Owner's Lockers New DIS Deal

[lisaviolet]

Hey, before you all get down in the mouth about missing out, I think you need to think about the big picture.

What's down in the mouth? So many places for my mind to go but not without those special DIS mod points the CBers talks about so much.

And the big picture is that I'm human and disappointed. And I'm hearing that some who were promised the switchover right on this thread are not getting it. So went from excited as all get out. To "what?"

That's my big picture. For now. I hope to get back to my "boy I want to be a OL member" but the talk of some reneging is not good in my head. Forget me coming back on to sign up as much as that. That I really don't like to hear. And I've heard and read it twice now.

Lisa

 

[MaryAnnDVC]

I am totally 110% happy with every contact and service I have experienced with Owner's Locker and its owners.

That's wonderful. Really, it is. It was comments like this that added to me making the decision to join with the Mousesavers deal.

But you need to understand that some of us don't have actual working personal experiences with John or Brian, and haven't actually used the service yet. THIS is our experience. OL is just an "idea" to us, not an "oh my God, how did we live without this" revelation. So our experiences are just that...ours. And what transpired does give us pause to think and re-think things. My DH reluctantly agreed to give this a try during the Mousesaver's deal because *I* wanted to, not because he can see the value in it. Perhaps if we had already used it, he'd be extolling their virtues from the top of Cinderella's castle. And eventually, he still may. But right now, with the rollercoaster of the last few days, I'm having to convince him all over again that this is a good move, at the same time that I'm trying to convince myself.

This did a number on my upcoming trip in two days. With the Mousesavers deal, we figured we'd wait until we took the kids at some future date, and therefore establish our anniversary date at a more appropriate time. (Yes, we'll still get the two visits per year for 3 years, but now I want to start that 3 years at a more appropriate time.) With the "lifetime" deal, we saw this trip as an opportunity to stock the box, since we'd have two visits per year forever. I had been all packed, with my usual travel sizes, but went on a rush shopping spree (since we leave in two days) for full-size items and all sorts of supplies that I just don't need on this trip. Some, I'll still use at home. Some, I'll return, because I feel like I jumped the gun making purchases now for something at some future, unknown date.

I know that John and Brian are great guys who found themselves in a tough situation, and they had to do something and I truly sympathize...honestly, I do. But from my end, they reneged on a deal...two personal statements, to me...one on page one "Don't worry, MaryAnn, since you haven't been here yet, you can switch...you ought to know me well enough by now" and one in a personal email from John saying he'd switch. So, what has me disappointed isn't just not getting the lifetime deal, it's the reneging. I'm just not sure what that means as far as future experiences with OL, KWIM? As I said, this situation is the personal experience with OL that *I'm* drawing from, having had no other personal experience with them. If I "know John well enough by now" to know he'd switch people over to the lifetime deal, what exactly is it that *I* know now?

I think one of the things that makes this so much more disappointing is the fall from feeling really psyched about OL. I mean, I posted all about it on a private board, before and after making the decision (unfortunately, with a whole new thread about "the DIS deal" fiasco), I yacked my teenaged kids' heads off about naming it and decorating it (yes, mom's a nut...they already know), told li'l ol'd mom in the nursing home all about it , emailed people I knew were DVC owners to share the info (and had to sheepishly send a followup), called my best friend to go out to lunch because I had to tell her all about the purple locker , etc, but still, I told John in my response to his market survey to the Mousesavers joiners last week, that as excited as I am, I still have some doubts. This has added to them, not allayed them. And I'm disappointed about that too. Being excited about it was way more fun.

Add to this my DH tearing a ligament in his knee two days ago and will be hobbling around on crutches at WDW, and yeah, I'm cranky. (Not that I'm going to let HIM slow ME down. )

Hey...if we do end up using OL and being bowled over with the service, I'll be the first one here blubbering about it like I had been doing until Saturday. Until then, no doubt about it...I'm disappointed. And I've got lots of time to think it through all over again before we use it the first time.

 

[Inkmahm]

I know that John and Brian are great guys who found themselves in a tough situation, and they had to do something and I truly sympathize...honestly, I do. But from my end, they reneged on a deal...two personal statements, to me...one on page one "Don't worry, MaryAnn, since you haven't been here yet, you can switch...you ought to know me well enough by now" and one in a personal email from John saying he'd switch. So, what has me disappointed isn't just not getting the lifetime deal, it's the reneging. I'm just not sure what that means as far as future experiences with OL, KWIM? As I said, this situation is the personal experience with OL that *I'm* drawing from, having had no other personal experience with them. If I "know John well enough by now" to know he'd switch people over to the lifetime deal, what exactly is it that *I* know now?

Wow. I didn't even know that had happened. I assumed that OL was still honoring the promise to the people who they'd told could switch from the Mousesaver deal to the DIS deal. They aren't? Really?

At least in my case I consider it to be my own fault for being too trusting while I waited for the official answer to my question. In your case, you HAD the answer.

I'll continue to use OL because I like the service. That hasn't changed. I"d be lying if I said some of the enthusiasm for the business hasn't worn off though. I'll be less likely to jump in on threads to go on and on about how great OL is in the future. Maybe. We'll see how I feel in a few weeks.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Another one here that John said he would honor the switch, and now has changed his mind again on that promise. Not impressed with this business decision.

 

[Rozzie]

We have never regretted our decision to become members. We are 110% totally satisfied with the product, the service, the company and the owners.

Would I still be willing to say that if I did not receive the email yesterday from Owner's Locker and what they were going to do for existing members? You bet ya.

We are Proud to be the Human Owners of our Locker.

Thank you Brian and John for having the drive to make your dream of Owner's Locker a reality.
We are forever grateful.

I couldn't have said it better myself. Every contact and experience we have had with John and Brian has been outstanding. I have had some sticky situations (changing resorts at last minute, adding 2nd locker at last minute, cancellations last minute, etc etc) and they have come through 110% every single time and we use our locker a heck of a lot. I can't think of another business service in my life that I can say the same of.

Great analogy Kathy on the gas station. It is the exact thing I thought of when I read the email. I am just happy to have my OL, and can't imagine what our vacations were like before it. We are down to two carry-ons, and getting ready to go to WDW is a hour affair rather than a week long affair.

John and Brian, we are so grateful to you both for having the courage for new ideas. Ya'll have transformed our life!!

 

[BlakeNJ]

Oh no! I missed the offer? It's gone? Sounds like there is lots more to this story...

 

[pixiechick]

Another one here that John said he would honor the switch, and now has changed his mind again on that promise. Not impressed with this business decision.

Has John told you that? So far, I haven't seen anyone who got in on the deal, and/or switch, being told it is now invalid. All I see is that the original offer has been changed.

I have an OL. DH and I have discussed getting another. The deal yesterday was sweet. Guess what? We missed out on it. oh well, life goes on, and if we choose to add an additional locker, we'll have to pay for those additional deliveries.

I find it incredible that John and Brian have offered 3 years of the 2nd visit to all of their customers. As far as business decisions go, I just hope that offering refunds to those who paid for a 2nd visit already doesn't put them in a financial bind.

This seems to be a case of "no good deed going unpunished".

 

[jekjones1558]

This seems to be a case of "no good deed going unpunished".

Amen.

 

[MdmMim]

I signed up for OL with the Mousesavers promo, and I truly appreciate John and Brian's very generous offer of the extra delivery for 3 years. They did not have to do this.

I look forward to many great trips with my OL waiting for me!

 

[lisaviolet]

This seems to be a case of "no good deed going unpunished".

Oh boy. I have no understanding why one can't come on here and say that John felt the need to can the deal and quickly, did the absolute best by his original members by offering three years when he obviously didn't have to - wonderful for him to do - I'll even give an amen to say again that it's absolutely wonderful - no sarcasm, still is extending a new offer, has a great reputation on this board for going out of his way on the road. And still express disappointment over this issue and some perplexing matters surrounding it.

Disappointment is just simple disappointment it's not a John is bad. And the perplexing matters, to be clear, are a couple of DISers who are under the impression that he's not going to honour his word to extend the free 2 trips to them for the life of the membership after saying so. Of course, one would be perplexed on that. And of course, if John has something different to say then wonderful. But to hear it, for them to think it has changed now, is a definite concern to me. Because I did follow the thread along. My head still hurts. I'm smiling. I've got to get off this thread.

But once again I ask why? Why does it all have to be so incongruent to each other?

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Has John told you that? So far, I haven't seen anyone who got in on the deal, and/or switch, being told it is now invalid. All I see is that the original offer has been changed.

I have an OL. DH and I have discussed getting another. The deal yesterday was sweet. Guess what? We missed out on it. oh well, life goes on, and if we choose to add an additional locker, we'll have to pay for those additional deliveries.

I find it incredible that John and Brian have offered 3 years of the 2nd visit to all of their customers. As far as business decisions go, I just hope that offering refunds to those who paid for a 2nd visit already doesn't put them in a financial bind.

This seems to be a case of "no good deed going unpunished".

Yes, he did promise, then change the offer. I spoke with him in person on Friday when he acknowledged the switch, and then again yesterday when he changed his mind and would not honor the promise. In person, on the phone. John should have at least honored the new promotion as promised...extending the 3 yrs/2free deliveries to all members is a different matter.

 

[Inkmahm]

Has John told you that? So far, I haven't seen anyone who got in on the deal, and/or switch, being told it is now invalid. All I see is that the original offer has been changed.

Did you read the thread? Two people in it have already said they were promised the switch would be valid and then John changed his mind. (I'm not in that group- John just never answered my question until after the deal was gone... my own fault for assuming what his answer would be.)

 

[Pootle]

I signed up for OL with the Mousesavers promo, and I truly appreciate John and Brian's very generous offer of the extra delivery for 3 years. They did not have to do this.

I look forward to many great trips with my OL waiting for me!

My position exactly

I hope that there generosity in extending this special offer to all current customers does not jeopardize their ability to make a good living.

My thoughts too. They obviously found themselves in a very difficult situation and although I've not yet used the service, I really feel for them right now - it's still a fledgling business. Let's hope this hoo-hah dies down quickly.

 

[Cyndibear]

As a new member of Owners Locker (first use was January) I can't begin to say how much this has helped our travels to WDW. When we signed up we didn't get anything **free**. We signed up because it sounded great and read about all the support and wonderful comments about this service right here on these boards, from DVC members!! We received wonderful service and no, we did not meet them in person, or do we have a personal relationship with them. We did everything online and our locker was at AKV when we got there and picked up when we left.

We are so very thankful that they have offered the deal of receiving 2nd delivery free for the next 3 yrs. I still can't believe they offered it to us. When we first read about the Dis deal, sure we were bummed but hey, Owners Locker is a business and sometimes businesses have sales that are better than the last sale that you took advantage of.

We will be a life-long member of Owners Locker and I can't wait till September when we can see our locker again!

Cyndi

 

[pixiechick]

Yes, he did promise, then change the offer. I spoke with him in person on Friday when he acknowledged the switch, and then again yesterday when he changed his mind and would not honor the promise. In person, on the phone. John should have at least honored the new promotion as promised...extending the 3 yrs/2free deliveries to all members is a different matter.

I agree with you. I am surprised that John is not honoring that deal with the few people to whom he made the agreement. My expectation was that he would honor it with those he spoke with yesterday.

Did you read the thread? Two people in it have already said they were promised the switch would be valid and then John changed his mind. (I'm not in that group- John just never answered my question until after the deal was gone... my own fault for assuming what his answer would be.)

yep, read the whole thread. My understanding was that people assumed the "switch" would no longer apply. That's why I asked if John had specifically said so. BWV Dreamin responded to my question, and now I know.

Oh boy. I have no understanding why one can't come on here and say that John felt the need to can the deal and quickly, did the absolute best by his original members by offering three years when he obviously didn't have to - wonderful for him to do - I'll even give an amen to say again that it's absolutely wonderful - no sarcasm, still is extending a new offer, has a great reputation on this board for going out of his way on the road. And still express disappointment over this issue and some perplexing matters surrounding it.

Disappointment is just simple disappointment it's not a John is bad. And the perplexing matters, to be clear, are a couple of DISers who are under the impression that he's not going to honour his word to extend the free 2 trips to them for the life of the membership after saying so. Of course, one would be perplexed on that. And of course, if John has something different to say then wonderful. But to hear it, for them to think it has changed now, is a definite concern to me. Because I did follow the thread along. My head still hurts. I'm smiling. I've got to get off this thread.

But once again I ask why? Why does it all have to be so incongruent to each other?

I would say that only John knows the answer to that. He made a business decision that he feels is fair, or at least one he can live with. People can choose to do business with him or not.

Most companies would have handled this behind the scenes, John came here in an attempt to handle it publicly. That's the type of guy he is. Unfortunately, that is now causing some of the problem.

I'll admit to feeling somewhat protective of him because he's a really nice guy who runs a top notch business. Your last question is a fair one. It's not my business, so again, I can't answer it. But I'm willing to trust John's decision.

 

[disney0210]

That's wonderful. Really, it is. It was comments like this that added to me making the decision to join with the Mousesavers deal.

But you need to understand that some of us don't have actual working personal experiences with John or Brian, and haven't actually used the service yet. THIS is our experience. OL is just an "idea" to us, not an "oh my God, how did we live without this" revelation. So our experiences are just that...ours. And what transpired does give us pause to think and re-think things. My DH reluctantly agreed to give this a try during the Mousesaver's deal because *I* wanted to, not because he can see the value in it. Perhaps if we had already used it, he'd be extolling their virtues from the top of Cinderella's castle. And eventually, he still may. But right now, with the rollercoaster of the last few days, I'm having to convince him all over again that this is a good move, at the same time that I'm trying to convince myself.

Agree 100%. One of the things that drew me to OL is the fact that so many people on the DIS boards talk about the owners going over and above the call of duty to make their customers happy. I am not a customer yet. I have this idea that OL will change the way I vacation but I have not personally experienced it yet. That's why I signed up.

On Friday the 4th, when all this began on this thread, I pm'd and emailed John to ask if I can still switch. After all, my first visit has not been scheduled yet and thus my credit card has not been charged the membership fee yet. Tecnically I was not even a member yet. If his answer was no we can't switch you, I would have asked another family member to sign up that very same day and I would cancel mine. I got an email from John saying they'd be glad to switch me. I figured, hey so I don't need to cancel and sign up again. So earlier this morning (Sunday the 6th), I sent him an email and confirmed to make sure the offer still stands because I was reading all these posts. Then I got a generic email that they have to decided to treat everyone fairly by just giving 3 years of free 2nd visit. Yikes, how was that fair? I felt so disappointed and believe me, I have never been one of those people that returned clothes to the store because there was one thread hanging out. It takes a lot to disappoint me. I told John that my actions on the 4th were guided by his word - his word that they'd be glad to switch me over to the DIS deal - and it is because of that word that I did not cancel and have my DH instead sign up. It was not out of laziness that I missed the DIS deal - it was because of his word. To me, that was enough. To me, the email from the owner saying this is the new deal that I have now - that was all I needed.

As I have advised John, I too am in the customer service business. If we gave the customer a wrong quote and we were losing out on the deal, we do two things. One is we get re-trained because we should never do something like that again. Two is we honor the price we said. We keep our word. Because guess what, someone who I have had no previous working experience with, our word is going to be the foundation of the relationship.

Honestly, even after I took the mousesaver deal before, I was still not convinced that paying the annual fee was going to be cost-effective for us. I was getting there but kinda not there yet you know what I mean? The free 2nd visit for life removed all hesitation because as a DVC member, we were going to be visiting twice a year to maximize our point usage and the only other snag was that OL charges for a 2nd visit so you can see how the DIS deal was so important to me. With the mousesaver deal, I did not make a list of what to put in the OL yet because I was still not so sure if I will go through with the membership but after getting the yes email from John, I already started organizing this box I was shipping down to MCO.

Like the other new OL would-be members, I have no personal experience with the OL owners yet - just this one. A lot of people refer to them like family which is what drew me to OL. But just like your family members, sometimes they disappoint you but you kinda draw on past experiences and you reassure yourself that "hey, my sister is not usually like that, let's just try and understand her". With OL, I have no past positive experiences to help me get through this disappointment.

I still think the OL idea is great, just not sure what'll happen from here on though...

 

[BWV Dreamin]

On Friday the 4th, when all this began on this thread, I pm'd and emailed John to ask if I can still switch. After all, my first visit has not been scheduled yet and thus my credit card has not been charged the membership fee yet. Tecnically I was not even a member yet. If his answer was no we can't switch you, I would have asked another family member to sign up that very same day and I would cancel mine. I got an email from John saying they'd be glad to switch me. I figured, hey so I don't need to cancel and sign up again. So earlier this morning (Sunday the 6th), I sent him an email and confirmed to make sure the offer still stands because I was reading all these posts. Then I got a generic email that they have to decided to treat everyone fairly by just giving 3 years of free 2nd visit.

Honestly, even after I took the mousesaver deal before, I was still not convinced that paying the annual fee was going to be cost-effective for us. I was getting there but kinda not there yet you know what I mean? The free 2nd visit for life removed all hesitation because as a DVC member, we were going to be visiting twice a year to maximize our point usage and the only other snag was that OL charges for a 2nd visit so you can see how the DIS deal was so important to me.

This was my same, exact, situation, to the tee. Hadn't even paid for the service yet. And your email comments were his exact words to me on the phone. And again, this comment was made to him when I signed up for the Mousesaver promo, I still conveyed to him at that time I wan't sure it would meet my travel needs. You have expressed exactly the same words I too told him.

 

[jdvm]

The new deal is up on The DIS.

I don't really want to repeat what was in my earlier post, but let me confirm:

The people who signed up Friday for the DIS deal while that deal was live got that deal.

I did indeed tell a couple of people they could switch from the MouseSavers deal to the DIS deal because I was trying to be accommodating. That was a mistake and I realized it was unfair to people who weren't trying to switch.

What about the people who signed up on MouseSavers but didn't frequent the DIS? What about the ones (there were several) who were already at WDW? Should we notify all of the people who signed up on MouseSavers and offer them the opportunity to switch to a deal on another site? This would mean some people would get access to a deal after folks on the DIS couldn't

So,we decided that the people who chose the MouseSaver deal should not switch. Instead we decided to enhance their deal with an extra free Visit for three years.

Hang me up by my fingernails if you want but we did what was right and I stand by it.

John

 

[lisaviolet]

I would say that only John knows the answer to that. He made a business decision that he feels is fair, or at least one he can live with. People can choose to do business with him or not.

Most companies would have handled this behind the scenes, John came here in an attempt to handle it publicly. That's the type of guy he is. Unfortunately, that is now causing some of the problem.

I'll admit to feeling somewhat protective of him because he's a really nice guy who runs a top notch business. Your last question is a fair one. It's not my business, so again, I can't answer it. But I'm willing to trust John's decision.

You misunderstood my question. I did not write it well. My why was not about John not sticking by his words to those people. John doesn't have to explain that to me. I wasn't involved in that. Nonetheless it still concerned me. And if something was missed I wouldn't have minded hearing that it wasn't the case. John has come on and reiterated i was how it played out and said he has no issue with that decision. Okay. (No sarcasm)

My why? was the same question that I've asked why can't John and OL be praised on this thread. By me as well. And still express simple disappointment with some issues.

I would have written one post. And one post only. To say my thoughts on the issue in a fair and just way. With stating how hard this must have been for him. And what a nice thing he did for his members that he didn't have to at all. Compassionately thought out.

This is why I've come back on and on. It just seemed like there were so many posts that couldn't handle both sides. I loved hearing about John, OL, and how blessed so many of you feel working with him. I had nothing to say. Fantastic. Good to know. Thank you all who shared that. Really.

But quite a few seemed to not give some of us the same latitude on a thread that many were not privy to the how the thread flowed. Sometimes there is a whole energy to such things. Especially from the beginning. Okay, I'm sounding a little off. But I know what I mean.

 

[chatchdvc]

It will be replaced by a new offer that offers a discount of $30 off the membership Fee and an extra free Visit for 3 years.

The new deal doesn't mention the three years...