After a long day on Tuesday, we didn't plan much for Wednesday. If any of you have played the timeshare game, you know that they often offer some free stuff to listen to what inevitably ends up being a sales pitch. We have done this for sixteen years so we know how it works. When we checked in, they presented this offer to take us to New Bern for lunch if we would be willing to take a survey and let them know more about our stay, etc. I knew there was more to it when they said it. I must admit that they were not as pushy as some who want to be able to give their spiel. But, a free lunch! We couldn't resist. So, Kristi called and made the appointment for Wednesday.
We were led to Baker's Kitchen in down town New Bern by a member of their sales team . First things first, we ordered lunch. It was very good. If we would have gone to this place on our own, it would have cost us over $50. True to their word they asked us a bunch of questions about our timeshare experience. However, I think each question was designed to set up the fact that the new "program" was so much better.
To be honest, I don't really mind listening to all of the ways the industry is changing. We have had a pretty good experience with our timeshare. We have seen places we would not have seen and stayed in high quality accommodations that we would otherwise never spent the money on. But, we are content and know our financial reality, which does not include more money on timeshare purchases. The trouble is that with each new program or change, you have to buy more time to convert to the new system. We have not been willing to do that.
The kids went with us. We told them before we went in that there was an angle, and we just had to figure out what it was. We were able to first hand show the kids there is "no such thing as a free lunch", literally, and if it is "too good to be true", it probably isn't true. But, we went in knowing this and after we received our lunch and talked "time share industry" with the representative, Kristi said, "We get all of this, but there is NO WAY we are buying anything." I think what caught him off guard was when she said, "We have ridden this rodeo for sixteen years, so there is NO WAY we are buying anything!" He started to say something like there is no rodeo, and I could see he was struggling with how to respond. Shortly thereafter, he said, "I tell you what. You are supposed to get trolley tickets for a tour of New Bern. If you don't want those, why don't I just tell them back in the office that you left and weren't coming back for the final sales pitch." We said "cool" because we didn't want the trolley tickets anyway. We wanted to stay in town and get hair cuts. Oh, another timeshare ploy is to have the initial sales representative talk to you and share all of the wonderful things about the "program" and then they bring in the "boss" who can really make you a great deal. So, we were supposed to go back to the resort after lunch to just take a look at some numbers.
The guy we worked with was pretty good about the whole deal. He didn't sell us on the timeshare, but he did sell us on some fudge that was at a store he recommended across the street and a salon where we got our hair cut. After a great lunch, time share conversation, fudge purchase, and stopping at a few shops, we got our hair cut and went back to the condo for swimming and tennis.
It was a pretty good day. There is "no such thing as a free lunch," but it didn't cost us much, especially when we have "ridden this rodeo" for so many years.
We were led to Baker's Kitchen in down town New Bern by a member of their sales team . First things first, we ordered lunch. It was very good. If we would have gone to this place on our own, it would have cost us over $50. True to their word they asked us a bunch of questions about our timeshare experience. However, I think each question was designed to set up the fact that the new "program" was so much better.
To be honest, I don't really mind listening to all of the ways the industry is changing. We have had a pretty good experience with our timeshare. We have seen places we would not have seen and stayed in high quality accommodations that we would otherwise never spent the money on. But, we are content and know our financial reality, which does not include more money on timeshare purchases. The trouble is that with each new program or change, you have to buy more time to convert to the new system. We have not been willing to do that.
The kids went with us. We told them before we went in that there was an angle, and we just had to figure out what it was. We were able to first hand show the kids there is "no such thing as a free lunch", literally, and if it is "too good to be true", it probably isn't true. But, we went in knowing this and after we received our lunch and talked "time share industry" with the representative, Kristi said, "We get all of this, but there is NO WAY we are buying anything." I think what caught him off guard was when she said, "We have ridden this rodeo for sixteen years, so there is NO WAY we are buying anything!" He started to say something like there is no rodeo, and I could see he was struggling with how to respond. Shortly thereafter, he said, "I tell you what. You are supposed to get trolley tickets for a tour of New Bern. If you don't want those, why don't I just tell them back in the office that you left and weren't coming back for the final sales pitch." We said "cool" because we didn't want the trolley tickets anyway. We wanted to stay in town and get hair cuts. Oh, another timeshare ploy is to have the initial sales representative talk to you and share all of the wonderful things about the "program" and then they bring in the "boss" who can really make you a great deal. So, we were supposed to go back to the resort after lunch to just take a look at some numbers.
The guy we worked with was pretty good about the whole deal. He didn't sell us on the timeshare, but he did sell us on some fudge that was at a store he recommended across the street and a salon where we got our hair cut. After a great lunch, time share conversation, fudge purchase, and stopping at a few shops, we got our hair cut and went back to the condo for swimming and tennis.
It was a pretty good day. There is "no such thing as a free lunch," but it didn't cost us much, especially when we have "ridden this rodeo" for so many years.
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