Is anyone else mad about the incentives offered on the webcast

[icydog]

I just bought 350 points under the $14 off incentive. I bought the points last month. Now I hear the incentives are better for a few people. What's up with that? Can anyone elighten me as to the former incentives versus the Webinar pricing? Thank you.

 

[CarolAnnC]

It is my understanding that the Webcast was only open to brand new members joining, by invitation only - not existing members making an additional purchase.

That is similar to the extra incentives that offered on the Disney Cruise Line and also at the Chicago Doorway to Dreams. They are limited offers, geared to a specific market or group - not a general discount available to everyone.

Whether or not we agree with it, I am sure the folks who fall into these "special" categories are thrilled...

 

[gkrykewy]

I believe the webcast invites were limited, but RSVPs were not (people RSVPed successfully from the links posted here).

I would definitely be annoyed given how many points you bought, and you should definitely contact your guide about it if your closing date hasn't passed yet.

 

[wildernessDad]

I wouldn't worry about it too much.

The small price break people are getting now is not the main cost driver over time. The main cost driver over time is dues and the initial purchase price is small by comparison.

 

[tomandrobin]

Mad or angry ....No!

But you would think Disney would have the best pricing for their best customers.....the existing owners!

 

[icydog]

Yes, and what bothers me is that
1. some members WERE notified of the sale by their guides and others were not.. Giving some members an advantage over others
2. the incentives that got me to buy in the first place are still in place. The sales incentives have not changed therefore any enticements to the present incentives should be offered to all members not just the view who knew enough to sign up.

The difference for me is $1850 out of pocket.

I would opt now to buy the 500 point contract for $10,800 more for 150 points.

I paid $33,700. The new incentive is 500 x 89 =$44,500. The difference is $10,800. If I could apply my $33,700 to the $44,500 price tag that would be fine with me. I think you really need a lot of BLT points anyway. I learned with BCV. I have 300 points there and wish I owned 500 more. But since I am not renting my points out anymore I don't need or want BCV. I only want BLT going forward (maybe a few more AKV too)

 

[icydog]

I just spoke with my guide
1. sale is for new members only and if you were an existing member and got the great price they are offering new members you shouldn't have

2. They will not make up the difference between what I paid and the newest incentives (which are being offered at the same time as the other incentives by the way)

3. I cannot apply the money I paid toward a new 500 point contract.

In other words they won't do a thing. So much for public relations and making customers happy. I feel a little less like doing the happy DVC owner dance now. I know promotions happen but giving new members better pricing than older established members is not fair in my book. But who reads my book anyway?

 

[christa112]

Sorry to hear that happened, but unfortunately they have to set some sort of a limit. Yes, you only purchased last month, but if they let you get away with it, then someone who purchased 2 mos ago is going to want it and so on and so forth.

Kinda like if I purchased something at the store and a week later I get a coupon in the mail for it, I cannot go back to the store with my receipt and say "Hey, I want my money back for this coupon I didn't have when I purchased it."

I just spoke with my guide
1. sale is for new members only and if you were an existing member and got the great price they are offering new members you shouldn't have

2. They will not make up the difference between what I paid and the newest incentives (which are being offered at the same time as the other incentives by the way)

3. I cannot apply the money I paid toward a new 500 point contract.

In other words they won't do a thing. So much for public relations and making customers happy. I feel a little less like doing the happy DVC owner dance now. I know promotions happen but giving new members better pricing than older established members is not fair in my book. But who reads my book anyway?

 

[logan115]

Not that I'm disagreeing with you Marylyn, and trust me I'd be a bit PO'd if I were in your shoes as well, but there are also "discounts" and advantages that current members have over new/prospective members.

For example, as a current owner we can buy as little as 25 points, but a new member (direct) needs to start at 160. I know it's not a great example, but it's the first thing I could think of.

Agree 100% that it stinks that two people that buy 300 points at BLT direct end up paying a different amount, but unfortunately this is a sales promotion geared at getting new members. I would think that DVD would just be interested in selling points and not really caring who buys them, but I guess that's why none of us work there..........

Chris

 

[princessfionasmom]

I agree with all and I too would be upset if this were me. I did get to see the webcast and you could clearly tell it is for new members. They way I look at it is if I were to buy a new car and then a week or two later the car was cheaper, could I get back and get the difference from the dealer? Maybe some places do that but none that I have been too. I am not saying that this is the exact same situation but a comparison. And I do understand why people would be upset, like I said I too would be upset. But when something like this happens I, meaning me and not meant to imply that others should do the same (to each his own), tend to get frustrated first then I'll sit back and try to look at the whole picture and others perspective. DVC is a business trying to sell a product and some weeks products are cheaper than others just like incentives come and go. Please do not flame me for giving my opinion, I am not saying that anyone is wrong just looking at it from my perspective.

Another note to add, during the presentation they did say please do not go passing along the incentive information to other because it was "ONLY" for people watching the webcast and others could not get it. I think this is exactly what they were afraid of happening. I'm not saying that what they did was right just adding what they said.

(Can you tell I'm petrified of being flamed! )

 

[JoQuo711]

(Can you tell I'm petrified of being flamed! )

I'm standing by with the fire extinguisher...

Anyway yeah, what you said pretty much hits the nail on the head. Once they have your money and you've signed the contracts, aside from being nice, they don't really have any good reason to refund the difference as you've already committed to the purchase at the agreed price, even if you did a loan. That's unless there was some sort of stipulation in the contract that said you could adjust the price for XX days following closing if incentives change, or whatever, like some retail stores do (there isn't). It does stink, but like someone mentioned in another thread somewhere, if you think about overall cost of membership, +/-$5 per point doesn't make that much of a difference as annual fees are the vast majority of what you pay over time, especially taking the 2-4% increase year on year into account. That probably doesn't make it seem any better, but still maybe gives some perspective either way. On the bright side, no matter how you figure it, in the long run, you're still probably going to save a huge amount of money.

I'd think Disney's incentive for getting new people in is probably mostly about ticket prices. If someone is coming a lot they're going to have purchased an AP. Getting a new member in the system means a lot more money... a family of four going once a year is like $1000-$1200/year in tickets alone, as opposed to selling more points to someone who already purchases an AP every year. I'm sure merchandise and food play a part too (without any real frame of reference, I'd still guess that someone who's coming very frequently is less likely to buy tons of merchandise and eat in the restaurants all the time).

 

[TisBit]

Someone else already mentioned, this is not all that uncommon. DVC frequently has special sales on cruises, Doorway to Dreams, etc that you can't get anywhere else. There was outrage at the Doorway to Dreams when they received special offers if you could make it there, but people buying at the exact same moment AT Disney World could not get that deal.

Even if you think about the incentives out there now that require a referral. How many people are walking into DVC right now and purchasing, without getting this incentive? It happens, it always does and always will.

The only thing that does slightly irritate me is that the fact that every incentive is also available to existing owners and this one is not. That I might consider unfair....but even that COULD be debated.

 

[CarolMN]

At first, it seemed that the incentives / prices were the same for everyone.

Then sometimes you got a better deal if you bought on the Disney Cruise.

Then the Dreams Store in Illinois was established and there were some special deals for those who purchased there.

Didn't the people who purchased in California also get a special deal?

It does seem like DVC is moving away from the the "same price for all" method of selling. Maybe it will soon be like buying a new car.

Marilyn - I'd be upset, too. Even if you understand and agree with the reasons why they won't give you the same deal, it still stinks that you had to pay more just a few weeks ago.

 

[Crystal_27]

I hate to say it, but, while I feel for those who could have saved money with the webcast deals, you have to understand that there are *always* going to be people who get better deals out there...with everything, not just DVC.

When we bought in March, 2009, they were offering $5 off per point plus a free cruise (member referral) and we bought, happy with our deal. However, a day our contract was set to close, DVC released incentives of $16 per point, for the same contract, a difference of $2,500 "real" dollars (except, of course, we didn't get the cruise). Thankfully, we were able receive the better incentives, but I know that there were hundreds of people who could not change their contracts because they had already closed. And, although DVC allows us to amend our contracts before they close, that is a courtesy and not something that they are required to do. Once you sign and the 10 day rescission period passes, you are contractually bound...period.

I think that we (DISsers) tend to drive ourselves crazy when it comes to Disney deals, which can be great when you "score" a particularly great find, but can be horrible if it causes you to dwell on a deal that you can't get.

To those who weren't able to take advantage of the webcast deals, take heart. In the grand scheme of DVC, a couple hundred or a thousand dollars isn't really *that* big of a deal (although it sure feels like it right now). AND, you guys who bought earlier were able to snag reservations that those who just bought during the webcast were not. Although it sucks, try and focus on the fact that you got a great deal too, and that you are going to still be saving a ton of money with DVC, in addition to getting wonderful Disney vacations each year.

 

[christa112]

I completely agree.

I almost didn't want to open the thread that was stating the incentives for the webcast. Also, let me tell you how bummed I was when I had just signed my papers for AKV and then I heard they were giving people the current incentives and 2008 points. I could have cried!!!!

But it is what it is, I cannot go back and change it, so no sense driving myself crazy over it.

I hate to say it, but, while I feel for those who could have saved money with the webcast deals, you have to understand that there are *always* going to be people who get better deals out there...with everything, not just DVC.

When we bought in March, 2009, they were offering $5 off per point plus a free cruise (member referral) and we bought, happy with our deal. However, a day our contract was set to close, DVC released incentives of $16 per point, for the same contract, a difference of $2,500 "real" dollars (except, of course, we didn't get the cruise). Thankfully, we were able receive the better incentives, but I know that there were hundreds of people who could not change their contracts because they had already closed. And, although DVC allows us to amend our contracts before they close, that is a courtesy and not something that they are required to do. Once you sign and the 10 day rescission period passes, you are contractually bound...period.

I think that we (DISsers) tend to drive ourselves crazy when it comes to Disney deals, which can be great when you "score" a particularly great find, but can be horrible if it causes you to dwell on a deal that you can't get.

To those who weren't able to take advantage of the webcast deals, take heart. In the grand scheme of DVC, a couple hundred or a thousand dollars isn't really *that* big of a deal (although it sure feels like it right now). AND, you guys who bought earlier were able to snag reservations that those who just bought during the webcast were not. Although it sucks, try and focus on the fact that you got a great deal too, and that you are going to still be saving a ton of money with DVC, in addition to getting wonderful Disney vacations each year.

 

[joeytdog]

If it makes you feel better, the webcast incentives are only good for one week. You have to make your deposit by next Saturday in order to get them. So a small window of opportunity and that means only a limited number of people will be able to and actually take advantage.

 

[TisBit]

To tag along on this conversation, I called to add on to my contract and talked to my guide about the webcast, yes it was geared towards prospective members, but they would honor the prices for add ons, but at the 160 pts, same as new members.

He also told me that the discount for BLT will be going down to $5 off instead of $8 on Monday, so you can look at your savings there. All the people who buy a day late will pay $3 per point more than you.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Well Icy, I know how you are feeling. I bit on the past January promo of "no more contracts for BLT under 100 pts starting Jan 15". So what do they do? A month later they change the terms back to 25pt contracts and up. Sorry I just don't trust their sales tactics lately. They certainly don't care how memers feel. It's all about the dollar.

 

[culli]

If anyone can get to boston I bet those are going to be a little better than the webcast.

 

[icydog]

I completely agree.

I almost didn't want to open the thread that was stating the incentives for the webcast. Also, let me tell you how bummed I was when I had just signed my papers for AKV and then I heard they were giving people the current incentives and 2008 points. I could have cried!!!!

But it is what it is, I cannot go back and change it, so no sense driving myself crazy over it.

When was that? The AKV points for 2008. When was that offered? I never got it. I bought on the DVC Member Cruise and I missed those points as well too!!!!

I cannot dwell on this stuff, I cannot dwell on this stuff, I cannot dwell on this stuff, I cannot dwell on this stuff... I cannot dwell on this stuff!!!!!!!

Okay, I'm over it!! Thanks for the encouragement!!!