Newbie question - rude guide

[etemplet]

Wow, I hope the guy that gave us our tour doesn't call me. I was not impressed at all. I talked to at least 4 DVC personnel around the properties and got much better information. They could not discuss pricing but wow, were they open, honest, and helpful. One even asked me if I wanted a different person to talk to about purchase or further information they could not give.

I got the sales pitch on AKV and was never informed about any other property I could purchase. We went to Bay Lake on our own to check it out and talked the guy into letting us have a look at the models there. Most reps told me that they tell their customers to ASK if there are any deals on other properties and such.

If the gentlemen calls me or my wife with any type of attitidue at all...I can assure you it won't be pretty and we will most likely talk to a supervisor or manager. No matter how we became members, we are members and expect to be treated with courtesy and respect. I don't think that is too much to ask. We are going through a resale purchase of BLT at present.

Then again, letting someone's ignorance and arrogance bother you....might not even be worth responding to. You got your stuff, saved allot of money...life is good. No??

Have a wonderful week !!

 

[G'sMaman]

A few months ago our guide told us that buying direct is better because you will be treated like a second class citizen if you buy resale. For example, if there's a waitlist and they see that someone bought direct vs. resale, he said "who do you think they will give the reservation to first - someone who bought direct or resale?" Those were his exact words. I didn't really believe him and ended up buying both resale and direct (but not from him because he had some other issues I found annoying). Has anyone else heard the same thing or was that just a "scare" tactic he was using?

 

[bumbershoot]

Can't help but wonder if it's the same guide people are talking about, with the second class citizen line....


The only thing he's telling you is that HE will be treating you like a second class citizen... I've never gotten an award while checking in for having bought direct. Can't imagine someone's going to hit you over the head at checkin for having bought the points resale...

 

[disneynutz]

I received a couple of questions off line about Guides so I thought that I would post for all.

Any sales contact with Disney about the DVC results in you being assigned a Guide. If you called DVD and talked to someone about the DVC you were assigned a Guide. If you purchased a resale contract, you were assigned a Guide.

Guides are licensed real estate sales people and only they can talk about price with a customer.

ASA's, the people who man the DVC kiosks in the parks and resorts, they are not licensed and they can not talk price. They are paid by getting you to take a tour.

If you want to change Guides, you need to call the sales center and request that a manager assign you a new Guide. We have done this twice and it is no big deal.

Bill

 

[lilpooh108]

A few months ago our guide told us that buying direct is better because you will be treated like a second class citizen if you buy resale. For example, if there's a waitlist and they see that someone bought direct vs. resale, he said "who do you think they will give the reservation to first - someone who bought direct or resale?" Those were his exact words. I didn't really believe him and ended up buying both resale and direct (but not from him because he had some other issues I found annoying). Has anyone else heard the same thing or was that just a "scare" tactic he was using?

That is hilarious. We've taken 3 DVC trips/stays since buying in resale last year. All of our waitlists (even the one for F&W coming up) have been fulfilled by a stroke of luck, willingness to compromise...and early planning.

If DVC is planning on making an official change to priority on waitlists, they should make an announcement. If not, then your guide is full of it

 

[dzorn]

Okay, so I just closed on a resale contract, 350 points at AKL and was so excited! My husband and I decided to go resale after going to the sales tour on our July Disney World vacation. We just couldn't pass up the savings and didn't intend to use points for a cruise or the Disney hotels anyway, so we thought it would be perfect. Well, our tour guide (who called this week to inform me he was still our guide even though we went with resale) tells me that basically I shouldn't have bought resale because DVC members who buy resale are not treated the same, and I should expect to be treated like a second class citizen. Please someone, tell me this isn't true! I just think he was being rude because of the missed commission, but still it has me worried! My husband wanted to call him back and chew him out...but am I going to have to deal with this guy from now on?Laura

Unless you are adding on Direct from Disney you will never have to deal with him. Not worth the trouble to even call and change.

Denise in MI

 

[nunzia]

What would be the point, it's a done deal, they've bought resale! In 10 years since buying resale, I've gotten calls from my "guide" 2 times and each time from a new guide, because they come and they go!

Sometimes you just have to let things go, it's not worth your husband's blood pressure going up, what would you gain in doing so?

You have the points you want, you're a DVC owner now (Congrats, by the way), and you're not a second class citizen!

Now's the time to get booking vacations! So get to getting!

Understood, but a CM that treats guests that way should be reported so the guide can be coached and retrained to spare other prospective buyers.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

Understood, but a CM that treats guests that way should be reported so the guide can be coached and retrained to spare other prospective buyers.

I see your point!

 

[Deb & Bill]

You could also burst Mr Rude's bubble by telling him "Oh, we were planning on doing a big point purchase at the next new resort, but we won't be buying from you."

 

[bumbershoot]

You could also burst Mr Rude's bubble by telling him "Oh, we were planning on doing a big point purchase at the next new resort, but we won't be buying from you."

I love thinking about those potential "pretty woman" moments.... big mistake, huge....

 

[rer1972]

He's probably referring to the fact that you will not be able to use all the tradeout options, but you already knew that. Other than that, there's no difference.

I wouldn't worry about it. I've been a member 12 years and can count on one hand the number of times I've talked to a guide. That was only when they called me trying to sell an add-on.

Welcome Home!

Ditto! Only heard my guide's voice 3 times, and each was sales related.

Okay, so I just closed on a resale contract, 350 points at AKL and was so excited! My husband and I decided to go resale after going to the sales tour on our July Disney World vacation. We just couldn't pass up the savings and didn't intend to use points for a cruise or the Disney hotels anyway, so we thought it would be perfect. Well, our tour guide (who called this week to inform me he was still our guide even though we went with resale) tells me that basically I shouldn't have bought resale because DVC members who buy resale are not treated the same, and I should expect to be treated like a second class citizen. Please someone, tell me this isn't true! I just think he was being rude because of the missed commission, but still it has me worried! My husband wanted to call him back and chew him out...but am I going to have to deal with this guy from now on?

Laura

Don't worry. I've never been treated bad, it may just be that I'm so liked by everyone I meet

Not true. They are actually very democratic about how they treat members. They mistreat all of us equally.

 

[G'sMaman]

That is hilarious. We've taken 3 DVC trips/stays since buying in resale last year. All of our waitlists (even the one for F&W coming up) have been fulfilled by a stroke of luck, willingness to compromise...and early planning.

If DVC is planning on making an official change to priority on waitlists, they should make an announcement. If not, then your guide is full of it

I agree. I find it very hard to believe that it's not publicly disclosed all over the place (including in your closing documents) if this was the official Disney policy.

To original poster, it doesn't hurt to switch guides if you're not happy. Our original guide not only gave me inaccurate information, but also took forever to return phone calls - like over a week. Sometimes I would have to call him a couple of times for him to get back to me. I switched guides and couldn't be happier. In fact, our new guide even suggested that I buy resale for a particular resort because I could get a better deal. However, going with the "buy where you want to stay" philosophy, we ended up buying a BCV add on contract direct from him because we had crunched the numbers and direct made sense for us after figuring in the actual number of points we needed, use year, mf and closing costs. In order to complete the switch, I did have to send an email to the quality assurance team telling them that I initiated the switch and why.

 

[JimMIA]

I prefer not to use the "G-word." I use DVC timeshare salesman/woman instead because it's a much more accurate description of who they are. They're timeshare sales people, and they're really no different from any other company's timeshare sales people.

Some companies, including DVC and others, use a more low-pressure timeshare sales strategy. Others use anything they think the prospect is gullible enough to swallow, and as much hard pressure as they can generate. What you get on a tour has little to do with the salesman -- they're just doing what they're directed to do.

If a DVC timeshare salesman tells you buying direct will improve your waitlist chances, he's lying. Waitlists are fulfilled automatically by the computer system (for better, or worse).

If you report a DVC timeshare salesman to management for lying to you, they will be very disappointed...that he got caught!

 

[DisneyStoryMania]

We Have not talked to our Guide since we bought into DVC a couple years ago, as far as being treated different I do not think it is a factor from buying direct as to buying resale after all we rent our points out and they are treated no different then any of the members in the same resort.

The one thing that I have seen doing research on resales is that DVC has changed the benefits from one to the other, There are certain benefits to buying direct meaning discounts, early reservations and things like that the guides will help you with that you do not have the option with resale, I think most of the members now a days do buy resale on top of their org contract anyways.

So to answer your question: The benifits that you will not be entitled to use I have not taken advantage of them for 2 years, so I think all in all you made a good decision buying into DVC the way you wanted to buy into it....

 

[icydog]

Most DVC owners are owners via resale originally or bought extra contracts via resale. In addition, as DVC gets older the number of resale vs. direct owners will start to move distinctively towards the resale side of the ratio. If they start treating us as "second class citizens" you will see a real outcry against DVC. I just don't see Disney taking the chance the negative publicity would hit critical mass.

Lastly, give a call tomorrow to member services and ask for a new guide to be assigned to you. Remember the "guides" really are nothing more then salesman so once they sell you your points they really are out of the picture. If they show any interest in you it is only because they are hoping you will buy from them again in the future. I don't even know the last name of my guide..... You are unlikely to buy from him again so it does not really matter if you keep him or change him out but if it was me, i would be asking for a new guide. If only to let him know that the phone call was not appreciated and he lost any potential business from you in the future. Your choice. Lastly, good luck with the new points.

This statement is not true. The VAST majority of DVC members bought retail from DVC..

 

[Dean]

I would call and ask for a new guide, that way, if you do need to deal with them in the future, you won't have this dilemma. Also, I bet DVC tracks negative changes and factors it into their evaluation process.

The bigger issue though is that many in the timeshare sales world do this for resale buyers. DVC has generally not had nearly as much of this as many other timeshares have. It's done commonly enough overall that there must be a sales benefit to it but I can't personally think of one. The only other answer I can think of when they do this is they're just egotistical bully's who are showing their personality disorder. However, the reality is that resale buyers after 20 March aren't equal members in all areas and pointing that out without stepping on toes, esp for DVC members who are generally over sensitive as a group, is very difficult.

 

[Lil' Grumpy]

i wish there were guidelines that prevent "some" using medical
references based on their desires to scold or hurt others.
( our job is hard enough) & it sometimes has negative outcomes
for those that really need help. trying to ostracize others, is usually
due to a fear and/or being discover.

just for the record, we only used these designations to provide
organized interventions toward recovery.

it is also important in providing health education that can help
prevent disease or an illness. for example, your blood system
isn't a food source but a transportation system. therefore,
if a person has certain risk factors, keeping their mouth &
teeth free from infections will help protect a person from heart
disease.

as for the original observation, i am saying there are 2 sides &
maybe, the person was not trying to hurt feelings.

as for the other position, i know for a fact that dvc has taken
steps to recognize those buying resales vs direct. i think it
is excellent business sense for this reason. though we chose
direct, i think both {resales/direct} are important for
supporting dvc into the future. again, much like a car dealership
selling used cars & expending their services to parts & repair
work.

we had problems with our guide. this was concerning to us too.
it was like losing the "user-manual for dvc. , and we had little support
for resolving until i was able to find someone outside the guides
"pool." if the original poster is starting out , then i would recommend
finding a guide that is able to explain dvc in terms that best meet
their current needs.

it just liked trying to decide what condition is worst- bipolar or
axis II. my guess would be which one, that the person can find
help for or/and not so much. either way, it isn't a person fault having a
health problem.

here's another health hint- if someone you know develop changes
away from their norms-most likely a medical issue.

 

[BirdsOfPreyDave]

Right now, aside from the restrictions on which bookings you can make with resale contracts, there is no other distinction between direct and resale contracts.

I'm not sure I'd categorize what your guide told you as rude. Inaccurately stated, possibly. What he should have said is that there's a possibility that owners of resale contracts will be treated as second class citizens in the future.

When DVC recently changed the rules to exclude resale contracts from booking certain collections, they grandfathered in existing resale contracts. However, there was nothing that forced them to do this. Contractually, they could just as easily have made the booking changes universal for all resale contracts.

The same applies to any future changes that may come down the road. Disney may, or may not, continue to make further distinctions between resale and direct contracts. Conceptually, one could conclude that this will be the case. Their goal is to sell new contracts. The bigger the difference between resale and direct contracts, the better their ability to convince potential buyers to purchase directly from them. This isn't a new concept. Disney's current restrictions are trivial when compared to how some other timeshare companies treat resale contracts. With those timeshare companies, there's no question that owners of resale contracts are treated as second class citizens.

Bottom line is that not all contracts are created equal. Resale and direct contracts are now different in Disney's eyes. While the distinctions that exist today probably aren't worth the price difference between direct and resale costs, there's no telling what the future could hold.

I'm personally regarding Disney's recent changes as "a shot across the bow." I've considered it fair warning that resale contracts may continue to see an erosion of privileges. While I wouldn't consider this a reason to sell our one resale contract because of the loss I'd take, I did decide to buy direct for our recent add-on at BLT, and will probably do so for future add-ons, as well.

 

[chunkygal]

Guides really are not a factor in your ongoing fun or satisfaction...I say walk on..

 

[Pennyguy23]

My first guide was very pushy and I didn't like her. So we switched and the only time I talked to her was when we added on at AKV back when it first went on sale. So its been a while. But at the same time. If or when you do do an add on why should she get the comish.