GVC Sunterra - Is it a freebie?

by **gez** on Mon Apr 07, 2008 22:27 pm

yes you will recieve a free holiday with hard sale, and if you buy i can guarantee that as you have children and will probably want to go away during school hols,no chance you have to book a year in advance and even then most resorts are unavailable. at the moment its the worst thing me and my husband have ever done. it will only come into its own when we are in a possition to be able to take advantage of there 30 day booking offer. where basically you have to drop everything and grab your chance of a hol. also every year for the last 6 years the maintanence fees have risen and risen till now we pay �740 every january and you never can have the luxury rooms that they will show you.think carefully is my advise, i would not join if i had my time around again!

by **kingdobe** on Tue Apr 08, 2008 06:49 am

Hi question you asked was discussed on a couple other threads on here but gez as got it wrong.
First read the LCI thread on here and the DRI thread on here the answers to your questions are there.
Second i have no idea what the 30day rule is DRI use the 59 day rule for half pointers.
Third we had 2 school age children when we joined and only ever went away in school holidays.

Barry

by **SherburnStar** on Thu Apr 17, 2008 23:07 pm

We had a "free" holiday on Tenerife from Sunterra 3 years ago. One week in a great resort. Cost to us around �140. Sounds good up to now doesn't it?
The wednesday was set aside for a two hour presentation which actually lasted almost eight hours.
Pressure was put on us to buy points to such an extent that we agreed and signed up for a three year Voyager package just so we could get away from them.
I knew that at that time there was a 14 day cooling off period which we used on our return to 'get out' of the agreeement we had signed.
I AM NOT SURE THAT THE 14 DAY COOLING OFF PERIOD APPLIES ANY LONGER SO BEWARE.

by **kingdobe** on Fri Apr 18, 2008 06:38 am

Hi SherburnStar did you take the names of the reps involved if you did please email them to me and i will pass on your experience,and did you complain at the time because 8 hrs seams more like torture than a sales presentation.

Barry

by **kingdobe** on Fri Apr 18, 2008 06:43 am

GVC/Sunterra is no longer is no longer in business they were taken over by DRI who removed the people in charge and is overhauling the way the product is sold.
The information about the former sales presentation is no longer valid there was a email which i posted on this site from the European director but it was removed but can still be seen on Timesharetalk.

Barry

by **southafrica** on Fri Apr 18, 2008 17:47 pm

I know kingdobe says he does not work for Diamond resorts but i find this difficult to believe as he is the only person I know who has had no problem booking holidays in the school holidays ( I know 7 people who are or have been members) Every report on this website he says is not true but I assure you the complaints I have read are TRUE. I also had a presentation in Tenerife and it does last all day. Admittedly not locked in a small room with a spot light but by the time your rep has taken you round the properties and you are given yet another presentation you can say goodbye to a day of your free holiday. If you join as an explorer member again on you free weeks holiday you will be subjected to pressure from a rep to take up the 'too good to refuse' offer of paying to be a full member. As has been said many times before the management fees keep rising steeply and you are legally bound to pay this even if you don't get a holiday. MY ADVISE IS AVOID LKE THR PLAGUE.

by **kingdobe** on Fri Apr 18, 2008 18:03 pm

I have never and would never say anybody as lied all i ever done is put the alternative view,you obviously do not like DRI and you obviously will do all you can to dissuade people from joining but that is you stance.
My view and i will never change from it is go to the presentation hear what they have to say and make your own mind up.
As for you assertions that i am a employee of DRI IT IS A LIE i have never been or am employed by DRI in anyway unless you have proof than print it.
Southafrica go on dri-members paysite and get a real feel for what real members think or go on timesharetalk website and expound your views .
One last thing Southafrica if you have proof that DRI as done anything wrong print your proof let us all see it.

Barry

by **kingdobe** on Fri Apr 18, 2008 18:45 pm

This subject as got very tedious there is no longer any point trying to debate it with people who are not members so have no idea what the concept is.
This is one of the few websites that will allow you to give your views on DRI ],my view and will remain my view to those who wish to join go to the presentation and just listen to what they have to say.
My membership has and is giving me and my family good quality holidays a view reinforced by the ten's of thousands other members who also enjoy there holidays with DRI.

Barry

by **Steve2** on Fri Apr 18, 2008 19:57 pm

Kingdobe,

But isn't it a little strange (to say the least) that you have to join and pay DRI before you can get an idea of what the concept is? Are you really saying that a prospective purchaser will only find out what they have bought when they have paid their membership fee? As others have asked, what other product do buy for an upfront fee for and then only find out months/years later what you have bought (when of course it's too late to get your money back if what they've promised you is not available)?

FullMonty asks some good questions which you don't answer and make no attempt to answer:

1)If the product is as good as you claim it is, why do prospective customers have to be �enticed' to a sales presentation?

2)If it's as good as you claim, why doesn't the product sell itself by word of mouth? Surely if there are tens of thousands of satisfied members they would be recommending it to everyone they know and many of these people would be approaching DRI asking to join? In this scenario DRI would have no need to �entice' anyone into a two hour sales presentation.

by **kingdobe** on Fri Apr 18, 2008 20:20 pm

Ok answer to first question i assume it is standard for all timeshare to be sold this way if i am wrong please enlighten me which ones don't.
Second i have recommended people to join some have some haven't the start up cost puts most people off,and as far as i know unless you know different other members do recommend and there is a scheme to reward those that do.
The question of how much it cost's is answered at the presentation, i for one do not wish those who are not members to know how much i pay which is a personnel choice.
The last thing joining the club is not for financial gain but for future holidays,put it this way say i buy a new car would i expect to get the money back i paid in 5 years time i would have still paid road tax service charges petrol etc,and in the end i have a 5 year old car,whereas with the club the resorts go though regular refurbishments so i know i will be in good accommodation every year.

Barry