Original Message:
Re: AVOID VIDA Vacations (los cabos experience) at all costs!!! (by Jim R.):
We had a very similar experience in Puerto Vallarata. VERY high pressure. "Patty" from Texas was called in when we 1st refused to signup - at $199,000, he went through further long explanations about why it is clearly nonsensical to turn down this great offer! He then cut the $199k down to $89k and then called in a "special deal" from a current couple who was foreclosing after not being to continue to pay on their Vida financed loan ( this foreclosure was apparently uncommon but then it turns out only uncommon because Patty was offering it early in the day). The deal was then cut to $49k and then to $19k. I again explained I'd never make an investment without further research and thought. Patty indicated this approach was quite unusual. Tellingly, he then waved his arm around the cavernous room filled with other sales pushers, saying "see the pictures of all the people who come back" to buy after they leave - the walls were empty of photos. Hmm, wonder why people who think and research, and don't respond to the HIGH PRESSURE urgency, don't come back. Maybe this isn't so darn wonderful. Patty told us of the competition amongst the sales teams for their bonuses. When finally he quit trying (one of us had become ill) we were ushered into a room for a "debriefing" by yet another high pressure salesman who, even in the face of illness, wouldn't let us leave until he was cleared by yet another manager. All total we had 5 of the sales team pushing us about this "great deal". It is a $20 US taxi ride out of town to "Nuevo Vallarta" which Vida would finally pay if they ever let us leave. I definitely felt trapped and infuriated. My impression of Vida is a well oiled machine for making money. Their "no pressure" come on was such a lie it would be remarkable if this multi-layered deceitful sales engine didn't represent the companies ethics. Buy into or attend one of these "90 minute" presentations (for us 5 hours from leaving our hotel until we were back) at your own risk!!