Same old sales tactics

[bamasteve]

I'm a Wyndham owner of 20+ years. Love the properties. Have had some great family memories too. But I'm very tired of the sales tactics. I'm at Daytona today, where I did a 15-minute survey. The agent claimed that I had been offered some new Wyndham destinations deal but I must have ignored it. I was made to feel like my previous status as VIP gold was no longer good enough for getting good reservations, I was told that rolling points over will no longer be allowed. This is very different from what we were shown at Pompano Beach last January. I thought the days of Wyndham sales tactics we're over, but sad to say they are not. I've decided I'll just keep my gold VIP status without giving Wyndham anymore money.

 

[Fredflintstone]

I'm a Wyndham owner of 20+ years. Love the properties. Have had some great family memories too. But I'm very tired of the sales tactics. I'm at Daytona today, where I did a 15-minute survey. The agent claimed that I had been offered some new Wyndham destinations deal but I must have ignored it. I was made to feel like my previous status as VIP gold was no longer good enough for getting good reservations, I was told that rolling points over will no longer be allowed. This is very different from what we were shown at Pompano Beach last January. I thought the days of Wyndham sales tactics we're over, but sad to say they are not. I've decided I'll just keep my gold VIP status without giving Wyndham anymore money.

Yeah, I hear you.

Years ago, when I was approached for update, I was told that I was a sucker for buying what I had and they are here to turn me from a sucker to a winner once again....

I sold out so I wouldn’t be a sucker as they called it. Not quite what they planned.

Scummy business.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[55plus]

I'm a Wyndham owner of 20+ years. Love the properties. Have had some great family memories too. But I'm very tired of the sales tactics. I'm at Daytona today, where I did a 15-minute survey. The agent claimed that I had been offered some new Wyndham destinations deal but I must have ignored it. I was made to feel like my previous status as VIP gold was no longer good enough for getting good reservations, I was told that rolling points over will no longer be allowed. This is very different from what we were shown at Pompano Beach last January. I thought the days of Wyndham sales tactics we're over, but sad to say they are not. I've decided I'll just keep my gold VIP status without giving Wyndham anymore money.

We're at Ocean Walk too. Here until 12/21, then Clearwater until 01/01 and then Destin until April. We blew off the "survey" and were not taking their calls. They finally gave up. What do you think of the wristband keys? I love them. It's genius.

 

[comicbookman]

At national harbor for Thanksgiving week. We have several units and do this every year. Staff here is wonderful. Went to the "update" cause they paid for 7 nights parking ($140) and breakfast. Had a decent salesman who asked intelligent questions and listened to our answers. they made a perfunctory offer to get us to founder (46k for 223k points) no nasty comments or heavy push when I said no way. Pretty pleasant conversation, mostly about kids and dogs as well as how we actually maximize our ownership to get what we want. Bitched about the website, claimed new CEO was here about 2 weeks ago and agreed it sucks. pointed him to Tug if he wanted to know what real owners were upset about, as salesman claimed to have never heard of Tug. Weather was rainy, breakfast was acceptable, $140 for 2 hours wasn't bad. Not a typical experience.

 

[silentg]

Sometimes Salespeople know less about timeshares than TUG members. I don’t do presentations anymore. Looking to decrease my ownerships not add to them.
Glad you got parking and breakfast.
Silentg

 

[bnoble]

I can’t imagine ever doing an update, survey, tour, or whatever. Life (and vacation) is too short. These tactics won’t change because they work.

 

[comicbookman]

Normally I skil them. We clearly don't need more points and actually shed over 800k resale points a few years ago. Some by sale for transfer and closing costs and some via ovations. Nat harbor has always been relatively low pressure and they always offer to pay my 7 days of parking. Since we come here for a week every thanks giving and guests don't arrive till monday or tuesday, we have the time. No way we buy more dev points, ever. We would not consider this in Atlantic city or Vegas. Sales staffs there have in our past experience been stupid high pressure, make up whatever they think works annoying.

 

[bestpal38]

I can’t imagine ever doing an update, survey, tour, or whatever. Life (and vacation) is too short. These tactics won’t change because they work.

I love doing them. You see, I'm smarter then they are, and call them out on their lies. And when they do say my ownership is lame, I tell them they screwed my parents then. And who's to say that in 10 years what you're selling me now won't be?? I have fun with it. They really hate me.

 

[paxsarah]

I can’t imagine ever doing an update, survey, tour, or whatever.

I have fun with it.

I think this is what it comes down to - whether someone finds attending an update to be a fun, entertaining use of a couple of hours on vacation to earn a few bucks, or not. Neither choice is better than the other.

What I don't think is worth it is putting any stock in the stories they tell or the tactics they use - even if I decided an update was worth my time, giving a second thought to what the sales staff told me is not worth any additional mental energy.

 

[bamasteve]

We're at Ocean Walk too. Here until 12/21, then Clearwater until 01/01 and then Destin until April. We blew off the "survey" and were not taking their calls. They finally gave up. What do you think of the wristband keys? I love them. It's genius.

I love the wristband keys - especially when a beach and a pool are involved. I do wish they also worked for entry into the parking garage as well - one less key to keep up with. Perhaps that is a future upgrade.

 

[bamasteve]

I think this is what it comes down to - whether someone finds attending an update to be a fun, entertaining use of a couple of hours on vacation to earn a few bucks, or not. Neither choice is better than the other.

What I don't think is worth it is putting any stock in the stories they tell or the tactics they use - even if I decided an update was worth my time, giving a second thought to what the sales staff told me is not worth any additional mental energy.

Yeah, my wife hates them - of course this time I was with my daughter and they offered me dinner and told me they would let me know about all their new programs. So, against my better judgment, I said yes. They really didn't tell me much about this new program "blue thread" but rather spent most of the time talking down my current VIP owned product. Other thing I though unprofessional was when I was asked to sign for the update - they asked me to sign something that said I was going for a 1 hour presentation and that I must bring my spouse. The desk agent said - just ignore that - it's for a 15 minute survey and your wife doesn't have to be there. When I signed out of the "survey" they were about to also give me a dinner voucher for less than verbally promised at the desk. Funny - they do pay attention to sales contracts language however.

 

[Kozman]

Just checked in at Smoky Mountain. The latest story from the parking pass Czar was that if you did not go to the update and 'accept' the new 'privileges' you would not be grandfathered in! Anyone else hear this more than likely lie?

 

[Grammarhero]

@SNA27 tuggers’ thoughts about sales presentation. Maybe I will unban myself and go the two hours for free parking and breakfast.

I plan just to read tug and blow off the sales staff the entire two hours.

 

[jwalk03]

I love the wristband keys - especially when a beach and a pool are involved. I do wish they also worked for entry into the parking garage as well - one less key to keep up with. Perhaps that is a future upgrade.

The wristband key is how we got into the garage when we stayed in August. It only worked on the North Tower garage though. We could not park in the South Tower garage.

I would love the wristband keys if it was easier to take them on and off your wrist. I don't want to wear the darn thing 24/7, so I didn't put it on at all, just carried it around in my pocket like any other card.

 

[bendadin]

Just checked in at Smoky Mountain. The latest story from the parking pass Czar was that if you did not go to the update and 'accept' the new 'privileges' you would not be grandfathered in! Anyone else hear this more than likely lie?

I just heard that at Fairfield Glade AND GSL (although from the parking pass guy and not the salesperson.)

 

[bbakernbay]

$120 for a week’s parking is outrageous. When did this scam start and by whom? Wyndham no doubt.

 

[Richelle]

$120 for a week’s parking is outrageous. When did this scam start and by whom? Wyndham no doubt.

Wyndham does not own the garage and has no control over how much is charged for parking. It really helps keep the maintenance fees low, when we don't have to pay for other people's parking, Most, if not all of the urban locations are like that.

 

[ecwinch]

Generally speaking .... any large multi-story parking garage in an urban location is going to be significant drag on maintenance fees when you consider the impact of the fixed costs - property taxes on the building, maintenance, and insurance.

If parking is a paved parking lot that is going to have a much lower tax assessment (and cost) vs a parking structure.

 

[dgalati]

@SNA27 tuggers’ thoughts about sales presentation. Maybe I will unban myself and go the two hours for free parking and breakfast.

I plan just to read tug and blow off the sales staff the entire two hours.

2 hours of your life you can never get back! On the bright side you may find a nugget of truth beneath all the lies. Please report back to all Tuggers what info you may find useful. Thanks in advance for taking one for the team.

 

[55plus]

$120 for a week’s parking is outrageous. When did this scam start and by whom? Wyndham no doubt.

One way to beat the high price parking at National Harbor and at other high priced parking resorts, park in longterm parking at the airport. For National Harbor I park at DCA and take the Metro to King Street Station. From there take the free National Harbor shuttle from the Metro Station to National Harbor. A vehicle isn't needed when visiting the DC area. I've done this in Chicago too.

 

[kaljor]

I was at National Harbor late last year and took the Metro to King St but I took a regular bus from there to National Harbor. I was not aware of a free shuttle. I'm going again later this year so I'd love to hear more details about this shuttle. Who runs it, and where do you get it. Is it a Wyndham shuttle between National Harbor and Old Town Alexandria?

 

[paxsarah]

I looked into this last year when we had a booking at Alexandria but there was a significant points discount at National Harbor and I was considering changing to NH, and as best I could tell the free shuttle was discontinued at some point in the past and replaced by the public bus route.

 

[kaljor]

Maybe they only had a shuttle in operation during the construction work that was happening with the Metro. I seem to remember discussion in this forum some time ago about the King St Station being closed for an extended time.

 

[HitchHiker71]

I love the wristband keys - especially when a beach and a pool are involved. I do wish they also worked for entry into the parking garage as well - one less key to keep up with. Perhaps that is a future upgrade.

I'd prefer if they just used a mobile app like Hilton for entry/exit to the rooms - having to carry a key around these days is so yesterday's tech. Same with parking garage entry/exit. Even better if they also had smartwatch support.

 

[PhilD41]

True, but if it works like Marriott's, I would end up with a physical key anyway. And, for those of us with kids, I would prefer not to mess with their phone and several don't even have them. I will agree though, it will be nice when that tech is more reliable and standard.