How to change assigned Guide

[Scotch]

We became members via resale purchases earlier this year. Our assigned Guide, Deborah, is the Guide who gave us a tour of SSR last December. I called about two weeks ago and left a detailed message explaining we're interested in buying a small add-on contract directly from DVC and asking about going on any waitlist if necessary. She never called me back. I gather from that she is not interested in my small add-on business. I don't feel like calling again to ask her to sell me something she is not interested in selling me. How could I get a different Guide?

 

[Granny]

Call the DVC general number and ask for a supervisor. Explain that you wish to be assigned a new guide. There's a good chance they'll try to talk you out of switching, but you are the customer and you have a right to be satisfied with your salesperson.

Many people here have indicated that they really like their guides. If you are going to switch, you might as well ask for someone who a lot of people think is good. I'd give you the name of mine, but he hasn't ever contacted me since I purchased four years ago other than to send a mass mailing post card when SSR opened up.

 

[starwood]

Same here - we bought a resale in June and I called our guide once with a question on some things that were sent to us in our orientation folder and never received a call back. We are now thinking of adding on 25-50 points and I hesitate to call him again.

 

[goofy4tink]

Our guide Betty Prikryl was more than happy to help us with our 50 pt. add-on a year ago!!

 

[dcfromva]

It is really easy to switch "guides"--just call up the main number and ask. I had the same problem with a guide a few years back, so I asked for another guide.

They gave me another guide who was very good at returning phone calls and we were able to do some more business.

-DC

 

[Laurabearz]

I Changed guides also. I felt like i knew more than my first guide! I now have Lisa DeRosa. She is a sweetie, who knows her stuff.

 

[LakeAriel]

Lisa sold me my points originally in 2001. She is very good at what she does!

 

[lllovell]

I was not happy with my guide and called and raised heck about it (with a supervisor). He would never return calls to where I asked (which is my cell because then I wont have to wait to get home, get his message and try back again the next day). Sometimes we never got a returned call at all. He was very nice and knowledgable but I dont think its my duty to track him down to sell ME something. Since calling and griping, I have not had any trouble getting calls back, except it seems that my guide is ALWAYS on cruises, which makes me think he should just sell to cruise guests then pass off his clients to other Guides so they will get better service.

Either way, so far, I am fairly happy again, but wont hesitate to call and ask to be changed if I get treated poorly again.

 

[nboicepardee]

Scotch,
We loved our guide. We toured in 2001, decided against it at the time, and decided to purchase a couple of months ago. We did all of this over the phone with our original guide. After we had already made a deposit, I called her and left a message with a quick (and relatively unimportant) question. She called me back from home the same day (she and her infant daughter were home sick with the flu). She always goes above and beyond the call of duty, yet never puts on the pressure. I would highly recommend her. Her name is Larissa Predergast (I am not positive about the spelling of her last name). Good luck!
Natalie

 

[penguin77]

My wife and I toured in 2002 on our honeymoon. When we decided last month that we wre ready to buy I called Disney and was kinda shocked to hear that our guide was still there. At that point my memry came back to me and I recalled that I did not care for this guide. He was just not enthusiastic and made us feel like we were a chore to him. All this same around because he would NEVER answer his phone, over the next week I got my own answers on this board. When I called to "pull the trigger" I asked for another guide. I was transfered from a cast member to the Sales MAnager. I explained the circumstances and told him that I was just not happy. Within a couple seconds I was talking to a guy named Greg Coonts. He used to be the sales manager now he is back selling. He is a really nice guy. You could talk to him if you want, but it should be pratty easy switching.

 

[Scotch]

Thanks for the replies. I called MS and was told to call Telesales at 800-800-9100. (I forgot to ask for a supervisor; I just talked to one of the regular MS CMs). I spoke to someone and explained my situation and she said she will have to leave a message with a manager who can reassign a different guide to me. I should hear in a day or two.

 

[Scotch]

A manager called me back just 15 minutes ago. Then a new Guide, Gib, called me about 5 minutes ago. No problem on my request! I just added on 40 points at VWL October use year. I had thought I may have to go on a waitlist and I'm glad I didn't have to wait! This was so painless compared to resale. The only reason I decided to go direct via DVC was because the small contracts seem to command a premium on resale and the outrageous closing fees added on caused little (if any) savings. Now I just have to tell DH about the add on. Hum . . . wonder if he'll be in a good mood later today.

 

[snowiit]

Our guide Betty Prikryl was more than happy to help us with our 50 pt. add-on a year ago!!

Betty is also my mother's guide and she has helped my mother with 2 25point add ons at OKW. She's always been good at getting back to her.

Nancy

 

[doubletrouble_vb]

Larissa's last name is Prendergast. Can't really say anything pro or con about her because she's never contacted me in any manner. That could be because I've never needed her and never officially met her.

 

[sleepydog25]

Call me the devil's advocate, but did you try to leave a message more than once? I agree that a guide not returning a message, or anyone in any public service capacity doing such, is an irritant. But, I generally feel that unless I'm completely insulted, just about anyone deserves a second chance. I can certainly confess that I've not always returned calls the first time, often owing to losing the message, erasing the message, or simply forgetting. If, on the other hand, you had tried 2-3 times without results, then switching guides (or banks, cell phone companies, delivery services, mechanics, insurance agencies, et. al.) is justified. As it turns out, seems you made out okay, though.

 

[mjfox]

We purchased a resell and have just added on last month. Laressa was assigned when we visited before we purchased our resale. When I called about an add-on last month she call me back within a couple of hours and has been in touch with us about every other week since then with updates on closing dates, etc...

She has been great to work with.

 

[starwood]

I called our guide (Edwin Rivera) on Monday and the message said calls would be returned in order received. I called again today and now the message says he's out of the office until Thursday. I left another message and if I don't hear from him Thursday I'm getting a new guide.

 

[Granny]

A manager called me back just 15 minutes ago. Then a new Guide, Gib, called me about 5 minutes ago. No problem on my request! I just added on 40 points at VWL October use year. I had thought I may have to go on a waitlist and I'm glad I didn't have to wait! This was so painless compared to resale. The only reason I decided to go direct via DVC was because the small contracts seem to command a premium on resale and the outrageous closing fees added on caused little (if any) savings. Now I just have to tell DH about the add on. Hum . . . wonder if he'll be in a good mood later today.

Scotch....CONGRATULATIONS!!

I agree...for that few of points, the closing cost on a resale would have killed your price per point resale advantage.

Great news...and I'm glad that your switch in guides resulted in a happy ending for you.

 

[Alexander]

My goodness, I can't believe I'm asking this, we haven't even closed yet on our Feb. purchase......

When you do an add on through DVD, do you have to pay any closing costs or other fees (transfers, titles, etc.)? I know when you make an intial purchase DVD takes care of everything. Just want to know where we stand in adding on. OMG DH will kill me!

 

[sandieb]

Gib is our Guide also. We have bought three contracts from him. I've called several times with questions and he always was able to give complete answers. Glad he worked out for you. Sandie