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Honeymoon Discussions

Something seems fishy....

I went to a bridal show over the weekend and had my little passport that all the vendors are supposed to mark off that you visited, and you turn it in at the end for a chance to win something. I also signed up for information at a lot of vendors and yesterday I received (numerous) phone calls about a prize that I was "selected" to win by registering at the bridal show. I was in class at the time, so I hurried up on a break and called to see what it was that I "won." The lady was from some sort of travel company and went right into how I had my choice of either a $700 gift certificate to a local jeweler for 2 wedding bands, OR (how in the world does this work) my choice of 2 trips, 3 days 2 nights to Dominican Republic, someplace in Mexico, or another tropical place...or a "tour of USA" which would be either Florida, St. Maarten, or another state-side trip. In order to "claim my prize" I would have to drag my FI to an event later this week down at the beach and listen to some kind of shpiel about their company...and then I get my prize at the end. I still have no clue what "company" she is from and was trying to ask if I could call back today because I was pressed for time last night. She kept on talking and finally I had to just say "look, I am in class, I cannot have you explain the details now, I need to call back to understand this fully." Anyone else had any experience with something like this?

Re: Something seems fishy....

  • Yes it's a time share company. I got 8,000 calls from them after I stupidly signed up for raffles at a Home Expo. FI and I figured what the hell, we will sit through a 3 hour presentation to get a free trip, why not. YOU END UP WITH NOTHING. First the presentation took closer to 4 hours where they beg you to buy a time share and you say no and they make the manager come intimidate you and you still say no. They then send you to a holding room to wait in line for your prizes with 20 other couples- that takes another hour.

    They then give you a certificate for the free hotel or airfare or whatever. For free airfare, you had to stay at one of THEIR resorts for minimum of 7 nights and of course all their resorts are $250 a night. So that's not happening. Same with the free hotel, there was a minimum stay of 7 nights and 2-3 nights were "free". But you couldn't chose the location and the date. You had to submit an application with $100 and your choices of 3 locations you'd want and 3 dates you'd want. Say you wanted Aruba June 1st. Then they get back to you 30 DAYS before your trip saying "ok you're approved for St. Thomas May 1st- send us $100 to reserve it" By then it's too late to get off work, too late to book flights, not even the choice you wanted, and you have to pay all taxes which could be like $300. We never did the initial application because it was such a run around bullshit.

    When they call (and they will 300 more times) either tell them to F off and remove you from the list or tell them sure I'll be there for the presentation and then just blow it off.

                                                                     

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  • If it sounds too good to be true or you are feeling that "fishy" feeling in your gut, then just say no.

  • Ok, that's kinda what I was thinking...we wouldn't have had time to go to their presentation anyway, but I just was wondering since they were at a legit bridal show, and I'm still new to all this. I guess there are sharks everywhere! Thanks for the advice/sharing experience!
  • FI and I have been to dozens if time share presentations purely for the sake of getting free trips. As a result, we have been on a lot of mini vacations that we never would have been able to take otherwise.

    I know those presentations aren't for everyone, but we suck it up for the sake of the trip, and we've become pros at getting in and out quickly. To us, a free trip is worth 2 or 3 hours of our time on a Sunday.
    Wedding Countdown Ticker
  • If it were a Sunday that we had to spend it probably wouldn't be so bad, but this was a Wednesday evening. FI works and I have class so we wouldn't have been able to make it anyway. We'll have to keep it in mind for the future, I plan on going to many more bridal shows, maybe we'll be lucky enough to get another opportunity.
  • I signed up at some expo for a free vacation.  When I got the call there were all sorts of strings.  When I declined the guy tried to press it because after all I had entered my name.  I said yes for a free vacation, what you are describing isn't free.  
    Wedding Countdown Ticker
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