Luv Bunnies
DIS Veteran
- Joined
- Sep 3, 2006
We're going to DL for a few days before Thanksgiving and decided to try the new Homewood Suites. It seems to get great reviews here and on TripAdvisor. Part of my decision was based on needing a place with a larger parking lot that would allow us to park well before check-in time. I was concerned that a hotel with a smaller lot would not have space for us to park at 9:00 a.m. on check-in day. So I called the Homewood and was told that parking wouldn't be a problem, and we could even get into our room early if it was ready.
I ended up changing our dates by one day and went online to modify the reservation. I decided to call the hotel and make sure it went through correctly, and that our reservation now showed the correct dates in their system. After the agent confirmed that my reservation was all set, she quickly rattled off something that because I was a Hilton Honors member, I was eligible for 500 free points and discounts on future stays. She said she would transfer me so I could accept my "rewards."
That's when the extreme, slightly strong-armed sales pitch began. I had been transferred to an agent trying to sell Hilton timeshares. She said I would get the extra points just by listening to a description of their properties in either Las Vegas, Orlando, Hawaii, or New York. I said, "OK, tell me about Orlando." She read me the offer, $199 for three nights, and a 2-hour tour of their property. OK. Timeshare pitch. Not interested. I guess my mistake was trying to be polite. She went on trying to sell it, saying I would only have to pay the $199 today and I could use it anytime in the next six months. I said, "Nope. We're definitely not going to Orlando in the next six months." After more back and forth, she said, "OK, so I just have to close this call out. Would it be safe for me to say that you can't afford the $199 right now?" I think she was trying to offend me into buying it. I said, "No, I choose not to accept this offer right now but thanks anyway" and I hung up.
This kind of left a bad taste in my mouth about Hilton. I simply called to confirm a reservation. I was told I qualified for a promotion through Hilton Honors. Then I was given a hard-sell that turned kind of rude at the end. I should have hung up as soon as I realized it was about timeshares. But just a simple call like confirming a reservation should be quick and easy. I'm even considering finding another hotel, but most are booked for my dates. Anyone else have this kind of experience? Does the Homewood try to give you a timeshare pitch when you check-in?
I ended up changing our dates by one day and went online to modify the reservation. I decided to call the hotel and make sure it went through correctly, and that our reservation now showed the correct dates in their system. After the agent confirmed that my reservation was all set, she quickly rattled off something that because I was a Hilton Honors member, I was eligible for 500 free points and discounts on future stays. She said she would transfer me so I could accept my "rewards."
That's when the extreme, slightly strong-armed sales pitch began. I had been transferred to an agent trying to sell Hilton timeshares. She said I would get the extra points just by listening to a description of their properties in either Las Vegas, Orlando, Hawaii, or New York. I said, "OK, tell me about Orlando." She read me the offer, $199 for three nights, and a 2-hour tour of their property. OK. Timeshare pitch. Not interested. I guess my mistake was trying to be polite. She went on trying to sell it, saying I would only have to pay the $199 today and I could use it anytime in the next six months. I said, "Nope. We're definitely not going to Orlando in the next six months." After more back and forth, she said, "OK, so I just have to close this call out. Would it be safe for me to say that you can't afford the $199 right now?" I think she was trying to offend me into buying it. I said, "No, I choose not to accept this offer right now but thanks anyway" and I hung up.
This kind of left a bad taste in my mouth about Hilton. I simply called to confirm a reservation. I was told I qualified for a promotion through Hilton Honors. Then I was given a hard-sell that turned kind of rude at the end. I should have hung up as soon as I realized it was about timeshares. But just a simple call like confirming a reservation should be quick and easy. I'm even considering finding another hotel, but most are booked for my dates. Anyone else have this kind of experience? Does the Homewood try to give you a timeshare pitch when you check-in?