Club Membership for the Rich Only
We already have in mind that Club Ultima is for members only(meaning the rich only) and hence we clarified to them if there really is a fee involved on claiming the gift certificate which will give us the opportunity to have a 100% free dinner and a 50 % off on any Crown Regency Hotels like in Mactan and in Boracay. They told me over the phone that it will only take them 90 minutes to finish the appointment. So my wife and I proceeded anyway, since it is only 90 minutes and we might get something promising too.
Once we arrive and meet their salesman, he told me that we can get that gift certificate after a 90 minutes presentation which turns out to be marketing presentation. The verbal low tech took 4 hours before we get the free dinner and the 50% discount gift certificate for hotel accommodation.
What disappointed me?
They offer me a Club Ultima membership worth either P499,905 or P301,134. This membership has free use of many amenities daily and it has either 7 nights or 1 night free stay to any Crown Regency Hotels per year. The membership that you will pay is not consumable so it can be considered as an investment. They will let me pay the down payment of P76,789.00 or 30% of P301,134.00. Do I look like a person that will pay P499,905 for luxury stay in this 5 star hotel? And since we still did not accept the offer they again offered us to stagger the 30% down payment which can only be P10,000.00 to be paid "TODAY" and then pay P1300+ monthly maintenance with P500 rebates later. They did not actually forced us and they say that the offer is not for anybody and everybody. Bottomline is we’ve wasted our precious time on something that we should have spent on our business.
Real value of the membership (After a long wasted not direct to the point discussion)
Since I told them that I can not afford the P30% of the P499,905 this people brought down the price to a stagger payment. They will divide the 30% of P499,905 into 10 months monthly payment. It’s actually a bit smaller amount then and attractive due to the privileges offered but the problem is that the promo is only available “TODAY”. It’s a Now or Never condition. They say it’s the policy of the company and they don’t want to be unfair with the rest of their members. Knowing this, maybe it’s true but what made us step back is that why are we put in a situation to decide right away like what they say ”TODAY” is our only chance of availing the opportunity of becoming a member. Being a member is not in our dreams right away!
One day investment decision for P499,905?
WHAT THE F.... Club Ultima wanted me to invest P499,905 in stagger payment but I can only decide it ”TODAY”and once we leave the building we will no longer be able to avail the discounted and stagger 30% of P499,905. They say, we can stop the membership but we cannot anymore get the money, and we can only sell/assume our rights to another. Ouch.
Even though I got the 50% discount hotel accommodation gift certificate from them as promised, what I do not like is the Club Ultima's scam style of marketing they are practicing. You need to pay ”TODAY” for the membership to avail the promo. They will present the expensive membership first which at that moment they will let you feel that there’s no other choice but then if you really refuse they will again offer another then we refuse then give another offer!
Wasted 3 Hours
Such a waste of time! What a kind of marketing plan is this? Why can’t they just present all choices at one time, give a summary of each choice and if quite interested then continue the discussion focusing on the offer being chosen? They putting people at risk! Why? Because you are to decide with the investment right away or today only!
To us, we are the kind of person who never wants to decide things right there and then. Our BIG question now is that why are we placed in a situation where there’s no time for us to think things over? Even a real businessman, they don’t create and start a business at an instant like magic but they spend time on FEASIBILITY STUDY and business plans!
Do you get my point? My point here is that if they are confident enough with their marketing plan, they should always consider on letting their clients decide without any limitations on time. What is with the time? What is the difference with one week or one month decision making? I really was not convinced of what is the reason why they have to let us decide right away as in this same day not leaving the building without giving the down payment for us to be a member.
Hence, we decided to decline the quite attractive offer leaving them without paying the down payment for we prefer not to be a member anymore than to sacrifice our decision time and money where we are not sure yet of what are we entering.
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