Two weekends ago, my wife and I went to an RV show that was put on by a dealer from the Buffalo NY area. There were many pamphlets and displays from area campgrounds with free sign ups to win prizes. "Enter to win $10,000", "Enter to win a $1,000 gas card", "Enter to win a new Truck" etc. We filled out forms for a few of the give-a-ways and then enjoyed the show. This week, we have had calls from two different campgrounds saying that we won a $50 gift card for service or items at the RV dealership who put on the show and were "semi-finalists" for the big prize. All we had to do is set up an appointment and either sit through a 90 minute presentation about the one campground or take a tour of the other campground. They both made a point of saying that this wasn't a time share deal, we were under no obligation to buy anything, blah blah blah and we could leave after the tour/presentation and take the $50 gift card. We aren't going to either of the campgrounds mainly because it would cost us nearly $50 in gas just to get to them and back home. At the one campground, the woman said if you don't want to tour the campground in the next couple of weeks, we can give you a free weekend stay and give you a tour then. I asked if we could come and look at the campground and then stay the weekend with the tour at another time and the answer was no. Do a lot of campgrounds use this tactic to entice campers to buy a seasonal or annual membership? We are new to this lifestyle and want to enjoy ourselves and unwind. Not feel pressured by campground owners to buy something.

It's a normal thing.Not just seasonal or annual but they also use that tactic to sell time shares.

Typical of sales pitches for anything. I never use those types of CG's

Typical marketing crap.I always remember the law of TANSTAAFL pronounced tan staffel There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch.Ed

Filling out 'sweepstakes' coupons at ANY show( RV, CAR, Cooking Wares, etc.) will get you nothing BUT sales presentations.More to come.

That's why I do not enter any contests at RV shows.

Sales Pitch and Legitimate Give-A-Way, But There's a Catch!

20 Replies

1775
Explorer
Apr 20, 2014
Some of these presentation pitches can become very uncomfortable and difficult to get up and walk out of. Don't bother going. There is nothing to gain. Any gift or prize will not be worth getting.

Belonging to some of the campground chains email lists will get you free nights also but they are usually at a time when no one is interested in traveling. No one gives away something for nothing if the something is worth having.
ken56
Explorer
Apr 19, 2014
I agree, don't bother spending $50 in gas to get a $50 gas card. In FL,AZ, or any other big tourist area, it can be very lucritive to go and collect the cash offered on these condo/timeshare presentations as long as you can say no to them. DO NOT EVER BUY INTO THESE THINGS.
D___M
Explorer
Apr 18, 2014
This form of sales trickery at RV shows is so old it has whiskers on it. I can't believe people fall for this trick. Don't do it.
kmbernstein
Explorer
Apr 18, 2014
When we were in Branson, hubby signed us up for a sales pitch for $100 cash. Needless to say, I was not amused. Went to the presentation, though, as he would not believe me that it was a high pressure sales pitch. He thought was just a presentation about campgrounds. Turned out to be a time share for Wyndham type resorts. I sat at a table in back with hubby waiting for the sales pitch to end. I was answering a text from our kids when the presenter made a comment about the rude lady in the back tables. I made a comment that I was there to make sure that the only reason I was there was to make sure that hubby only came away with $100, and if he would focus on getting thru his presentation, I could get out of there and back to my vacation trip. He did just that, and the salesman assigned to us sat down at the table and began the high pressure. Wanted to know about our credit cards, limits, etc. Told him that the only card was in my purse, that it would stay there, and the limit was our business, as were the answers to all the other questions he was trained to ask us, not his. I told him further that we would not answer anything else, that we wanted our money and he could get onto another rube to see if they would buy, because we certainly would not be buying or signing anything. He was taken aback, signed our voucher and went on his way. Hubby listened to me after that, and he used the money to take me out to dinner. ??
RobWNY
Explorer
Apr 18, 2014
If I really wanted the $50 gift card to the dealership that put on the show, I would do exactly like you said beemer but it would cost me nearly that much just to get to the dealership and back home. It wouldn't be worth it.
beemerphile1
Explorer
Apr 18, 2014
RobWNY wrote:

...All we had to do is set up an appointment and either sit through a 90 minute presentation about the one campground or take a tour of the other campground....

I think you learned a lesson, but if you do want the free gift here is what you can do.

Go to the sales office, they will sign you up and assign a sales person.

Keep in mind that the sales person gets paid commission, if you don't buy, they don't get paid.

As soon as you hook up with the sales person tell them this; "I am here for the free gift, I have no money and my credit rating is in the toilet. I will not be buying anything. You have a choice, you can waste two hours of your time on me, or you can give me the gift and move on to someone that may make a purchase".

Odds are they will give you the gift and move on to better prospects. Do not be concerned about hurting their feelings. They are NOT YOUR FRIEND. They have one goal and that is to fleece you. You are actually doing them a favor by not wasting their time.
rogerramjet442
Explorer
Apr 18, 2014
DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT IT !
Mich_F
Explorer
Apr 17, 2014
About 5 years ago my wife and I sat through a sales pitch at a hotel/time share place in Orlando. I believe it was a Wyndham Resort property. Actually it was a very nice place, although a very expensive proposition. The idea was you bought part of a particular unit, along with God only knows how many other people, and could use that unit for a week or two a year, and supposedly were able to swap to get a week or two at other locations around the world.
We never bought anything but did get two free nights at an Orlando hotel, which worked out nicely, since we had planned to go up there anyway and visit our youngest, who was going to school in Orlando at the time.
Raymon
Explorer
Apr 17, 2014
You made your first mistake when you voluntarily filed out all the forms. Stay home and don't make the second mistake. There are always people out there trying to separate you from your money. Buyer beware!

Ray
mlts22
Explorer II
Apr 17, 2014
If you put down a phone number, put down a disposable one or a Google Voice number, or else your phone will be ringing off the hook forever after. The Do Not Call Act won't apply because as soon as you hand them a phone number, they now have a business relationship with you for two years. Same with anyone they sell their mailing list to, so expect calls from other timeshare places, and even unscrupulous companies with boiler rooms that are offshore and thus immune to the DNC law.