found this while researching information our the Waterkeeper poster session in La Paz next week. Sounds like a lousy way to spend a day (or even 90
minutes) on your vacation...
the post is in Spanish but I will translate it so that people can see that you donīt get something for nothing, then I will follow this with a
question-
We went to Loreto to do activities (whale watching, visit MISSION SAN JAVIer, snorkeling, etc.). A person came up to us on the street to tell us
about their activities packages. He gave us a good price so we agreed.
Afterwards he gave us a free breakfast and a good price for the Santa Fe Hotel there in Loreto if we would attend a presentation of only 90 minutes.
We fell into the trap because of the price of the activities package, but the presentation went on from 8am to 1pm (5 hours) and not 90 minutes and we
wasted a whole day of activities . At the end we never did any activities (they canceled every day) and we wasted a day of our vacation in the
presentation. These were super rude and abrasive people...they completely forgot we were their clients. After doing absolutely nothing for us, at
least they gave us back our money for the activities we never did. But what a waste of time and energy! Be careful!
********original spanish version
"Fuimos a Loreto para hacer actividades (ver ballenas, visitar la mision San Javier, snorkeling, etc.). Una persona se nos acerco en la calle para
decirnos de sus paquetes de actividades. Nos hizo buen precio y dijimos que si.
Despues nos dijo de un desayuno gratis y un buen precio en el hotel Santa Fe alli en Loreto si asistiamos a una presentacion de solo 90 minutos.
Caimos en la trampa por el precio del paquete de actividades, pero la presentacion duro de 8am a 1pm (5 horas) y no 90 minutos y ya perdimos un dia de
actividades. Final de cuentas no hicieron ninguna actividad (cancelaron todos los dias) y perdimos un dia de nuestras vacaciones en su presentacion.
Eran personas super groseras y peleoneras...se olvidaron por completo que somos los clientes. Despues de cumplir con nada, por lo menos nos regresaron
el dinero para las actividades que nunca hicimos. Pero que perdida de tiempo y energia! Mucho cuidado!!"
OK my question, I read a Gringo Gazette recently that mentioned Los Cabos having some kind of regulation on timeshare sales practices. Does anyone
know about this? thanks
PAM
desertcpl - 6-5-2010 at 05:56 PM
I dont mean to be rude ,, but this has been going on for years with Time Shares people they are rude and crude, and in some cases fraudulent,
deceiving and damm right off the chart with what they doPaula - 6-5-2010 at 07:35 PM
This is a relatively new thing here in Loreto.
The tourists who do come here are generally looking for an alternative to the hype and hustle of Cabo, and these guys could really damage the already
fragile tourism industry we have here. I wish these people would just give up here, as Loreto doesn't really have what they are selling~~ white sand,
tropical weather, and glamourous nightlife. They may be offering (fraudulently, perhaps) ecotourism, but they just don't get it.
Best to go looking for what you want in vacation activities, avoid people who make too-good-to-be-true offers on the street, and never barter away
even 15 minutes of your vacation time.ncampion - 6-5-2010 at 08:48 PM
I understand that they have just about given up on recruiting people off the streets of Loreto to buy those timeshares. They now recruit people from
Cabo and La Paz, fly them down to Loreto, put them up at the Santa Fe and haul them out to the project for the pitch. At least they don't annoy us
while walking down the street anymore. There's big money behind that development so I don't think it will "go away", and hopefully it's far enough
from town so that people out there will stay out there and leave the town as is. Just my two pesos.
new sales techniques to Loreto
flyfishinPam - 6-6-2010 at 10:13 AM
Quote:
Originally posted by desertcpl
I dont mean to be rude ,, but this has been going on for years with Time Shares people they are rude and crude, and in some cases fraudulent,
deceiving and damm right off the chart with what they do
no you are not rude and I am glad Paula clarified what I wrote. I was doing a quick search and found it interesting...because local professionals in
the eco tourism industry are pretty po'ed about this exact topic. As Paula states their being a-holes will put a bitter taste in these tourist's
mouth and likely avoid Loreto in the future. Good news is that we are organizing and I thought someone may be familiar with this ordinance that is in
Cabo. Of course I will find out on my own but sometimes little questions and bits of information are responded to very quickly on this forum.
and yes they ARE bothering what few tourists Loreto has, I hear it from my clients, and hotel and restaurant owners and employees hear about it from
their clients too. without a progressive and fair business opportunities for everyone who wants to share the pie, Loreto will no longer be an
appealing destination.
bottom line is the bottom line. if they don't sell they won't exist. simply put they rely on sales to maintain the sham and no it is not new.desertcpl - 6-6-2010 at 11:03 AM
But dont take me wrong,, I really am not against Time Shares, I think for alot of folks it works for them. I know a few that loves them and has had
them for years,,
but what turns me so off , is the trickery and the deceiving ways they go about it, If they want to sell them conduct business like other professional
real estate firmsBajahowodd - 6-6-2010 at 12:24 PM
Even if there were some type of regulations about the sales practices, who will monitor them? Nobody gets away after 90 minutes, no matter where the
timeshare is. The Villa Group has projects all over Mexico. They have an awful lot of room/ weeks to sell at their newest project nearby Loreto. First
phase will have 100 suites. They're building on 1800 acres that will also include a golf course. Perhaps the only good news is that most likely, once
the actual Villa Del Palmar is open, they will be doing their hard sell out there, away from town. My understanding is that with respect to the Santa
Fe property, it will just be a hotel. They did a fairly nice job on it, might I add. Here's the thing. Anyone can stay there. They don't have to sign
up for a time share presentation. They just have to live without getting the "special discount".desertcpl - 6-6-2010 at 12:58 PM
I really cant agree with you that they will keep away from town,, I think just the opposite they will be in town and the airport in even larger
numbersdtbushpilot - 6-6-2010 at 01:14 PM
I've stayed at the Santa Fe several times, it's nice and a good value right now plus its right next door to Domingos. I only stop for an overnight in
Loreto so I don't need to be near the Malecon. I just want to shower, eat a nice steak dinner and go to bed. They do have a nice pool and Jacuzi too
but I've never tried it out.
They always nicely ask me if they could show me around and make a sales pitch which I decline saying I live in MX and only stop in Loreto while
traveling back and forth. That's always been good enough and they have never pushed it.Bajahowodd - 6-6-2010 at 02:06 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by dtbushpilot
I've stayed at the Santa Fe several times, it's nice and a good value right now plus its right next door to Domingos. I only stop for an overnight in
Loreto so I don't need to be near the Malecon. I just want to shower, eat a nice steak dinner and go to bed. They do have a nice pool and Jacuzi too
but I've never tried it out.
They always nicely ask me if they could show me around and make a sales pitch which I decline saying I live in MX and only stop in Loreto while
traveling back and forth. That's always been good enough and they have never pushed it.
We have stayed at Hacienda Suites for the very reasons you mentioned. Have to believe that the folks that own Hacienda are hurting, what with Santa Fe
being on the next block.Bajahowodd - 6-6-2010 at 02:12 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by desertcpl
I really cant agree with you that they will keep away from town,, I think just the opposite they will be in town and the airport in even larger
numbers
Just thinking that if you are correct, Loreto will end up with the worst of all possible situations. Since the Villa Del Palmar will be quite some
distance from town, and be virtually self-contained with restaurants and a golf course, I would imagine that many folks that stay there might not even
venture into town to enrich the local merchants and restaurants. At the same time, what with the Santa Fe being in town, there would still be quite a
hustle going on there. I suppose, if it in any way reflects Cabo, there may be quite a boon to the local taxi industry.
