Joe
Otley,#2UPDATE EX-employee responds
Tue, January 29, 2008
I used to work for BlueGreen and know for a fact that there are some great people who work for them. There are also some that are less than honest. That is beside the fact. I am a Christian and I don't understand how somebody could knowingly go on a presentation with the idea that "no matter what they show us, we will not buy anything." This is not being open minded at all and it seems you are intentionally taking advantage of somebody or something. This is not the Christian way. It sounds like you are judging the company and the individual...which is not the Christain way either. It is not our place to judge others. These people that work in timeshare chose to enter that profession, however, they did not choose it to be taken advantage of. These people are working on 100% commission and the more people that come in with the above mentioned attitude the more they are being taken advantage of. I do not agree with this mindset. When I worked for BlueGreen I gave a clean and clear presentation. If somebody wanted to buy, fine, if not, that was fine too. I did very well with sales...no complaints. Since then I have been called to something else. However, during my time at BlueGreen I did notice that over 90% of couples claiming to be "pastors" were very disrespectful of me and the presentation. Those 90% I am talking about came in with the above mentioned mindset all for a couple of show tickets. I do not agree with a Christian, or anybody else for that matter, who intentionally make somebody's situation worse only to better their own situation. Everybody that attends a presentaion knows that it is a "sales" presentation. If a person, or couple, is 100% against purchasing and only there for the show tickets or "free" gifts I would suggest not attending at all. Show some dignity for yourself and for those that you may be affecting. In this particular case of proclaimed pastors lets reverse the roles. It is very clear in the Bible that a person receives how they give/take. Now lets say everybody that attends, the above mentioned, pastor's church approached things the same way these pastors do. All the congregation now comes in to receive free gifts from the church and just comes in to listen to the pastor for say "90 min." Some time in there the pastor starts to talk about giving to the church, "the offering." The congregation in turn says "no thanks, but I enjoyed your sermon today." The offering bucket or plate comes back "empty." How long would that particular church stay open if the congregation continued to do this? If I recall correctly, the afore-mentioned pastors stated they liked taking presentations. All the while knowing they would never purchase because they kept a closed mind. So, in closing let's respect those that chose this profession and if you do feel the urge to go on vaction with your family do not attend a presentaion to get "free stuff." Attend only if you are serious about purchasing a vacation package. These types of vactaion packages have helped many people and have litterally changed their lives for the better. For every complaint I see or hear, there are thousands of positives and people that continue to enjoy their purchases. The only problem is that many people now days only want to be heard if there is something negative to say. Let's be positive. God is our source. He is our provider. He will see to it that we have everything we need...including show tickets if we need them that bad. Don't use or take advantage of these presentations and the folks that give them, as there are many good people trying support their families. Nothing on this earth is perfect, and this is no exeption, but it has served good for many people in the past and present. Just because it may not work for one does not mean it doesn't work for another. Let's use wisdom the next time a presentation is offered and think about everybody involved and how each may be affected both positively and negatively.
Ed
Knoxville,#3UPDATE Employee
Sat, April 14, 2007
I work with Jennifer at Bluegreen and from my experience with her, she's one of the nicest people there. Just from reading your report, you don't describe any improper behavior from her beyond "a rude tone of voice". You don't mention any derrogatory remarks, name calling, arm twisting, or pressuring, and yet you call her a "DEMON", "mentally unstable", bullying, and borderline abusive, just because she talked to you in a less than pleasant tone of voice after you refused to give a referral (assuming you're even representing what happened objectively) The most insulting thing that you claimed she said was that she accused YOU of being rude. Maybe she did what some other people would be afraid to do - call a Pastor out for being rude. Maybe it touched a nerve - so much so that you would get online and rant for pages about how your salesperson turned into a DEMON or Cruella Deville just because she had a less than pleasant tone and called you rude. If that's all it takes to get you so upset, I suggest that you go spend a few days in New York City to help you remember the difference between a mountain and a molehill.
Dave
Eden Prairie,#4UPDATE EX-employee responds
Sat, January 13, 2007
After 30 years as a successful salesperson,who had retired,I went back to work 2 weeks ago,starting with Bluegreen in Bloomington,Mn.These stories throughout all these complaints about BlueGreen are incredibly true!As an insider for 2 weeks you would not believe what they teach us as sales people.Incredibly during presentations Bluegreen has gestapo like monitors patrolling the sales presentation area not allowing anyone to take out written info since its all lies and misleading.I would be happy to talk to anyone in law enforcement or the media. I can be reached at XXXXXXXXXXX.com (((E-MAIL ADDESS REDACTED)))
David
Central City,#5Consumer Suggestion
Thu, January 11, 2007
It is important that you immediately contact the Federal Trade Commission and the Attorney Generals offices in the state in which you live and also in the state of which the transaction took place. There is already complaints with the FTC and the more the better. You may also e-mail me and get with a group forming to take legal action. Bluegreen is in violation of the Lanham Act and the Consumer Protection act with their lying thieving vacation club program. I urge you and anyone else involve to contact the above officials. The various office addresses are easy to find with an Internet search. You may also contact the Governors office in the involved states. They have all received complaints about the bluegreen corp recently. Make your complaint honestly and accurately.
Nikki
Coconut Creek,#6Consumer Suggestion
Wed, January 10, 2007
My mom used to work as a timeshare salesperson and did very well ad it, without lying (not at Bluegreen). My husband and I quit our jobs and moved away to be timeshare salespeople (not at Bluegreen). I have never had a more stressful job! First, we go through a 1-2 month training in which we get paid virtually nothing, then are told to make at least 5 sales in the first 50 tours or we are out of a job (takes about 1 month). If you are lucky enough to get past that, you have other periodic quotas to reach. Unless you are a real whiz at selling (only about 10% of timeshare salespeople actually are), you wake up every morning wondering if this is the day you will be fired. Or if this is the day you will be told "If you do not make a sale today, you will be fired". 90% of the salespeople on the floor really need your sale to keep their job. On the upside, my mother owns timeshares, my sister owns timeshares, my brother owns timeshares, and every vacation we get to vacation in a timeshare. These are the most wonderful vacations to go on. After a full stressful day of sightseeing (it can get stressful, as we all know) I can't imagine going back to a hotel where there may be bugs, one little room, etc. (I don't mean to sound like a salesperson since I'm not a very good one). Anyway, people who vacation every year should look into buying a timeshare. People who do not vacation every year should not. Most timeshare salespeople really believe in their product (as they should) and are truly shocked when someone who vacations every year says it's not for them. I have actually had people tell me they vacation every year in a hotel, but vacationing "this way" (condo) is not for them. Why not? Unless you really hate your timeshare salesperson, the best answer to give is that you love it, but cannot afford it. When you tell them it's not for you, you have just informed them they did a bad job. That is how it their manager sees it and what gets them into trouble. The only answer they are allowed to get is "we cannot afford it right now, why do you think we are wasting 90 minutes of our precious vacation time to be here". Most people who do not like their timeshares are those who purchased the inexpensive, off season weeks that are not tradable for Christmas, Easter, Summer, etc., and they get upset when they cannot trade. If you do purchase, make sure it's something with trading power! In addition, if your tour runs over the 90 minutes, you can leave and still get your tickets. They may make it seem like you cannot, but you have honored your end of the bargain. I don't work in timeshare anymore.
Honest Sam
Bay Area,#7Consumer Comment
Tue, January 09, 2007
Whenever I am accosted by these losers in a casino or elsewhere i either: A) Point and them and laugh hysterically B) Exclaim Loudly "NO I DON'T WANT TO GO TO YOUR LAME PRESENTATION FOR YOUR CRAPPY TIMESHARE!" Works like a charm
Amy
Boyne City,#8UPDATE Employee
Tue, January 09, 2007
And if you've lived long enough on this planet, you should already know that. If you know anything at all about sales, the main goal is to SELL whatever your product is. And you're right, "Jennifer" probably was working on commision. That's what sales is. Your mistake was thinking and believing you would get something for nothing. That never happens in this world no matter how something is advertised. Yes, I know you were "promised" only a ninety minute presentation. But I don't walk into Saks Fifth Avenue and expect the clothes I look at to appear on my body the way they do on maniquins or models on t.v. That's an unrealistic expectation. And once you found out that this was a timeshare presentation, something you probably knew you wouldn't be intrested in, you should have forgotten about getting something for free and spent the time with your children like you originally had planned. I have worked for this company for just over 3 months. I'm just a night auditor, I just crunch their numbers. But I also check guests in and I've heard all their "horror" stories and I can only say this, stay home. If going on vacation is going to be this stressful, check into a Days Inn and be happy with what you get. I can also tell you that after the people I get horror stories from have stayed at my resort and gotten to know other people that work for this company, they are much happier upon leaving. I also tell people don't expect a hotel. We are not like hotels in any way, shape or form. We have very nice accomodations that are very well maintained. Another point I have to make, is just because a sign suggests you ask about something, doesn't mean you have to. Nine times out of ten you will get involved in something you were not prepared for. Beware of anything that says free!