We just want to let y'all know to watch out for a time share thing that's going around. It uses the Ramada name but it is NOT the Ramada Inn that it leads people to think it is. We know, because we went to one of their meetings yesterday. They call themselves Ramada Vacation Suites.
Basically it goes this way: you enter a give away for a free car or other item somewhere (we did at a local movie theater) and then you get a call stating you have "won" a 3 day Ramada stay. The person on the phone then goes on to say that they will also give you a $50. Free gas certificate along with the Ramada stay, if you will just come to their office and listen to a Vacation presentation. They say it will only take an hour or so and then you will also have a chance to "win" another "free" item. They tell you that all this "free" stuff is being given to you simply because they know how "valuable" your time is.
So you arrive at their store front office, they check you in and you wait in a waiting area with other people who are also there for their "free" gifts. Then the back door opens and out they come. Groups of salesmen, descending upon you like locust in business suits.
Each person or family gets assigned their very own seller. Oh lucky you! They take you back in to a cafeteria like area, offer you a cup of soda, and then they proceed to try to become your best friend quickly.
They then start what's supposed to be a 10 minute video. It's a LOT longer than that though, trust us! It kind of looks like the old 8 mm films that our parents took or like the ones we were shown in health class in high school - remember them??? It shows a bunch of oh so happy families and a bunch of kids. It makes sure to tell you over and over again how all your happiest childhood memories are built around your past vacations. Then there's a close up shot of a big eye child saying stuff like "I like Ramada Vacations" and "I love my Dad."
The video stops and the pressure begins. Now you are shown pictures and floor plans of the luxurious rooms (condo like - they say) which you will stay at each and every year when you go on ALL these vacations that you will now be going on - thanks to them. The salesman we had even wrote down a few figures to show us how, in ten years, we will have wasted $90,000. On vacations by not using their vacation plan. Now, we don't know about y'all, but we certainly won't spend that much on vacations - no matter how many ways you figure it. We pride ourselves on being good Internet bargain hunters and have yet to pay any of the prices he tried giving us for items.
Any ways, he goes on to show you how you can get all of this and then he takes you on a walking tour of a few rooms that are made up to look like this wonderful vacation "condo" that you will get to use for your money. Funny, it STILL looked like a hotel room to us. He even wanted me to see the full size kitchen where I could cook all these great gourmet meals at. Hey, I thought they said this was a VACATION??? And I STILL have to cook??? Where's the vacation in that?
Then it's back to the cafeteria like tables and the so called "bottom line." It has taken about 2 hours of our time so far to reach the "bottom line." He shows us two plans. One, he says, is for the cramped one bedroom unit but - wait! - we can get the spacious two bedroom unit for a better price! Oh lucky us again! And that unit sleeps six people so now we can take people along and I can have even more people to cook for! Does it get any better than this???
So, how much is the "bottom line, " you ask? Oh, only about a measly $18,990. But they will gladly break that up in to payments around $535. A month for you! Add to that the yearly "up keep fee" of $320. Plus the "registration fee" of another $100. And we are sure you can see the kind of "deal" you get right? Oh it gets better!
See, your $535 or so a month supposedly gets you a room at the "home property, " which is in Colorado. Now, if you want to go other places, then it's an additional $169. For one week. And you will have to try to "exchange" your "home property" week for that week elsewhere.
Oh we know you are all waiting anxiously to know if we jumped at this "opportunity!" Ok, calm down, we didn't!:) So then they bring another guy over to our table to try to pressure us some more.
Any ways, he tells us that he has a property that "just came in last night." It's in Orlando, Florida and we can have it for only $15,990. Which would come out to some where around $230. A month (plus all the other fees of course) BUT we have to decided right there and then to take it.
Best advice we can ever give someone is if they HAVE to have an answer right then and there - turn it down. There's a reason they don't want you to have time to check them out or to think about it. We turned them down on the spot!
Guess what we found when we ran a check on Ramada right here at complaint? Oh, type it in, sit back, and read all the horror stories for yourself!
What about those wonderful "free gifts, " you wonder? Well, the 3 day Ramada stay is at one of their "vacation suites." And they want us to send in a $50. Deposit NOW - within 30 days. Oh it says the deposit is "refundable" BUT they will only accept money orders or cashier's checks. And some people posting on the Internet sure couldn't get their so called deposits back. Add in your airfare and your deposit costs and your "free vacation" is anything but. Also, small print on there states that you will have to sit through yet ANOTHER time share seminar once you get there. Oh joy!
The $50. Gas certificate states that you have to send that certficate in, within 30 days, to order coupons to use and then they will supposedly send you more certificates which have to be sent in at ten dollars at a time within seven days after each purchase. My husband's favorite line on the certificate reads: "Coupons WALNUT be replaced if lost or stolen." Walnut??? Oh yeah, we want to give these people OUR money!
Then there's the extra "gift" we "won." A 5 night get a way for two to Hawaii. Please send in that same $50. Dollar deposit within 30 days though first! Then, after pricing air fare from Dallas to Hawaii, be ready to spend between $1,800. And 2,000. To fly there and back and, guess what, be ready to also spend most of your time there in yet ANOTHER time share seminar.
Ok, bottom line everyone - DON'T waste your valuable time and gas money in order to get all these "free gifts" and "fabulous offers." What you get is worth exactly what they offer - NOTHING.
Luckily we didn't get ripped off this time and we certainly hope our post here helps others to avoid the same.
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