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Diamond Resorts - Powhatan

stevedmatt

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Just wanted to inform everyone of the concierge desk practices at The Historic Powhatan resort.

About 5 days before check in, I received a call from the resort to invite me to take the tour. I reluctantly agree as I normally don't feel to bad about not showing up or canceling at a later time. I also informed them of my late check in and requested a lower level unit. After answering the standard qualifying questions, I was asked for a $20 deposit on a credit card to hold the reservation. When I said no, she said she would waive the fee.

Upon arriving to the resort and checking in, I am escorted to the concierge desk, which is all of about 25 feet away. I was given a welcome pack and asked if I wanted to take the tour again. I said not really. I was told there was only 2 times available, 9 AM and noon Wednesday. I told them I didn't want to take the tour and surely wouldn't commit to a times as I wasn't sure of my plans. They said that I could change the time if I couldn't make it. I said "I thought these were the only 2 times available." They said people cancel all the time. So the guy starts to write up the reservation for 9 AM Wednesday and once again asks me the series of qualifying questions. After going through this, he asks me for $20. I told him to waive the fee. He said he could not. I explained to him that I wasn't giving him $20 to commit to a time that I couldn't commit to. Again, "you can cancel and get your $20 back." I said no thank you as I wasn't spending my vacation trying to get my $20 back.
Another lady approaches and explains to me that this wasn't a sales pitch. I informed her that in her list of qualifying questions that a 90 minute sales presentation was part of the tour. She said that it is a very "soft touch" presentation and there is no commitment to buy anything. My response: "I would never buy anything anyhow." At that point, she once again said she couldn't hold the time without a $20 deposit. I explained that I never asked them to hold the time and they could take their presentation and shove it.
Even after this altercation, I still received phone calls (that I didn't answer) at 8:45 and 9:30 PM as well as a knock on my door at 9PM with additional information being dropped at my door.

So, after that long explanation, has anyone every been asked for a deposit to hold a sales presentation time? This seems like a ridiculous idea to try to secure buyers. I was only going for the $75 visa gift card that would take my family to a nice dinner one night.
 

Big Matt

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This is an example of classic sales technique. Each time you say no, they have a rebuttal which is scripted. You say no, they say yes. I always just tell them no and to never bother me again. If they do, I call the general manager.

I have never heard of the $20 part, but it's a ploy to make you feel like you have to take the tour.
 

STEVIE

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H, we stayed at that resort about 3 years ago. We were also instructed to go to the desk in the back side of the check in area for our welcoming gift. The woman was friendly and very nice, until we declined the tour. Her demeanor changed so quickly, and she became angry to the point we felt uncomfortable. We were never asked for a $20.00 deposit. In spite of this we had a wonderful time. Sue
 

windje2000

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Just wanted to inform everyone of the concierge desk practices at The Historic Powhatan resort.

About 5 days before check in, I received a call from the resort to invite me to take the tour. I reluctantly agree as I normally don't feel to bad about not showing up or canceling at a later time. I also informed them of my late check in and requested a lower level unit. After answering the standard qualifying questions, I was asked for a $20 deposit on a credit card to hold the reservation. When I said no, she said she would waive the fee.

Upon arriving to the resort and checking in, I am escorted to the concierge desk, which is all of about 25 feet away. I was given a welcome pack and asked if I wanted to take the tour again. I said not really. I was told there was only 2 times available, 9 AM and noon Wednesday. I told them I didn't want to take the tour and surely wouldn't commit to a times as I wasn't sure of my plans. They said that I could change the time if I couldn't make it. I said "I thought these were the only 2 times available." They said people cancel all the time. So the guy starts to write up the reservation for 9 AM Wednesday and once again asks me the series of qualifying questions. After going through this, he asks me for $20. I told him to waive the fee. He said he could not. I explained to him that I wasn't giving him $20 to commit to a time that I couldn't commit to. Again, "you can cancel and get your $20 back." I said no thank you as I wasn't spending my vacation trying to get my $20 back.
Another lady approaches and explains to me that this wasn't a sales pitch. I informed her that in her list of qualifying questions that a 90 minute sales presentation was part of the tour. She said that it is a very "soft touch" presentation and there is no commitment to buy anything. My response: "I would never buy anything anyhow." At that point, she once again said she couldn't hold the time without a $20 deposit. I explained that I never asked them to hold the time and they could take their presentation and shove it.
Even after this altercation, I still received phone calls (that I didn't answer) at 8:45 and 9:30 PM as well as a knock on my door at 9PM with additional information being dropped at my door.

So, after that long explanation, has anyone every been asked for a deposit to hold a sales presentation time? This seems like a ridiculous idea to try to secure buyers. I was only going for the $75 visa gift card that would take my family to a nice dinner one night.

H, we stayed at that resort about 3 years ago. We were also instructed to go to the desk in the back side of the check in area for our welcoming gift. The woman was friendly and very nice, until we declined the tour. Her demeanor changed so quickly, and she became angry to the point we felt uncomfortable. We were never asked for a $20.00 deposit. In spite of this we had a wonderful time. Sue

stevedmatt - you are not alone - they tried this credit card deposit routine on me at Greensprings, which is also a Diamond resort. Actually glad they did. It set off my 'watch out for a scam' radar and proceeded to decline everything.

susgar - no question the headhunters get angry when one declines. At Williamsburg Plantation when checking in for a Colonies stay, the second check in point (where one gets a parking pass) is where one is 'invited' to take a tour.

I experienced the same routine with a pushy lady insisting on signing me up . . . for a time of her choosing.

When I said 'I'll let you know if I'm interested - just give me the parking pass' for the third time, she made an ostentatious display of tearing up the reservation form she had started filling out.

Utterly classless.
 
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MomoD

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We were in Polo Towers, Las Vegas back in May and exactly the same thing happened. They tried to get us to attend a meeting even before we got to our room, we explained we had been travelling for the last 24 hours, that's ok you can book another date, and tried to charge us $20, we got really cross and went to our room, but as you say lots of phone calls which we ignored. Hope this is not an ongoing problem with Diamond Resorts?

Maureen

Just wanted to inform everyone of the concierge desk practices at The Historic Powhatan resort.

About 5 days before check in, I received a call from the resort to invite me to take the tour. I reluctantly agree as I normally don't feel to bad about not showing up or canceling at a later time. I also informed them of my late check in and requested a lower level unit. After answering the standard qualifying questions, I was asked for a $20 deposit on a credit card to hold the reservation. When I said no, she said she would waive the fee.

Upon arriving to the resort and checking in, I am escorted to the concierge desk, which is all of about 25 feet away. I was given a welcome pack and asked if I wanted to take the tour again. I said not really. I was told there was only 2 times available, 9 AM and noon Wednesday. I told them I didn't want to take the tour and surely wouldn't commit to a times as I wasn't sure of my plans. They said that I could change the time if I couldn't make it. I said "I thought these were the only 2 times available." They said people cancel all the time. So the guy starts to write up the reservation for 9 AM Wednesday and once again asks me the series of qualifying questions. After going through this, he asks me for $20. I told him to waive the fee. He said he could not. I explained to him that I wasn't giving him $20 to commit to a time that I couldn't commit to. Again, "you can cancel and get your $20 back." I said no thank you as I wasn't spending my vacation trying to get my $20 back.
Another lady approaches and explains to me that this wasn't a sales pitch. I informed her that in her list of qualifying questions that a 90 minute sales presentation was part of the tour. She said that it is a very "soft touch" presentation and there is no commitment to buy anything. My response: "I would never buy anything anyhow." At that point, she once again said she couldn't hold the time without a $20 deposit. I explained that I never asked them to hold the time and they could take their presentation and shove it.
Even after this altercation, I still received phone calls (that I didn't answer) at 8:45 and 9:30 PM as well as a knock on my door at 9PM with additional information being dropped at my door.

So, after that long explanation, has anyone every been asked for a deposit to hold a sales presentation time? This seems like a ridiculous idea to try to secure buyers. I was only going for the $75 visa gift card that would take my family to a nice dinner one night.
 

pedro47

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This question is not on the subject topics but does Powhatan have a new resort manager ? Rumor changes are coming.
 

sfwilshire

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So, after that long explanation, has anyone every been asked for a deposit to hold a sales presentation time?

That's the norm. I don't ever remember signing up for one that I wasn't ask for a deposit. I guess they think that will make you more likely to show up so you can get your money back.

Sheila
 

stevedmatt

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Wow, I am surprised this is the norm. I've made close to $1000 going to tours and this is the first time I've every been asked for a deposit.
 
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