BajaNomad - Loreto Warning

Loreto Warning

californio - 12-26-2008 at 06:31 PM

Visitors to Loreto:

Avoid contact with the legions of predatory Time-share and Condo salespeople who seem to have overrun Loreto.

Friends, who recently visited us, were accosted on the street in front of Café Ole. They asked the salesman to leave them alone, and then warned their traveling companions not to speak with him. The salesman then became threatening, and called them “Gringo *******s”, to go back to the States, and not to interfere with Mexican business.

The salespeople are now disguised as wait-staff in restaurants, wearing the apron of employees of Pescador Supermarket and pretend to be very interested in your well-being. They will offer free trips, free meals and other incentives to tie you up for hours of high-pressure pitch.

Warn your friends.

If approached in a restaurant or other venue, we suggest that you tell the proprietor that you will not return.

There are some very nice Condos and Time-shares (and other real estate) in the Loreto area. If interested, I suggest that you ask around for directions to a reputable Real Estate agent .

[Edited on 12-27-2008 by californio]

[Edited on 12-27-2008 by californio]

Baja&Back - 12-26-2008 at 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by californio
There are some very nice Condos and Time-shares (and other real estate) in the Loreto area. If interested, I suggest that you ask around for directions to a certified and reputable Real Estate agent .

Certified?
I've been told that there is no board to certify realtors in Mexico, and that anyone can open shop and call themselves a real estate agent with no training.
Also that numerous people improperly use names and logos of American realty organizations without much fear of legal reprocussions due to lax Mexican trademark laws.

Anyone know the real skinny on this subject??
Thanks.

Paulclark - 12-26-2008 at 08:42 PM

There is no "realtor" licencing or certification in Mexico, however there is a professional association, with rules of ethics, which is recognized by the American and Canadian Real Estate Associations and the Mexican Government and is called AMPI. An AMPI member can use the international designation "Realtor". If you are dealing with a realtor in Mexico ask if they are a member of AMPI.

californio - 12-26-2008 at 08:45 PM

Folks that are familiar with Loreto know that there are some trustworthy real estate agents in Loreto who were experienced and licensed in USA and Canada, and then there are the charletans.
As said before, check with locals for recommendations.

ckiefer - 12-26-2008 at 09:10 PM

If you are approached at the market tell them you are a local, you own a home and are not interested in purchasing a time-share or more property. Works for me!

Don Alley - 12-27-2008 at 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ckiefer
If you are approached at the market tell them you are a local, you own a home and are not interested in purchasing a time-share or more property. Works for me!

I was approached at the market. I told him they needed to get more Cheerios. :biggrin:

Skeet/Loreto - 12-27-2008 at 09:05 AM

Tell them that you can't stay and talk to them as you just Escraped from a Mental Prison, the Federales are chasing you. That you just killed two People with a hatchet.

That works for me everytime.

vandenberg - 12-27-2008 at 09:12 AM

Hey, come to think of it,
now there's a nice target to try your pepper spray on :biggrin:

ligui - 12-27-2008 at 09:20 AM

Does anyone know what their web site with timeshare info is ?

Would like to see what their sales pitch is ,,,

backninedan - 12-27-2008 at 12:28 PM

Fleeceagringo.com

Phil S - 12-27-2008 at 02:35 PM

Dan......... Heee heee heeee.
I checked that 'website'. It's still available. Grab onto it quick. That address could make you a bunch of money!!!!!!!! Phil & Wendy

Russ - 12-27-2008 at 03:20 PM

That's a RIOT! :lol:

Bajahowodd - 12-27-2008 at 03:51 PM

It reminds me of Cabo in the early 90's. And with the current economy, they are only going to get more pushy. Less money to go around. In good economic times, there's hundreds of millions of dollars to be made when one considers each unit can be sold up to 52 times for $25-$30,000. I had an incident occur to me in Cabo years ago. Flew in. Was renting a car at Thrifty. One of the guys there was a timeshare shill. Tried to sign us up for one of those breakfasts of powdered eggs and hard sell. I turned him down. Since I have credit card protection, I normally refuse the extra charge for collision/ comprehensive insurance. He strangely was insistent that I should buy the coverage. I still refused. Since we were picking up another party, on a later flight, we returned to the airport. Parked the car and went into the terminal. As I was entering the terminal, I saw this same guy standing there. When we picked up our party and went back to the car, my friend noticed that the Nissan's hood emblem was missing. I had inspected the car before driving off from the agency and knew there was nothing wrong with the car. What a trick. They get the car back, try and charge me for the missing badge. Then put it back on.
So, I drove directly back to Thrifty, made a big stink. ( the timeshare guy wasn't there.) They made a note and did not charge me.

Ken Cooke - 12-27-2008 at 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by californio

The salespeople are now disguised as wait-staff in restaurants, wearing the apron of employees of Pescador Supermarket and pretend to be very interested in your well-being. They will offer free trips, free meals and other incentives to tie you up for hours of high-pressure pitch.

Exactly 1 yr. ago, I was in Santa Marta del Rodadero in Northern Colombia, and the EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED.

I wanted a nice place to stay the next night, and the salesman promised "free drinks", and a $50 discount, AND A FREE RIDE BACK INTO TOWN. When we arrived, it was 2 hrs of High Pressure sales to the tune of $90 per month, 2 sodas and NO RIDE BACK INTO TOWN.

I don't care where you happen to be in Latin America, I would avoid these people like blood-sucking parasitic mosquitos!

Stickers - 12-27-2008 at 06:35 PM

I was on the mainland in San Miguel de Allende for 8 days in the middle of tourist season and noticed that the practice of 'hawking' time-shares seems to be against the law.
Never once did we get asked, or in any way approached by anyone except a couple of chicklet youngsters. It was quite relaxing to be left alone.
Someone said that the mayor of San Miguel has his eye on the presidency of Mexico and I for one like his style.

ckiefer - 12-27-2008 at 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ken Cooke

Quote:

Forget the pepper spray....whip out the DEET!!

805gregg - 12-27-2008 at 07:38 PM

My wife and I got the same thing in Matzatlan.

cajhawk - 12-29-2008 at 11:13 AM

One reason I like La Paz. Though there are a few in the airport trying to get you to Cabo, it is relatively timeshare free.