I had both similar, and different experiences. First, everything written is true. There is a highly polished, skilled, cheesy sometimes flirtatious sales presentation. The "heavy" or the closer, is much tougher, and downright rude and mean. However, if I'm not going to buy from you when you are nice, you certainly aren't getting my money by trying to intimidate me. Perhaps my 25 plus years military police experience and super cynical attitude in life provides some armor? I concur with the bad "intended to be overheard" acting, and special deal, but only if I sign now. It is high pressure, more gentle persons are easily offended and scared. I however love tough tough negotiations.
Let the buyer beware. You do not get something for nothing. This industry is an improvement upon standard timeshare churning. I guarantee you this, if the "seller" isn't producing, they are on their butt, out the door. You can make mad money selling timeshares, have a few bad months, and you are gone. It might even be faster.
If you use your points, you will extract value from the company. Truth be told, the company does not want you to use the facilities. They want your money only. Once they have your money, they would prefer you never show up as it is less inventory available to sell to others. If you use the points to the max, and you may have to travel to use them, you get a return on your investment. I invested just over 10K. I have had the membership for 5 years. Since I travel a lot and spend many nights in hotels costing roughly $100 to $200 a night, I believe each night is worth $100 to me in value. That is slanted highly in my favor, as I get a great condo or cabin in Virginia and use of facilities, whereas when I travel, I get a box with a bed in it.
I am breaking even now in my 5th year. All use after this is gravy. I believe the actual dollar value of my package is roughly $3000. That is all I could reasonably expect if I sell it. Matter of fact, it is all I will ever pay for more points. Even though I attend a briefing on every visit, I hold out until they offer at least three incentives (notice the form at the top has three lines for incentives, they can offer all three). If you don't believe me, when you are there and they call and want to give you an update, tell them your time is worth more than the $25 gas card or dinner coupon. They will call back if not immediately offer you more. Refuse again. A supervisor may wait to call, but you will be called. Why? Because you were a sucker once, chances are you will be a sucker twice. They will gladly give you $50 for gas (admittedly not that valuable anymore), the lunch coupons, and more. If they won't give it? I don't go. They want me to go up to Silver. I never will. Why? Because then they haven't much incentive for continually paying me money to watch their soap opera acting antics: you know the one where your seller argues with the boss, for some of the reserve points, the hold backs, or the ones folks sold back to Blue Green? Special inventory? Or the "point prices go up on the 1st of the month" Can't tell you how many times I have heard that, only to be offered the same price repeatedly. No matter what the sale, it works out to about $1.67 a point.
I will buy your points if you wish to sell. I will only offer $3000. It will terminate your maintenance fees, membership fees, etc.
Please do try to travel to other bluegreen facilities. We love Shenandoah Crossing, Gatlinberg, Christmas Mountain and a few others. My mom just returned from Aruba, and Myrtle Beach. I Will be at Big Cedar for Christmas.
The big issue for this company is simple and easy to fix, but it makes them money so they won't. Bottom line: Sales and marketing have no connection to operations. When they ask how your stay is going, and they write down issues with your unit... They throw it away. If they connected sales quotas to customer satisfaction, you can bet these sharks in sales would terrorize the folks running the resorts and make sure the facilities were top notch.
Feel free to e-mail me, I am serious about wanting more points.
Use your points, complain to any and all managers until it is fixed, but sales is sales, it always has been and always will be. Brutal and unforgiving. I just happen to be better at it than them.
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