• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

K!ERS

Marketing :: Design :: Printing :: Fredericton NB

  • Services
    • Marketing
    • Design
    • Printing
  • Featured Work
  • K!ERS QU!CK T!PS Newsletter
  • The K!ERS Team
    • About Kiers
  • Contact Us
  • The K!ERS Blog

Doug / September 10, 2012

Travel Scam Alert!

Last week, the Fredericton Police Department issued a travel scam alert about discount travel clubs. Is it a scam? I’m not so sure.

Last month, my wife did a quick two-minute travel survey over the phone. A few weeks later we got a call from the same company offering us a great prize if we attended a one-hour info session about their company. We were told we were guaranteed to receive either a trip to Las Vegas, a $500.00 gift card from Walmart or a $500.00 travel voucher for our next vacation. Knowing it was probably a time-share scheme, I agreed to go anyway. Hey, for an hour of my time, I might win a prize. Besides, there is nothing on TV this time of the year anyway.

We went to a meeting room at the Crowne Plaza, were greeted warmly, offered a beverage and sat down with seven other couples. Much to our surprise, it was not a time-share deal but an offer to join a discount travel club. The presenter spelled out exactly what it was at the start of the presentation, suggested that anyone who was there just for the prize to go draw for it and leave. We were intrigued, so we stayed.

The deal? For a membership fee, he compared it to Costco, you would have access to really cheap trips, hotels and condos around the world. Two examples that were displayed were the Bahai Principe in Dominican Republic for $373.00 per person and two weeks in Hawaii, at a five star all-inclusive resort for $1,990.00 per person, taxes in.

The presenter was a bit of a moron but his pitch was interesting. At the end of the session, the couples were met individually by company reps and given the pitch. When we walked in we had no intention of buying, but I have to admit, we were getting interested – until they hit us with the price.

They were looking for $5,995.00 for a 10-year membership, plus a monthly fee of $25.00. Sure, they threw in some discounts, but the math just didn’t work for me. After some back and forth with them, we declined. We did draw for our prize as promised. We got the $500.00 travel voucher, which was only good if we booked with their travel agency.

I don’t think this was a scam as much as it was over priced. However, the marketing methods used to get us there really worked. They found out, through the survey, that we fit their demographics, offered us an incentive to come to the presentation, and made a believable sales pitch. But alas, common sense prevailed.

It was interesting to see at least two or three couples signing up for a membership. I really hope they get their money’s worth and I wish them many happy travels.

Share this:

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Related

Filed Under: Marketing Tips Tagged With: marketing, scams, tips, travel

Primary Sidebar

Marketing Tips to Your Inbox

We look forward to providing you with insightful, time and money saving information on a regular basis. These messages are short, but full of useful info (they only take one or two minutes to read) and best of all, they're free.

Recently On the Kiers Blog

Marketing Trends for 2023

January 5, 2023

Now that 2023 has arrived and we’re slowly emerging from our holiday festivities, it’s time to look ahead and get ready for some upcoming trends, and how they may affect your business. Interactive …

[Read More...] about Marketing Trends for 2023

Are you ready for what’s coming in 2023?

December 13, 2022

Once the holiday season ends and the calendar changes to January, we begin to focus on changes (resolutions) for the new year, both personally and in business. One resolution your business should …

[Read More...] about Are you ready for what’s coming in 2023?

Five Steps to Establishing Your Brand

November 29, 2022

You’ve got a business idea. It’s been rattling around in your brain for a while, and you’re ready to take the next step and make it a reality. There are so many things to tackle! Finding the right …

[Read More...] about Five Steps to Establishing Your Brand

Categories

  • Clients (1)
  • Kiers Quick Tips (8)
  • Large-Format Printing (5)
  • Marketing Tips (275)
  • Services (4)
  • Social Media Marketing (3)

Tags

advertising best practices branding business community content covid-19 customer experience customer relations customers customer satisfaction customer service email marketing event sponsorship facebook golf tournament google ideas identity large-format large-format graphics marketing marketing plan marketing tips networking newspapers photography promotion radio referrals sales search seo signage signs social media social media marketing sponsorship strategy tips trade show trade shows tv website websites

Footer

Contact Us

761 Union Street
Fredericton, NB E3A 3P3
Google Map

506.444.0950

About us

With over 35 years in business, Kiers is a full-service marketing firm offering strategic marketing and planning, graphic and web design and large-format printing and installation.

Learn More

Connect With Us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Twitter

Copyright © 2023 K!ERS

 

Loading Comments...