timeshare scams

i guess i entered my name in to win some stuff at a restaurant or somewhere like that because we got a call from a timeshare place in lynden, asking if we wanting to come to a tour/presentation thing. obviously, my initial reaction was, 'heck no!' but they lured me in with the promise of a gift certificate for free gas and a free trip. we knew it was probably a scam but thought we'd check it out in case at least the gas part was true.

so off we went.

here's the thing with timeshare. if you work the system, and have good enough properties, you can make it work for you. *but* you really do have to work the system. i am not interested in timeshare, and am especially not interested in RCI - possibly because i worked there, and mostly had to deal with customers who were confused about why they 'can't get a week in the UK on anything other than a canalboat' and why they have to go to florida, the canaries, or if they're lucky, costa del sol every year.

as well as that, the rates for exchange are crazy and then there's the maintenance fees, and of course the initial payment, oh and the cost of being a member so that you can do the exchange. so, as long as you know that, you have nothing to complain about. the problem is that the people selling the timeshare do not tell you that. our 'tour guide' really tried some moves on us, and they were exactly what people would complain to me about when they were trying to book a holiday.

anyway, no, i'm not interested in timeshare, and yes the gift certificates were bunk. there are a lot of hoops to jump through, and a lot of taxes and service fees to sort through before you see the cost of the 'free' stuff they give you.

also, while the suites seemed okay there, they weren't worth thousands of dollars for one week a year and what the heck is there to do in lynden?

moral of the story? don't expect the free gifts to be free or gifts if you get asked to a timeshare presentation in lynden. great links resorts and their gifts are a total scam. well done to Don, who tried his best moves on us, and made us laugh all the way home. his 'thing' was asking the manager for extra special rates and stuff for us. oh boy... thanks for the laughs, great links.

i don't know you, but i love you

today we were at london drugs and they had roombas on sale. we're talking supersale. 140 buckaroos sale. how could we resist? ruby is charging. we have 15 days to test her out and if she doesn't work as well as we would like, she will go back to the coal mine, i mean shop.

i will post my review.

my peeps

on friday, i julie came over for a n evening of foods, buffy (with gerry, while i did laundry) and some scrab action. good times. we met up with nicole for brunch and had a good gossip fest about my old work. oh, and the brunch was delicious!! YUMMY! guess i should blog about the cafe on eating out white rock.

saturday i got to watch the canucks beat the avalanche. it was a pretty boring game, but they did win, so now they've clinched the NW division title.

saturday night rachel, danielle and ian came over and we chatted, ate some food (i made pizza, and have to say, i was really impressed with the dough recipe i used. super easy) and had a quiet but nice evening.

now i have to work and then get ready for easter dinner at the stewart house! whoot!

found it!

last night gerry set up a surprise easter egg mystery hunt for me! how fun and surprising! also, how silly of him to think i would be able to wait until morning once i knew there were eggs hidden around the house and a big puzzle to solve at the end.