We won..... Update post #27

[LuvtheMouse88]

a trip to Orlando! My husband and I got a call yesterday that we had won a raffle we entered at a auto show last month. We won a 3day 2 night stay in Williamsburg, a visa gift card, and a 4day 3night trip to Orlando. We have a year to use the Orlando trip. We are so excited because we were not going to be able to go this year or next due to me having a new job and finances. I can't wait to plan out our trip! What's the catch your thinking. We have to do a 90min timeshare presentation while in Williamsburg but will NOT be buying since my parents already own one that we have access too. Just had to share.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Good Luck.

When you actually read the fine print, what will you really be getting? Will there be any fees you have to pay. And watch out for blocked-out dates. And more than likely this does not include transportation.

I'm afraid you are actually getting a scam.

 

[MomNeedsVacay]

I find the timeshare things that you "win" to be a scam too

 

[PixieDustandEeyore]

Congrats OP... I've done one of these time share things in Vegas and it turned out fine. Enjoy your trip!

 

[Seahunt]

I'm afraid you are actually getting a scam.

OP sorry to say this, but I agree with Cheshire Figment re it being a scam

Hope we're both wrong though

 

[izzy]

a trip to Orlando! My husband and I got a call yesterday that we had won a raffle we entered at a auto show last month. We won a 3day 2 night stay in Williamsburg, a visa gift card, and a 4day 3night trip to Orlando. We have a year to use the Orlando trip. We are so excited because we were not going to be able to go this year or next due to me having a new job and finances. I can't wait to plan out our trip! What's the catch your thinking. We have to do a 90min timeshare presentation while in Williamsburg but will NOT be buying since my parents already own one that we have access too. Just had to share.

Hate to burst your bubble, but this sounds like a scam to me, too. I'm betting everyone who entered the "raffle" also "won." Not that these may not be legit trips, but I'm betting you'll have to go thru a timeshare spiel.

 

[bdcp]

The "catch" is the timeshare presentation and the pressure to purchase one. We never enter these raffles because they aren't really raffles and everyone "wins". Timeshares offer all kinds of free trips without entering any contest. Please read everything. I guarantee you there is more to this than you think.

 

[Magic Mom]

Hate to burst your bubble, but this sounds like a scam to me, too. I'm betting everyone who entered the "raffle" also "won." Not that these may not be legit trips, but I'm betting you'll have to go thru a timeshare spiel.

Yes, lots of people probably "won."

 

[rchristiansen]

Hate to burst your bubble, but this sounds like a scam to me, too. I'm betting everyone who entered the "raffle" also "won." Not that these may not be legit trips, but I'm betting you'll have to go thru a timeshare spiel.

Yeah....I remember getting a call like this once a long time ago after entering a raffle - I just hung up on them and wished I didn't put my name in the drawing. Those timeshare spiels are really high pressure too - you're stuck there wasting the whole day.

In order to "win" something, you don't have to do anything or pay for anything, you just win.

 

[LuvtheMouse88]

Thanks for the concerns but I have read the fine print. A 90 min presentaion is all we have to do and it states you are under no obligation to buy anything. I also know for a fact that not everyone who entered the raffle won since we had others with us who also entered. I am not stupid and would not be posting this otherwise. It is amazing to me how other people always have negative things to say. I guess I will go back into lurkdom.

 

[LuvtheMouse88]

Congrats OP... I've done one of these time share things in Vegas and it turned out fine. Enjoy your trip!

thank you for the kind words unlike the others.

 

[diznygirl]

Thanks for the concerns but I have read the fine print. A 90 min presentaion is all we have to do and it states you are under no obligation to buy anything. I also know for a fact that not everyone who entered the raffle won since we had others with us who also entered. I am not stupid and would not be posting this otherwise. It is amazing to me how other people always have negative things to say. I guess I will go back into lurkdom.

So sorry about the reality check. People sounded concerned for you.

As long as it doesn't say that you've won the chance at these prizes including the (in very small print "possibility") trip to Orlando then you are good to go. Practice your "no thank you" and have fun!

 

[katesorad]

Thanks for the concerns but I have read the fine print. A 90 min presentaion is all we have to do and it states you are under no obligation to buy anything. I also know for a fact that not everyone who entered the raffle won since we had others with us who also entered. I am not stupid and would not be posting this otherwise. It is amazing to me how other people always have negative things to say. I guess I will go back into lurkdom.

I agree.. congratulations on your win! How awesome! I am definitely jealous! Enjoy your trip

 

[Seahunt]

thank you for the kind words unlike the others.

Sorry you took my post as unkind - we just wanted to caution you so you were aware of the scam possibility. If we didn't care we wouldn't have posted our concerns.

Now again, simply out of trying to help while you are out there in "lurkdom", please read this info found on a complaint forum when googling "Williamsburg scam", and then at least you'll go in with some preparation:

JJ54
18 Aug 2010
MUST READ!!! FORMER EMPLOYEE!!!!

First off I am not a disgruntled employee. I voluntarily quit after years of frustration with the companies practices and how it treats it's employees. The information I share is to not blackball the company, but to give you as the consumer a heads up as to what ALL OF THIS is about. First off this is a Timeshare company. When you fill out entry forms for even windows or to win a car, they will sell your information to williamsburg plantaiton resort to generate leads for that company. Its in the tiny writing on the back. There is a 90 minute tour (which isn't 90 minutes; no matter how much the travel coordinator tells you it will only be 90 minutes, THE REPS AT THE RESORT ARE TRAINED TO KEEP YOU NO LESS THAN 3 HOURS.) A good defense to that would be to actually record the travel coordinator telling you that its only 90 minutes, than play it back once you tour. This will inturn put pressure on the resort to tell the call center that it is not just 90 minutes for future guest. With that recording of them telling you 90 minutes, you could also have a very nice false advertisment case on your hands. Now on top of your $75 deposit that you do on the phone, there is a totally seperate $150 depoist upon arriving to the hotel which your travel coordinator is trained to not tell you unless you ask. Now the key word as you can see is hotel. With this offer you will only stay in the condo on certain off season times of the year.For example,if it is summer there is a 99 percent chance you will not be staying in a condo, instead it will be the Patriot Inn and Suites which is a 2 star hotel. I wont even begin to go into the hotel reviews, just google it and see for yourself. Now to get to the good stuff.....

The main call center for the Williamsburg plantation resort is located in Yorktown,VA. The Main numbers are 757-874-6402 or 757-874-6422. They also have lines starting 757-927-.... . This is how you will know this is all truthful. Your call will start out something like this.....

*NOTE: ALL EMPLOYEES ARE SUBJECT TO IMMEDIATE TERMINATION FOR SPEAKING TO A HUSBAND ON A MARRIED LEAD. IF YOU MARKED THAT YOU ARE MARRIED, EVEN IF YOU ARE A MARRIED GUY WITH YOUR NAME ON THE ENTRY FORM THEY WILL ASK FOR YOUR WIFE UPON CONTACT. THE REASON BEING THAT THEY FEEL IT IS EASIER TO SELL A WIFE ON A VACATION (Very sexist), THEY EVEN GO AS FAR AS TO CALL THE HUSBAND THE DEAL KILLER.
YOU ARE TRAINED NOT TO TELL THE HUSBAND ANYTHING WITHOUT HAVING THE WIFE LISTENING FROM ANOTHER EXTENTION. THE REASON FOR THAT IS BECAUSE THEY FEEL IT IS EASIER TO KEEP BOTH HUSBAND AND WIFE ON THE PHONE IF IT IS ON TWO SEPERATE LINES SO JUST INCASE ONE HANGS UP YOU STILL HAVE THE OTHER ON THE LINE TO TRY TO SAVE YOUR DEAL. THE ONLY TIME YOU CAN PITCH A MALE ON THE PHONE IS IF HE'S SINGLE. BUT EVEN IN THAT CASE IF THE MALE CHOOSES A FEMALE TRAVEL COMPANION TO LISTEN IN, THE CALL WILL START BEING DIRECTED AT THE FEMALE.

And again lol, this is how the call starts....

1) If you are a husband and you pick the phone up this is how the call will start....

Hi (Husband), this is (sales rep), im calling about the entry form your wife filled out at (Location), and im holding her $125 dollar visa gift card plus the rest of her gifts, go ahead and put her on the phone...

(again no matter how much you plead to just get more info, if you are a husband they will repeatedly just tell you its reguarding a visa gift card, and you will find out the rest of the gifts once you get your wife on the phone)

2) Now your wife picks up and this is what she's gonna hear....

Hi (wife), this is (sales rep) with the Williamsburg Plantation Resort and I am not a telemarketer. I'm calling about the entry form you filled out at (location) for the complimentary vacation to colonial williamsburg and I have great news, the entry form was selected. Now what your entitled to is a complimentary 3day 2night stay in colonial williamsburg where you will be located only 5 minutes from Busch Gardens and Water Country USA. Plus (wife) youre receiving 4days and 3nights at main gate disney in Orlando, FL. Now also (wife), since the (location where you filled the entryform out) and visa both co-sponsor the company, youre also receiving $125 on a visa gift card as well. Now im going to transfer you to your travel coordinator in just a moment so they can activate your gifts. Before I do that (Wife), go ahead and have your husband (or travel companion if single) join us on a seperate extension or on a 3way call so we can go over all the details with the both of you.

(Now if you disect the opening of the pitch, you see how it leads with we are not telemarketers which is totally false. Now your getting someone else on the line to make the sale easier for them. Thats so if say for instance you were just pitching the one person, they don't want to take the chance that at the end of the call you'll be like I need to check with my boyfriend or girlfriend or husband or something along those lines. They basically want both of you on the phone to create the urgency of, either now or never with out having a good ammount of time to think about it.)

3)Now its either you and your husband or travel companion on the line....

Hi (husband) thank you for joining us on the line. Let me just give you two a recap as to what you are receiveing. You'll be getting 3days and 2nights in colonial williamsburg, $125 visa gift card, and a 4day 3night main gate disney stay in Orlando, FL. Now all we ask in exchange is just 90 minutes of your time so we can showcase our resort. Once our travel coordiantor sets everything up with you, they will e-mail you a confirmation letter which will include everything in writing, directions to our reception center, and an area map. Now (Wife) and (Husband) where did the two of you go on your last vacation?

(Now you can see how the call is going...get both people on the line, tell them the supposed catch, than get them passed over to a travel coordinator. The Initial contact people are good people, entry level people for company, they get paid commision just for transfering the call over with two people on the line on two seperate phones. They get bonuses if the call actually books with a travel cooriator as well, but the bread and butter, there quota is based off of just passing the call over. Now you also notice they ask about your last vacation. They want you to have paid for at least 2 consecutive nights of lodging in the past two years to qualify for the vacations. Basically they want avid vacationers of course because there better candidates to buy timeshare).

4) Now your speaking to the travel coordinator and there job is going to be to close you. Notice how they tell you a story about them vacationing right after there intro, thats to gain trust. Also you will notice the travel coordinator will direct the whole call to the female...

Hi (Wife) and (Husband), my name is (Travel cooridnator) and its my job to answer any questions the both of you have and of course arrange your getaway to Colonial Williamsburg. Now (Wife), Whens the last time you and (Husband) have been to Colonial Williamsburg?

(If you answer you have been, they'll paint a little picture of what Williamsburg has to offer. If you haven't They'll go a little more in depth on the attractions. Now is when they'll transition into a vacation story something like this....)

EX: " I took my 5 yr old to Busch Gardens and she loved it, she said it was the best time ever. And im sure you could agree (Wife), you could never put a price tag on those kind of memories....

(From here on out is the checklist, they will ask the wife a few questions to get some information from you which will inturn be used against you if you try to rebuttal.)

Now (Wife) where did you go on your last vacation?
What did you enjoy most?
Did you bring the Kids?
How about you (husband) what did you like best?
Now (Wife), on that vacation did you stay in a hotel or resort?
And (Wife), How much would you say it cost per night? $80, $100, or $150 pernight?
That sound right (Husband)?
And (Wife), How many weeks of vacation do you plan on taking in the upcoming year? one,two, or three?

(Now they will use that information to add up the money you told them. For example, if you say one week of vacation for the year at $100 pernight than that is $700 you are spending a year on vacation. Also notice how the husband is included but kept at a distance. For every ten times you say the wifes name you say the husbands name once is how the travel coordiantors are trained.)

Now (Wife), it sounds like you'll be spending (dollar ammount) in on your next vacations and we hate to hear that. Thats why everyone is doing this and im sure (Wife) and (Husband), you both could agree it would be wiser to spend our companies money on your next vacation instead of pulling that money out of your own pocket right?

See (wife) we just want to showcase our resort to you for only 90 minutes. Youre under no obligation to purchase or join anything. Our main goal is to roll out the red carpet and treat you and your family like royalty so you will go home with nothing but nice things to say about us and that makes sense right?

Now the resort itself just requires a fully refundable $75 deposit, once you get to williamsburg and complete your tour you will receive your deposit back infull plus the addition $125 on the visa gift card.

(Now from here is just basically setting up the date. The dates are only for the next 4-5 weeks out where you can actually check in for the 3/2 night stay in Williamsburg or you can come for just one day to tour and claim the vouchers, from that day you'll have a full 12 months to use to return voucher back to Williamsburg. Now what they don't tell you is if you come for the one day, you cannot use the voucher with out 45 day advance on your date. Also there is no using the voucher on the weekend until late october when its offseason so don't let them fool you into thinking you'll have a weekend getaway sometime in the next year. Also with the Orlando trip, upon setting that voucher up you will pay a deposit of $100 which they also don't tell you. Same thing with williamsburg, as stated earlier you will pay a seperate $150 room deposit once you check in. Now when there booking you they will try do something special to gain your trust. For example, " I don't have that date but let me check with my manager and see if I can do that for you.", when in actuality they had the date all along. The closer timeframe they bring you out the more money they make. If you check in like on a monday versus a friday the travel coordinator makes more money. The reason being Mondays of course are alot harder for people to arrive on versus a Friday. Also, if they tell you they can't do call backs because of the "computer system" not letting them call back, they are lying.That is just to create urgency so you book now. They aren't allowed to do call backs because they feel like this: If you catch a fish, would you believe the fish if it told you to throw it back, comeback tommorow and he'll let you catch it again?. Thats how they feel, you are a fish biting on the rod now, if they let you hang up or even have a chance to think about it, they know they will lose the sale. There are no computers, just your standard house phones (really cheap phones they use) and a piece of paper with your information on it. The call center is very ghetto, you can hear rap music blaring in the back round if you listen close enough. No headsets or computers or cubicles, Just tables with house phones layed on them, and a basket full of paper leads that they call. Now when giving your credit info, it isn't on a secured line. They basically just place you on mute until one of the managers can walk over and take your credit information from you. The bottom line is, if you don't atleast give them a credit card once you speak with the travel coorinator than you miss out. No call backs, No call ins, its either right then and there or never.)

HOPEFULLY THIS HAS BEEN HELPFUL. SORRY SO LONG BUT PLEASE READ BEFORE MAKING ANY DECISONS WITH THIS COMPANY, YOU BE THE JUDGE IF YOU WANT TO GO ALONG WITH IT OR NOT

 

[John VN]

Please check first regarding the monetary value of these items. The taxes owed could possibly knock your socks off.

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

I prefer to actually relax on my vacations, not deal with hours of high pressure sales tactics but if that sounds fun to you more power to you.

 

[surfergirl602]

scam scam scam scam scam. We've been offered this same "deal" probably 5 times now, all from different raffles, etc. And if different states.

Don't forget the wedding one. I gave my name at david's bridal to be put on their clearance mailing list and "won" a vacation if I listened to something about cookware. And I've been married for ten years.

 

[mdsoccermom]

Plus, you really don't think you're going to be put up in nice accommodations, do you? These scams are known for putting peoiple in less than stellar places.

 

[SaraJayne]

Yes, OP, it's a scam. Funnily enough, when we've been called about similiar things, I have no problem saying no and hanging up.

 

[DisneyFan32WI]

Please proceed with caution. I would hate for you to get your hopes up only to find out that this is just a marketing ploy to get you to buy something.
Please get all of the facts before you commit to anything. Good luck! Please keep us all posted.