"Always keep in mind that the saying is true about " If it sounds too good to be true it usually is." There is usually always a catch to something and the best way to find out what the catch is, is to read the fine print." Well I should have kept this in mind when we were told that we won a free trip to Hawaii from Shell Vacations Club working out of the Anaheim Crowne Plaza Resort. All we had to do is come down and view a video tape of what they offer and you don't have to buy a thing. Sounds good huh? So off we went to hear what ever their snake oil sales people were offering and after spending over an hour in traffic and then waiting for them to get around to speaking to us.
They ask us to fill out the same paperwork we have already filled out once before we came.
So I ask they girl one behind the desk does it matter if I put a lower amount then I actually make on the form? She said no put whatever and so I did. Then girl #2 starts asking if my wife would like to put her income down and I said no. She then said well we can't speak to you. I say fine Ill put what I actually make on the form we traveled a long way to hear what you have to say. After all was a simple misunderstanding that could have been corrected but it was more important for these people to try to prove a frivolous point. Now this is when it starts to get amusing and I have only seen this attitude in clerks in tiny little countries where they are going to try and show you how important they are. Yes, their life sucks so they want to try to impress you with their power. Girl #2 says oh you marked on the paper and that is very serious we can't have that! You must go!
So after trying to reason with the little paper pusher I ask to see a manager. Well I got whomever I guess was eleted to play the role that night. But here is where the story becomes really funny. All of a sudden they have no one that can speak to us. After multiple phone calls and emails to have us show up (and even early at that) you have no sales people to talk with us? They they said perhaps they might be able to find some one to show us around (in a tone acting like it was a lot of trouble) if we were willing to come back another time. Really do you ever buy from a sales guy who acts like they are doing you a big favor by letting you hear their 90 minute sales pitch? Oh but then they told us we could commute in tomorrow and we could give you the same presentation. Seriously who do they think would take them up on this bad deal? I really hope the patronizing treatment we received after they thought we were of little means
(and we are far from it) was worth because I know that when you treat customers badly it's going to bite you in the butt sooner or later.
Well at least at the end I got the truth they had been over booked and they were really planning on wasting our time for two nights in a row because they had over booked.
IMHO this may have been the true goal as they were looking for a rube to buy their services. My advice is to stay away from these guys and any resort that they are partnered with as you may get more then you bargained for...
For those of you thinking about having dealing with Shell I have some additional links I found on the web for you:
Complaints Pile Up Against Vacation Club
Report: Shell Vacations Club And Holiday Travel Of America
It is not worth going for a 2 hour timeshare meeting and having to give your first born to get your free gift. Bad company, and very rude service.
Shell Vacations Club Do not Buy Shell Vacations Club Time Share!! Hawaii
Complaints Board
