Need help, travelling now in USA - TravelPUNK Backpacker College Student Budget Travel Message Boards!

**raysen** · 10-18-2006, 01:48 PM

Okay we are in Orlando for 3 weeks at the moment, 2 more weeks to go and everywhere we go weather its outr motel or anywehere there are all these people saying come view our place for an hour of your time your get free pick up free breakfast and you dont need to sign up to anything or book anything or buy anything and you can eithe rget 100 dollars cash or free or discounted park tickets.
Now we dont know how they can just give this away, we arent naive ther must be some catch but the sales people arent likely to tell us wwhat it is.
Thats why i have come to my good friends at tpunks!

Whats the deal with these, is it worth giving up 1-2 hours of our mornign just to see what it is like to see if it is a scam or steer well clear??

Cheers for any help, onyl have 15 mins online so any replies asap HIGHLY appreciated.
x

**BigE** · 10-18-2006, 01:54 PM

I would stay clear of anything suspicious. It is always wise to use your head. If it looks legitimate, check it out. You have to remember Orlando is America's favorite family vacation spot and there are all kinds of businesses trying to catch on. It can be easy fast money for some people or a dud. They want you to check them out so they will give you all kinds of promises. But there is a catch.

**raysen** · 10-18-2006, 01:58 PM

exactly our thought. I mean who randomrly gives out 100 dolalrs to a good possible 10-20 people every day.
This is teh reason why we didnt go into to much detail when they start to tell us about it, because they arent likely to be honest with us and tell us the catches.

Prob best not to huh?

**marc873** · 10-18-2006, 02:33 PM

From my experiences, these people are hired to bring in as many people as they can to view what they are offering and then play the percentages from there. I have gotten free airfare, hotels, electronics, etc... for wasting an hour or 2 of my time. If you can handle the pressure at the end of the sales pitch, than go for it, you just have to put your blinders on and play the game till they give up. Most offers like this in big tourist destinations are legit, they play the numbers game, they know over half the peeps that show up aren't interested, but they are lookin for the few that are. You just basically have to waste your time listening to them and then find a polite way to say no at the end. If its worth the wasted time, I would do it. If it is taking up my travel time, no way!!! Good luck

**Delaney** · 10-18-2006, 03:30 PM

Just be sure not to give them ANY payment information and don't act interested. I have done this before and while I got a free trip to Vegas, my 1.5 hours I was supposed to be there turned into 3 hours and they wouldn't let me say no. I finally said, "I am not going to buy anything and want to go home now." and stood up. But, I would say the 3 hrs of uncomfortable-ness will be worth the trip (when we take it).

**c0urt** · 10-18-2006, 04:04 PM

hey i am in orlando we should hang out,

they arent exactly scams, but htey do rope you into a very very high pressure sale. the pitches get paid for each person that shows up, like 138 and out of that they can give away as much as they want to get people to show up, so most sling 100 bucks, but the tickets even tho it sounds like they lose more money, only cost them like 18 bucks a peice so they try to bait and switch for "200" bucks worth of tickets or the cash.

I have heard the food is good, but i always tell them I am uninterested, but i am friends with a lot of them on i-drive

**Jen05** · 10-18-2006, 07:34 PM

I think they're usually legit. My parents sat through a few of those when we went on family trips - I remember watching Disney movies in the next room. But, they always came back with a deal! My papa's a smart man - doesn't put up with scams, so I'm convinced! These people are, however, trained to be pushy and put the pressure on, but if you can handle it, I say go for it!

**omisan** · 10-18-2006, 10:31 PM

I generally don't bother. $100 isn't worth me being annoyed by some slick sales pitch.

Then again, I'm big pimpin' and light my cigars with burning wads of c-notes.

**travelpunk** · 10-19-2006, 01:23 AM

^^^

Nice! Yeah, it's only $100 bones...

My cousin did this last year and swore to just sit and get the free show tickets somewhere. He walked out signing a $7,500 timeshare commitment in Aculpulco with $500 down. He hemmed and hawed for a couple of weeks thinking if he's going to use it much. I told him to cancel, but he kept it and used it for his "destination wedding" last July.

At least 80 friends and family members traveled there for the wedding and saw it, so I guess it worked out for him... for now.

I believe there is a yearly maintenence fee too.

Anyways, I will say that if you are a "passive push-over" (someone who can't say no and always buys because of the sales pressure (like my cousin), then don't go. You will waste your time and will regret it.

On the other hand, if you can handle the pressure and can commit to saying "NO!" then you're up a hunski!

xanthuos · 10-19-2006, 01:32 AM

As others have said, if you can stand up to the sales pitch, then go for it. Sometimes, an hour or two of your time is definitely worth $100 or two free tickets into Disney or Universal. The main thing is getting them to tell you exactly how long their presentation is at the beginning...if they say 90 minutes, then 90 minutes into it, you can basically demand they STOP and give you your free gift - you're not interested. It takes a strong will, but it's worth it in the end.

So Raysen, where are you staying in Orlando?

**raysen** · 10-21-2006, 11:50 AM

we are on I drive, I don't think we will do it, believe me we can say no when it comes to giving up money, i mean they can look at my bank balance! haha, that would put them off! the thing being we are able to say no, just dont like feeling awkward and I know I would be under pressure and under the sales pitch like that, i don't like them situations. so will prob pass though.

Cheers for the info though guys, been very helpful on the subject. New I could count on ya! haha
xx

xanthuos · 10-21-2006, 01:14 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(raysen @ Oct 21 2006, 01:50 PM) [snapback]142988[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

we are on I drive, I don't think we will do it, believe me we can say no when it comes to giving up money, i mean they can look at my bank balance! haha, that would put them off! the thing being we are able to say no, just dont like feeling awkward and I know I would be under pressure and under the sales pitch like that, i don't like them situations. so will prob pass though.

Cheers for the info though guys, been very helpful on the subject. New I could count on ya! haha
xx
[/b]

Are you guys staying at the hostel or did you book into a cheap motel room?

**c0urt** · 10-21-2006, 02:46 PM

hey i am on i drive, i ride a blue and silver pedal cab at night,

**raysen** · 10-23-2006, 03:36 PM

motel

Also whats recomended for halloween? - somewhere easy accessable etc?
Never been in USA for halloween and the brits dont exactly celebrate it in the same way so any recomendations would go down a treat.

ta muchly chapps!!

xx