Shady DVC People

[godisneygo]

Has anyone encountered any "less then truthful" kiosk people at Disneyland for the Disney Vacation Club?

 

[Disney Doll]

No.

The one thing I have always found is that the DVC salespeople don't need to really "hard sell" their product. It pretty much sells itself and most people who are buying have researched it to the hilt so they know what they are getitng.

It's probably a pretty easy sales job, as sales jobs go.

 

[disneynutz]

Has anyone encountered any "less then truthful" kiosk people at Disneyland for the Disney Vacation Club?

Have you?

 

[dianeschlicht]

Has anyone encountered any "less then truthful" kiosk people at Disneyland for the Disney Vacation Club?

Well, the ones at WDW all seem very truthful. We like to talk to them whenever we get a chance. As for the ones at DL...We haven't encountered any of them. I saw the kiosks when we were there, but I didn't speak with them.

 

[jimmytammy]

Most of the ones we have talked to are very friendly, non pushy type folks. But all of them are at WDW that we have spoken with. They seem to really open up when they find out you already own. Several have shared that they own as well and like it just as much as us. I agree with Disney Doll, it sells itself, so why be pushy.

 

[Deb & Bill]

When we talked to DL DVC people last year about a possible DVC at DL, all they said was they thought there might be an announcement sometime soon about DVC in California. They just state what they know (or like us, what they hope).

 

[been2marceline]

We have never found anyone at the kiosks to be anything but very friendly and honest.

The comment about the product selling itself is true, I owned for 2 years before I ever got to go to a presentation, I felt cheated!

The announcement for California, if it happens, could be related to the rework of parts of one of the existing properties into DVC accomodations, similiar to what has been done with AKL / AKV.

My sources tell me that that one is number 2 behind the new Contemporary Villas ( 15 stories worth ) annd before the Hawai'i one.

The property in question was built with the intention of converting some of the upper floors into DVC accomodations.

Can't wait to see if my source is right!

 

[bumbershoot]

I will say one thing about the salesperson who spoke with my hubby. I had ordered the video online, and instead of just sending it, they called and did what DH felt was a fairly hard sell on him. The main thing they talked to him about was the international properties, went on and on about all the non-WDW places we could use our points on.

That got him quite psyched about it.

And then we got the Dreams book with the points charts in it, and we saw how incredibly "expensive" all those other places were, and it was quite a big letdown, because he'd gotten very happy to think of traveling. We just don't plan on owning enough to do many of those other properties, even with banking and borrowing.

So that's the one hard-sell we encountered.

But that wasn't at a kiosk. I'm actually quite hoping to run into a DVC kiosk person during our trip to DL in September!

 

[tiggerrr]

We found the people at the kiosks very factual. The one that finally did set us up for a presentation was very clear that there weren't any fancy giveaways, just a couple of fastpasses. They all suggested that a presentation was the best way to get all our questions answered.

What I also liked is that they didn't come out of the kiosk and try to approach you - they always waited for you to come in to show interest first. Which was a big contrast to some of the other timeshare booths in the area outside WDW, who were very aggressive when we were walking by shopping. That attitude gave me a very good feeling about DVC.

I also support the comment that they really open up once they know you own. We had one CM in one of the Downtown Disney booths spend 20 minutes describing a great day you could have at WDW without setting foot inside a theme park.

 

[squidmo]

The announcement for California, if it happens, could be related to the rework of parts of one of the existing properties into DVC accomodations, similiar to what has been done with AKL / AKV.

My sources tell me that that one is number 2 behind the new Contemporary Villas ( 15 stories worth ) annd before the Hawai'i one.

The property in question was built with the intention of converting some of the upper floors into DVC accomodations.

Well, that would have to be the Grand Californian, since that is the ONLY DL hotel built by Disney (or since the advent of DVC, for that matter). Ooooh, I so hope your source is right!

 

[dianeschlicht]

I will say one thing about the salesperson who spoke with my hubby. I had ordered the video online, and instead of just sending it, they called and did what DH felt was a fairly hard sell on him. The main thing they talked to him about was the international properties, went on and on about all the non-WDW places we could use our points on.

That got him quite psyched about it.

And then we got the Dreams book with the points charts in it, and we saw how incredibly "expensive" all those other places were, and it was quite a big letdown, because he'd gotten very happy to think of traveling. We just don't plan on owning enough to do many of those other properties, even with banking and borrowing.

So that's the one hard-sell we encountered.

But that wasn't at a kiosk. I'm actually quite hoping to run into a DVC kiosk person during our trip to DL in September!

What did he think was "expensive" about the exchanges? IT is usually the same as a 1 or 2 bedroom would cost you at WDW. Unless you are talking about the concierge collection, and yes, they are expensive. I would never consider them too much though when a week's exchange is possible.

 

[DVC Grammy]

We have also found the kiosk DVC folk to be very friendly, but, we've also found that some in the park kiosks are less knowledgeable than the ones in the resorts. In fact, there have been a couple of times when I (gently) suggested they consult the (DVC) Disboards for more up-to-date information.

 

[Starr W.]

I just assumed the kiosk people are just there to set up appointments. We passed the one at VWL and a older couple was getting the "dog&pony" with the book and mentioned "WE LOVE OUR DVC", got a from the sales person as the couple decide to book their tour.

 

[disney junky]

We found the people at the kiosks very factual. The one that finally did set us up for a presentation was very clear that there weren't any fancy giveaways, just a couple of fastpasses. They all suggested that a presentation was the best way to get all our questions answered.

What I also liked is that they didn't come out of the kiosk and try to approach you - they always waited for you to come in to show interest first. Which was a big contrast to some of the other timeshare booths in the area outside WDW, who were very aggressive when we were walking by shopping. That attitude gave me a very good feeling about DVC.

I also support the comment that they really open up once they know you own. We had one CM in one of the Downtown Disney booths spend 20 minutes describing a great day you could have at WDW without setting foot inside a theme park.

They aren't allowed to hard sell. They are supposed to strike up conversation as it occurs. The guides don't appreciate when they get tours that aren't really interested in purchasing because it's a waste of their time.
Also, they are not allowed to discuss details such as points and costs, booking, borrowing and banking, as that job belongs to the guides. Their ignorance may be feigned because they are extremely well trained.

 

[JimMIA]

Has anyone encountered any "less then truthful" kiosk people at Disneyland for the Disney Vacation Club?

No, but I'm wondering what the point of your thread is.

Have YOU encountered any problems? If not...

 

[bumbershoot]

What did he think was "expensive" about the exchanges? IT is usually the same as a 1 or 2 bedroom would cost you at WDW. Unless you are talking about the concierge collection, and yes, they are expensive. I would never consider them too much though when a week's exchange is possible.

Do you have their marketing Dream book? If so, look in the back.

I'm looking at it right now, and yes, i suppose that part of it is the Concierge collection that just BLASTED us out of the picture. We're not planning on the 160 point purchase up front, we plan to start TINY through resale, and until our family grows we plan on a studio.

Then turning pages and looking at the World Passport collection, even 124 points for a week in a one bedroom, low season 2007, that's still more than we would care to use, even if we had that with banking and borrowing, and we KNOW we would just want to pay cash to travel if we would have to give up 3 years of itsy vacations to get just one week.

Adventurer Collection made us LOL at 166 points per 1st and 2nd passenger in low season for an Alaskan cruise on a line that isn't our fave, and etc etc etc.

Comparing a 4 weekday (hubby works over the weekends so we always travel mid-week) stay in a studio, in the lowest season (can't remember the lingo, just put the book down), at OKW, and what points that would generally entail, and compare it to even the low season things in the Dream book, and you can see where it was much more than DH was expecting after the big talk-up about ALL the travel from the person on the phone.


HOWEVER this was not a person at a kiosk as I mentioned in my first post, it was someone on the phone after we'd requested the DVD, and I only talked more about it b/c I was asked. (I've been talking too much recently, so I had to justify this blather with the "I've been asked" bit, LOL)

 

[DVCLiz]

Do you have their marketing Dream book? If so, look in the back.

I'm looking at it right now, and yes, i suppose that part of it is the Concierge collection that just BLASTED us out of the picture. We're not planning on the 160 point purchase up front, we plan to start TINY through resale, and until our family grows we plan on a studio.

Then turning pages and looking at the World Passport collection, even 124 points for a week in a one bedroom, low season 2007, that's still more than we would care to use, even if we had that with banking and borrowing, and we KNOW we would just want to pay cash to travel if we would have to give up 3 years of itsy vacations to get just one week.

Adventurer Collection made us LOL at 166 points per 1st and 2nd passenger in low season for an Alaskan cruise on a line that isn't our fave, and etc etc etc.

Comparing a 4 weekday (hubby works over the weekends so we always travel mid-week) stay in a studio, in the lowest season (can't remember the lingo, just put the book down), at OKW, and what points that would generally entail, and compare it to even the low season things in the Dream book, and you can see where it was much more than DH was expecting after the big talk-up about ALL the travel from the person on the phone.


HOWEVER this was not a person at a kiosk as I mentioned in my first post, it was someone on the phone after we'd requested the DVD, and I only talked more about it b/c I was asked. (I've been talking too much recently, so I had to justify this blather with the "I've been asked" bit, LOL)

OK, but this is a completely different scenario than most DVC owners - there are not many who own only a tiny contract and consider the cost of anything over 8-10 points a night for a studio in low season to be "expensive." I'm not quarreling with your plan, because of course the reason we all like DVC is because it's flexible enough to fit almost anyone's vacation plans, but I think it was your DH's expectations that were totally out of line, not the DVC rep.

 

[dianeschlicht]

OK, but this is a completely different scenario than most DVC owners - there are not many who own only a tiny contract and consider the cost of anything over 8-10 points a night for a studio in low season to be "expensive." I'm not quarreling with your plan, because of course the reason we all like DVC is because it's flexible enough to fit almost anyone's vacation plans, but I think it was your DH's expectations that were totally out of line, not the DVC rep.

I agree, Liz. When you contact a timeshare sales company for information, you are ASKING them to contact you. DVC sales people are very soft sell compared to others in the timeshare industry. Bumbershoot, the tiny contract comment kind of goes around why DVC has a minimum point sales agreement. A timeshare is not realizing it's full benefit if you don't own enough points to take advantage of those benefits. Since 160 points is needed for an II exchange, that is and should be the minimum ownership requirement. I'm one who wonders why DVC has not tried to prevent the ownership of less than minimum contracts. It doesn't really seem fair that someone who owns 25 points total should get the same benefits as someone who ones the minimum of 160 and upwards to 5000 points.

Besides that, if you are only planning to own that "tiny" contract, then maybe you are better off paying the higher rack rates for value rooms for your trips. There doesn't seem to be much point in owning if you are only going to use 4 weekdays and assume you are staying in an OKW studio in low season all the time. The real point of DVC ownership is missed in that case. The true value of none of those features. No need to blast the program when you are trying to beat the system.

 

[Pennyguy23]

I agree, Liz. When you contact a timeshare sales company for information, you are ASKING them to contact you. DVC sales people are very soft sell compared to others in the timeshare industry. Bumbershoot, the tiny contract comment kind of goes around why DVC has a minimum point sales agreement. A timeshare is not realizing it's full benefit if you don't own enough points to take advantage of those benefits. Since 160 points is needed for an II exchange, that is and should be the minimum ownership requirement. I'm one who wonders why DVC has not tried to prevent the ownership of less than minimum contracts. It doesn't really seem fair that someone who owns 25 points total should get the same benefits as someone who ones the minimum of 160 and upwards to 5000 points.

Besides that, if you are only planning to own that "tiny" contract, then maybe you are better off paying the higher rack rates for value rooms for your trips. There doesn't seem to be much point in owning if you are only going to use 4 weekdays and assume you are staying in an OKW studio in low season all the time. The real point of DVC ownership is missed in that case. The true value of none of those features. No need to blast the program when you are trying to beat the system.

I couldn't agree more. The whole point of owning is to have some flexibility. If you HAVE to go to OKW at value season. Then really there is no flexibility.
As to your husband. Did he think that you could get a 1 bedroom for a week for like 40 points? When 40 points will cost you like 3 or 4K That wouldn't really be a deal for Disney now would it. I really don't see the big deal of 124 points for a week in a 1 bedroom. In value season at OKW its 160 points for 7 nights.

I agree that there should be something disney should set up for people that own less then the min 160 points. I don't see why they should get the same perks as people that own the min. I'm not complaining about it but its somewhat of annoying to hear people with like 25 or 30 points rambling on about this or that. I'm not talking straight to bumbershoot, I'm talking to alot of people. DVC is a luxury.

 

[Mean Queen]

I just assumed the kiosk people are just there to set up appointments. We passed the one at VWL and a older couple was getting the "dog&pony" with the book and mentioned "WE LOVE OUR DVC", got a from the sales person as the couple decide to book their tour.

I always try to put my 2 cents in when I see a person talking to the DVC kiosk people with a quick "Best decision we ever made!" as we walk by. We've found the DVC kiosk people to be the same as most of the others on here, very friendly, and willing to talk when they find out we own.