[img]541|left|Carter Dewberry||no_popup[/img]II know nothing in life is free. Even so, when I got the cryptic voicemail, my heart beat just a bit faster.
I did recall filling out a sweepstakes form earlier in the fall at the mall when I was shopping for a gift for my sister. I remember the brand new Mercedes parked in the thoroughfare. At the time I had thought, “Why not?”
The voicemail began by asking me if I remembered that entry and the car. It continued listing off a number of other prices offered in the giveaway. Then it asked me to call Dave, the Promotions Manager, to personally discuss my prize.
I only hesitated a moment before calling. On the phone with David, he confirmed that I was the winner of either the car, $100K, a free trip to Hawaii, a free cruise, or a variety of smaller items, the least of which was two free plane tickets through Southwest Airlines… that is, if I showed up for the “live” drawing the following day.
As he continued explaining details, the smell of a newly concocted marketing “approach” drifted into my loft. (Wanting to be fair, I did not immediately call it a scam.) Without going into tedious detail, for the fun of it and because, based on my reading, I would at least score two plane tickets and a few nights of free resort-level accommodation, the next day at 6 p.m. found me and my husband entering a high-end office building in Newport Beach.
The Pitch
We knew we were attending a marketing presentation for a new resort and timeshare opportunity, and we knew at the end of the presentation there would be a drawing. Fine.
What we did not anticipate was the level of professionalism in the sales presentation. Our sales rep was personable but obviously nervous. The video was just a bunch of flashy pictures of villas all over the world, all to be had by us lucky folk for “the price of a Motel 6.” The culmination of silliness was the close. Our sales rep couldn’t answer our questions and became flustered when we interrupted his script. He brought over backup after we told him there was NO WAY we would enter into a real estate deal that night without first reviewing the contract and the company.
It got better. This new salesperson blurted out a $31K price tag NOT INCLUDING $1200/year in HOA costs. This was for a 20-year “lease” (although we were buying a contract, not a building) on about a week’s vacation a year.
When Dennis and I finally extracted ourselves from this comedy, I got to draw for the car. I lost. But, we did walk away with those plane tickets and free accommodations.
Postlude
We thought the saddest part of this evening was the young couple who followed us into the room with the big wheel. In less than ten minutes of consideration, they had bought this ambiguous package.
But, we were wrong. When Dennis researched Monarch Grand Vacations online, he learned that the packages are worth NO MONEY. People are in fact trying to GIVE THEM AWAY to avoid the annual payments. This was, indeed, sadder.
Dennis and I do travel. But even if we someday want to invest in a timeshare, we know we will NOT be doing business with Monarch. I hope that anyone reading this does his homework before considering this purchase. It could be a VERY costly mistake.
Ms. Dewberry, an accomplished cellist, completed her DMA in Chamber Music Performance from UCLA in December 2005. She received her MM in Cello Performance from UCLA in June 2002 and her B.M. in Cello Performance from Western Michigan University in April 1998. She also holds a B.A. in French with a minor in Women's Studies and Philosophy.
Her website is www.carterdewberry.com
She may be contacted at carter@carterdewberry.com
