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The insurance company will love this one (and other vacation lessons)

Discussion in 'Anything goes' started by kingcreole, Jul 30, 2006.

  1. kingcreole

    kingcreole Active Member

    Just got back from vacation, and any day now, I expect to get a phone call from an insurance company that has the Springfield Zoo on its list.

    Why? Well, a fucking peacock roaming the parking lot decided to peck the shit out of our van. Got a handful of nice little 1/2 inch gashes (looks like a someone jabbed a knife in the bumper) on both bumpers.

    "Well, what's this claim for?"

    "Um, peacock damage."

    Lesson learned? Don't go to zoos where peacocks are allowed to roam the parking lot. This is red tape and stress I don't need even though I'm sure we'll be compensated for nicely.

    Other stuff learned:

    1. Why do parents let their kids just cut in line at amusement parks? I took my 3-year-old daughter to a couple kiddie rides, but in order to get to the entrance gate, she had to walk around a long path by herself as I had my infant son, and the stroller wouldn't fit. Watching my daughter, I see three older punks (7-8 or so) just run almost through her to get in front of the line. Unreal.

    2. If you rarely carry cash like I do, and you have to use a $50 or $100 bill for a small purchase, count your change if the clerk doesn't do it for you. I had to use a $50 to pay for some take-out wings at a Buffalo Wild Wings, and the bitch tried to short me a $5 by pretending she didn't have adequate change, and then handing me a 20 and a couple of 5s to try to get me to think she ran out of 10s. When I called her on it, she said, "Oh, I'm sorry. Here, it's been a long day." She didn't question me or anything. She knew damn well she short-changed me.

    3. Timeshare sellers suck dick. This was the second time I've gone to a fucking presentation, and these asses don't accept "No" for an answer. Finally, I tell the backup seller, "Look, when gas prices get to $4 a gallon, where does that money come from? We're cutting as it is, and you want me to spend an extra $125 on a timeshare I'll never use?" He just bowed his head and said, "Well, thanks for coming out."

    Ass.

    4. Nothing beats vacations with the family. Looking back on my kiddie years, my best memories are vacations. I know times are tight folks, but if you have  a family, get them out for a trip once a year. They'll appreciate it more than you think.
     
  2. pallister

    pallister Guest

    It could be worse. I lost my wallet on vacation. Had to cancel credit cards, check cards and lost $80. Now I have to run around (and deal with countless phone calls) setting up new accounts, etc. Luckily, my mom had a friend in the area I was visiting. I had to meet her (for the first time) and get $200 so I could make it home (two-day trip).
     
  3. OTD

    OTD Well-Known Member

    Of course they're pains in the ass, that's their job. Why would you go to one of those things? If the incentive's really good (like free hotel nights) you should be willing to put up with their crap--you can even make it fun ("Cool, where do I sign--ah, no, I changed my mind--ah, I'll take it--no, I better not," etc.)
     
  4. DyePack

    DyePack New Member

    That's when it's fun to be bilingual, just as long as you're sure they're not.

    Let them make their presentation, then just ramble in another language afterward.

    "Donde esta el mar? Cerca de la ciudad?"
     
  5. kingcreole

    kingcreole Active Member

    Well, the incentives were pretty good. For $100 we got two nights in a hotel (that served good breakfast), a $30 dinner certificate, tickets to an event of our choice and a discount book. Not bad really.

    Our presenter was actually a nice guy. It was his reinforcement that was the ass. I mean, I'm big with vacations. My parents took my brother and I all over this country, even into Mexico and Canada. I won't be able to afford some of the places they took us to, but I want to go on one every year. And I know there will come a time when having a timeshare will be cool. Just not now. When I say "No" once, I'm not changing my mind.

    And the best thing about saying no? They gave us a coupon for a free two-night stay at their resort. No catch or anything (I read the fine print over and over).
     
  6. HejiraHenry

    HejiraHenry Well-Known Member

    Some might have learned that lesson with one visit, others might have only learned it after making a purchase. You did okay, I suppose.
     
  7. Dirk Legume

    Dirk Legume Active Member

    [
    And I know there will come a time when having a timeshare will be cool. Just not now. When I say "No" once, I'm not changing my mind.


    King, trust me, no there won't. Not now. Not ever. Maintenance fees will kill you.
     
  8. OTD

    OTD Well-Known Member

    And if you decide a timeshare is REALLY for you, don't buy one from the developer. There are plenty on the second-hand market, and a ton can be picked up in annual tax sales, when people basically abandon them and the county takes possession.
     
  9. EStreetJoe

    EStreetJoe Well-Known Member

    Timeshare sellers do suck, but you can manipulate their offers to your advantage.
    Case in point -- about 6-7 months before my wedding my then-fiancee (now wife) were working on planning our honeymoon. We were going to spend part of the honeymoon in the Orlando area (after a 4-night Bahamas cruise). She's looking for a hotel for us online and clicks on this offer for a great vacation package there and enters her info. Turns out its a timeshare. When they're making their pitch on the phone to try getting us to take the offer, I tell them flat out I don't want to go on the tour or presentation. When they ask why I say "We don't want to spend 3 hours of our honeymoon listening to a sales pitch." They come back with "well, by state law we have to give you the offer anyway for only $25 (or maybe it was a little more than that) extra per night. That sealed the deal.
    However the deal wasn't as good as it seemed - they told us it was for the Doubletree Hotel. Turns out it was the Doubletree Club which is a couple of steps down in quality from the Doubletree. The "discount book" was pretty much worthless unless you live in the area. They changed also changed a few things in the package they offered as well.
     
  10. farmerjerome

    farmerjerome Active Member

    Ooooh, Doubletree hotels rock. Dr. J and I stayed in one recently that had a whirlpool tub and a view of niagra falls. Rocked.
     
  11. EStreetJoe

    EStreetJoe Well-Known Member

    Doubletrees rock. Doubletree Club hotels do not rock.
     
  12. Satchel Pooch

    Satchel Pooch Member

    On our honeymoon, we took in an hourlong presentation (wasn't that bad, really), got our $45 in casino chips and I promptly blew them on three hands of 21.
     
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