Complaint Review: Pacific Monarch Resorts - Encino California

A couple of days ago I got a call from someone telling me "Congratulations, you've won $100,000 or the car of your dreams!" Same story as everyone else who's reported here - no, I didn't really win, I had to go listen to their sales pitch first for an hour and a half, then pick a card out of a plastic bin, and IF I scratched off the right symbol, I won, but if not, I got to spin a wheel and get something else, the most likely of which were two nights in Vegas (at Circus Circus or two other equally cheap hotels). So, even after reading all the small print on their website, and closely questioning the callers who had told me, I figured, what the heck, I'll try it anyway, at least I'll get a couple of nights in Vegas for free. They even threw in another free couple of nights to another destination as a "bonus gift" if I actually showed up. And all I had to do was listen to their sales pitch and "keep an open mind"? Cool. Why not? Maybe I'd even win the 100K. At the very least, I'd have a few free nights in Vegas. And it might even prove to be something I'd be interested in investing in, after all, I love to vacation.

To be fair, I finally got my two gifts - no I didn't win the 100K (didn't really expect to), yes, got the Vegas and another one... BUT...

The first thing which bothered me was they had me fill out forms which asked about our gross yearly income - something I am not exactly happy to be giving out to just anyone. The second thing was that they also required what they called "two forms of ID" - one, a valid Drivers License or Passport, the other could be - hey, what do you know, a credit card! Now, I have had to work in many places, and whenever "two forms of ID" were required, it was ALWAYS picture ID or a birth certificate - as in Passport and License or some such combination. A credit card was NEVER considered a valid form of ID, and I thought it strange that they required to see one as such. They didn't write it down or copy it, however, which made me feel a little bit better, but it still bothered me. Then we get called in to a room with a bunch of small tables.

While the Sales rep we initially met was very nice, and the slide show we had to go through was relatively painless, after the hour and a half was up (the terms you agreed to was to stay for those 90 minutes), we wanted to get some info about the resorts and the costs, and go home. We actually were somewhat interested, but not for right now. It was after 10pm and we were tired, plus we never make big financial decisions without going home and discussing it first while looking over our finances. But our nice sales guy wasn't the one who could tell us the prices and packages, oh no, they had to send some other guy who claimed to be a Real Estate agent to talk to us about that. (For just a price-point and package inquiry? Bull****! There was no need for a Real Estate agent to talk to us about that, they could have it in a brochure the sales rep could send home with us if they wanted to.)

Now the pressure came in. And while everyone was all nice, there definitely was a LOT of pressure - to the point where I, who is usually someone who has a very open mind and a pleasant attitude, began to get annoyed, and finally had to almost shout to tell him NO.

All we wanted was to be able to take home some literature on the place, think over the deals they had, and discuss whether it was something we wanted to invest in, before making any kind of a purchase - as we would ANY kind of big investment, especially one like this. But they wouldn't let us. We were literally told we couldn't take the brochures and information they showed us home with us - they had "other stuff" we could take home if we chose not to pay up that night and join right away (which we never found or received). And we could ONLY get the lower rates and prices to join THAT NIGHT, no choice, if we waited even one day, well, sorry, but now you have to pay for a full $35,000 package, whether it's what you want or not. There was no price point packages for you once you left that room, it was all or nothing, right there, right then.

This really pissed me off, as any reputable business would allow the customer to go home and think about it, look over information about the company, consider which package would be best for them and their lifestyle and income, before making such a huge investment. But not these guys.

After a long discussion with this second guy, all the while our original sales rep sitting there quietly being nice and friendly (and thus exerting a bit of psychological pressure - after all, it's stated they're working on commission, you know this guy needs your business to make his paycheck, and you like him, right?)... finally the second Real Estate guy leaves (by the way, my husband has had his Real Estate license, and confirmed that many things that were said were in fact at the very least, misrepresentations of the law). We are no longer interested in purchasing anything with these people, we just want to get our "prizes" and go home, adventure over. That's what we came in for, right?

However, a third person comes over to supposedly ask you questions about your experience and sign off on your ability to finally collect your gifts. By this time it's been over two hours. You're way past your 90 minutes, and getting tired. You tell her what you told the other guy, but she then goes on to try and press you to sign up for yet another type of package. After jostling with her a bit as well, she finally signs you off, and over you go for your scratch and spin. Still no literature to take home. Not even the original stuff they emailed you (they collected it at the door, saying it had all your information on it they needed to keep hold of - so what were all those forms for and the ID check?)

But hey, they're still not done. Just as you finally get your little prizes (which by this time are looking more and more cheap and not worth the time and energy you just had to put up with to get them... how much does an hour of your personal time cost, anyway? Is it really worth a $60/night hotel room? After all, you know by now nobody is going to be winning that grand prize, and would in fact be lucky to win anything other than that Vegas night - which was the case for all the people we saw spin, including ourselves...) ...the guy who is supposed to be handing over your vouchers for your gifts actually gives you YET ANOTHER SALES PITCH. Another 20 minutes telling him no. By now, my patience is long gone, and I am snapping. I know he's just doing his job, as they all are - but really. This is just disrespectful at this point, and making me feel like nothing but a patsy.

We finally leave, nearly three hours later. I'm tired, I have a headache, and all I want to do is give those stupid vouchers away to someone else who will appreciate them more than I can at that moment.

The thing is, I went in with my eyes open, knowing there was a sales pitch coming, and I truly was open to it, we both were. We honestly were interested in the packages they had and possibly investing in this company... but not after what we went through. Now, even when and if we can afford that huge 35k package, I will NEVER NEVER join this group. Though the original sales rep was a good guy, the reality is, there was no respect there, and we were nothing but a couple of scores for them - more points to put on their own personal boards of wins for the day - and they used very very high pressure tactics to try and coerce us and break us down in order to get what they wanted. Which they didn't. All they got from me was this bad review and the fact I will now tell everyone I know never to trust them.

Jendeditor

Studio CIty, California

U.S.A.

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