Can you be TOO up front w/ your guide?

[ppony]

We have yet to buy but are considering doing it next month. I have a guide and want him to take me (Dh and kids will stay at the hotel...this is ALL in my court) on the tour of a few of the models while I'm there. I also plan to NOT buy there on the spot but go on my cruise to see what is offered there before I commit. So if I tell my guide that is my intention, is he likely to get, well, angry? I mean, it's QUITE possible that I'll give him a call once we are off the ship and say, "Let's do this thing." I have no need to do it right there and then before I cruise. or will I? Should I just clam up? What would be the best course? the guide did say he'd be able to tell me what the ship was going to offer in advance, but is that true and how likely am I to not get the "entire" story?

Bill mentioning that a guide will be angry about having to split a commission and just "forget" to call someone back made me think about this stuff.

THANKS

 

[disneynutz]

We have yet to buy but are considering doing it next month. I have a guide and want him to take me (Dh and kids will stay at the hotel...this is ALL in my court) on the tour of a few of the models while I'm there. I also plan to NOT buy there on the spot but go on my cruise to see what is offered there before I commit. So if I tell my guide that is my intention, is he likely to get, well, angry? I mean, it's QUITE possible that I'll give him a call once we are off the ship and say, "Let's do this thing." I have no need to do it right there and then before I cruise. or will I? Should I just clam up? What would be the best course? the guide did say he'd be able to tell me what the ship was going to offer in advance, but is that true and how likely am I to not get the "entire" story?

Bill mentioning that a guide will be angry about having to split a commission and just "forget" to call someone back made me think about this stuff.

THANKS

Your Guide will only tour you through the models at the Preview Center at SSR. If it were me, I would tell him that you don't intend to buy during the tour and that you are still learning. The Guides make their money closing contracts and you can see why they might be put off if they know or think that you are are just using them.

Even with Disney the buying process is a game that they play it very well. They will make you feel all warm and fuzzy and like you owe it to your family to buy. They will show you a fancy presentation with beautiful pictures of families having the best times of their lives.

What they don't show you are people paying their loans and increasing dues every year until they sell their contracts. They don't show you paying a 10% commission to a broker when you sell. They don't show you on the phone at 8 AM at 7 months before your vacation dates, hoping to get a reservation at your favorite non-home resorts.

With that being said, if you intend to vacation at WDW for the next 10 years or so, and you love the DVC style of resorts, buying a membership will save you money on your room. Don't expect any perks or discounts, that way when they take them away, you won't be disappointed.

Bill

 

[GoofItUp]

You could also get the contract worked up with the best deal your guide offers you and have them change it or cancel and get a new contract if something better is offered on your cruise. If you're 100% sure you're going to buy, that might be the best option so that you're guide gets the business if he truly can give you the best deal. (This is all assuming you're going on your cruise immediately after your WDW trip and would be within the change/cancel window.)

 

[Crystal_27]

If it were me, I'd be honest. Here's the thing - - at the end of the day, the ball is in your court about whether to buy, and I just can't imagine a Guide faulting you for wanting to get the best deal for yourself. You are obviously going into your purchase being fully educated about DVC (BRAVO!!!) and, again, telling your Guide that you are going to wait to see if there are better incentives offered on the cruise is just part of the process. I think that your Guide would respect your honesty and, if nothing else, when you take the tour at WDW, your Guide will know that you are informed and hopefully not try and stretch the truth about any aspects of DVC. Good luck!

 

[WilsonFlyer]

Won't the original Guide get the "credit" regardless? I'm pretty sure this is the way DVC has always worked. They'll (the original Guide) know that too. Just knowing you intend on buying but not right there might make all the difference in the world in the way you are treated given those circumstances are true.

 

[toniosmom]

I'm not sure I would mention the cruise. However, I don't think that the guides believe that every single person who takes the tour will buy at that moment.

My advice is take the tour and then after hearing all of the available incentives, tell the guide you need to think about it for a short time. That's what I did. Also, not having your DH with you on the tour gives you the perfect excuse -- say you need to discuss it further with him.

Don't forget to ask how long the incentives offered are valid.

 

[cel_disney]

I think that you are just going to have to juggle the incentives and making sure that you at least get SOME incentive - either on the cruise or at WDW...You have a fair amount of time to back out (commit and give a down payment, they ship papers to you in 3-4 days, 10 days to send them in and 10 days after signed date to back out) if you get a better offer on the cruise, so surely they would be willing just to adjust it for you if that is the case!

 

[stopher1]

I was just at the Doorway store in NY last week taking a look at #1 the store space itself, and #2 the BLT model once again. I identified myself as an existing member, and when the guide there went over the current pricing/incentives for existing members - he clearly told me that my existing FL based guide would get any credit for the purchase if I were to add-on. The same thing was true many months ago when I looked at the VGC models out in CA prior to purchasing points there - my FL based guide would get the credit. I believe that the same scenario would hold true in your situation if you were to simply tell him that you need some additional time to think it over, discuss it with your husband. Then if you did in fact get better incentives on your cruise, that original guide would get the credit for the sale.

I think honesty is a good thing, especially about your intentions/desires to actually purchase. I also don't believe you need to disclose 100% of your situation to him since you want to compare the incentives and see which is better for you. My guide had no problem with me switching the incentives on our VGC purchase back in the spring when new ones were released that were better for our family.

Simply tell them that you need time to think it over and that you will not be purchasing on the spot. If he truly thinks you are going to buy, but just need some additional time, getting mad about you not purchasing that day just seems childish.

 

[CarolAnnC]

I purchased one of my add ons years back when BCV was first released and I was on board a Disney Cruise. The credit is shared by your original FL guide and the guide you work with on the cruise. It is also the same with the Doorway to Dreams locations - credit is shared.

 

[WilsonFlyer]

I purchased one of my add ons years back when BCV was first released and I was on board a Disney Cruise. The credit is shared by your original FL guide and the guide you work with on the cruise. It is also the same with the Doorway to Dreams locations - credit is shared.

That's interesting Carol, because I have heard that too. Conflicting stories. Not doubting you but I wonder where the real answer lies. Maybe anything involving two Guides splits?

We had a Guide assigned to us because my brother-in-law referred us (got his Guide, naturally) but he wasn't there the day we toured. Our "replacement" Guide got credit for the sale but had to share commissions with the originally assigned Guide. Just the way they do it I guess. Anywho... after that, the Guide we toured with has become our permanent guide and now gets credit for our add-ons, etc. all to himself. Slightly off-topic, I guess, but it reiterates the point that there may not be any appliable pattern to how the Guides get paid commissions. Especially one that we would know all the intricacies of.

 

[JimMIA]

Under Florida law, with any real estate purchase you have ten days from signing the purchase agreement to cancel...no questions asked. Any deposits taken must be held in escrow and promptly refunded if you change your mind.

The consumer-protection purpose behind this law is to protect consumers who later find out a) they made a bad decision, b) they were lied to (yeah, it happens) or c) they got a better deal elsewhere.

I would not lie to a DVC Guide (although I know some of them would giggle and brag about lying to me), but neither would I worry whether they were happy or disgruntled with me because I chose another option which offers greater benefit to my family, but may affect their commission. Their commission income is not my concern, any more than my income is their concern. If they give me sub-standard service for any reason, I'd call a manager and have a new guide assigned.

Guides are like alligators -- they are not your friends. They're timeshare salesmen. If they become your BFF, that's gravy... but they're timeshare salesmen.

 

[ppony]

Good thoughts everyone!
I would hope no one would ever feel used because I'm not using anyone. I DO need to see a few models at SSR and I DO have to ask questions. A rep on the DCL ship wouldn't be able to show me any models of course. But of course as you have also said, they are sales people and there to part you from your money. SO I need to remember that and not be so worried about feelings. Within reason of course. I am very reluctant to be abrasive anyway so I'm sure they'll try to walk all over me.

Hmmm. Lots to mull over. Maybe I'll be playing it more by ear and see how he "reads". As was said, I won't have my DH with me at the moment so I'm not going to sign anything w/o at least telling him I'm going to.

Well I'll be calling the guide in a week or so to set up our appointment.

I'll be sure to outline exactly what I want to see (SSR and AKL model and possibly an actual tour at BLT just for grins) and how long I want to spend w/ him because we have ADRs and I'm sandwiching this in. I WISH I had a car this tie to be able to run to a few of the other resorts like OKW to see in case we could go for a resale. But .....

THANKS everyone. More questions I'm sure will come but I'm reading silently to get "armed".

 

[shonnons]

Good thoughts everyone!
I would hope no one would ever feel used because I'm not using anyone. I DO need to see a few models at SSR and I DO have to ask questions. A rep on the DCL ship wouldn't be able to show me any models of course. But of course as you have also said, they are sales people and there to part you from your money. SO I need to remember that and not be so worried about feelings. Within reason of course. I am very reluctant to be abrasive anyway so I'm sure they'll try to walk all over me.

".

I would be open and honest. I am a sales person, not for Disney. I think my customers get the best results when they are upfront with what they want and what they are planning. In sales this is called an “upfront contract.” It is a very respective way to go about thing and you don’t get walk over. When I meet with my guide I told him “I would be buying with in the year, I had 30 minutes to speak with him and that I was comparing buying resale vs. direct, so tell my why I should buy from Disney.”

Most professional sales people, who do not sale cars, do not liking being pushy and try not to be.

 

[Dean]

Personally I'd just go see the models and some of the resorts on my own and then do the formal tour on the cruise. No reason to go through the full tour twice plus it's possible you could lose out on some of the specials this way.

 

[ppony]

Personally I'd just go see the models and some of the resorts on my own and then do the formal tour on the cruise. No reason to go through the full tour twice plus it's possible you could lose out on some of the specials this way.

Oh. you can see the models on your own an SSR? That's a good thought... but I do need them to transport my hiney in the van. I could take a bus but I'm REALLY limited on time. And since I'm there, the free fast passes wouldn't be SO bad. DH's eyes lit up when I said the guide said we'd get them. So I probably need to take one for the team and 2 tours aren't such a bad idea for me anyway. More would be likely to sink in. I'm not a very quick observing sponge. I can only absorb so much at one time.

But no worries anyway. I will not be dishonest at all. I'm a lousey one to not speak more than enough truth. Which might just make all the planning I do to say certain things or NOT say certain things moot anyway. I might just blurt. People would LOVE to play poker against me. I'd probably show them my cards just to be nice. Well, almost.

THANKS!!!

 

[dzorn]

Oh. you can see the models on your own an SSR? That's a good thought... but I do need them to transport my hiney in the van. I could take a bus but I'm REALLY limited on time. And since I'm there, the free fast passes wouldn't be SO bad. DH's eyes lit up when I said the guide said we'd get them. So I probably need to take one for the team and 2 tours aren't such a bad idea for me anyway. More would be likely to sink in. I'm not a very quick observing sponge. I can only absorb so much at one time.

But no worries anyway. I will not be dishonest at all. I'm a lousey one to not speak more than enough truth. Which might just make all the planning I do to say certain things or NOT say certain things moot anyway. I might just blurt. People would LOVE to play poker against me. I'd probably show them my cards just to be nice. Well, almost.

THANKS!!!

FYI you only get fast passes for those that go on the tour. If DH and kiddos are not with you they will not get them unless something has changed.

Denise in MI

 

[ppony]

FYI you only get fast passes for those that go on the tour. If DH and kiddos are not with you they will not get them unless something has changed.

Denise in MI

I told him they wouldn't be with me and he still said that soooo......

 

[CarolAnnC]

That's interesting Carol, because I have heard that too. Conflicting stories. Not doubting you but I wonder where the real answer lies. Maybe anything involving two Guides splits?

We had a Guide assigned to us because my brother-in-law referred us (got his Guide, naturally) but he wasn't there the day we toured. Our "replacement" Guide got credit for the sale but had to share commissions with the originally assigned Guide. Just the way they do it I guess. Anywho... after that, the Guide we toured with has become our permanent guide and now gets credit for our add-ons, etc. all to himself. Slightly off-topic, I guess, but it reiterates the point that there may not be any appliable pattern to how the Guides get paid commissions. Especially one that we would know all the intricacies of.

Commission can be a tricky assignment. I am sure DVC has many rules in place for the "what ifs" that arise. I was in sales for 20 years, so I know "time is money" and I am sure the employer tries to be fair about it..

FYI you only get fast passes for those that go on the tour. If DH and kiddos are not with you they will not get them unless something has changed.

Denise in MI

I would not expect Fast Passes unless it were the first time I was touring. They are designed for those who come for the tour and take away park time touring. Any subsequent visits are of one's own choosing and FP's should not be expected, IMHO.

We visited the OKW models many times over a period of several years before buying. We toured with our guide initially and any subsequent visit was not an appointment, until I was ready to buy. Then I made the appointment. The other times, I just popped in and asked to run through the models by myself...I don't think taking up a Guide's time when there is no intention to buy should be done. Just coming from a former sales consultant....

 

[ppony]

I would not expect Fast Passes unless it were the first time I was touring. They are designed for those who come for the tour and take away park time touring. Any subsequent visits are of one's own choosing and FP's should not be expected, IMHO.

Actually it is my first time touring and I'm cramming this in so am taking time away. And to be fair, HE was the one that brought it up, not me. I never knew anything about the passes, HE said I'd get them. My guide is aware of this situation and that though we could bring 1 child, my toddler will NOT handle going and unless he wanted a screaming baby and neither of our full attention, he's going to have to settle w/ just me and he was cool w/ that. He said.

 

[MrShiny]

I believe the point of first contact gets the deal, no matter what. Our guide was the one who gave us a phone "tour" back in 1996 I think. We've never met her, and didn't purchase until 2004. I'm sure there is some sort of sharing, but once there is an official "tour" that person gets to be the official one forever.