Timeshare Sharks Inside Universal = Bad

[macraven]

 

[AlexandNessa]

Well I did not mean to contribute to this becoming a dreaded "popcorn thread," and for that I am genuinely sorry.

I hope no one misunderstands me ... I don't begrudge anyone the right to earn a living. I begrudge the self-given delusional "right" of the timeshare folks to do so by intruding on my personal time and space. For those who have never been bothered by these people, you are very lucky and I am envious. However, we have had these predators just start walking with us and barging their way into our own happy, personal conversations. These people have practically walked us to Jaws, not taking "no" or "leave us alone" as an answer. They've walked with us uninvited on our way to Suess Landing, even though we didn't make eye contact or even acknowledge their presence. They've shoved papers in our face and blocked our path. Who thinks this is OK? It's an honest question, not a sarcastic one. Who sanctioned that this is an acceptable way to treat park guests?

 

[damo]

Someone should get this behavior on camera. I wonder if anyone higher up would take notice if they actually saw it.

 

[Amity 3]

Someone should get this behavior on camera. I wonder if anyone higher up would take notice if they actually saw it.

UO 'suits' are out walking the parks all of the time. they know what's going on. the 'greeters' system in the parking garage hasn't changed since the first time we visited UO.

 

[damo]

UO 'suits' are out walking the parks all of the time. they know what's going on. the 'greeters' system in the parking garage hasn't changed since the first time we visited UO.

Oh. I was hoping that they were unaware of their persistent tactics. How would they be stupid enough to think that those were okay with the guests then? What difference would complaining make then if they already know how belligerent these people are? If they see this happening on a daily basis and are okay with it, then there isn't much we can do.

 

[macraven]

i'm sure the only reason i do not get approached by the time share dudes is because i go to the parks alone.



if i did get approached, i would just take a pic of the person, and include the name tag, with my camera phone.
think i would include that in an email to the appropriate people at universal.


i don't care to be harassed by any sales pitch.
i' m behind all the posters who have posted about the aggravation of this issue.

 

[Motherfletcher]

Good, then just keep avoiding them so that they don't waste their time or gifts on you.

If I approached the time share vultures I'd be wasting their time. They are preying on my time. When I go to Universal I stay on-site for the FOTL benefits and when I go to HHN I pay for the VIP Tour in an effort to save time.
I went to a time share promo 20 years ago. The high pressure act reminded me of the criminal that admits to the crime just to get away from the detective ::cop: that's interrorgating him. I ended up saying OK I'll take it. Thank God my credit didn't go through! They can have all of their Mickey Mouse gifts and hotel stays. I don't want to ever go through that sales pitch again.
I think it's sad that Universal allows Westgate the opportunity to prey on their captive audience. They are vultures, too. I tell the kids to "look alive" every time we pass them.

 

[goofy!]

Perhaps the suits have read these boards (and IOAcentral's) and have issued warnings.

We walked past them (the booth between MIB and Jaws) several times today. I even purposefully made eye contact with them.

They stayed in their little booth and did not venture out. They were not approaching anybody

Hopefully they got the message!

 

[Fan2CSkr]

Perhaps the suits have read these boards (and IOAcentral's) and have issued warnings.

We walked past them (the booth between MIB and Jaws) several times today. I even purposefully made eye contact with them.

They stayed in their little booth and did not venture out. They were not approaching anybody

Hopefully they got the message!

Oh thats great to hear! Let us know what happens when you head over to IOA by DD. Having a great trip? Lucky you!

 

[TDC Nala]

It depends, it probably wasn't if you look wealthy enough, but do you look old enough? All timeshares have requirements to go to the presentations, like you have to be at least 26 and married. Only one that I know of takes single males, but the age requirement is a must. So, if you "look" young, you probably won't be approached. It doesn't matter if you look rich. Tour Hooks get paid by the tour so the more they send the better for them.

Curious, why wouldn't they take single females? I own about 3 contracts with DVC so why wouldn't other timeshares sell to me?

 

[damo]

Nice to hear that they are staying in their box. The news of their aggression was all over the Screamscape site and it is frequented by a lot of people. More than ours and IOA Central. Glad they listened!!!

 

[BoyLovesBuzz]

I bet there are some type of "quota" periods when they are more aggressive then others. Lets face it, they are not exactly at the top of the salesperson food chain. I doubt they work hard unless they really have to. Like I said, I was there for a week, and at times taunted them by walking through their space, lingering around, and was never approached.

As for the credit card people, I found them no more annoying then any of those at the mall. In fact DW broke the strape on her purse on day 1, and spent the next 4 days, trying to talk those guys out of a promo bag without filling out an application. So in hindsight, we probably annoyed them more then they annoyed us.

 

[ely3857]

Me & DH had several persistant approaches on our last trip, One man was very aggressive and on another occasion we were walking down an almost empty street and four of them spread out meaning we had no way through without making eye contact. In direct comparison we saw many booths and reps around Disney for DVC and often said good morning to the CM's but were never once approached.



Jodie

 

[phamton]

on another occasion we were walking down an almost empty street and four of them spread out meaning we had no way through without making eye contact.

If you saw four of them then it was probably the survey people not the timeshare. You could have made a little money. They usually work in groups of fours.

 

[macraven]

If you saw four of them then it was probably the survey people not the timeshare. You could have made a little money. They usually work in groups of fours.

phamton is on the mark on this one.

i love doing the surveys and love getting the money and UO script for giving only about 20 minutes of my time. they work in groups and ask you right away if you are interested in doing a paid survey.

this was the first year i wasn't asked to do a survey.
it is well worth the time for me.

the compensation varies per interview.

 

[daisax]

I was there a couple of weeks ago and not approached by anybody inside the park (the entry way from the garage was a different story -- very obnoxious).

Maybe somebody who's being stalked should try a bloodcurdling scream and start calling for security, saying that they feel threatened.

 

[goofy!]

Bad News - they were in full obnoxious form yesterday. I sat out MIB with my elderly mother - and we sat on benches directly across from their booth. We sat there for at least 35 minutes.

It was terrible how they would come out, shove their brochure in people's faces, follow them down the path and even when people put their hands out to signal - keep away - they still followed.

And they were racial profiling. There were 4 guys harrassing the crowds. Only one, in 35 minutes, approached a caucasian family. 2 Hispanic families were approached. The rest were all African American. Sitting there, it was so obvious what they were doing. I would watch them watch numerous families walk by. When an African American family approached, never a doubt, the sharks stepped in front of them. It go to the point where we could point out the families they would accost before they got to the booth.

Sad, sad that they have to be so aggressive.

 

[Jridou]

phamton is on the mark on this one.

i love doing the surveys and love getting the money and UO script for giving only about 20 minutes of my time. they work in groups and ask you right away if you are interested in doing a paid survey.

this was the first year i wasn't asked to do a survey.
it is well worth the time for me.

the compensation varies per interview.

I have to delurk for a minute here. Back in 12/01 (less than 3 mo after 9/11 and OMG were the parks empty!) we were asked by someone outside the gates to hand out 5 "i was caught being good" type notes to employees who we thought were especially helpful. We totally would have done it for free, but at the end of the day, we were awarded 2 one day passes.

So now we're always on the lookout for those survey guys.

 

[goofy!]

I have to delurk for a minute here. Back in 12/01 (less than 3 mo after 9/11 and OMG were the parks empty!) we were asked by someone outside the gates to hand out 5 "i was caught being good" type notes to employees who we thought were especially helpful. We totally would have done it for free, but at the end of the day, we were awarded 2 one day passes.

So now we're always on the lookout for those survey guys.

Oh..I would love to give out those notes. There are so many team members that go above and beyond that it would be nice to see them recognized. And I would absolutely do it for no compensation!

 

[KEW80]

Bad News - they were in full obnoxious form yesterday. I sat out MIB with my elderly mother - and we sat on benches directly across from their booth. We sat there for at least 35 minutes.

It was terrible how they would come out, shove their brochure in people's faces, follow them down the path and even when people put their hands out to signal - keep away - they still followed.

And they were racial profiling. There were 4 guys harrassing the crowds. Only one, in 35 minutes, approached a caucasian family. 2 Hispanic families were approached. The rest were all African American. Sitting there, it was so obvious what they were doing. I would watch them watch numerous families walk by. When an African American family approached, never a doubt, the sharks stepped in front of them. It go to the point where we could point out the families they would accost before they got to the booth.

Sad, sad that they have to be so aggressive.

Who are these 'timeshare people' and who do they work for? How are they allowed to do this? Is this a result of NBC ownership? Universal is the best place on the earth how can they ruin it that way? What can be done about it?