Like I said, we were both smiling as we walked up to the door, but my smile turned into a full-fledged snicker because as we opened that door, the song "Burn, Baby, Burn" was blaring over the loud speakers. So, imagine these kinds of people, the music, the ham sandwiches, me and Roy walking in just wanting our free tickets! We soon realized that there was not going to be a group meeting. Instead, we saw little round tables with a sales agent talking to couples one by one. The receptionist asked us to fill out our information and then help ourselves to the free sandwiches. So, we were sitting there, (not eating the sandwiches) snickering to ourselves for being such suckers. I begged Roy to let me take pictures with my phone for my blog but he said "absolutely not!!". Oh, and by the way, the song list went on to play such classics like "Celebrate, Good Times, Come 'On!" and "At the Carwash". Great disco songs played at an incredibly loud volume.
So our name was called and a very excited (being sarcastic) sales agent brought us to our table. In an attempt to get to know us better, he started asking us questions about our traveling experiences. We told him up front that we came for the free tickets and were not prepared to buy or sign up for anything. He agreed and then went on to ask one of his first questions: Where was the last place you went on vacation? We replied "Jackson Hole". He said, "Where's that?". We knew we were in trouble.
He tried to sell us on a vacation for a lifetime package, which can be willed to our children. We weren't interested, so he brought his boss over to try to sell it even harder. His boss was a bald headed smoker with a major smoker's laugh---an OBNOXIOUS man. So he started selling us this package as hard as he could. At one point, he looked over his shoulders, leaned in really close to us and whispered, "do you know that a lot of these people in here tonight only come here for the free gift they're offered?" I nudged Roy's leg and told the man (with a nervous laugh) that I could only imagine. Then he gave us the bottom like of the deal: We could get everything for $9,995!! We declined, so he slashed the price to $1995!!! $8,000 off the original? I told him that it was a great deal, but that it was still a lot of money to pay all at once. That didn't stop him. He offered to FINANCE the package for us--this man had an answer for everything. Again, we declined and finally he got the idea. The funny thing is, while we were sitting there for the 90 minutes, people were actually signing up! And when they did, cheering and clapping would go on and sayings like "Welcome Aboard!" would go out from the staff--all of this while the disco music was blaring. Let's just say that Roy and I were nudging each other a lot during the night. I honestly felt like I was on a cheap, cheap, cheap cruise ship with a fun bunch of people.
We casually walked up to the front desk, asked for the form to fill out for our "free" tickets (we still have to pay a $49 fee), and quickly got out of there! Once we were out of sight, we started laughing hysterically and bringing up funny points that were said or that happened. If anything, it was a fun memory that we made together, but are we suckers or what?! Oh, and by the way, Smokey asked us to recommend any local friends who would be interested in hearing about these packages. Hmmmm......what names did we give out?
14 comments:
So funny! I bet you will never do this again. But you know what? Everyone needs to try this "free" thing once.
We did it our first year of marriage. It was the same sort of thing. We promised each other, as we walked away from the sells pitch, that we would never do this again!
Donna Graham! I'm gonna ring your neck. Can you see Max and me in there w/ those jokers? The only thing is...Max prolly REALLY would eat those nasty ham sandwiches.
I think I know exactly the place on Gold Hill you are talking about. Can you go ANYWHERE w/ those tickets or just to certain places? When do you get them?
And what BRANIAC/marketing guru would have Burn Baby Burn playing at an event like that?
SUCKAH!!!!!!!
Donna, I have to comment on this one because Roy called yesterday at 4:30 and said he was late for his meeting in Rock Hill. I wondered what his meeting was but didn't ask. We are suckers too! If fact, we went to one of these on Gold Hill Road about a year ago and the same thing except we did have a group time with a short movie about all of the wonderful places we could go for the rest of our lives! When we finally were able to get out of there after saying, "no, we are not going to finance this" - we noticed all of the salespeople in their break room just sitting around looking pretty rough, probably depressed and some hanging out behind the store front puffing away! We did however go to Atlantic Beach on one of the Fairfield Resort sales pitches early in our marriage and then to Williamsburg later on - but did have to endure the 90 min high pressure presentations and LOUD disco music and shouts and clapping when someone bought in - yep, brings back memories!! Good time, good times...... So, wow, we really are suckahs!!!
I remember one summer when we were at Myrtle Beach. I think it was before any of you girls were married. Anyway, I talked Daddy into going with me to a timeshare presentation....no strings attached....and we would get $200. We went, and it was pretty much the same scenario. It was so funny when every little while there would be clapping, shouting, and loud exclaiming as people "signed on". We finally got out of there after our HIGH PRESSURE sales pitches by various representatives and managers. Funny how they're soooo friendly and interested in you when you walk in, but then they change their colors when they KNOW they can't get you to buy in. You end up walking out without even a good bye!! BTW....Daddy told me to never do that to him again. He said he'd give me $200 if I wanted it that badly!!
Just LOL as you re-cap your story from last night! Can't wait to see where you go with your two free tickets! :O) Thanks for letting me keep the kids. They are too cute!
I will learn from this story and NEVER do that. That's funny and it's good you can laugh at your experience and have a good time with it. I can just picture Roy talking and dealing with those guys. I would have been laughing like crazy when the people started cheering, etc.
Ok Donna, I howled at this one! And I'm laughing at HPS saying that Max would actually eat those sandwiches...so would MY husband too...he ain't scared of free food!
Did you feel kinda like you were on candid camera? That is hilarious - the music, the food, the smoker's cough...GREAT story!
BTDT - recently, in fact. We just did a time share gimmick in Gatlinburg for a free trip. I know, I know - GATLINBURG??? But let me explain - I'd never been before, so I never got the Gatlinburg jokes. I've been to 47 states, but not Gatlinburg. So, Ben hesitantly agreed to go (he's been before). Never again. Gatlinburg, that is. I'll do the time share gig for something else free, but I'll need to forget the agony of this last one first.
That is so funny! We sat through 90 minutes of that for free Dixie Stampede tickets once! Where did you get those pictures?! That is hilarious! And ham sandwiches to boot!
Oh my! Now that is funny! I would like to know what words you typed to google those pictures of the people that were there.
I am with HPS & Jennifer, Mark would have hesitated to dig into the sandwiches!
Like everyone else we have also done this. But strangely enough it was not a bad experience. We got 3 free nights at a nice hotel in Myrtle Beach, $50 for meals and only had to listen to a 2 hour presentation. We got to do it in the morning so it didnt interfere with prime sun bathing time. They didnt pressure us too much...they probably could sense we didnt have any money. however, the young and single salesman did tell us that he purchased his time share before he bought a house and thought it was a better investment. He suggested we do the same. WOW! Obviously he was either not very bright or totally lying. We were actually considering doing it again. But now that I hear everyones story, I am not sure we would have the same luck twice.
I am laughing at Mr. Reber telling Jenius he would give her $200 if she wanted it that badly.
Oh yes..our Cabo trip in November! All the husbands went to the time share thing..only took them ALL DAY Yes, ONE whole day of our family vacation! Same thing too, a smoker for the "Big" boss, and clapping every time another suckah was born!
We also went to one in Dallas when we were first married, I think we were supposed to get some kind of travel coupon too, but we ended up with a blow up catamaran (whatever that is) that you had to pay $125 to have delivered! No thanks!
Too funny! We had this same thing pulled on us in Branson..
Ha ha ha! I'm REALLY laughing OUT LOUD! The way you described everything....the ham sandwiches. OH MY! I'll bet people were stuffing them in their purses and taking them home. Sounds like a fun date night though. LOTS of people watching.
Don't be surprised if and when you use those tickets, that "smoker" shows up again.
Okay, another thing about the sandwiches. I would have been thinking who prepared these and did they wash their hands??? I can just picture it...they were probably on white bread cut into triangles right?
Oh No, I can't believe Donna and Roy Graham fell for that. I am a little ashamed! But hey, you got a great blog post out of the deal. BTW - While we are on the subject, I have a "business" opportunity I would like to talk to you about. LOL!
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