wife wanted the possible $30k, but was concerned as I was. I checked 'em on the BBB though. No complaints. Even the parent company had a "satisfactory record."
So we went. Ok, so it wasn't a time share. But it was like unto it.
Also, I knew there wasn't anything we could do, even if they convinced us we wanted to go with this, once the Elmer Gantry-like sales man (who told us he hates sales, so he's not a salesman, he's a "consultant") was showing us how they could get us a week's stay anywhere, for any number of family members for $89 (which is a good deal, even when you consider the annual activity fee of something like $400). The reason I knew we could do that was because he had a list of costs, the annual fee of $400, the trip "processing" fee of $89, and the "One time membership cost." If you notice a lack of parallel in those three line items, you're right. The first two had a fixed price attached. THe other one did NOT. That's because they hit you with that later when you're doing one-on-one. It was $8k. yeah, I have that sitting around, which is why i'm using this POS computer and drive a $400 Mazda from 20 years ago.
anyway, we got our prizes.
We have two hotel stays for 2 nights at any of 3 hotel chains in the US.
We have plane tickets to either Jamaica, Cancun, or Orlando.
and we have a $500 shopping spree, which may or may not be worth it because the web site is a place I've never heard of and I'm sure there's some processing or shipping fee that's outrageous.
So the obvious thing is to use the plane tickets to orlando and stay in a hotel for free. But I have no desire to go to Orlando. Anyone know cheap places to stay in Jamaica or Cancun?
Man, I wish I'd won the TV or the car or the cash instead.
Oh, and I have to mention one other thing about Elmer Gantry. While he sounded like a revivalist preacher (esp. when he said if we doubt him we'd go do our research and say a little prayer to be forgiven that we'd thought he was a liar), a good salesman probably shouldn't have his fly open with his shirt poking out. Yeah.
