trip report: part 2 accident and post accident

[Rick Inman]

Well, in defense of La Ceiba, th time share salesmen work for a different company. I've heard the same stories about the timeshare salesment at other locations as well. they actually rotate around. they may be assigned to one hotel for a week or two weeks, and then get moved to another one.

I think it wouldn't be such a bad idea for you to explain your first hand experiences with the time share hawks as a warning to other unsuspecting people who may get roped in.

Of course if you WANT to buy a time share, then I guess it would benefit you, but if you are unsure or just curious as to what it's all about, be prepared to be pressured and insulted. I can't even tell you how many stories I've heard about this.

Also, a warning to those flying into Cozumel airport. The guys waiting for you as you come through customs, with the shirts that say "Tourist Advisory" and asking you what hotel you are staying at, luring you to a table off to the side, are time share salesmen. You DO NOT need them to help you with transportation...you can go straight to the shuttle bus window, which you cannot miss.

I understand these guys are trying to make a living, and time shares are really great for SOME people. What I object to are the misrepresentations and high pressure/insutling nature they use to go about it. Be honest about what you are selling and let people decide for themselves if they are interested...don't coerce them into the presentation and then insult them when they don't want to buy what you are selling.

Did I hijack this thread? I'm sorry...should I start a new thread for timeshares?

Ha! Cozumel is childs play compared to Puerto Vallarta! Got my education there...

BTW, great report, Sharky!

 

[sharky60]

Well, in defense of La Ceiba, th time share salesmen work for a different company. I've heard the same stories about the timeshare salesment at other locations as well. they actually rotate around. they may be assigned to one hotel for a week or two weeks, and then get moved to another one.

I think it wouldn't be such a bad idea for you to explain your first hand experiences with the time share hawks as a warning to other unsuspecting people who may get roped in.

Of course if you WANT to buy a time share, then I guess it would benefit you, but if you are unsure or just curious as to what it's all about, be prepared to be pressured and insulted. I can't even tell you how many stories I've heard about this.

Also, a warning to those flying into Cozumel airport. The guys waiting for you as you come through customs, with the shirts that say "Tourist Advisory" and asking you what hotel you are staying at, luring you to a table off to the side, are time share salesmen. You DO NOT need them to help you with transportation...you can go straight to the shuttle bus window, which you cannot miss.

I understand these guys are trying to make a living, and time shares are really great for SOME people. What I object to are the misrepresentations and high pressure/insutling nature they use to go about it. Be honest about what you are selling and let people decide for themselves if they are interested...don't coerce them into the presentation and then insult them when they don't want to buy what you are selling.

Did I hijack this thread? I'm sorry...should I start a new thread for timeshares?

Oh yeah, belive me, I have nothing against La Ceiba, like I said, great hotel and great employees, I'd still highly recommend to anyone to stay there, and I'm still hoping that we can continue to stay there in the future.

I know this John guy is just a hired gun, but for someone who supposedly has been a salesman for over 20 years, he really hasn't learned that you get more flies with honey than vinegar, oh did i mention the use of foul language? I'm sorry, I'm a sailor and have maybe even invented some bad words, but I don't even cuss when I'm in a business situation.

 

[Christi]

Oh yeah, belive me, I have nothing against La Ceiba, like I said, great hotel and great employees, I'd still highly recommend to anyone to stay there, and I'm still hoping that we can continue to stay there in the future.

I know this John guy is just a hired gun, but for someone who supposedly has been a salesman for over 20 years, he really hasn't learned that you get more flies with honey than vinegar, oh did i mention the use of foul language? I'm sorry, I'm a sailor and have maybe even invented some bad words, but I don't even cuss when I'm in a business situation.

Unbelievable! So was he an American guy? I know that there are alot of ex-pats working in the timeshare business and jewelry stores here.

Also, just curious...and I apologize if you already answered this, I may have missed it...but how did you end up in the time share presentation? Were you interested to see what it was all about or were you mislead into thinking it was something else?

 

[D_O_H]

Well, in defense of La Ceiba, th time share salesmen work for a different company. I've heard the same stories about the timeshare salesment at other locations as well. they actually rotate around. they may be assigned to one hotel for a week or two weeks, and then get moved to another one.

It's not just Cozumel (or Mexico, for that matter) - I think timeshare salespeople can be pushy anywhere. We went to a presentation in Palm Springs at a nice resort in exchange for two $100 gift certificates and I could not believe how rude they were when we were not interested in purchasing.

We actually had a lot of fun mimicking the guy's cheesy lines during the rest of our trip ("You'd have to be insane not to buy into the program! Are you insane? Tell me you're not insane!"), but that was without a doubt the last timeshare presentation I will ever attend.

 

[sharky60]

Yes, he was an american, he said he was originally from Seattle.

No, we weren't misled, we knew we were going into a time-share sales presentaiton and never had any intention of buying into it from the start. We did it because we knew the hotel was going that direction and we just wanted to find out what they were going to charge for them and also trying to figure out if the whole hotel was going to be time-share members only or if non-members were still going to be able to stay there. We really just wanted some questions answered and all's we got was a 5 min. blah, blah, blah from him about how he makes $250K a year and gets to live where we want to vacation and never answered ANY question directly.

we had heard that the time-share was going to be in the tower from the 6th floor up and in the low-rise area of the hotel and from the 5th floor down of the tower was still going to be hotel. Actually we never got that question answered staight either, he made it sound like the entire hotel will be members only, actually telling us in no uncertain terms that we needed to find another place to stay by this time next year.

Other people we talked to who have been long time guests also said that Ester told them they would always be welcomed there. I didn't get to talk to her personally about it as I didn't see her again after we moved to the tower on Saturday and I couldn't get her alone before then.

 

[HammerNoMore]

my advice is to ALWAYS get ALL the insurance offered from the car rental place, find out what the deductibles are and make sure they have 3rd party insurance, which they are required to have by law.

Actually, since I just got back from a week in Akumal, where I rented a car for the entire week, I'll chime in here.

Before I reserved the car, I called my Auto Insurance company. No coverage in MX. Then I called American Express. They cover the most expensive of the 3 but not the other 2. So I only paid for the others.

My advice is, not to pay for everything without checking. Figure out exactly what coverage you already have and then buy the others.

James

 

[sharky60]

Actually, since I just got back from a week in Akumal, where I rented a car for the entire week, I'll chime in here.

Before I reserved the car, I called my Auto Insurance company. No coverage in MX. Then I called American Express. They cover the most expensive of the 3 but not the other 2. So I only paid for the others.

My advice is, not to pay for everything without checking. Figure out exactly what coverage you already have and then buy the others.

James

I'd rather pay for the car rental insurance and let them take the claim rather than claim it on my insurance, if it is covered, and have my insurance premium go up.

If you are covered by your credit card, you will still have to pay for the damage in full rather than just paying the deductible for the insurance, at least that's the way I understand it.

I think it's cheaper in the long run to just pay the car rental insurance and if you have problems, pay the deductible. Plus, I think it is a lot less hassle dealing with the Mexican police and officials that way. Belive me, if you can't settle the issue in one day you are spending time in a Mexican jail until it is settled and that is no way to spend your holiday.

 

[Martha]

Thanks for the great trip report. I'm glad you and your wife are feeling better and didn't let the accident ruin your trip.

 

[jpomerantz]

Ha! Cozumel is childs play compared to Puerto Vallarta! Got my education there...

BTW, great report, Sharky!

I agree Rick - we actually won't go back to PV because of all the hassles by the salesman every 15 feet on the main drag.

 

[Ron Brandt]

Sunday May 8th –

The good Lord sent an angel by the name of Gary, a local who could speak perfect English; he just showed up at the accident and helped us with everything throughout the day. I don’t know where he came from but he was defiantly a Godsend. Thank you my friend where ever you are.

Was Gary a trial lawyer? If it's the Gary I am thinking of ,he spends most of the winter there and is from Winnipeg Canada. I have done about 6-10 dives with him if thats who it was.

Great luck....he's a nice guy.

Ron