About two months ago, I filled out an entry form to win a Porsche Cayenne. Some time in May '06, I received a call that I didn't win the car yet, but I have qualified to receive a 3-day/2-night stay at Marriott and $500 Internet shopping spree, and if I show up for an hour long presentation, I will get a second entry for the car.
At first, I didn't want to go, but was told this Friday was the last day of the promotion, so I agreed. They claimed not to be a timeshare seller (something I already knew too much about), but I was still skeptical.
After the presentation, I was paired with a sales rep. He tried to tell me that $400/week-long vacation was a great deal. Sure, but add the $99 processing fee each time your want to book and the $319/year "membership" fee, and you're dishing out more than double the "deal" price. And what happens if I can't take a vacation during a year? I still have to pay the membership fee with nothing to show for it!
Of course, the $400 was valid "tonight only", because normally it's $600. You also need to pay the $12,000 *tonight* or finance it through them, or you can't get the deal. I informed the man, that I can get a car for that money with a better interest rate (theirs was 16.75%!).
A manager showed up, offering a "trial" period for $3000 for 6 vacation weeks, and they wanted $2200 deposit! I laughed in their faces, but they couldn't see the humor.
The last attempt the man made was for their "excess inventory" for $99/week & $99 processing fee, with a $700 deposit (now). I looked at the current list - all places I wouldn't want to go to.
Upon returning home, I looked over my 2 free nights at Marriott, and I can ask just one question: who plans 60 days in advance for a weekend getaway???
I visited GoShoppingMall.com to see what sort of scam they will try with my $500 shopping spree. You only pay shipping and processing, claims the site. The inventory is scarce, and the S&P fee is most of the times higher than if I went to a Dollar Store. I looked at a 6-piece luggage set (nothing fancy), which they claimed sells for about $200. Guess what? They wanted $99 for shipping and processing! Ha!
Bottom line: they lure you with a scam to promote another scam.
I looked up their website info with WhoIs, and traced their company to MORE scamming sites.
Rip-off!
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