Tourists beware

[Jual]

of people handing out free scratchies in Bali where you may win a prize but have to go with them to collect it. It may be to lure you to a very slick, hard sell timeshare promotion. What the salesperson tells you is not necessarily in the contract. Insist on reading everything including fine print word for word if you are tempted to sign up. There was no cooling off period as in small print our contract was governed by the laws of the British Virgin Islands. Hope to save others the heartache we have experienced. :evil:

[charlie]

i do feel for you but why didn't you go away and think about it ?? Or read the fine print when signing such a thing?? :shock:

[Roy]

I’ve heard more about time share scams in the last year or so than ever before. Some recent visitors have claimed that within minutes of checking into their hotels, there is a phone call to their room inviting them to party...a sort of “get to know Bali” kind of thing.

Those who have attended these parties later found out it was get together, of others who answered the invite...some drinks, all followed by a “hard sell” time share presentation.

There is nothing wrong with time share, so why is it so often deceptively marketed?

If this kind of crap continues, it could have a very bad impact on Bali tourism. This kind of BS has got to cleaned up, and cleaned up fast. I’m not in the tourism business, so I leave this to my expat friends who are the professionals in this field.

[charlie]

The latest i have heard is that immigration is giving the info to the companies. Your entry card at immigration has all your details including the hotel you intend to stay at!!!

I worked for a timeshare company in bali about 9 years ago - i wasn't in sales but i did leave because of the reputation it was getting and admittedly there are some pushy sales people out there but it doesn't stop the buyer from saying NO.

The most annoying thing is the touts but i know alot of them personally and i know how it works and they're all on commission only - no base salary for these young kids and with tourism in Bali the way it has been they've just gotten pushier....

There is nothing wrong with time share, so why is it so often deceptively marketed?

i have often asked myself this same question and still haven't found the answer!!!

[Ipanema]

I was just in Bali and got a phone call at my hotel regarding this. Just said I already had a Time Share one purchased through a scratchie but I have just sold it.

I agree there is nothing wrong with Time Share - I think it is a great concept and there are more people owing them then you think. Unfortunately it is a hard sell and it does seem to put some people off ok most people.

I would like to see the Time Share people changed their sales pitch.

[Sparky]

Bunch of tossers and conmen those offering the scratch card prizes.

If something looks to good to be true it usually is so carry on walking and dont give them a second of your time or your there for the taking. My policy has always been to take them for the ride which i have done on several occaissons. Been up took the nibbles and then revealed i am from the BBC and have my video camera poking out my holdall at them.

They soon lose interest in you although make sure you are not way up in the hills as thet usually dont psy for your taxi back as they feel rather annoyed. Lovely jubbly...bring em on...you cant conn a conman.

Sparks are flying

[Sanurian]

Galleria Mall. Two weeks ago. I wandered in through one of the entrances and there was a local guy trying to hand everybody "scratchy" things. I didn't take one. Had other things to do like get a special cable made for my hi-fi/computer setup. Took a couple of hours so I went and had a few (very expensive) drinks in Planet Hollywood. No problem. But no escape...when I was leaving, the same guy approached me again. Maybe I was feeling more "mellow" than when I came so this time, I wanted to see what his story was.

Scratch - scratch...You haven't won just "anything", you've won the "Star Prize". Yeah, sure. And what's that, exactly? I forget the details now but it was supposedly something like a couple of thousand US dollars in cash, a bunch of vouchers or a "top brand name" video camera. Oh, and plus a free T-shirt. I really was in a hurry to get back home to check my new cables. The guy said I had to go with him right now (he'd pay for the taxi there and back to some joint in Nusa Dua). His jaw dropped dramatically when he realised I was serious about not going anywhere.

The "fine print" meant I had to sit through 90 minutes of a promo for time-share stuff (with free snacks and "drinks"). I regard myself as only half-stupid and I didn't have the time anyway. I've still got my scratchies. And I'm still considering going to the venue just for the heck of it, but by myself. And if I do that, I already know which "prize" I'll get. Vouchers for time-shares and maybe a T-shirt (plus a headache, for sure). No expensive camera in sight.

Sometimes I go along with this kind of bullshit for the principle of the thing. I want to know how they weedle their way out of it. When I have the time, I'll give it a blast. And if, I know something more concrete, I'll let everybody know. Nobody should get overly excited about this.

On the other hand, what if it turns out to be "true" and I walk away with a stomach full of softdrinks, a headache, the handphone numbers of a bunch of beautiful "staff" feeding me "snacks", and so on? Stay tuned.

A damned hard way to get a "free" T-shirt. The video camera is on the way, right? The ink on the cash "dollars" probably hasn't dried yet. That's OK - I'll be careful.

I don't, for a moment, deny the rights of people getting involved in this crap. We all have to make a living somehow. It's a sad scenario, but there are many Indonesians who think they might get something out of it. They picked the wrong guy in my case. Better they told their story of hardship to my face and I wouldn't have spent all that money in Planet Hollywood. Or something like that.

Truth is cheaper than fiction...or something like that.
:cry:

[Ipanema]

Sanurian

We must have the same luck. :) I was a 'winner' some years ago in the very same way you were. I was stupid enough to believe him and I was taken to Peninsula Beach Resort. Yes I won all those prizes as well but somehow just came away the a T Shirt and a Time share and all I got was a drink. :(

Anyway I sold my timeshare to someone from Perth just recently. I can see there are good points to them but since buying it I come to Bali three times a year to fill containers and it did not make sense to stay at Nusa Dua.

[chickchili]

I dont get what people's issue is with the timeshare sellers. Yeah I agree that the pushiness can get a bit much but its no worse and often a lot less than any of the other hawkers and if its not your thing then all you gotta do is just say no. And while I agree that parts of Kuta and Legian seem to be kneedeep in timeshare touts at the moment I prefer to see them than the many many small children who are being exploited and used to guilt trip tourists out of their cash on the same corners as the touts. And the prize winning? Well we have had two holidays out of it staying at luxury resorts and all its cost us has been a free ride in a taxi, drinks and nibbles and 90 minutes or so of our time. Plus the tout gets to keep his commission. Whats the problem with that? I agree that there is no video camera and no $1000 waiting for you but I'm more interested in the accommodation anyway. :D

[Sanurian]

Hi there Tina,

...I was a 'winner' some years ago in the very same way you were. I was stupid enough to believe him and I was taken to Peninsula Beach Resort. Yes I won all those prizes as well but somehow just came away the a T Shirt and a Time share and all I got was a drink...

You're dead right - the same trip. But you did get a T-shirt and a "drink". You didn't say if you got a headache as well.

I will go an "interview" them as soon as I'm able. Actually, I'm supposed to be getting 2 T-shirts. We'll see. Still seems hard work for sweet FA. What "drink" did you get? No matter, I'll take my own, just in case. Hope "the security" doesn't take it off me. (Little chance of that.)

:)