Can you switch guides?

[WoodysRoundup]

Just wondering, is it allowed to switch DVC guides?

 

[khomer504]

Yep, my understanding is you just have to call and talk to a manager and let them know you want to switch guides.

Good luck!

 

[dtheboys]

You sure can, I did...and I am so glad I did...I now have GREAT service..
Good Luck

 

[disneynutz]

We did, just call the Sales Center, ask for a Manager, and switch.

 

[maciec]

Yes, when we went to take the AKL tour we just had a few questions and our assigned guide was not there so they got another for us. We liked our that guide very much. We asked him what we had to do to switch to him and he brought out a manager. We told her that we wanted to switch and she said "Ok. Consider it done."

 

[WoodysRoundup]

Just curious, what makes a guide a great guide? I was in sales years ago and I believe that maintaining good contact with clients is crucial EVEN when they are not "buying" at the moment. I found more success when I cared even when I wasn't making a commission off of them.
So, what makes a DVC guide a great guide IYO? TIA!

 

[Dee77]

My opinion of a great guide is being able to walk the delicate line- maintain enough contact to show a client is still on their radar/appreciated and letting them know critical info but also not over-doing it to the point where a client feels like a $. I also believe it is very important to call back in a reasonable time-frame even if I have a generic question and not just when they think I want an add-on.

 

[sean-1966]

I'm seeing this question more and more. I wonder if Disney is putting more pressure on the guides to sell, so they have no time for their current members.

 

[Bekky2]

Just curious, what makes a guide a great guide? I was in sales years ago and I believe that maintaining good contact with clients is crucial EVEN when they are not "buying" at the moment. I found more success when I cared even when I wasn't making a commission off of them. I feel like if our guide knows we're adding on, she's calling and calling. If I have questions or just want info., it's very difficult to get a call back. Now, I'm less inclined to go to her when we do add on again.....especially since she never got back to us with info. from last week.

So, what makes a DVC guide a great guide IYO? TIA!

I would say you are correct with staying in touch with the client even if they are not buying. Our guide is WONDERFUL and we only bought the initial 100 points so far with her. We attended the February event and didn't buy more and yet still got time with her to chat and touch base. We receive a response from our guide the same day when we put a call in also.

 

[mgroshans]

Our guide is spectacular. We first heard about DVC from my cousin. She told us about the DWTD store in Schaumburg, IL. So we went there on a Saturday to tour the studio and 1 BR of AKK. We sat down with her and spent almost 2 hours. She gave us all the information, she watched the video with us and at the end she told us to take everything home and to talk about, and if we had questions, for us to call her. So we did all that, and of course had several questions. We called her, left a voice mail. She called us back within a half an hour, talked again for about 1 hour. She told us she would not call us, if we had questions, for us to call her. So a couple weeks later, we called her to set up a time for us to come back. We went back to the store and spent another couple of hours with her and ended up signing for 100 points. We never once felt pressure form her or the other people there. We always felt welcomed. We have been back there a couple of times and they always recognized us. She called the following week after we signed to see if we had any questions or concerns. To this day, she emails us once in a while to see how we are all doing. Then what she did for my DH last Saturday was spectacular. When she sent me the email address to rsvp for the event, I replied saying we will be there b/c we are going to Chicago for his birthday. That is all I had to say. She did the rest. If you were there, you would know what I am talking about. Then she sent an email yesterday asking if we had a good time and to let us know that she will email us when there are future events there. What can I say, she is great. We are very lucky to have a guide like her I don't think there is one thing that makes her different and good, there are several reasons

 

[disneynutz]

Just curious, what makes a guide a great guide? I was in sales years ago and I believe that maintaining good contact with clients is crucial EVEN when they are not "buying" at the moment. I found more success when I cared even when I wasn't making a commission off of them. I feel like if our guide knows we're adding on, she's calling and calling. If I have questions or just want info., it's very difficult to get a call back. Now, I'm less inclined to go to her when we do add on again.....especially since she never got back to us with info. from last week.

So, what makes a DVC guide a great guide IYO? TIA!

Service after the sale. Someone who knows their job, takes note of our interests and matches them to current promotions. Responds in a timely fashion to our sales questions and doesn't bug us unless we like to be bugged.

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

Every person is different. I'm sure some people would be put off by a guide keeping in touch with them to much like the person following you around at a retail store asking if you need help every 5 mins. Our guide leaves us messages on our phone for most of our trips and tells us to contact her if we have any problems or questions. She's also let us know about new offerings.

I wouldn't go to my guide to discuss problems I have with DVC. I'd write a letter to member satisfaction or something like that. I don't know how much contact I really need with my guide.

 

[CarolAnnC]

I think the key here is responds to "sales" questions..They are sales people, and questions that can be answered by others such as Member Services, Member Administration, Member Accounting, etc., should be directed to those folks.

If I am buying and seeking out my Guide, I expect to hear back from my Guide. With hundreds of clients each, I do not expect more than that. I am looking for a salesperson who will do the best that he/she can for me in regards to my purchases.

I think some folks truly are confused and do not understand the scope of the Guide's position at DVC.

 

[WoodysRoundup]

Service after the sale. Someone who knows their job, takes note of our interests and matches them to current promotions. Responds in a timely fashion to our sales questions and doesn't bug us unless we like to be bugged.

Thanks. You just helped me realize what makes me unhappy about our guide.
There is NO "service after the sale". Carol (above) talked about understainding the scope of the position. I don't care what big item you're selling, there should always be service after the sale. I don't need friendly emails once in a while or a call before/after a trip. But if I had those things, I wouldn't be thinking of switching guides. FWIW, I don't bother her w/ DVC questions that are not related to a potential sale. And, the call she never returned from last week has to do with the CURRENT promotion. Even if the answer was not what I was looking for to purchase right now, she should have callled us back.
We've made two purchases with her so far and are contemplating a third. I do expect good sales practices from her.

 

[mgroshans]

Well as my DW stated above, I absolutely agree with what she said. We like our guide b/c she is personable with our family. That is what WE like. If we had gotten someone else who has a totally different personality, we may have not bought into. She totally did her job and continues to do it. Every person and families have different needs and wants. Someone may want a guide who just "backs" away and someone may want a guide to just tell them what the membership is about. Someone else who gets our guide, may not like her, and they have every right to there opinion.

 

[disneynutz]

Disney's sales approach tends to confuse a lot of people. They create a warm friendly atmosphere at the Sales Center and treat you like best buddies. The buyers get caught up in the Disney moment and feel wonderful about their purchase and making a new best friend, their Guide. The Guides stay in touch until your right of recession has expired.

That's the end of your Guides responsibility.

Don't call them with closing issues, reservation issues, Disney issues, or anything else other than buying more points.

 

[WoodysRoundup]

Well as my DW stated above, I absolutely agree with what she said. We like our guide b/c she is personable with our family. That is what WE like. If we had gotten someone else who has a totally different personality, we may have not bought into. She totally did her job and continues to do it. Every person and families have different needs and wants. Someone may want a guide who just "backs" away and someone may want a guide to just tell them what the membership is about. Someone else who gets our guide, may not like her, and they have every right to there opinion.

I'm happy that you guys are happy!

My "beef" is not with how personable she is or not, it's just that I don't think she's a good salesperson. I do expect a return phone call from last week about a current promotion......especially since we've already given her two sales.

 

[Duckfan-in-Chicago]

I think some folks truly are confused and do not understand the scope of the Guide's position at DVC.

In people's defense, I've heard with my own ears guides telling people pretty much if their pillows are lumpy or they have a problem at check in, don't hesitate to call them.

I would never do that, and I don't think my guide made that offer.

 

[mgroshans]

I'm happy that you guys are happy!

My "beef" is not with how personable she is or not, it's just that I don't think she's a good salesperson. I do expect a return phone call from last week about a current promotion......especially since we've already given her two sales.

I agree with you 100% , unless (giving her the benefit of the doubt) she is on vacation.

 

[mgroshans]

Disney's sales approach tends to confuse a lot of people. They create a warm friendly atmosphere at the Sales Center and treat you like best buddies. The buyers get caught up in the Disney moment and feel wonderful about their purchase and making a new best friend, their Guide. The Guides stay in touch until your right of recession has expired.

That's the end of your Guides responsibility.

Don't call them with closing issues, reservation issues, Disney issues, or anything else other than buying more points.

Again, I agree with that , but all I am saying is, our particular guide is not like that.