Hassled at Islands of Adventure (to buy Mystic Dunes) - anyone else annoyed by this?

[ky07]

When we went in December, the only people that approached us were ones wanting us to be in a survey. Dh & I did not participate, but our dds did. They got paid $5 for eating sandwiches.

That sounds like its right up my alley but my luck they would be nasty

 

[keishashadow]

That sounds like its right up my alley but my luck they would be nasty

could be

i have gotten 2 surveys @ US, one i did have to drink rather off-putting juicey type drink, got $10 in Universal bucks each for 10 min of my time

they didn't want DHs input ...im so special

think he was hoping for taste testing @ Finnegans

 

[Bluer101]

First thing I would suggest is do not stop, keep walking and ignore them. They don't run after you.

Second thing I would suggest, in the event you do get cornered by one, tell them you live in Orlando. They normally cannot sell to those that live in the county/surrounding counties where the resort is... Once they hear that, they should "let you go" and fast....

We keep walking and told him we live in Orlando. They guy still was talking and followed us while talking into Toon Lagoon where the games are before leaving us alone. I don't care if I'm in mall and this happens, but not where you have to pay big $$ to get in.

 

[inkkognito]

I don't feel compelled to make any excuse at all. I just say "no," keep walking, and ignore them. Remember, you don't owe them any reason.

I too wish Universal would do away with the timeshare salespeople. As a PP said, they must pay some tall bucks to be there. It really cheapens the experience...feels like I'm at a Denny's on 192 being hawked by the pseudo-"information booth" person. At Disney, I have never once been approached by DVC, and in the couple of times I've chatted them up ('round about the time the Contemporary rumors were heating up), they have never, ever been pushy.

I don't mind the surveys as I will happy give my opinion for $$.

 

[macraven]

It really bothers me to hear I may be dealing with that while at Universal. But DH has that "dont approach me" look so I dont think we will have much problem. However if we are harrassed I will be sure to stop the first Cast Member ( are they called that at Uni ) and report it and tell them how I was never bothered by Time Share salesmen at Disney.

disney has the cm/cast member
Universal has the TM/ team member

instead of reporting it to the closest TM, go to guest service and they will deal with it. they need to know some information in order to help with the issues of guests being harassed. info such as, what was said, where were you, location where it happened, etc.

When we went in December, the only people that approached us were ones wanting us to be in a survey. Dh & I did not participate, but our dds did. They got paid $5 for eating sandwiches.

i always look for the survey people.
i love doing those surveys.
this past year was the first time i didn't get to do any.
in the past, i have received $20 for them



i have not been hounded by the sales people in the park but the doesn't mean it won't happen to me on my next trip.
i can't remember if i have seen one of those obnoxious sellers.

i'm sure it happened to you that posted about it.
just hasn't happened to me yet. if and when it does, i'll remember some of the lines you mentioned to say to them.

i would report it to guest services.
i'm very confident they would take the correct steps in reporting it to upper management.

 

[ZenMickey]

We keep walking and told him we live in Orlando. They guy still was talking and followed us while talking into Toon Lagoon where the games are before leaving us alone. I don't care if I'm in mall and this happens, but not where you have to pay big $$ to get in.

We all must be talking of the same guy. I always say "no" and keep walking, not even looking in his direction. As I am walking away one time he makes a loud comment somewhere along the lines of "you just keep walking with your beer, that's all you need....". Really inappropriate. I should have complained then and there, but obviously Universal doesn't think this is a problem. They should.

 

[macraven]

We all must be talking of the same guy. I always say "no" and keep walking, not even looking in his direction. As I am walking away one time he makes a loud comment somewhere along the lines of "you just keep walking with your beer, that's all you need....". Really inappropriate. I should have complained then and there, but obviously Universal doesn't think this is a problem. They should.

man, if that were me, i would walk back to him and share that beer with him.



oops, sorry, i must have tripped over something.....

 

[RAPstar]

Sorry, clicked the wrong thread.

 

[Bluer101]

We all must be talking of the same guy. I always say "no" and keep walking, not even looking in his direction. As I am walking away one time he makes a loud comment somewhere along the lines of "you just keep walking with your beer, that's all you need....". Really inappropriate. I should have complained then and there, but obviously Universal doesn't think this is a problem. They should.

Must be the same guy because another time around he was being rude to someone else instead of me.

 

[donaldduck352]

man, if that were me, i would walk back to him and share that beer with him.



oops, sorry, i must have tripped over something.....

I'm with you on that one mac,he would be wearing something..
I would of went right to guest service and had management talked too that dude in a heartbeat about that statement!!!!!!!!!!! I'm about tired of them as of last week.Next time I'm gonna do something...
We pay good hard earned money too visit to get harresd..I'm gonna do something about this the best I can!!!

I plan on playing hoockey this week and I;m sure they will be there..
Stay tuned for what we do...

 

[HugsForEeyore]

WOW! OP here - thanks for so many responses!!

It does make me a little better so know others have had this problem, too! It really sunk my mood to be harassed by these guys. And they really take advantage - people like me would never think to be harassed for a hard sell right in the middle of the parks! If I had known, I would have screamed "NOT INTERESTED" and huffed off.

When the guy first started talking to me, I assumed he worked for Universal and thought nothing of it. Once the hard sale came, I started the old "no .... not interested" and I remember saying over and over "just stop right there ...". This dude was in your face, almost blocking your path, forcing YOU to hold his brochures by pushing them into your hands so you couldn't get away. He was already fast-talking us to take some bus to Mystic Dunes, no matter what I said. I could see the confusion on my nephew's face, him thinking that this man is saying we had to leave the parks??? I was furious by then. What the h*ll! I finally grabbed my nephew and basically walked off in a huff, annoyed as heck.

I saw the same guy 2 days later in the same spot, so I guess this is his day job. (Only good thing is maybe someone took a swing at him, since he looked like he had some sort of neck injury!). I can't believe Universal allows this, but it looks like they certainly do and approve of it, too.

I guess Universal is happy to take money to allow these vultures to continue. I should have complained, but if they been around for awhile, obviously the almighty dollar already spoke and nothing will change (except me deciding not to return!).

Someone mentioned there were more of these vultures near Jaws ....! Fortunately I missed that section of the park!

 

[Bluer101]

WOW! OP here - thanks for so many responses!!

It does make me a little better so know others have had this problem, too! It really sunk my mood to be harassed by these guys. And they really take advantage - people like me would never think to be harassed for a hard sell right in the middle of the parks! If I had known, I would have screamed "NOT INTERESTED" and huffed off.

When the guy first started talking to me, I assumed he worked for Universal and thought nothing of it. Once the hard sale came, I started the old "no .... not interested" and I remember saying over and over "just stop right there ...". This dude was in your face, almost blocking your path, forcing YOU to hold his brochures by pushing them into your hands so you couldn't get away. He was already fast-talking us to take some bus to Mystic Dunes, no matter what I said. I could see the confusion on my nephew's face, him thinking that this man is saying we had to leave the parks??? I was furious by then. What the h*ll! I finally grabbed my nephew and basically walked off in a huff, annoyed as heck.

I saw the same guy 2 days later in the same spot, so I guess this is his day job. (Only good thing is maybe someone took a swing at him, since he looked like he had some sort of neck injury!). I can't believe Universal allows this, but it looks like they certainly do and approve of it, too.

I guess Universal is happy to take money to allow these vultures to continue. I should have complained, but if they been around for awhile, obviously the almighty dollar already spoke and nothing will change (except me deciding not to return!).

Someone mentioned there were more of these vultures near Jaws ....! Fortunately I missed that section of the park!

Thats the same guy, he was wearing a neck brace i think now that you mention it.

 

[HugsForEeyore]

Thats the same guy, he was wearing a neck brace i think now that you mention it.

That's him. I had the feeling some of us were talking about the same guy! Like some else said, I paid good money to come to Universal, and then just to be treated so cheaply by this creep. We were there the weekend of Feb 6-8. I am still angry we were subjected to this crap inside the parks!!

 

[Bluer101]

That's him. I had the feeling some of us were talking about the same guy! Like some else said, I paid good money to come to Universal, and then just to be treated so cheaply by this creep. We were there the weekend of Feb 6-8. I am still angry we were subjected to this crap inside the parks!!

We were at RPR those same days too, what a jerk! People like that should not be allowed to interact with people.

 

[Metro West]

Thats the same guy, he was wearing a neck brace i think now that you mention it.

Wearing a neck brace huh? I wonder if a dissatisfied Universal customer let him have it!

 

[Laurabearz]

Or the neck brace could be a sales tool to invoke sympathy

 

[Todd&Copper]

neither is my family, i've schooled them to use same M.O. u'd use with a rabid dog...don't make eye contact & keep walking ...of course a 'no thank you' thrown in is a bonus

I do the same thing and am very seldom approached. My silly DH forgets sometimes, and makes eye contact, and when they try to harass him, I mean when they start their sales pitch, I usually break in with a, "Honey, come on, we're late." and just keep walking.

 

[swilshire]

It has always been Westgate when we've been there (as recently as December). We signed up for the tour in October to get $100 Universal bucks.

Sheila

 

[ADP]

We were approached in October of 2008 by someone at Universal Studios to do a survey about furniture. They took us up to some offices near Amityville and asked us a series of questions. It took about 20 minutes. They paid us 3 Universal dollars.

The other time at IOA we were approached by someone dressed up like a wizard in The Lost Continent. He asked us if we wanted to watch a magic show. Me, my wife and 8 year old daughter said yes. They brough us and a small group of others in a room and did the magic show. At the end each act the magician said we could buy any of these tricks and props for the low, low price of ____. These guys (the magician and his assistant) did not work for Universal.

After we realized it was a sales gimmick we were pretty turned-off.

 

[ky07]

We were approached in October of 2008 by someone at Universal Studios to do a survey about furniture. They took us up to some offices near Amityville and asked us a series of questions. It took about 20 minutes. They paid us 3 Universal dollars.

The other time at IOA we were approached by someone dressed up like a wizard in The Lost Continent. He asked us if we wanted to watch a magic show. Me, my wife and 8 year old daughter said yes. They brough us and a small group of others in a room and did the magic show. At the end each act the magician said we could buy any of these tricks and props for the low, low price of ____. These guys (the magician and his assistant) did not work for Universal.

After we realized it was a sales gimmick we were pretty turned-off.

Now that would have made me and I would have said ok I will take the trick and prop that make you disapear without any of my money and the time you just wasted