A guide or a cheap salesman?

[Tinker Bell]

I ended up going to a DVC open house after hearing from a CM that all the cranes next to the BC were for a new DVC development. At the open house when I asked about the BC, the "Guide" said "Oh. They might be DVC and they might not. They really haven't decided yet. You never know. I wouldn't get too focused on them until they are a reality".

There is a HUGE DVC banner with a drawing of the development at the construction site! It took less than 5 minutes to find the press release on-line announcing the development from May 2000. The president of WDW has discussed the development in several interviews. What a WEAK salesman to try such an obvious obfuscation of the facts.

I visited VWL and thought they were fantastic. I had never seen the WL up close before. It is amazing. If I buy at VWL it will be in spite of the pathetic sales effort of my "Guide".


Ok, Ok. I am done. I feel better now.

Tinker


[This message was edited by Tinker Bell on 02-25-01 at 04:46 PM.]

 

[PamOKW]

Please don't be too hard on your salesperson. They are legally restricted from trying to sell BCV until all the "i"s have been dotted and "t"s crossed with the state of Florida. The same thing happened when they first started to build BWV. All indications and discussions were that it would be a DVC but guides couldn't actually "say" that.

There is also an outside possibility that this DVC may be the start of a new phase. We don't really know. The press releases do say it is scheduled for 2002.

 

[LauraS]

I agree with Pam, don't blame the salesperson for this one. And quite honestly, they would certainly prefer that you purchase now at VWL and not wait until the BCV is completed. I remember back when we purchased at BWV. We had to wait a few months to purchase because the DVD didn't have official permission from California (where we living at the time) to sell DVC memberships. They wouldn't send me the video...nothing. Of course I already had all the info that I needed. I just needed to wait a few months.

Laura

 

[Richyams]

Go one better, buy a resale at OKW or BWV, send him a note telling him that his lies and fraud turned you off to dealing with him.

Of course, there is a slight speck of truth to what he said. Legally, BCV is not part of and may never be part of DVC, any sales pitches for BCV are illegal at this point.

But still, he was certainly less then truthful. He could have explained what I just did, he could have done many things, but DVC sales people have been pretty consistant in taking the low road for some time now.

"From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs", Karl Marx, pretty sick, huh?

 

[Richyams]

I didn't see the previous replys when I posted, I typed it and was away from the computer for a while.

How come people can be so forgiving and leniant on DVC sales people? I would think that we would all want to hold them to a higher standard. I think Disney should hold them to a higher standard then anywhere else. The have a product that is at the high end of the cost scale, they have a reputation that is usually considered very good. I just don't understand the reasoning behind turning the other way when DVC sales is less then honest.

"From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs", Karl Marx, pretty sick, huh?

 

[AnnK]

We have friends who are intereseted in DVC. They stopped in the office this past week while on vacation. They spoke with a guide and we also told the same thing concerning the BCV. I am sure that it must be some tyoe of DVC policy not to try to sell something before they are legal to sell. The only DVC available on property ( through DVC) is VWL, and that is what they are selling.
We did speak to a person in the parks and they did not deny that the villas at BC would be DVC, but then we already own, and were just conversing about DVC, the swiftness that VWL are selling, and the fact that it is entirely possible that VWL could sell out before BCV are available. So that is a different situation than a person who is looking to buy NOW.

 

[RobDoc]

Until the BCV is officially part of DVC, the guides are not allowed to discuss it at all.

Some here delight in insulting the DVC guides, but they are actually following protocol here.

It seems they are even criticized for telling the truth and following the rules by some people. ....Darned if they do and .....Oh well!

Doc
doc@wdwinfo.com

 

[Tinker Bell]

Doc,

DVD can make the following release:

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 25, 2000--Disney Vacation Development, Inc., operators of Disney Vacation Club (DVC) - Disney's innovative vacation ownership program -- announced today that it will expand its timeshare resort presence at the WALT DISNEY WORLD® Resort in Florida by building a fourth resort, bringing the total number of DVC resorts to six. This latest development marks a time of exciting growth for the Company, which now boasts a membership of 48,000 member families from over 60 countries.

The proposed development - which will be called Disney's Beach Club Villas - is slated to occupy a 6-acre site next to the Disney's Beach Club Resort in the Epcot® Theme Park Resorts area within Walt Disney World Resort.

and a Guide is forbidden from acknowledging any of it? That seems very odd!?

 

[RobDoc]

Yes, the sales staff is NOT allowed to discuss aspects of the program which are NOT yet a component. There are some FL timeshare (and possibly others) laws which govern these issues.

This has been the case with every DVC resort thus far. They won't discuss any sales issues until the resort is legally ready for sale. With VWL, they announced when sales would begin and when reservations would be accepted in advance and I would anticipate that again for BCV.

The press releases are made about the intent of the program, but the sales staff has to follow the laws which govern their licensure. Big difference.

Doc
doc@wdwinfo.com

 

[DebbieB]

When I bought DVC at BW in September 1999 there were disclaimers in the paperwork that the proposed Wilderness Lodge Villas may not become a part of DVC and not to buy on the basis that it may become part of DVC. So I'm sure they are doing the same thing now with Beach Club for legal reasons.

 

[PamOKW]

Very good answer Doc.

Rich I am not being "forgiving" of a fraudulent sales tactic. I am acknowleging that the salesperson would probably like to retain his real estate license and be able to continue to earn a living selling DVC. He couldn't explain it as you did because that would indicate they would be for sale. He/she has to keep their mouths shut as to anything being for sale until they are licensed to sell it. Just like they can't send information to any state where they have not yet been licensed.

[This message was edited by PamOKW on 02-25-01 at 07:57 PM.]

 

[Richyams]

Whatever.....I don't agree. I think he was trying to make them believe there was a good chance it wasn't coming to be part of DVC so he could entice someone to move today.

Sales first, honesty last.

I think he could well have simply said that BCV is not licensed, we can't discuss it, rather then this ong and dance about it maybe never becoming part of DVC. But it was more expediant to possibly get a quick sale for him to give the little song and dance.

I agree with the first poster, he was acting like a cheap salesman.....pretty typical lately.

"From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs", Karl Marx, pretty sick, huh?

 

[ScottOKW2K]

Tinkerbell, in your first message in the post you stated that the DVC guide made the following statement - "Oh. They might be DVC and they might not. They really haven't decided yet. You never know. I wouldn't get too focused on them until they are a reality". (my highlighting)

Later in the thread, you posted a press release from DVD (Disney Vacation Developement) of which I excerpt the following:
The proposed development - which will be called Disney's Beach Club Villas - is slated to occupy a 6-acre site next to the Disney's Beach Club Resort in the Epcot® Theme Park Resorts area within Walt Disney World Resort.

What we have here is a difference in what DVD can announce - like any company with projects scheduled but not completed - vs. what DVC and its' legal representatives may be allowed to discuss. What it comes down to is this: If you want to talk about present DVC properties available for sale, talk to you guide - it's his/her job and he/she would be more than happy to help. If you want talk about properties no longer available through DVC, call any one of the brokers discussed on in this forum. If you want to talk about info on future DVC properties, call Dionne Warwick !

11/99 DxL
11/00 DxL
6/01 VWL
12/01 OKW-GV

 

[dianeschlicht]

Rich, we KNOW how you feel, but Doc is right. The law is the law. If they misslead people into thinking they can wait for BCV to become part of DVC before they are leagally able to sell there, and then something goes wrong, they could lose their lisence to sell timeshares. It is not the sales guides fault.

Disneydiane

 

[Muushka]

I'm not sure how our story will affect this discussion, but here goes. In December of 1998 we visited BWV. We were aware of the VWL proposal. We really loved WL, and our guide was aware of this. He suggested that we wait to purchase because VWL was going to be a smaller DVC. He told us that we would stand a better chance of making reservations at VWL at the 11 month window than if we bought at BWV and had to wait for the 7 month window.

 

[PamOKW]

Muushka -- It sounds like you got good advice. However, the guide/salesperson has to be careful in doing something like that. Not that you would, but someone in this position might now claim they were coerced into waiting to purchase, not advised that there would be a large price increase, not told that there would be no points comparable to standard view at WL and are now also unable to purchase BWV from DVC. It may be that they've had incidents between 1998 and now that have caused them to tighten up what they do and do not say to potential customers.

EXAMPLE ONLY FOLLOWS, NOTHING IS FACTUAL.
They advise someone today to wait to purchase BCV. By the time it opens in 2002 they've decided it will be the first of the DVC II resorts, will start at $85 per point with dues of $5.50 per point. Exchanges with the original DVC resorts will require an additional fee and not be part of DVC I exchanges. VWL are completely sold-out. The person who was waiting for BCV based on information they got from a guide in 2001 might be quite upset. There are good reasons for them to be careful in what they say in an official "seller" capacity.

 

[mattsdad]

I agree completely with Richyams. the guide should have explained why he could not talk about or promote BCV instead of this doublespeak that left the member confused and of course, inspired this whole thread.

 

[Tinker Bell]

I spoke with my "guide" yesterday. He called to see if we had any questions since our visit and to see which way we were leaning on the DVC purchase question. I went through a series of questions on the reservation process (borrowing/banking/canceling etc.). He seemed knowledgeable and confirmed most of what I had learned by following this board over the last two weeks. On one specific question he didn't know the answer which I will post to get input from this board in a separate thread.

Toward the end of the call, I said, "Let's go over again the status of the BCV construction project and the likelihood that it becomes a DVC property". I was all prepared to vent a bit on why I thought his comments were misleading (regardless of the motivation).

I was shocked by his response; "DVD is building the property with the intent of it becoming a DVC property. It should be ready in 2002. However, there is not guarantee that it will ultimately become a DVC property. In addition it is possible that it becomes a DVC property but that it is not a part of the existing program. I am legally restricted from incorporating any view on what will or will not happen with that property into our discussion of the opportunity to join DVC through the VWL."

Now that's a clear answer! Hmmm ... Coincidence?

Tinker

 

[baileybrad]

the fact that because a salesperson is probably doing what they have been directed to do that this somehow makes most of the salespeople at the DVC some kind of liars and just plain dishonest. I would bet for every 1 lousy salesperson that has worked for the DVC that you would find 20 who do it the right way. How many of us can say the same thing about our places of employment? I just don't see the sense in turning the firehoses on the salespeople for really no good reason. It seems to be just a cheapshot without very little merit. And one other thing, anyone who buys anything based on what a salesperson does or does not say is short changing themselves. Do your own research and make your own informed decision. If you do believe that a salesperson is dropping the ball, call them on it, ask to speak to a supervisor, or request another salesperson. But please don't whack them all with broad brush statements that are not completely true.