Shell Vacations - Hawaii
I usually don't use my soapbox (blog) to complain, but once in a while there's something I think people should know about, and avoid.
We recently took a trip to Hawaii, and stayed in Kailua Kona. While walking the boardwalks down by the beach, you'll notice LOTS of "discounted stuff to do" vendors, who will sign you up for a timeshare presentation in exchange for discounted things like snorkel cruises, helicopter flights, etc.
One of those, is Shell Vacations Club. When we signed up for the presentation, we thought, "Hey, we'll take an hour and a half and listen to what they say and at least think about it a bit." Especially in light of the fact that right on the contract it says "If you decide not to attend, you'll pay the difference between the discounted price and the full price of your chosen activities."
So we figured we could take a slight hit if we couldn't make it.
It also says in HUGE letters right in the office, TIMESHARE NOT REQUIRED.
Well, we ran out of time, and ended up going on one lame activity (the rest of our trip was much more satisfying self-guided stuff), and when we told them we couldn't make the timeshare presentation, they proceeded to to charge us full price for the activity we did go on.
This was a doubling of the price from what the contract clearly stated. When I tried to raise the point in person, then further over the phone to get them to honor their agreement, they refused.
When I wrote to their corporate office about what happened, they've refused to respond.
So, case in point, for anyone considering going to Hawaii, either avoid these guys altogether, or at least be just fine with paying full price for your activities if you choose not to go to the presentation. Shell Vacations Club will not honor the agreement you sign with them, and it can cost you.
We recently took a trip to Hawaii, and stayed in Kailua Kona. While walking the boardwalks down by the beach, you'll notice LOTS of "discounted stuff to do" vendors, who will sign you up for a timeshare presentation in exchange for discounted things like snorkel cruises, helicopter flights, etc.
One of those, is Shell Vacations Club. When we signed up for the presentation, we thought, "Hey, we'll take an hour and a half and listen to what they say and at least think about it a bit." Especially in light of the fact that right on the contract it says "If you decide not to attend, you'll pay the difference between the discounted price and the full price of your chosen activities."
So we figured we could take a slight hit if we couldn't make it.
It also says in HUGE letters right in the office, TIMESHARE NOT REQUIRED.
Well, we ran out of time, and ended up going on one lame activity (the rest of our trip was much more satisfying self-guided stuff), and when we told them we couldn't make the timeshare presentation, they proceeded to to charge us full price for the activity we did go on.
This was a doubling of the price from what the contract clearly stated. When I tried to raise the point in person, then further over the phone to get them to honor their agreement, they refused.
When I wrote to their corporate office about what happened, they've refused to respond.
So, case in point, for anyone considering going to Hawaii, either avoid these guys altogether, or at least be just fine with paying full price for your activities if you choose not to go to the presentation. Shell Vacations Club will not honor the agreement you sign with them, and it can cost you.
Labels: avoid, Hawaii, scam, Shell Vacations Club, timeshare
posted by Jon Lawrence at 12:41 PM
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2 Comments:
Hey there...just had to share my fun with Shell Vacations...
Basically, I was being accused of "taking advantage of the system." I was on VACATION. Why would I waste my vacation time with my family to try & take advantage of the system, whatever that means? We were signed up to go on the tour by a man named Jimmy who was in an Activities booth on Ali'i Drive. He asked the father of my children if we were planning on doing a lot of activities with the kids. Of course, he answered yes. So he said he would sign me up to go on a tour of your timeshare, and he signed Joe (the father of my kids) up as a guest. He said I had no obligation to buy anything...all I had to do was go through a 90-minute presentation. I told him I didn't think it was a good idea because I already own a timeshare & plus I had 3 kids & would have to take them with me. He said that would be no problem, so I agreed to go the next day.
The next morning, my son went to work out with his dad & I took my two daughters with me to go on the tour. The gentleman I sat down with looked bothered that I had my kids with me. I explained to him that I had advised Jimmy that I would need to bring my kids & that he said it would be OK. The gentleman kept asking me who is Joe? I advised that Joe is the father of my kids, and we are vacationing together (as we always do), but he does not live with me and we do not share finances & he would have no say in whether or not I decided to purchase. He looked at me like I was crazy.
He then began to ask me questions and every time I answered him, he laughed and treated me as though I was lying. For example, he asked if I own a home or rent. I advised that I own a home, and he laughed. Then he asked my annual income. When I told him my income, he laughed again. Then he asked if I was familiar with these presentations, and had I been on many in the past. I told him only once before with Fairfield, & I purchased with them. I told him that my timeshare with Fairfield was paid in full, and he laughed again. Then he told me he didn't know how he could help me. At this point I was getting upset because I was wasting my vacation time with my family to sit in on this presentation that I really didn't want to go on, only to be humiliated & discriminated against.
The gentleman called over another man to assist. I told the other man the situation and that I just wanted to get the tour over with so I could go back to vacationing with my family. He told me to hold on & he would take over. He then asks me, "Who is Joe?" So again I explain that he is the father of my kids and that we are vacationing together, but he does not live with me & would have no say in whether or not I decided to purchase. This guy then tells me that Joe has to be with me or else I cannot tour. I explained to him that I meet all the qualifications so why are they refusing to show me the presentation? He advised that he has to protect against people who are trying to "take advantage of the system."
By now I had lost all ability to be polite. This man (and the other gentleman) took one look at me...I am young, I have 3 kids, I'm a single mom...and decided that I must be lying to them & trying to swindle them. I told him that he was wasting my time & to give me my damn $20 back.
When I left the office, I was so upset I was shaking. I had never been treated so terribly before. I seriously contemplated filing a lawsuit for harrassment/discrimination. I opted instead to contact their corporate offices which, of course, got me nowhere. This company bites.
Hi Kyla,
Sorry about your rotten experience with them. We're headed back to Kona tomorrow, and rest assured, won't be going to visit any of Shell's timeshare scam shops!
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