GlossyVeneer

Our first full day on vacation in California we spent some time walking around, taking photos of the ocean and such. But it was kind of cool for my desert-blood so we decided to go someplace a little more sheltered until the day had some time to warm up a little.

We chose to wander around the Pismo Beach Outlet Center, a dumb decision since we have much bigger and fancier outlet centers here in Vegas. In hindsight it seems silly to waste time at a place that I could visit while at home. But at least we could wander in stores and stay at a little more comfortable temperature.

As we got to the end of the shopping center a man and a woman at a booth stopped us and asked us where we were from. We stopped, cautiously, to chat with them. They offered us a meal discount card good at several local restaurants. We accepted the card. Then they asked us if we would be interested in attending a short presentation. We tried to politely decline.

Then they offered a $100 Visa card just for sitting through a 90 minute presentation. I figured the ‘appointment’ they were offering us was early enough in the day, before many places were even open around the region, we wouldn’t really be out much vacation time. (We are early risers.) So I agreed. They promised it would be no-pressure, their real goal was to get the word out about their company. If I wasn’t interested, all they ask is that I tell my friends and family about the ‘great’ opportunities offered by the company.

So we went to their resort property early in the morning on our third full day in California. We were seated for a minute, offered cookies and coffee, before meeting with our rep (pusher). Boy, he’s talented at the spin.

You can sign up for a certain amount of points that can be traded in for vacations at resorts all over the world, not limited to one property like most timeshares. You can visit all regions of the country, every country on the globe and every vacation is easily attainable within the points packages.

After the explanation, he showed us a condo unit in the resort. Everything was amiable and friendly up to this point. Then it was time to deal, you know… where the no-pressure promise goes out the window.

We went in with our minds set that we weren’t buying a timeshare. I just wanted to try milking their set-up to get something for our benefit, but this was ridiculous. The whole presentation ended up taking nearly 3 hours. They had another rep who seemed to be in charge of the sales/financing who had an overly dramatic and poorly rehearsed act about how shocked he was that we don’t treat ourselves to more frequent vacations. They had a girl who sat with us to fill out our gift offer paperwork and to try encouraging us to accept a free vacation, as long as we attend another presentation at another location and promised to sign up for one of their timeshares.

No, no, no… we held our ground.

Finally they told us that they were “all out of the Visa cards” and they would mail it to us. I will be surprised if they actually follow through with that. Every schmuck there was probably promised this card and I’m guessing that none of them received one.

I was frustrated that they misled us on how much time it took. I’m annoyed at myself for being suckered into attending. I’m angry that we left the place empty-handed with several hours of our vacation stolen from us by slick salespeople trying to push us into giving them $30,000.

I’m proud that we were so good at telling them no. Thanks Nancy Reagan, your Just Say No program has benefited so many areas of my life!

Since they wanted me to spread the word about their company, I’m doing just that. If you are ever approached by a Sunterra representative… RUN AWAY! If you have to cover your ears and start screaming ‘LA LA LA LA LA’ to avoid them (and convince them you’re cuckoo), do it. Public embarrassment is brief compared to the time suck they will inflict upon you.

And one other note, an article I read recently said if something sounds too good to be true, do a search for the product with the word scam attached to the end. Well, I did just that and my pal Google found more than 11,000 results.