Do I HAVE to purchase an add-on from my guide?

[Buzz's Buddy]

My guide is a nice guy and was very low pressure when we purchased back in 2003...but, you can grow old waiting for this guy to return a phone call.

We called Tuesday night concerning adding on at AKV and got his voicemail, which included a message that he would be out of the office on Wednesday and Thursday, but would return our call when he was back in the office.

You guessed it, no call yesterday or today.

So, do I have to wait for him to call me back or can I deal with another guide? This is not the first time we've had to wait days for calls to be returned and it really does get aggravating.

 

[CarolA]

I would call back and ask for a manager. I would then ask for a guide who calls when I want to spend money LOL! I think the mangement would be glad to assist you in spending cash! (Probably Monday is a better day to call for management!)

 

[Disney_Villain]

It depends on what you want. Do you want the guide you have, or do you want to run the risk of getting one with a dorsal fin and sharp teeth?

I've seen a lot of the guides, and a lot of them are very abrupt salespeople. We dealt with Ken Bradshaw on one occasion and we didn't care for his shark-like "business-only" approach . . . and we chose to remain with our guide no matter what. (Ken has left DVC from what I've heard - probably gone back to selling used cars.) I've seen one very angry family at the SSR preview center, where the father left the closing room telling his guide "I do not enjoy pressure sales tactics".

Our guide is also not quick to return phone calls, but she DOES return them.

If your matter is about an add-on, call your guide. Leave him a message if you can't get through, stating that you will deal with another guide if you cannot reach him within a short period of time. (His commission will be cut in half if that happens.)

 

[moredisneyplease]

I opted for another rep when I added on the 2nd time because rep #1 wasn't real friendly AND didnt return calls. My 2nd rep is so wonderful, pressure free, AND returns phone calls. I say call for someone else!

 

[wildernessDad]

If your guide has a history of ignoring your calls, then I would say to call and ask for another guide. If this is just being antsy to add on, I would suggest waiting the extra day.

 

[twinklebug]

DVC has hundreds of Guides. Think of your guide as your employee. Do you feel yours is earning his year end bonus? If not - switch to one you do like and has the work ethic you get along with. (PS - same advice goes for divorce lawyers -- which you might find you need when you you buy too many points and the marriage road gets too bumpy )

 

[CarolA]

DVC has hundreds of Guides. Think of your guide as your employee. Do you feel yours is earning his commission? If not - switch to one you do like and has the work ethic you get along with. (PS - same advice goes for divorce lawyers -- which you might find you need when you you buy too many points and the marriage road gets too bumpy )

I knew there was a reason I was single... no one gets to know how many points I have. (Waldo the long term boyfriend is CLUELESS!! )

 

[zurgswife]

I knew there was a reason I was single... no one gets to know how many points I have. (Waldo the long term boyfriend is CLUELESS!! )

I think I should know....and when did you go buy AKV points and not mention it too me.....l

 

[Laneychris]

Look on this site an see who like their guide. I remember at one point there was a list of guides that people had/liked. That might help you pick a better guide.

 

[pkitty]

I had the same guide for 3 tours and finally bought from him....Larry Hope...nice guy, no pressure. Just emailed him thru member services yesterday with my intention to purchase 100 point add on. I don't care how long it takes for him to call me back, I'll wait because I know that I am getting quality service and answers from a guide who has been there since the beginning. No emergency...I am excited but I know these things take time. Patience is a virtue afterall

 

[JimGarth]

My guide is a nice guy and was very low pressure when we purchased back in 2003...but, you can grow old waiting for this guy to return a phone call.

We called Tuesday night concerning adding on at AKV and got his voicemail, which included a message that he would be out of the office on Wednesday and Thursday, but would return our call when he was back in the office.

You guessed it, no call yesterday or today.

So, do I have to wait for him to call me back or can I deal with another guide? This is not the first time we've had to wait days for calls to be returned and it really does get aggravating.

I think I know who your guide is - I got the same VM this morning (it's Sunday!) that he'll be out Wednesday and Thursday - I left him a msg, but I guess I shouldn't hold my breath for a phone call any time soon

 

[Tozzie]

I think everyone is forgetting one thing , Florida just got hit with major flooding and last I read 11 deaths related to Tropical Storm Fay, While WDW was not really affected maybe this guides house is under a few feet of water and he may be contending with that. I say give it few more days, before crucifying anyone with the present situation in Florida there may be a reason.

 

[shortypots]

I hated the guide I took my tour with. She did fine on the tour itself and we felt she was very knowledgable, but when it came down to purchasing, she tried to convince us to wait til we got home instead of closing on the day we had decided on because she was off. She told us that Disney doesn't let them come in on their day off and she wouldn't get any commission. Well, we got the closing to find out this isn't the case. According to the guide that closed the deal, Disney does try to get the initial guide to come in on their day off, and that she would get 50% of the commission. After we found out how she lied to us, I will not deal with her again. The guide we had at closing was wonderful, even called us twice since we got home to see how we were enjoying our points.

I left a message with Disney regarding the issue with our guide, and was told we would have to call back to get our guide's name changed. We have not done this yet, but if we do decide to add on more (this will be several years off) I will get it changed.

 

[JimGarth]

I think everyone is forgetting one thing , Florida just got hit with major flooding and last I read 11 deaths related to Tropical Storm Fay, While WDW was not really affected maybe this guides house is under a few feet of water and he may be contending with that. I say give it few more days, before crucifying anyone with the present situation in Florida there may be a reason.

Tozzie,

Good point - thanks for making the rest of us (I'm in the Northeast) realize how lucky we were that we're not affected. I'm remain patient (or as patient as I can for me)

 

[backyardponder]

If you like your guide, I'd give him or her a second call. As a previous poster said, there's been bad weather and your guide could have been impacted. If you still do not get a response, ask for a manager and ask if your guide has had a weather related issue causing delays.

 

[Buzz's Buddy]

I have to admit that I never thought of the weather situation in Florida; however, I have to tell you that this is a regular issue with our guide.

If he was having a weather related problem, you would think he would adjust his voicemail message to indicate that.

We'll probably call and ask to speak to a manager. Thanks for the input!

 

[JimGarth]

Well, so much for the benefit of the doubt. I called Member Services this morning and expressed concern that I hadn't heard from my guide and that his message said he was out Wednesday and Thursday (since last week) - I said I hope he wasn't affected by Fay or ill or something. They said "nope, he's been in and he's on a tour right now". So needless to say I moved on to someone who could help me. Just added 100 points! Woo hoo!

 

[melomouse]

I stopped at the DVC desk here at SSR and asked about contacting my guide and was told he was likely in the Panama Canal on the mid-part of his cruise!!!! Probably a good thing - I would have gone in with my questions and complaints and walked out with another contract!!

 

[Rileygirl]

What if you just dont feel comfortable with your guide? When I started checking info on the DVC, I called Disney to get more info. I took a tour a few years ago, and the same guide was still working at Disney, so they hooked me up with that guide. When I took the tour a couple of years ago, I just didnt rub well with this person.

When I called about info, the guide sent the book, and said they would follow up after I had a chance to look at it. They never emailed or called, so I called back. I talked again to the same guide, and well, it always felt like they never answered my questions, just sort of agree with me. then, I never got the email they promised to send me.

Anyways, is it ok to ask for another guide? I hate to cause this guide any grief, but honestly, I dont feel comfortable with this person.

Actually, I am debating resell or Disney, but am leaning towards resell, so maybe this will be a no issue at all. If I do decide to buy through Disney though, I just wondered how I could change my guide. And, would it be ok request disers to pm with guides they would recommend? I dont know if this goes against the guidelines on the disboards though.

TIA

~A

 

[Buzz's Buddy]

Well, so much for the benefit of the doubt. I called Member Services this morning and expressed concern that I hadn't heard from my guide and that his message said he was out Wednesday and Thursday (since last week) - I said I hope he wasn't affected by Fay or ill or something. They said "nope, he's been in and he's on a tour right now". So needless to say I moved on to someone who could help me. Just added 100 points! Woo hoo!

Yeah, most likely we do have the same guide (BD?), or should I said used to have the same guide. I also called member services yesterday and heard basically the same thing, my guide was in but wasn't available because he was with other guests.

I ended up speaking with another guide who handled our 100 point add-on at AKV. When we finished, he gave me his phone number and let me know that "he is very responsive", which is obviously short for "unlike your prior guide, I'll actually return your phone call."

Now, I do have to say that the woman who initially answered the phone told me that Bruce couldn't return my call because I lived in NJ and signed up for the NJ Do Not Call list. Now, I don't understand why they couldn't return my call if I left 3 messages asking him to call me, but that's what I was told. She also mentioned a DVC website where I could go to "sign-up" and enable DVC to call us.

Sounds odd to me. Any other NJ DVC members have this issue. Sounds like she was covering for my guide not returning my calls.