Diamond Resorts-is it a scam?

trisontana

This shows how bad Diamond Resorts are :-

Mirror Investigations

And by the way CharlieChap1979, what's with the extra spaces around your apostrophes?

The point I was making was that this is not the first time that an employee of the company has appeared on this site trying to defend the operation, and for some strange reason they all seem to have problems with their spelling and grammar. Is it just a coincidence?

CharlieChap1979

Well, I always believe there´s no smoke without fire and it seems the Mirror opinions public forum does exploit an aspect of which I at least hadn´t been made aware.

The link is a little limited tho, it highlights one AGM at which bad news had to be delivered and it seems to have been poorly executed, the customers I personally believe should have had more opportunity to extract answers. From their burning and obvious questions. It all seems to be about management fees.

The going eco thing, is not just a band waggon that DRI want to climb aboard, as I´m sure people are aware, the practice of reusing towels has been just the way it´s done in hotel and motel chains in the UK since, or maybe before 2004.
Offering holidays to the far east is, in my opinion not construe actively seeking to increase Carbon consumption. Of course, people will holiday to Asia and they will choose Diamond resorts, or any other holiday. You might say that if we chose to promote an airline using the new eco friendly Carbon fibre Boeing 7E7that we would be helping reduce the Carbon emission of people who will holiday with us.

Re coincidence of people working for DRI who cannot spell as well as yourself, it´s not an issue of coincidence, it´s statistics. I´m sure if you chose to search for a word deliberately mis-spelled, it would turn up quite a few threads, and I´m sure not all of the posters are some of the 5500 emplyees of DRI.

The extra spaces, are the format my computer chooses. I use a keyboard set up for another language as I don´t live in the UK. Like I said earlier, forums aren´t English tests, other members aren´t judges, we all just want to read other people´s opinions. Spaces around apostrophes or not.

You know, you and I aren´t too disimilar in this respect, I hate it when TV adverts use bad grammer. When teachers use it, and we know they do. How on Earth is a child meant to learn proper English when all they hear from the people teaching it, and media they´re subject to, is bad English. What hope does the next generation have? I´m surprised the kids nowadays don´t speak broad American!

Anyway, back to the issue. Penman and Sommerlad seem to be there for the purpose of whipping up a frenzy about things people don´t like, injustices etc. I found a quote regarding the two:
Daily Mirror’s “investigative journalists” Penman and Sommerlad have relentlessly attacked me over a protracted period of time, largely using innuendo and hearsay to imply that I am something that I am not. The latest article of June 17th 2009 goes one step further and actually uses the word ‘conman’ in the title.
It really is time that Penman and Sommerlad should begin to base their opinions on fact rather than conjecture and fantasy.
I believe their article of June 17th 2009 breaches Code 1 of the Editors’ Code of Practice and in particular clauses i) and iii).
i) The press must take care not to publish inaccurate, misleading or distorted information, including pictures and
iii) The press, whilst free to be partisan, must distinguish clearly between comment, conjecture and fact.


Again something about timeshares i think. Seems maybe they can´t make it in the real world of journalism so decided to pull in some cheap shots, applying for the public to contact them Watchdog style, and report on it briefly then allow the public to comment on the Mirror blog, which is hard to get through after a home page consisting of the links,
Fantasy Football, shop, Bingo, Diets, Dating, Lotto, Money, Competitions, Poker, Cash4phones

So, my investigations into all this (fortunately for me as a DRI Supporter) support my personal opinion. DRI do a good job. It would be a very bad day for DRI if we had as many complaints per 1000 customers as a high street store, or even a high street travel agency.


The more i read, and I have been doing the more I´m findout out people´s opinions. There´s a vast wealth of information available on bonafide websites including BBC if you search for it, and not all of it is glowing. But I look at it with an open mind. Instead of being drawn in by the barrage of new information (propaganda style) I will remember that if we surveyed all our 400000 plus members that we would have an exceptional response.
Below is a quote from Mirror blog when DRI got back in touch about the AGM you link to: You might want to include this link also when you want to share the links to people.

"It's only taken three months, but we've finally got some answers from timeshare outfit Diamond Resorts International.
This lot have sparked fury by yanking up maintenance fees by 40 per cent in a year.
In some cases that amounts to an annual bill approaching £1,000. You could buy a decent holiday for that, without being tied to the same company and resorts."
Of course you can see it has been written, not very subtly I might add with the perspective of the discruntled customer. Like I said before, whipping up a frenzy.
Where else other than Diamond can you get 4 or 5 weeks, seperate holidays a year in fabulous accommodations, in fabulous locations, worldwide for as many as 8 people for the sort of money being quoted. It is a common misconception. The fees are not per person. If you can take 7 people with you to a fantastic place wherever, whenever you want for that sort of money, please tell me, cos I want in on it.
"Diamond Resorts International®, with global headquarters in Las Vegas, Nev., is one of the largest vacation ownership companies in the world with more than 160 branded and affiliated resorts and over 24,000 guest beds in 26 countries with destinations throughout the continental United States and Hawaii, Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa. Offering simplicity, choice and comfort to more than 400,000 owners and members through the branded hospitality service of more than 5,500 team members worldwide, Diamond Resorts International® is dedicated to providing its guests with effortless and relaxing vacation experiences every time, for a lifetime.

Annually, nearly 1.4 million owners, members and guests enjoy the simplicity, choice and comfort Diamond Resorts International® offers through our branded hospitality experience.

dacouch

"I will remember that if we surveyed all our 400000 plus members that we would have an exceptional response".

This is set out as if it's a fact, could you post a link to this fact, or is it you remembering a potential survey.

Links to the sites you refer to that have positive posts about DRI would be of interest, call it a lucky guess but I suspect the majority of the favourable posts will be from new members or guests

BFG_2

At the risk of appearing to repeat myself.....

BFG wrote: »

Diamond Resorts is a complete and utter scam, and anyone posting otherwise is usually making their first post on here and is actually one of the scammers.

Diamond Resorts is a complete and utter scam, and anyone posting otherwise is usually making their first post on here and is actually one of the scammers.

Diamond Resorts is a complete and utter scam, and anyone posting otherwise is usually making their first post on here and is actually one of the scammers.

Diamond Resorts is a complete and utter scam, and anyone posting otherwise is usually making their first post on here and is actually one of the scammers.

Diamond Resorts is a complete and utter scam, and anyone posting otherwise is usually making their first post on here and is actually one of the scammers.

Diamond Resorts is a complete and utter scam, and anyone posting otherwise is usually making their first post on here and is actually one of the scammers.

Diamond Resorts is a complete and utter scam, and anyone posting otherwise is usually making their first post on here and is actually one of the scammers.

Diamond Resorts is a complete and utter scam, and anyone posting otherwise is usually making their first post on here and is actually one of the scammers.

Diamond Resorts is a complete and utter scam, and anyone posting otherwise is usually making their first post on here and is actually one of the scammers.

Diamond Resorts is a complete and utter scam, and anyone posting otherwise is usually making their first post on here and is actually one of the scammers.

Diamond Resorts is a complete and utter scam, and anyone posting otherwise is usually making their first post on here and is actually one of the scammers.

Diamond Resorts is a complete and utter scam, and anyone posting otherwise is usually making their first post on here and is actually one of the scammers.

Diamond Resorts is a complete and utter scam, and anyone posting otherwise is usually making their first post on here and is actually one of the scammers.

Diamond Resorts is a complete and utter scam, and anyone posting otherwise is usually making their first post on here and is actually one of the scammers.

Diamond Resorts is a complete and utter scam, and anyone posting otherwise is usually making their first post on here and is actually one of the scammers.

Hope this helps to clear things up.

BFG_2

What's happened to the 'Abuse/Spam' button???

CharlieChap1979

dacouch wrote: »

"I will remember that if we surveyed all our 400000 plus members that we would have an exceptional response".

This is set out as if it's a fact, could you post a link to this fact, or is it you remembering a potential survey.

Links to the sites you refer to that have positive posts about DRI would be of interest, call it a lucky guess but I suspect the majority of the favourable posts will be from new members or guests

No, if you read it again you'll see (though as BFG or Trisontana would have pointed out to you, I should have inserted one more comma) that we would have an exception response is what i will remember in regard to the previous sentence of that paragraph. I wasn't saying we have surveyed all 400000 members, although the option is there in the resorts to comment.

I believe that the one hit wonder responses are from new members etc, not because there's some underground network going on of people registering just to say something nice. If that were the case, I'd do it myself and make such a massive impact no one would have a bad thing to say because the thread would already be many pages long and boring to read. about 400000 replies should suffice.

I had noticed that I seem to be the only one who has risen to the challenge. Everyone else says their piece and stops caring what you lot think.
I'm not one to use these sites, frankly I've got better things to do than contribute to them. I don't vote either. I just look on them for advice, and unfortunately in my opinion, as I've said before this thread has degraded to insults and unsubstantiated drivel.

If I were going to seek opinion on the possibility of buying into Diamond and came across this thread, at first I would have had serious doubts but toawrd the end of the thread i'd realise that the people being nasty on here should keep within the confines of a suitable forum where folk can enjoy abusing each other. In an investigative position, soon as I hear or read something unprofessional, I stop taking any notice of what I'm hearing or reading. As it quickly falls into bias opinion, emotively issued and stops becoming factual, something from which I can make my own mind up about.

So, if you can possibly avoid bad language, sweeping, generalised and often false allegations, and belligerent repetitions of previous sweeping, generalised and often false allegations then I do look forward to reading your responses.

Haha, I just learned how to get the pictures up.....

:T to me.

trisontana

Hello CharlieChap1979, can I ask the same questions that I asked another DR rep?

(1) If the product is so good why do your potential customers have to go through several hours of sales talk?

(2) Why won't you allow these customers to go away and think about it. Why do they have to make their mind up on the spot?

(3) Why cannot all the relevant facts be published in a brochure to enable potential customers to make a measured decision away from any hard sell?

I look forward to your answers.

Sheepster

trisontana wrote: »

Hello CharlieChap1979, can I ask the same questions that I asked another DR rep?

(1) If the product is so good why do your potential customers have to go through several hours of sales talk?
Because it's a pile of rubbish, and it takes a long time to persuade people to buy rubbish, including using well documented psychological methods of grinding down people's perception of common sense.

(2) Why won't you allow these customers to go away and think about it. Why do they have to make their mind up on the spot?
What???? And let them actually think about it and realise it's a scamtastic rip-off??? You got to be kidding! Get them to sign their lives away, then it's too late, we've made our morally corrupt profit, and people's hard earned be damned.

(3) Why cannot all the relevant facts be published in a brochure to enable potential customers to make a measured decision away from any hard sell?
Because no-one in their right mind would buy this squalid product if they actually had all the relevant facts in front of them. Grief, some might even consult a solicitor who would punch holes in their brochure left right and centre.

I look forward to your answers.

Me too, but we won't get it will we :rolleyes:

Sheepster

Really though, this is a prime example of the invaluable nature of this forum. So not everyone in the country reads it, but if this forum and our good members can prevent even just one struggling family, or one old couple from wasting their hard earned on the likes of this cheating scamming company....and many others like it.......then we can all be proud.

This sort of company prey on people who are vunerable. Not everyone has the strength of mind to stand up to bullies. An internet search throws up much worse than what has been in this thread. Of big men who have been caught up in the sales pitch, have stood up to the bullies, and have rescued others when the "bouncers" have tried to prevent them from leaving.

JUST KEEP CLEAR. Reputable companies don't need to use such tactics, this little fact is surely enough to tell you all you need to know.

CharlieChap1979

Hello CharlieChap1979, can I ask the same questions that I asked another DR rep?

(1) If the product is so good why do your potential customers have to go through several hours of sales talk?
It´s only hours if the customer expresses an interest, believe me, i´d rather be playing darts, pool, sunbathing, hiking, swimming, even cleaning my car, anything rather than talk to people who don´t want something i´m trying to promote, i´m not on an hourly wage, i get a lovely basic plus a bit of commission. So, no, if someone says as soon as i meet them, i don´t want to buy anything, today or otherwise, cool. I get to go home early.


(2) Why won't you allow these customers to go away and think about it. Why do they have to make their mind up on the spot?
It´s not that they´re not allowed to, reports of Bouncers is just incredible. But statistics show that more people buy if decide to on the day than they do once they get home and bills have arrived, it´s not long til Xmas etc. People do very often go away, think about it and call our call centre for either more information before buying, or just call and buy outright, as they told me they would. But if people do, change their minds while at home thinking about it, we´ve lost a customer. Doesn´t mean they´ve seen the light, they just changed their mind, and of course, good luck to them. I´ve not bought many an item I said i would. No biggy. But i´d have been very happy had i have bought the item.

(3) Why cannot all the relevant facts be published in a brochure to enable potential customers to make a measured decision away from any hard sell?
What i think you´re referring to as relevent facts are negative comments and opinions, of course no company will proactively produce this. How long had MacDonalds been producing the greasiest most unhealthy food for in the world?? They never used to publish the fat content cos it would put you off, yet millions of people the world over, think about where to go for dinner and decide MacDonalds every day. It wasn´t until the marketing department decided to get on the band waggon and promote healthy foods (NOT OUT OF GOOD WILL, but because that´s where trade was starting to shift to, and didn´t want to lose reputation), that they started pushing the contents of their burgers issue.
If you´re referring to the maintenance fees debate, while we don´t have an issue about it, i am aware of the ramifiations of mis-selling a product having spent a long time in GISC and dealing with the FSA. I have never mis-sold a thing in my life. People will not buy anything this big without asking "how much will it cost" I tell them. Simple. I don´t understand what´s so difficult to understand. The information is all there either in document or in the heads of the front line staff.
Regarding punching holes in the broucher, you obviously have no idea what you´re talking about. The broucher i think you refer to doesn´t contain any financial information. You´d need to take a contract to the solicitor. Obviously.

I look forward to your answers.

Hope that goes someway to explain why i feel the way i do. I´m a nice guy. If so many as one customer came to me in the future and said I´d conned them, I think i´d just die. I´d want a hole to magically appear in the ground and swallow me up. I´m so not like that it´s a joke. I sometimes quabble with my friends over whose turn it is to pay cos we both think it´s our turn, i always do the washing up when having dinner at a friends. You know, you can´t be a nice guy in the evening then wake up and go to work thinking, who can i rip off today? Just not possible. And please dont´go there with brain washing. I´m well aware of my faculties. When people have said i think you´re wrong cos, then given me something factual to bite into i have appreciated this and learned.

Again, regarding, bullying tactics and the use of bouncers... What on Earth? is most of what i feel about this.Don´t forget the rule of the media, it wouldn´t sell to say, and here´s mr n mrs x from xville, they went on a timeshare and loved it.
Wow. As nice as that is for them, i wouldn´t buy a paper to read it (or bother to trawl website until i come across a blog with it in either).
If however something happens, then it makes a saleable item. The more interesting it is the more saleable it is so surely, they´ll make it sound as horrific as they possibly can while skirting just inside the "is it worth us being sued over" threshold of !!!!!!!!tery. That´s where this and other stories come from. If half the allegations made are true we´d have been on Watchdog all the time. Nothing and you know why?? Cos if they ever investigated DRI they´d find unsubstantiated rubbish. That´s why.

I´ve been exploring the Hard Sell tactic as alleged earlier in the thread and found that to my disappointment there seems to be a general theme of that through the industry, please note, i´m not saying DRI use a hard sell. I certainly don´t, my colleagues don´t, my sales director doesn´t want us to do it, and i´m sure he´s not a renegade director in the company. We are aware of the issue and do not do the ´make you feel so uncomfortable you need to get out of there´ sale. Of course we want to make sales, we want to make them on the day, but only to achieve the market share we have, not to achieve the express route to some international disreputation awards. We like our customers, and as it happens they like us too.

Before I get in too deep, please note, all my replies are my opinion only and not those shared by the company.

Just thought i´d say that in case i end up jeopardising my job by getting public without consulting them first.

I love my job, i do a good job and on the rare occasion when i have been chatting to people in the street, or a restaurant who are DRI members they welcome me with hand shakes and big beeming smiles, we have a connection, they´re proud. They love it as much as i do. Why wouldn´t i want to promote this?

I´d be grateful if you´d keep your thread away from opinionated insults and be more factual.