the funniest thing ever. After seeing the episode, it may help to imagine the sales people as the ones in the episode. They will loose their power.

    The episode is from Season 6, and it is called Asspen.
    To pie I will reply
    But mr. justam
    is who I am

    "That's a repulsive combination of horrible information and bad breath."-Pickles

    "Remember, death is a natural part of the workplace. So, when you see a dead body at work, don't freak out, just ring your death bell." "ting"-Toki Wartooth
  • walkunafraidwalkunafraid Posts: 2,605
    irieinindy wrote:
    I'm in sales, and that is a buying sign, they will just get harder on you because they think you are interested. They actually want you to come to that conclusion, so they can drop the price on you-then you are nailed! Sucks, I know but very true.

    Your best bet, is to look broke!

    Also, don't let them interfere with the rest of your trip, sometimes they will add on a free breakfast or dinner etc and then set with you during the free meal still trying to talk you into it.

    Great advice. Thank you!
    Everything has chains...Absolutely nothing's changed. - PJ

    “The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion.” - Albert Camus
  • rorrim_weiv_raerrorrim_weiv_raer Posts: 99
    Yeah I would of kept on walking!

    One of my buddies (the kinda guy that bought speakers from a white van) paid into some kind of deal like this also.

    He left on vacation to Vegas with all kinds of "vouchers" and then came back home to find his house totally empty. Coincidence? Who knows......
  • FirecloudFirecloud Posts: 516
    westsidepie wrote:
    I think these are great bits of advice. Also, if you want to gear yourself up for the experience watch the episode of South Park where a bunch of people get a free weekend at a ski resort in exchange for listening to a 90 minute presentation of time-shares. It turns into a weekend from hell, but it is the funniest thing ever. After seeing the episode, it may help to imagine the sales people as the ones in the episode. They will loose their power.

    The episode is from Season 6, and it is called Asspen.

    Stan Darsh!

    And the best movie reference ever in a tv show: "Quaaaaid.... start the reaaaactor..."


    But in all seriousness, I'm glad I checked out this thread, cause I've been subjected to this kind of pitch a few times before, and always walked the other way thinking it was just a scam. In some ways it is, but it's good to know you can make it work in your favor.
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