Can anyone share what they received for attending Owner Updates?

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

This isn't a sales presentation at a visting resort but your own resort and you as a owner should want to know what is going on and not worrying how good a freebie they give you!
PHILL12

I have gone to my resort asking for an owner's update without gifts or a sales pitch, and I was put on the 'if we have time' list. There is no owner's update. There is only an owners update when there is a sales pitch associated with it.

I will never do an owners update at Christmas Mountain Village. That sales staff either doesn't do the work to find out what an owner actually owns, or doesn't care. Either way, I will skip owner updates and will need to pick up my information here.

[PHILL12 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PHILL12]

When we are talking about owner meeting updates which many better timeshare resorts hold most weeks its to UPDATE the owners of new things going on and not pushing owners to buying another unit.

A sales dept not giving the meeting but resort management is and don't require both husband and wife to be there.I go every year on a Tue morning and grab coffee and talk to other owners and have also met some people that exchange in and want to learn more because they love the resort and might buy someday.

While I go to owner update wife is having her massage down stairs at the spa.



There is a big difference in going to a owners update while your at your resort and going to a presentation at another resort you might be staying at.

One is for information about your resort and other is to try and sell you a condo.

PHILL12

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

Are you a Bluegreen owner? I have never been to a resort where there was an owner party or gathering of owners. I have seen them mentioned in some of the emails I get from Bluegreen. In the last email received "September 2009 Owner Update", there was nothing mentioned about any owners events. I have some notices in the colorful places magazine, but I have never been to a resort when they had any type of meeting. My closest resort is 4 hours. I am not driving 8 hours for a brief update about new resorts.

So I don't know what you are getting, and from where, but I don't see that at any resort I have visited.

I have been to non bluegreen resorts where there have been gatherings. Most recently, I was at River Pointe Resort in Napa. It was a very good visitor/owner orientation. We got to find out what the resort has to offer, events in the area and programs the resorts have set up. Never have I seen anything like that in any bluegreen resort. No 'come in, have breakfast and let us tell you what we have to offer at the resort and what you should see while here'.

And when I get my phone call in a couple months for my next 'owner update', I will turn it down because it will be with some inexperienced sales person that wants me to sit with them and hear about their new resorts and then will tell me how I need to buy more points to get into the new resorts. Nope. Not going to happen. No owner update for me.

[Reelpops Member Find all posts View Profile Close Reelpops]

Just went to an update at Club 36 in Vegas. It was one hour as promised and we were asked to make sure that no one had "pressured" us into attending. It was an update for the most part, but included some sales questions. Very nicely done in return for two buffet tickets for the Stratosphere dinner, two show tickets at the same resort as well as tickets to go to the top sightseeing area. Two complaints = the sales rep pretended that he did not know who this "Pinnacle" company was that I was referring to, and they took our driver's license and ran a credit report supposedly to confirm that we were who we said that we were. They said that people had been coming to updates bring friends and others and pretending to be spouses and they were trying to crack down on that. I gave them the licenses thinking they were going to copy them as a confirmation as to our identity. The next morning I received information that there had been activity on my credit report. I really don't think this is necessary at all and I will not submit to it again. It was my fault for agreeing to give them the licenses rather than show them. otherwise a good update. Loved Club 36 BTW!!!!
Reelpops

[johnduglus34 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close johnduglus34]

Biltmore Who's Who Scam

I hope this isn't a tacky question, but we are traveling to three BG locations next month. Shenanadoah Valley, Patrick Henry Square, and Shorecrest I. I know I'll be asked to participate in an Owner Update, but which one should we do? Is anyone willing to share what "free gift" they have received for attending Owner Updates at these locations?

I know, people probably think I'm a mooch because I never intend to buy. But I actually do learn interesting things at these updates, so we usuallly attend one. So which one gives the best stuff??

Edie

Patrick Henry Square can be the better option. Go for it.

"Biltmore Whos Who Scam"

[PHILL12 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PHILL12]

Are you a Bluegreen owner?

No, We own two weeks at the Ridge Tahoe in Lake Tahoe ,Nevada which is one of the best run resorts we have seen in twenty five years of being around timesharing! They stay within budget and have plans two years in advance of what buildings and grounds will be getting updates and remodeling.

Every Tue morning they have owner updates so each week owners staying can stop by and talk to other owners and ask questions and hear plans of the resort.

These are called owner updates for a reason like owners at this resort come,its not to sell you timeshares. It seems many people looking for those freebies even on this posting just don't get it. A owners meeting is for owners and a timeshare presentation is done by sales to try and sell you a timeshare. There is a difference.

I have friends that own in Florida and Hawaii and they have same thing and enjoy going to have morning coffee and see other owners and hear the info on plans in the future.



PHILL12

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

Since you were posting on the Bluegreen thread, I asked, Phill, are you a Bluegreen owner?

No

It seems many people looking for those freebies even on this posting just don't get it. A owners meeting is for owners and a timeshare presentation is done by sales to try and sell you a timeshare. There is a difference.

I have to laugh at these people that just don't get the difference and because maybe no freebies they won't spend 30-45 minutes to learn. These are the same people that will jump on a timeshare forum site asking questions about their own resort!

PHILL12

Sorry Phill12, you are not an owner of Bluegreen and are commenting on the Bluegreen thread for things where you have no experience and telling us you LAUGH at us. There is no program that I have heard of at the 54 resorts under the Bluegreen ownership or management like the event that you have at your resort.

Owner updates are handled on a 'one on one' basis where the owner's questions can be answered by a resort staff member. To encourage the owners to come in, gifts are given. This is the only way an owner gets an update from a resort visit. So stop your laughing. This is how it is. And with 54 resorts and recent changes, yes, we do use this site to learn more. I have been an owner since 2002. There is no way I am going to know everything about all of the resorts, and what is in the area. That is why I use this site. You with your one resort don't have that problem.

I am not trying to pick a fight with you Phill12, but not sure if you should be posting how it goes at a resort that you have never used under a vacation club that you do not belong to and don't understand how that resort vacation club works.

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

I have to laugh at these people that just don't get the difference and because maybe no freebies they won't spend 30-45 minutes to learn. These are the same people that will jump on a timeshare forum site asking questions about their own resort! PHILL12

Phil,

I would like you to attend a BG "Owners Update" with me.

Quite often I get a call 3 or 4 days before arriving at the resort to attend an "Owners Update". The caller offers me some incentive to attend. I decline. When checking in I am asked to attend an "Owners Update" with a better incentive to attend. I decline. They up the offer. I decline. I go to my unit, unpack, etc., and get two phone calls. One call asks me if everything is all right with the unit. If I have found any problems, I report them and they are usually taken care of quickly. Later or the next morning I get a call to attend an "Owners Update" often with an even better incentive. I decline and they up the ante. I decline. The next day they call again. I generally decline but if we are frustrated with the calls (or we are half asleep), we sometimes accept {I will not bring my wife to an "Owners Update" without her willing consent, and vice versa.}. When we attend the appointment, 5 minutes is spent getting to know us (getting us to relax and to find out what we like), 5 minutes is spent updating us on everything happening in the BG system, and then a big chunk of time is spent trying to sell us more points. We decline and then they bring in the big guns with the hard sell. Some even insult us for attending an "Owners Update" if we aren't planning to buy more points.

Note that the callers and the check-in staff ALWAYS call it an "Owners Update" and the sales people ALWAYS spend the great majority of the time selling. Just because your resort gives a true "Owners Update" and not a sales pitch, does not mean that BG does. BG owners quickly learn how BG operates their "Owners Updates" and most will only attend with incentives. Generally I hate "Owners Updates" but I did have a good one at Harbor Lights.

As I have said before, I would gladly attend a true "Owners Update" for free if I did get 30 minutes of real updating and no sales pitch.

Why does BG, do what it does. Because 40% of their sales are to happy BG owners who want more BG. The BG product is that good.

So now you know why people ask questions here about the 50 or so BG resorts and the BG system because the salesmen won't give them such information (probably don't know the answers anyhow) and you can't trust salesmen anyway.

After attending a BG "Owners Update", you wouldn't laugh at us anymore.

Charles

[PHILL12 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PHILL12]

Since you were posting on the Bluegreen thread, I asked, Phill, are you a Bluegreen owner?
I am not trying to pick a fight with you Phill12, but not sure if you should be posting how it goes at a resort that you have never used under a vacation club that you do not belong to and don't understand how that resort vacation club works.

WHEN i FIRST POSTED ON HERE IT WAS TO A POSTING LISTED UNDER NEW POST AND NOTHING ABOUT BLUE GREEN STATED ON FORUM TITLE!
TITLE IS "CAN ANYONE SHARE WHAT THEY RECEIVED FROM ATTENDING OWNER UPDATES".

I was talking about all timeshare resorts as others on here have and the fact that there is a big difference in owner updates and timeshare presentations that sales dept run!

If you only want Blue Green who ever that is to respond then on forum title write for Blue Green owners only so us outside timeshare owners don't waste their time .

PHILL12

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

Sorry Phil. I figured that since the thread was under 'Bluegreen Resorts' that may have defined it.

There are some nice resorts under Bluegreen ownership or management. Give them a try sometime.

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

No we own two weeks at the Ridge Tahoe ...
Every Tue morning they have owner updates so each week owners staying can stop by and talk to other owners and ask questions and hear plans of the resort.

These are called owner updates for a reason like owners at this resort come,its not to sell you timeshares. It seems many people looking for those freebies even on this posting just don't get it. A owners meeting is for owners and a timeshare presentation is done by sales to try and sell you a timeshare. There is a difference.

... I have to laugh at these people that just don't get the difference and because maybe no freebies they won't spend 30-45 minutes to learn. These are the same people that will jump on a timeshare forum site asking questions about their own resort!

Owning weeks is not the same as owning in a points system.

Bluegreen continues to add resorts to the network and improve the ones already in the club. In order to continue to add and improve, they need new owners and they need current owners to keep adding points (and it is in our best interest to do so). your resort that is already built and done with probably doesn't have anything to sell.

I like Bluegreen and want them to continue what they are doing.

Perhaps updates at your one resort are run by resort management, but Bluegreen is not going to dispatch resort portfolio mgrs from HQ to every resort every Tuesday morning and I do not wish them to. The goal is to get more owners owning new units, bringing more units into the vacation club for us to use. It's a great business model and they make it work.

Laugh at me all you want. And I will make a point of sleeping in on Tuesday while you have your owner update at the one resort you need to learn about.

[PHILL12 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close PHILL12]

[QUOTE=BoardGirl;345449]Owning weeks is not the same as owning in a points system.

Bluegreen continues to add resorts to the network and improve the ones already in the club. In order to continue to add and improve, they need new owners and they need current owners to keep adding points (and it is in our best interest to do so). your resort that is already built and done with probably doesn't have anything to sell.
================================================== ===========



Your right that ours is deeded and has been sold out for years. They have a resale dept that handles all the deals to bring people in to try and get them to become owners and handle resales for owners that want to use them.

The Ridge has gone to some kind of new point system and only mention of it at our owners meeting was if you have any interest in changing you can contact sales dept.

Your also right that your system is something I never dealt with and wouldn't have a clue as to how it works and to be truthful I never heard of Blue Green until today so I really have no idea how its run.

We spent a week with Friends couple times in Hawaii and went with them to their owners meeting to check it out just in case someday we might have interest and it was just like ours and no selling involved at meeting.

PHILL12

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

BTW-Bluegreen ownership is also deeded. I have 5 accounts and they are all deeded to the resorts. With the points system, we can use XX number of points to go to the different resorts, no exchange fees, no other issues. And, we can search for the resort we want online, and then book the week (or time required) with just a couple clicks.

Bluegreen has a great system and is getting better.

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

I was talking about all timeshare resorts as others on here have and the fact that there is a big difference in owner updates and timeshare presentations that sales dept run!

If you only want Blue Green who ever that is to respond then on forum title write for Blue Green owners PHILL12

Phil,

Let's really, seriously think about this. Why would anyone give me $100 to attend a one on one meeting to tell me that they put in new mattresses, changed hole 14 on the golf course, added pottery to the activities list, and were planning on putting in big screen TV's in all the units, etc.? Why? Only one reason to give me $100. To get something in return. It has to be a "sales" job.

(An aside: The economy is tough right now so I was only offered $75 this past weekend which I turned down.)

But, what really got my knickers in a twist is when you then "laugh" at Bluegreen Owners for discussing the incentive for attending a BG "Owners Update". From all the previous posts in this thread you should have perceived that something was different about BG "Owners Updates".

Also, you were told that Bluegreen (as you said "who ever that is") was a system with 54 resorts in it and you should have read what forum you were posting in.

Most of us in the "Bluegreen Resorts" forum are Bluegreen owners. But not all. We welcome comments from others in that it adds to our knowledge and understanding of how things work elsewhere. We learn about resorts we might want to trade into, buy into, or avoid.

So constructive comment away even though you know nothing about Bluegreen (like 300,000,000 other people so don't feel bad {maybe that number should be larger since we have owners outside of the country}). Or ask questions like "Why would anyone pay you good money to just attend a meeting?" But don't insult us (unless the insult is justified). Read more in the "Bluegreen Resorts" forum. You might even buy in!

Charles

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

Are you a Bluegreen owner? I have never been to a resort where there was an owner party or gathering of owners. I have seen them mentioned in some of the emails I get from Bluegreen. In the last email received "September 2009 Owner Update", there was nothing mentioned about any owners events. I have some notices in the colorful places magazine, but I have never been to a resort when they had any type of meeting.

Don,

When I was at Marathon a couple of years ago they had a wine and cheese "meet and greet" on Monday afternoon. At Pigeon Forge in 2003 they had a bunch of reps from different tourist places come in on Monday morning to talk about their attractions (it got us to a play and Oh My God, white water rafting). This weekend I heard that Christmas Mountain has scheduled a meet and greet either on Monday or Tuesday but we had left by then.

Charles