Disappointed in our Disney Tour Guide...

[anbouk]

We did the SSR tour thru a guide while at WDW two weeks ago. I am now realizing a lot of info I was given was misleading after attacking these DVC boads since our return! To the point I do not want to use her or speak to her again, even though she acted so pretentious (sp). For example, she knew I wanted ownership in BCV but persisted selling AKV, and told us that there is NO option in buying BCV. I now understand you can do a waitlist thru Disney, we're not in a RUSH. Another thing she said was that the absolute minimum you can purchase at AKV was 160 pts, I understand that you CAN buy 100 pts at AKV w/o incentives. Also, we were excited about the Contemporary BLT Villas, and she said "That is NOT confirmed that they will be villas!!!! She did not know that I DIS My question is can I call Disney and request another guide. I really do not want to deal with this girl, she LIED!!! Not my way of doing business, sorry!

 

[ClarabelleCow]

Wasn't the 100 point buy in just offered on select cruises and through the Doorway to Dreams - Chicago I think??? I didn't know it was available to everyone? But BLT was not confirmed until yesterday, so I don't think she lied, everyone was speculating, but there was no truth to it yet.

 

[dudelydude]

This is like 7 threads down from yours.


http://disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1952277

 

[kim_d]

Wasn't the 100 point buy in just offered on select cruises and through the Doorway to Dreams - Chicago I think??? I didn't know it was available to everyone? But BLT was not confirmed until yesterday, so I don't think she lied, everyone was speculating, but there was no truth to it yet.

Yes, I thought the 100 pts was for add-ons only (or through the cruise/Doorway deals). Minimum purchase for new contracts is 160 pts? Maybe I am incorrect?

 

[kim_d]

Also I wanted to add that she probably couldn't tell you about BLT prior to the announcement. My guess is she was bound by a non-disclosure agreement and could be terminated if information was released before the announcement.

 

[Rileygirl]

The guide may not have lied, but certainly gave 'overwhelming' information that made the person feel not trusting of the guide.

I TOTALLY understand this feeling. In my own personal experience, my guide also 'lead' me to believe that good resell contracts, ie. not stripped of points' never get past ROFR for cheaper then what disney sells them to you. WRONG

This is a big purchase, and honestly, you want to be able to trust your guide. From reading these boards, I figure there are REALLY good guides, adverage guides, and USED CAR SALESMEN type of guides (I apologize to any use car salesmen out there for the slur comparing them to bad guides)

If you are going to buy from Disney, get the name of a great guide from a diser. Ask for that person. Here is the bummer though, the original guide (from what I have read on these boards anyways) will get 50% of the commision anyways, having given you the tour (Correct me if I am wrong Vets) This would totally PMO! If you feel strongly enough about it, make sure you tell Disney that you DO NOT WANT that guide to get any comission, and give them the reasons why.

The 100 pt thing for AKV - I understand that this was a deal for Doorway to Dreams people, but, others who bought from Disney were apparently offered this deal from their guides. Some had to ask for it (average guides) some were told they could not do it (car salesmen guides, it must have cost them something in the commision I imagine) and some were offered it by their guides (excellent guides).

Here is what I HATE HATE HATE about the whole 'guide' business. Why are not all things offered to all people? Why do some guides offer things, or sweeten the pot so to speak, while others try and sink you for as much as possible??? Why are some guides willing to sell sold out resorts, and others do everything but stand on there head to tell you its a bad idea.

If you are going to buy through Disney, I would demand a new guide for sure. Also, from reading a thread that WebmasterDoc or maybe it was Caskbill? I am not sure who said it but-- if you ask for a use year that is coming up, ie like december, there is a chance if you get the points before december 1, you will automatically get full 2007 pts, all the 2008 and 2009 too. Also, your MF's will be prorated, so you will only be paying from the time you recieve your points. End result if you get your points by november, 2007 pts (which they should allow you to bank even though its past its window, its a courtesy thing offered by Disney) 2008 pts Dec 1, and only pay 1 month of MF!! Ok, that would be a great deal!!!!!

Also- I have read that new owners purchasing resell through Disney may NOT have to pay any closing costs at the sold out resorts -- its only new owners at AKL that have been paying the 50% of the closing costs -- this statement I am not 100% sure on, there is conflicting info about this, so I am not sure if its true or not -- but get a GOOD guide and ask!

If you get the free closing costs to boot - I think you will end up with a better deal then my resell!

Let me know how it goes for you - I am interested to see how long it takes Disney to come up with your contract

 

[fadedgirl]

The 100 pts was offered for both add-on and new DVC members, but the incentives were better for the add-ons.

Our guide told us we couldn't do it several times, then decided that we could. That was at DL. just a couple of weeks ago. Other guides told their clients up front that they could. I don't know if it was only sporadically offered to new buy-ins, or what, but as Riley commented, the drastically varying info given by & the sales "techniques" of the guides has become maddening (to me at least).

 

[anbouk]

For the few who have responded pertaining to the 100 at AKV....YES it CAN be done but NOT ALL guides tell you this!!! Again, there are GOOD guides and NOT SO GOOD guides (guess it is all about commission $)!!!

 

[anbouk]

The 100 pts was offered for both add-on and new DVC members, but the incentives were better for the add-ons.

Our guide told us we couldn't do it several times, then decided that we could. That was at DL. just a couple of weeks ago. Other guides told their clients up front that they could. I don't know if it was only sporadically offered to new buy-ins, or what, but as Riley commented, the drastically varying info given by & the sales "techniques" of the guides has become maddening (to me at least).

FADEDGIRL....sounds like we had a similiar guide experience, ours was at WDW in Florida, though! Left us with some bitterness, too!

 

[Chellymouse]

There are GREAT guides and not so great guides!! I would suggest Todd Bearden....he's our guide and he is AMAZING!! We had some issues and had to put our membership on hold for about 4 months and he was amazing! If you can't trust your guide, ask for a new one!

 

[Greyhound22]

We were offered the 100 point option in July when we went through our tour. I made it clear I was just interested and not buying anything that day. Our guide was very receptive and explained everything very well. One of the options that he showed me was the 100 point choice. The only thing different about that option was if I purchased 160 or above I would get matched in "that" total the developer points for 2009 at Disneyland's 3 resorts, SSR, or I.I. He pretty much told me that the 100 point option was in regards to the slow economy. Made sence to me.

 

[ElasticGirl]

Our Guide mentioned the 100 points when we signed up in July too. Being that we have 3 kids he suggested the 160 but still explained that we could get 100. He said we would probably find we would need points later with there being 5 of us.

 

[goodcook5]

Even though the guides are friendly, try to remember they are sales people working on percentages and bonuses to get a pay check. That system always creates a diversity in sales techniques. They are not really your friend.

 

[rutgers1]

My guide's sales pitch was that Disney doesn't want to be in the timeshare business and that it was only being done as a courtesy to me. He said that it was a losing proposition for Disney, blah blah blah. I then replied that there is no way that they would have kiosks all over the premises, drive my family in a van to SSR, and then give us ice cream if Disney was losing money on the transaction. He still maintained he was right.

 

[shortypots]

I hated our guide too. I even called customer service on her because of how poorly she treated us. She tried to get us to close at home so she would get her commission, tried telling us that she wouldn't get any of it. Come to find out during the closing she was still getting 50%. I was not a happy camper with her. She also tried telling us that Disney doesn't let them come in on their day off. We found out from the guide who closed us that they do attempt to get them in on their day off, but sometimes it just doesn't work out. So basically, she didn't want to come in on her day off and was still getting 50% of the commission.

I haven't called to get my guide permanently changed, but if we decide to add on directly through Disney, we will be certain to make them change it to the guide who closed us. She was awesome! She even called us a couple of times to make sure we were enjoying our purchase and if we needed help with reservations. Even got a thank you card. The 1st rep- NADA!

 

[lllovell]

Have you called and talked to a management person concerning your post?

I understand that venting her makes people feel better, but it won't do a thing to change something if they have a bad guide in the works. You need to call and explain your concerns and gripes to DVC directly.

LLL