We went to one near San Diego, Ca for our free stay. After entering the park, taking a quick peek, and talking with our rep, we turned around and went back to the park we just came from. Was real happy to pay for our stay at the other place.
2006 32' Keystone Everest
2001 Ford F-250 Super Duty 7.3 Power Stroke Diesel
1971 Camaro in storage Keep A Light On, We're On Our Way
Highway Stars wrote: We went to one near San Diego, Ca for our free stay. After entering the park, taking a quick peek, and talking with our rep, we turned around and went back to the park we just came from. Was real happy to pay for our stay at the other place.
We did one of those in San Diego - it wasn't TT but something different.
We wisely planned our "tour and bashing session" with the salesman on our last morning of the trip. What they don't know is that we're so tight with our money and budget that we squeak when we walk.
By scheduling it for the end of the "free" weekend, we were able to enjoy the weekend and the activities (which most got cancelled for some reason or other). It was kind of a joke because by the time we bought it, paid for it and made the monthly "upkeep" fees, we would be spending almost $15,000. Hmmm - we can do LOTS of camping on our own over 5 years and still not spend that much money. We got a good laugh but we're quickly kicked out of the sales office when we started asking "real questions" that they didn't like or couldn't answer and we got the cold shoulder pretty quick and were told to leave and not come back.
Keep in mind - nothing is "free" in this world. There are always strings attached.
The funny thing about TT is that, in my opinion, it is a pretty good set of parks for reasonable $$$, but their sales people are second only to child molesters. Once you have the membership, it is enjoyable experience. Especially here in the Northwest, there are great parks on the coast and in the mountains. You can pretty much full time ( if you want) on $500/year in nice, well maintained parks around OR and WA. Also my experience with TT corporate customer service is very positive. Yet almost everyone who attends their presentations comes of with such a negative experience that does not want to deal with TT anymore. I think the company should do something about that. They really need to keep those sales people up to particular ethical standards. On the other hand, one can ( and should ) avoid them altogether by buying resale. The secondary market is a partial explanation of why the sales people are so mean and act like losers. How can you have any integrity, and be selling something to good citizens ( mostly older folks) that you know they can buy online for 10-20% of what you are asking them to pay? I think it borderlines with embezzlement.
The post you made is very nice epifan, but the sales people out in the field , WORK for the management of the company (ie: the money men and thier actions protray the beliefs for such).
Customer service people are good people and try to help, BUT their hands are tied by the money people.
Truth is, TT is a good thing for the west coasters , BUT their tactics border on the Ponzi scheme, if not actually being one. Their money collecting and charges are in most cases illegal.
However, you are correct in your statements. You are aware that TT only OWNS five parks are you not? The rest being LEASED for a certain amount of time.
It does make you wonder when they are selling something that you can buy elsewhere at a dime on the dollar. there are many pitfalls that you must avoid when buying one of these memberships, and I wish people here that have experienced them would warn about them rather than just say "yep it's really great".
I still think that a lot of the purchasers are neophytes in RVing and a little naive, and are impressed with the talk of family activities, camping, etc. I mean, it won't be long before your tykes are teens and don't want anything to do with their parents, and especially not be cooped up in a TT with them for any period of time. So take off the rose colored glasses, think it through, calculate out the economics of it, then decide what's best for you.
bumpy
benbovac wrote: We also would never go back. They wanted my wife, that was sitting with our 3 month old daughter, as she was taking a nap to attend. We told them no and just left. We get almost weekly calls from TT offering free nights, I just hang up on them.
When you go to a TT presentation you go with the full knowledge that both husband and wife must attend the presentation. People that take advantage of the camping offer but then are not willing to commit to their end of the bargain or make excuses why they can't attend the sales pitch probably wouldn't make good TT members anyhow. TT members have integrity and are responsible people that meet their obligations. Your baby could have slept anywhere including in their sales office on your wife's lap. And in case you are wondering, the answer is "no", I am not a TT sales person nor do I work for them in any way.
we offered to pay for our weekend and they said no!! we must attend the seminar. Sorry, dont really care what you think, but our daughter was sick and we finally got her to sleep and were not about to wake her. So again we just left...and for some reason we still get calls offering us free stays.
benbovac wrote: We also would never go back. They wanted my wife, that was sitting with our 3 month old daughter, as she was taking a nap to attend. We told them no and just left. We get almost weekly calls from TT offering free nights, I just hang up on them.
When you go to a TT presentation you go with the full knowledge that both husband and wife must attend the presentation. People that take advantage of the camping offer but then are not willing to commit to their end of the bargain or make excuses why they can't attend the sales pitch probably wouldn't make good TT members anyhow. TT members have integrity and are responsible people that meet their obligations. Your baby could have slept anywhere including in their sales office on your wife's lap. And in case you are wondering, the answer is "no", I am not a TT sales person nor do I work for them in any way.
we offered to pay for our weekend and they said no!! we must attend the seminar. Sorry, dont really care what you think, but our daughter was sick and we finally got her to sleep and were not about to wake her. So again we just left...and for some reason we still get calls offering us free stays.
OK, let me try spell few things out that I hope will help some of you avoid the pitfalls.
1. Does TT make economic sense once you have it?
I can only speak for the Northwest, but if you live in OR, WA or plan on camping around these states then there are many parks on the coast and up in the mountains that are very nice. Most of similar parks would charge $25-$50 / night. So if you plan on camping more than three weeks a year then it does make economics sense. For example we spent last week in Mt. Hood Village ( an add-on park that is regularly $43/night ) and it was great. Of course if you plan on camping more than a month or two then it makes a lot of sense. Nice thing about these parks is that you can usually get a spot on a short notice, whereas even private parks are often booked during peak times.
2. What are the "pitfalls" of buying the membership?
Rule a: never even think about buying from sales people. Just pretend they do not exist. No matter what they tell you, think they are just ghosts.
Rule b. Find a good deal on craigslist/ebay. I would say a good deal is under $2K for a national and $1K for a regional with transfer fee included. Contact the seller and ask for the membership number. Then call 1-800 TT customer service and ask to talk to the "transfer department". Give them the membership number and ask whatever questions you may have. I would ask the following:
- which parks are included?
- how long I can stay?
- how long between stays?
- how much $$$ per year?
- can I transfer/sell it?
- what the transfer fee will be when I sell it?
- how much is current transfer fee? ( that should be part of the price)
- can I just stop paying dues and abandon it?
maybe something else
After, you are satisfied with what you are buying, go ahead and make the seller do the paperwork, and after about 90 days you will be good to go.
OK, let me try spell few things out that I hope will help some of you avoid the pitfalls.
Rule b. Find a good deal on craigslist/ebay. I would say a good deal is under $2K for a national and $1K for a regional with transfer fee included.
Hope this helps.
Epifan,
I agree, but 2K for a national would depend on whether it is Gold or Platinum or Alliance, or how many nights for "free", 50 or unlimited...
I guess what I am saying is that there are about 80-100 variables when it comes to purchasing TT, and that includes on the craigslist/ebay market.
I just bought a platinum with unlimited "free" nights. Some were $549.00 dues for 50 nights $5.00 per night thereafter, with $1200 dues for unlimited. Mine has unlimited for the $549 dues. Have to consider all aspects when price shopping..
My 2cents worth,
Brian
Brian
2004.5 Dodge Ram Quad Cab 4-door CTD, Quadzilla ZXT, S&B intake, Aero Turbine 4040L muffler with 5" SS exhaust tip, HP Laramie Package, 4X4 Graphite 2 tone, 4.10 Auto, Nasta Nerf bars, Arma Coating bedliner.
Offline
What Trailer?
