Diamond Resorts International Sampler nightmare

[longtimer Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close longtimer]

Sorry, I didn't get this post...
I purchased 2500 - as some other poster said... virtually useless.
Plus, to add salt to the wound, I was so desperate last fall about coming up with yet another maintanence fee that I was duped into another telemarketer who guaranteed to rent my points for $1800 mo. Talk about feeling stupid. I am now dealing with the FL BBB and the Dept of Agriculture (go figure... but that is who you have to deal with when you want to file a complaint. He says he has hundreds like mine) who are investigating this.

What are you offering or how can you help? I am even more desperate, if that is possible.
Catherine

If you bank all of your points (you must do this by the end of June), you will have 5000 points for a vacation next year. It still will not get you much. However, points allow you to stay for less than a week. So you may be able to use those to get a few days somewhere. If you can have flexibility, you may be able to take advantage of some last minute (30 to 60 days out) deals (often at half the normal points value). Booking off season will also get you more value for your points. I don't know if DRI still has the policy of allowing you to borrow points. If so, you could also add a year of borrowed points to your saved points to get 7500, enough to get a week's stay at many places. (you will have to prepay the maintenance fee for the borrowed points).

Go to DRI's website and familiarize yourself with the places you can go. If you have some thoughts on specific places, let us know. We may be able to walk you through the process. You are right, 2500 points really isn't enough to really get much. However, don't give up.

[Vida Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Vida]

On March 12th, 2011 I purchased the Sampler package with no regrets. On March 30th, 2011 my 5 year old daughter was diagnosed with Leukemia *tear*. Eighteen days later.... I have faxed over the doctors findings and a letter stating that I will be unable to travel for the next 3 years due to my daughters life threatening illness. They are giving me the run around stating that they have yet to receive my fax. I finally spoke to a rep today that my fax was received and that it is under review. One of the reps told me "I dont want to burst your bubble but they never terminate the contracts" really...how about CANCER bursting your bubble. The sad thing is that the day I came home from my vacation in Vegas where I purchased the Sampler I was showing my daughter where we were going to go...now that's not going to happen. I have yet to hear back from them whether or not if they are going to cancel but if they do not...please HELP ME!

I contacted Patrick Duffy yesterday via email and he responded in 15 min. Today I have received 2 calls...1st that they were working on cancelling my account..2nd that my account is cancelled and fully refunded! Thank You Patrick Duffy!!!!!!!!

[longtimer Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close longtimer]

I contacted Patrick Duffy yesterday via email and he responded in 15 min. Today I have received 2 calls...1st that they were working on cancelling my account..2nd that my account is cancelled and fully refunded! Thank You Patrick Duffy!!!!!!!!

So glad to hear that things worked out for you. From what I have read, Mr. Duffy seems to be very responsive to concerns. Perhaps some day you will want to think about TS ownership again. If so, take lots of time to read ahead, ask questions and be prepared before making the plunge. I wish you all the best for the future.

[Azmo Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Azmo]

samplers

I think its funny how people sign up to get something for nothing in a sales presentation and then get mad because they get sold something. These companies that give you a gift to tour their property are not governmently funded or some part of Obahmas stimulous package. 99.9% of the people on the sales floor are 100% comission. Meaning they sell for bread and meat if they don't sell they don't eat. What about the salesmans kid who has "cancer" or needs braces and can't because the couple who bought a sampler spent more money then they can afford and decided to be a big enough thorn in the companies side that they refund the money. You complain and complain about the sales practices but yet you keep signing up for presentations. IF you bought a used car and it broke into 2 pieces after you drove it off the lot you would just own two peices of the same car but because you felt high pressured into purchasing something on a sales presentation YOU signed up for, you feel you need to complain and file lawsuits. YOU BOUGHT IT PAY FOR IT! If you don't like the way they sell the product DON'T SIGN UP FOR A PRESENTATION! Do what normal people do....PAY FOR YOUR SHOWS AND TICKETS.

[swilshire Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close swilshire]

Sounds like a timeshare salesman to me.

There are lots of "normal people" here who have signed up for timeshare tours. If they don't want us to come on the tour, they shouldn't insist they we don't have to buy anything and repeatedly beg/bribe us to sign up.

Pretty inflammatory first post.

Sheila

[Azmo Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Azmo]

Yes I sell timeshare but I also am an owner prior to selling. And I understand the marketing company that sends people in on their presentation will tell a tour anything to get them in the door but again that is not the salespersons fault. The marketing company is independent from the timeshare and often employ unscrupulous individuals. The system is definitely not perfect. I also realized before I took my first presentation that anyone who was going to offer me a "gift" for coming in were going to high pressure me. lol the free lunches ended with FDR and the great depression. Just saying there are 3 sides to every story; the customers, the salesmans, and somewhere in the middle the truth. Namaste and have a great new year.

[queensandra68 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close queensandra68]

...the marketing company that sends people in on their presentation will tell a tour anything to get them in the door but again that is not the salespersons fault. The marketing company is independent from the timeshare and often employ unscrupulous individuals.

My experience is similar to other posts on here. I own 3500 points that are virtually useless in the DRI system. My original $435 maintenance fees more than doubled within 2 years after purchasing and with the economic downturn and a $15,000 cut in pay, I am now forced to destroy my credit to get out of a contract that I was pressured into in the first place.

I don't think the marketing company is the only one employing unscrupulous individuals. Anyone willing to use tactics meant to get people to buy things that they truly can't afford and are virtually worthless in the first place is pretty unscrupulous, if you ask me!

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

Yes I sell timeshare but I also am an owner prior to selling... Just saying there are 3 sides to every story; the customers, the salesmans, and somewhere in the middle the truth.

Why is it that every salesman tries to convince prospective victims that they are owners ? I believe less than 20% actually own. As to the sides of the story, the salesman can be counted on to give the lying side and totally ignore the truth if it is in any way detrimental.
Having been in sales, I know that sales attracts the worst side of society and honesty and integrity are qualities in that group that are hard to find. Timesharing attracts the worst of the worse.

[Vida Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Vida]

Azmo

It's sad that you put cancer in quotations as to indicate that I am lying about my daughters illness or using it as an excuse to "weasel" by way out of a commitment. I was so happy when I bought my timeshare and I took it home to show my daughter...I can fully afford to pay for it so that was never an issue. I own my own home, 2 cars and run my household alone...so I never had to think twice about my decisions because I always think before I make them. Who would know that 2 weeks later my daughter would be diagnosed with Leukemia...we sure didn't. But I guess you wouldnt understand since you seem to undermine it so obviously. I would hope that as a timeshare salesman that if anything ever happened to your children that you would be able to expect people to have compassion and be willing to work with you.. in my case..cancelling my timeshare contract. Do you think my now 6 year old daughter would enjoy barfing in Hawaii or losing her hair in Arizona.. Because you are making it seem like there should be no reason why we couldnt keep our vacations. Maybe she would like to walk around Florida when she is cramping in her legs due to all the steroids she is on. Or enjoying the sun burning her skin since it is very sensitive due to her chemotherapy. Does that sound like a fun family vacation day to you? I happened to like my timeshare salesman...he wasnt pushy he was funny and when I said no...he never pushed me. After looking at my options I chose to buy a smaller package...with no regrets. Who knows what the future holds for me and my daughter when it comes to timeshare. What I do know is that my daughter is fighting for her life and Diamond share resorts understood that and now I don't have to worry about the contract... I now have to pay my copays for chemo pills, nausea med, numbing skin cream, and mouth sore medicine. Oh and every copay to see the Dr. about 1-2 times a week for the last 10 months.
If you care one drop you could see my daughters journey on caringbridge.org under the name jujuvida

Mercedes

[orlando Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close orlando]

DRI free getaway package

I got a deal through living social and visited a Diamond Resorts hotel recently. After check in at the hotel I was offered a gift card and 3 day getaway package (both free) to attend their timeshare marketing session which I did. However I did not purchase their timeshare even though I was close to buy it. The marketing session experience was horrible. My question: Should I use their free getaway package? Is there any "trap" that I should be aware of?

Thanks,

[rcarter0724 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close rcarter0724]

We signed up for the Sampler package last year and have been making our payments. Recently we filed bankruptcy and I got injured and I am not working and unable to make payments. We sent letter of hardship and have not heard any response. We are asking for refund or cancellation of contract due to the situation. We are owners of Monarch and it is paid off and maybe they could put moneys towards our dues. Anyone have any suggestions? The Sampler package sounds good but was also advised the whole loan has to be paid in full before using which is impossible for us and if we had known that we would have not signed contract. We at the time planned on making payments and taking vacation and paying the remainder after vacation. The sales rep mis informed us. He said pay 1000 or 6 months before can use points. Then made reservations and was told something different.

[JimmyW Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close JimmyW]

Hi all,
We bought a sampler 2 days ago in Muai and have changed our mind. It seems like these people will be ignoring our request to cancel the membership. We've emailed them (the sales manager at the resort in Maui) a letter to cancel our membership, and will be calling them shortly so we can speak to someone in person. We now owe them $2300 which is the rest of the payment.

If anyone would like to share their experience please do so. I am also going to get in touch with Patrick Duffy now and hopefully he will be able to help us.

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

Generally a certified or registered mail to them is what is required. It should be spelled out in the paperwork they gave you.

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

Hi all,
We bought a sampler 2 days ago in Muai and have changed our mind. It seems like these people will be ignoring our request to cancel the membership. We've emailed them (the sales manager at the resort in Maui) a letter to cancel our membership, and will be calling them shortly so we can speak to someone in person. We now owe them $2300 which is the rest of the payment.

If anyone would like to share their experience please do so. I am also going to get in touch with Patrick Duffy now and hopefully he will be able to help us.

I would be surprised if you had any significant problem getting all of your money back if you rescinded within the allotted time. You certainly can expect that they will try to talk you out of rescinding, but if they fail at that you should get your money. Among the large-scale timeshare operations, DRI is one of the most reputable.

[Spence Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Spence]

I would be surprised if you had any significant problem getting all of your money back if you rescinded within the allotted time. You certainly can expect that they will try to talk you out of rescinding, but if they fail at that you should get your money. Among the large-scale timeshare operations, DRI is one of the most reputable.

A sampler is not a timeshare purchase. It is a one time use of points. There is no rescission protected by law.