"Originating from a street survey, we were called by GVC/Sunterra to inform us we have won one of only 100 holidays they give away each year.
On 22 October 2004, I allowed myself to be bribed (the lure being �50 in Sainsburys vouchers and the �free' holiday offer) into going to Cromer Country Club for a Sunterra presentation. We did not buy but here are my impressions.
Personally, I could not describe the presentation as being high pressure. However, it was clearly an extraordinarily developed, well crafted and systematic 2 hour sales pitch. The bribe was conditional on sitting it out. However, this was clearly stated in advance.
I felt that the person who spoke to us was a decent sort. He was absolutely resolute in completing his pitch in every detail. This was despite me explaining that I knew what holiday resorts looked like and had the ability to grasp abstract concepts, and to speed things up as I was finding it ponderous. I felt this gentleman was probably prostituting himself as much as we were by being there.
Sunterra seem to be selling more of, what I would term a �holiday club' than �time share'. The principle seems to be based on payment in advance. I think the following costs are correct, as I had lost all interest by this point. You pay �425 joining fee; currently �245 per annum �maintenance fee', and buy �points' at the rate of �3.20 per 100. Sunterra expects you to buy between 5000 and 10,000 �points'on the day as an annual allowance. You then buy holidays (accommodation only) from their portfolio, and pay with your �points'. Sunterra then sell you the flights in real money or you arrange your own elsewhere. It was very this �points' system that seemed an unnecessary complication to me.
The salesperson spent an inordinate amount of time establishing the credentials of Sunterra. This process would not, I feel, be necessary with any straight offer. Obviously, you are then committed to Sunterra by virtue of your advance payment. How well it works in practice, I was not intending to find out.
Sunterra were as good as their word with regard to the Sainsburys vouchers. We have yet to find out about the �free' holiday with Feria.
Please give you opinions on the following:
What is the �points' system of payment intended to mask?
Why Does Sunterra chose to conduct operations so similarly to totally discredited time share operators?
Why does Sunterra not just call it a �holiday club' and price their accommodation in �'s not �points'?" --- johnjo
ccasion1 Hi we own points and now that we are retired they work well for us, you use points as follows. Depending where and when you want to go and whether you want a studio one bed or 2 bed apartment depends on the amount of points you use. You can also book late availability when they have it at half points as I said great for the likes of us but very hard to get resort you want if you have to go certain times like school holidays etc. They will give you a free weeks accomadation but only at certain resorts and certain times.
by gmcphee72 on Mon Aug 16, 2004 19:43 pm 
HW_The_Dog
