AmbergrisCaye.com Home Forums The Cayes Ambergris Caye Timeshare sales

posted 08-16-2004 18:12
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Bywarren- We were treated very well by all @ CM. The people were as friendly a folk as I've ever met and had no reservations at the time. It sounds as though they might have had someone of lesser moral's selling at the time Larry was there. That is unfortunate.



Shelly, they were very friendly to us also, as friendly as you could ask for, until we told them no. And as I said, we were passed from one person to another to another to another. Hunky men for the wife, hot babes for me, something for everyone. The ethics obviously didn't come from one salesperson but they had a whole crew running the scam. After we told them no, they were not friendly anymore. Rude is the only discription.

Sorry to hear that. That was an unfortunate incident for you and your wife.

Although.... you & I are only two of many people they see and speak too. You would not judge the entire crew at CM by one bad incident would you? People earn livings how ever they can, it doesn't mean the whole bunch is that way.

OK -what happens when the developer decides to raise the "assessment" by 25% - you as an "owner i.e. someone who has the right to use" has no chance of going to court as the developer will still own the majority of weeks,and therefore is the majority shareholder.
Try and swop a week -almost impossible.
TRY AND GET XMAS AND NEW YEAR IN SAN PEDRO-FORGET IT-unless you have just purchased your timeshare-your first years vacation will be exactly what you have requested-otherwise the developer will rent out all superior weeks to normal tourists at premium rates. AND! His salespeople will pressure THOSE tourists into buying timeshares! No, he won't pay you any commission.

Does the conmpany actually own the resort that they have sold you-all you have is a salesman's word-read your contract carefully -I know for sure that two resorts have not been paid for but the developers say they own it-ON THIS ISLAND

Larry: This is the very kind of thing that tarnishes the industry's image. Unfortunately this highly unethical, British based marketing company is ruining it for others who may market their product in a legitimate manner.

It is most unfortunate "dinosaurs" are still in this industry. This product has changed and morphed so much, there is really no need for high pressure, unless you are selling a piece of garbage. The problem is, these "veterans" don't know how to "soft sell". The vacation club at Captain Morgan's is nice enough to sell itself, if allowed to, and not jammed down your throat. Before the British based sales and marketing team was contracted, a particular sales person did EXTREMELY well using the soft sell approach. Perhaps this will be adjusted, and the reigns given back to her, for all our sakes. :p

This can be blamed on inexperience on Captain Morgan's behalf as a new developer.

The BTB is currently drafting timeshare legislation. The young man in charge is very bright and the new law looks fantastic. As with the Offshore Legislation, the GOB has looked into several other jurisdictions for examples. Taking the best from all areas. A rescission clause will be part of this new law.

Thus, the danger of high pressure, you can cancel (rescinds) the next day after you recover from the high pressure crunch. Most of the sales teams have left the US due to this rescission factor and ended up in areas without this feature or with no laws. Hopefully Belize too will be soon rid of them. It's bad enough they are British.

A true sales pro will not resort to high pressure but rather build enough desire for the product that the customers are truly happy to join the development and have no remorse and do not rescind. And yes, many are given time to think it over, this is called a "be back" and counts for 1/3 of all sales at our six resorts.

FYI - 60% of Marriott's total timeshare revenue is from referral business. People getting their friends to join. Hmmm? 100% of our sales are from current timeshare owners. Hmmm?

We must have powers in mind control or have satisfied owners.

Here's the "inside" skinny on who is happy with their purchase:

Bought in the right place : either where they want to return on a regular basis or in a high demand area (Hawaii, Caribbean, Paris, etc...) which opens up the exchange option. If you buy in the Poconos or Branson, don't expect to exchange for Hawaii or St. John, it won't happen.

Bought for the right reason : to vacation, not to make money renting it or selling it in the future.

Have you ever heard of the investor that lost $50 in the stock market crash of the late 1920's? Most of us only hear about the folks who LOST EVERYTHING! We all know, as intelligent adults, that bad news is sensationalized. Would CNN and 60 minutes keep viewers with good news? Remember the trucks with exploding fuel tanks (hoax for ratings).

Timeshare had and has problems, but ALL developers are not the same. Just as all fishing guides, hotels/motels, TVs, resorts, cruise lines, automakers, .......... are not the same.

In all fairness, even with the worst of developers, it is the visiting guest's greed that gets them into the sales situation. I don't care how it is cloaked, I would never expect any resort on this planet to give me anything for free without giving them something in return, common sense. This is called MOOCHING, playing off the human greed factor, most people have it, except some on this board :rolleyes: . Guess what it works! ( although I don't agree with this tactic ) So if you don't like the concept, don't subject yourself to it. HELLO!? I wouldn't.

I bought my timeshare off the internet, with no salesperson, after doing my own due diligence.

I can understand folks being set in their opinions. This happens with age. Change can be good and allows for growth. No change = no growth. This is hard to deny.

It may be a good idea to step back, do some research and then make your case, as strong as you choose. A wise man once said "it is better to keep quiet and let people think you are stupid, then open your mouth and let people know you are stupid."

Timeshare opens up more opportunities for this island and nation. Timeshare resorts provide additional income for the various sectors of tourism. Even a bit more than conventional resorts/hotels. This is a entirely different forum, which I would be more than pleased to debate with you all. Debate is good, keeps me sharp.

I have met with timeshare developers, large and small, with plans for Placencia, PG, outer cayes and Caye Caulker. I'm not sure who will pan out.

SIN

we had a fun encounter with a salesman at Seven Seas, which was rough because we were staying there, as my dad gave us his time share week for our anniversary...we couldnt escape this guy.....after we said no, he told us that we were swimming in his pool, and we shouldnt even be vacationing in Belize.....I said, arent we swimming in my dad's pool????of course I didnt get a worthy response from him...just very arrogant, the rest of the week every time we saw him he had to make a comment about how he was living in paradise, but only the lucky few got to do that.....the way I see it is that I am the lucky one, not having to be around that except when I want to.....

To SIN, I like that monicker BTW.......

You are right. The property was fabulous and could have sold itself. The rooms beautiful and well equipped, the grounds perfectly kept, very nice and the price seemed reasonable. If the pressure had not been so intense I might have bought one. I was ( and am) in a position to write a check but I will not be coerced into anything. Well maybe some things, but not spending money with slick salespeople :-)

Any deal that is a today only deal makes me highly suspicious. Especially when I know they will be telling another couple the same thing tomorrow. Actually they were telling that to multiple couples every day.

The other thing that bothered us was that we didn't know it was a timeshare sales pitch until after we got there. Just niaeve on our part. The man in the street said he was promoting the North End, not CMs. I didn't even know CMs sold timeshares, just thought it was a normal hotel sort of resort. Live and learn. Only cost me a day and a $250 dive trip. Been screwed for worse. Wasn't even going to mention it until this thread came up.

I'm hoping someone from CM will respond to this. Any chance of that happening?

Larry,

I did not direct my comments at any individual - no criticism was intended - sorry if it sounded that way to you. I was only sharing my opinion, which has been formed by the discomfort of sitting through timeshare presentations and wasting precious vacation days. After feeling the frustration of pressure selling, combined with the wasted time and feeling like the incentive (gift) was not worth the lost time, my wife and I have sworn off timeshare presentations. My point #3 was actually trying to help others from reteating my mistakes!

I'm saddened to hear that San Pedro has the problem with timeshare people pestering tourists. We've been coming to AC since 1999 and we have never been bothered before. And, I hate to hear when someone gets treated the wasy you did.

I've met timeshare sales people all over - California, Hawaii & Puerto Vallarta. Despite the apparent good nature projected at the outset, inevitably the sales pitch deteriorates to the salesperson wanting me to explain to him my reasons for not buying their product. They set up a situation of trying to make the prospect defend themselves and their reasons for not buying. And everytime the prospect says "No - and than't final," the sales person has brought over the "closer" to make a final pitch. Like, "Well, how about every other year, instead of every year - it's only 67% as much."

There are plenty of variations on the pitch, but, you're never going to get away from the pressure sale. And, there are so many timeshare products out there, the pressure sale isn't going away.

Any and all complaints in regards to tourism related issues should be forwarded to Anthony Mahler at the BTB via www.travelbelize.org, it does matter to them.

SIN

SIN sez.....
Timeshare had and has problems, but ALL developers are not the same. Just as all fishing guides, hotels/motels, TVs, resorts, cruise lines, automakers, .......... are not the same.

I say.......
No doubt. I was only speaking about Capt. Morgans, not the Marriott.


SIN Sez......
In all fairness, even with the worst of developers, it is the visiting guest's greed that gets them into the sales situation. I don't care how it is cloaked, I would never expect any resort on this planet to give me anything for free without giving them something in return, common sense. This is called MOOCHING, playing off the human greed factor, most people have it, except some on this board . Guess what it works! ( although I don't agree with this tactic ) So if you don't like the concept, don't subject yourself to it. HELLO!? I wouldn't.

I say,
Of Course it works. But how to avoid it when it is so misrepresented. It would be much easier to avoid if you knew up front it was a sales situation and not a "come visit us for the day" situation. When we drew for our prize, the ticket plainly said "First Prize $2,500". It did not say "First Prize 7 Days at Capt. Morgans." In the US, that would mean $2,500 or a lawsuit.

I bought my timeshare off the internet, with no salesperson, after doing my own due diligence.


SIN sez......
It may be a good idea to step back, do some research and then make your case, as strong as you choose. A wise man once said "it is better to keep quiet and let people think you are stupid, then open your mouth and let people know you are stupid."

I say......
Excuse me but how do you step back and do research when you are given a now or never proposal? And what case are you asking me to make?

BTW, the wise man actually said" Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt."

So what are you saying Mr. SIN, that I am a fool for not buying, or a fool to complain about their tactics? You can go pound sand, too.

Trust me, they'll see it. Hopefully they will use your feedback to correct the situation.

They had a good program before and people would know what they were visiting for.

It was friendly competition. But, as my developer states, they are ruining it and playing SP like it is Cancun or PV, I hope this never happens to this island.

SIN