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RCI Platinum Points and a Very Strange Evening

G

Guitarmom

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About a week ago, a woman called inviting us to an owner update. I made the mistake of asking, "Are you from Welk?" She assured me that she was. Multiple times. She invited us to a free dinner with a choice of dates/times. We thought, "What can it hurt? And we get a free dinner." So we agreed to come to the restaurant tonight at 7pm.

I called Welk to make sure that they were doing owner updates in our area, and they assured me that they are.

We showed up at the restaurant, and it turned out to be an RCI event. Not Welk. Oh well, dinner was free.

There was a very brief intro that said they were going to tell us about RCI Platinum Points which would make our timeshare better and cheaper. We then got to order dinner.

There were seven couples and five sales reps. We ate our dinner (and it was very good). At 9pm, no one had come to talk with us or the couple one table over. They got up to leave, and the RCI folks apologized for not getting to them. So we got up to leave, and one of the reps mouthed, "I'm sorry."

So tonight we each had a very nice free dinner courtesy of RCI. And I have no idea what they were pitching.

Anyone out there know anything about this sales pitch?
 
tschwa2

tschwa2

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It wasn't even RCI. It was a third party marketing firm authorized by RCI to sell points and or points conversions at certain resorts. Since you called Welk and they said they were doing updates it may have been a marketing group hired by their HOA or it could have been someone unrelated to Welk completely who may have been pitching a trade in of your current week for points somewhere else. Whatever the spin,it would have cost money and they would have tried to convince you that what you had was no good and you need to buy x from them.
 
G

Guitarmom

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Ohhhh, that explains one more oddity. When they called to confirm our reservation, I asked what the company name was. It was something generic sounding, neither Welk nor RCI, and he said that the firm contracts with all the major resorts.

Just to clarify, even if Welk is doing roving owner updates, this was not a Welk event. In fact, from your description, I think it was just the kind of scam I'd been afraid of. But in this case, all we got was a nice free dinner. I'll post again if they call us today. We're kind of expecting they will. After all, there's no such thing as a free lunch--or dinner!
 
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T

travelplus

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Guitarmom said:
About a week ago, a woman called inviting us to an owner update. I made the mistake of asking, "Are you from Welk?" She assured me that she was. Multiple times. She invited us to a free dinner with a choice of dates/times. We thought, "What can it hurt? And we get a free dinner." So we agreed to come to the restaurant tonight at 7pm.

I called Welk to make sure that they were doing owner updates in our area, and they assured me that they are.

We showed up at the restaurant, and it turned out to be an RCI event. Not Welk. Oh well, dinner was free.

There was a very brief intro that said they were going to tell us about RCI Platinum Points which would make our timeshare better and cheaper. We then got to order dinner.

There were seven couples and five sales reps. We ate our dinner (and it was very good). At 9pm, no one had come to talk with us or the couple one table over. They got up to leave, and the RCI folks apologized for not getting to them. So we got up to leave, and one of the reps mouthed, "I'm sorry."

So tonight we each had a very nice free dinner courtesy of RCI. And I have no idea what they were pitching.

Anyone out there know anything about this sales pitch?
Click to expand...

Wow this is one shifty way to get you to come. I think the next time you get one of these calls go to the dinner at the restaurant with your guitar and a tip jar. Tell the attendees about TUG BBS and use the tips for a real vacation away from these weasels.
 
tschwa2

tschwa2

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A few in S and VA, a single resort in NC, MD, PA, and UT, plus Jamaica and the Bahamas
Guitarmom said:
Ohhhh, that explains one more oddity. When they called to confirm our reservation, I asked what the company name was. It was something generic sounding, neither Welk nor RCI, and he said that the firm contracts with all the major resorts.

Just to clarify, even if Welk is doing roving owner updates, this was not a Welk event. In fact, from your description, I think it was just the kind of scam I'd been afraid of. But in this case, all we got was a nice free dinner. I'll post again if they call us today. We're kind of expecting they will. After all, there's no such thing as a free lunch--or dinner!
Click to expand...

It may have been a group that has been contracted by your resort to offer conversions. They generally charge a very high fee and the marketing company takes about half and the other half goes to the HOA. Was the name Outfield Marketing or something to that effect?

It is also possible that they had no affiliation with your resort and were trying to get you to buy points at another resort.
 
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