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I got a telemarketing call to come in to attend a 90-min. presentation with my spouse at Simplicity Travel, 4835 N. O'Connor Rd #200, Irving, Texas. I was promised 2 free airline tickets and a $20 red lobster gift card. (I was more interested in the gift card because I'm familiar with all the fine print with the airline ticket promo.) I was asked to flash a credit card logo when I got there. It was just like the telemarketer said: I was under no obligation to purchase - which was true. What I was not expecting was such a professional and tempting presentation.
We started asking questions when we got there. The receptionist said she was new and just started the week prior. The first agent said that the company was in that business location since Jan 2012., the presentation was more tempting than I expected. It was very professional and well put together, and the agents there aren't new to this and very believable. The presentation include top vacation spots and cruises with unbelievable “member” prices. The membership cost for all these perks were set at a one time payment of $8995 for a lifetime willable membership. After thinking about all the places we could go as a family and take our kids my hubby and I were really excited, however, we have one rule: NEVER make big purchases the same day, without sleeping on the decision overnight.
After the presentation, we were told the 1st 2 ppl would receive a $1k discount. After the agent talked with us one-on-one and we explained our financial situation, he out of the air came up with a "Plan 2" that was not mentioned in the group presentation on how we could get the same package for $5K by put $2500 down tonight and then we would be billed the remaining half at a 0% interest. He confirmed that we could start vacationing RIGHT away without paying the full $5k. WOW. Then when we said we're going to sleep on it. Then the agent came back and said he talked with the owner and the owner wants him to "help those folks out!" Can you say "Favor"? Next we were given a deal could pay $700 tonight and receive a 5-Year trial with full benefits. Hubby and I really had to think about this, we asked for private time to talk it over and starting searching the internet. Then we thought if this deal dropped for $9k to 700, if it's that desperate then what's good today has to be good tomorrow, next week, etc. We left that office with our free gifts and we thought about all those wonderful vacations and how we could benefit by being a member.
After we left we had time to think and reflect on the meeting. The receptionist was there said she started last week and did not know much about the company. (I found the recent craigslist ad online). The first agent at the beginning of mtg said that SIMPLICITY TRAVEL operated out of the 4835 N. O'Connor Rd #200 office in Irving, TX since the 1st of the year. The 2nd agent at the end of mtg said they were there 11 years! I searched dallascad.org Property records and there business name was not listed. I also searched on that address and found that in 2009 that suite was a massage parlor and since then it's been a real estate agent.
I also came across reservations4u.com site, that looked very unprofessional as if an individual designed it using a free web tool. Not what you would expect from a company that's been in business 11-30 years. I also did a whois.net directory lookup on the domain simplicitytravels.net and saw that it was recently purchased and only for a one year duration. The site minimal information, a paragraph on the "About Us" and appears to be created with a opensource free web script.
I noticed none of their professional brochures are branded as “Simplicity Travel”. It is a common name used by business owners all over the nation. So you may search and find good reviews for that business name, but dig deeper and you’ll see it’s in a different state. I was only to find info on “Simplicity Travels” in Irving/Dallas business within the duration of the last 60 days. Brochures are branded with other business names such as branded as "Smart Travel" and "Tradewinds Vacations." Searching on Tradewinds Vacations also brings up multiple companies owned by different people across the nation, making it harder to verify validity. BE WARE. It is always better to do businesses that you can verify their reputation online. Also if it’s such a good deal you shouldn’t be pressure to pay your one time fee before you leave the office.
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Can you you tell me, please regarding these 2 round trip tickets. Any attachment to those?
Just went through the same drill last night in Brentwood TN. It was a brand-new office, they didn't even have a sign outside. I didn't fall for it, because of what you mentioned, they offered "unbelievable" prices on travel. When an offer is unbelievable, it usually is. At the end of the two-hour presentation and two person sales pitch, (yeah, the second person came in to offer me the discounted rate too) I was given the info on how to claim my 7-day cruise and two round- trip airline tickets, but the details covered a full 8x11 sheet of paper, in fine print, and there is some "fees" that must be paid up-front, so they aren't really free. The process is so convoluted, that I doubt if anyone actually claims their free prize.
We went through the same process last week in Brentwood TN, After the 90 minutes of sales pitch when we said no to the initial offer of 4 weeks of vacation pacakes at a discounted prices per year, then they came back with similar offer but for 2weeks for only $3599 if we purchase the package right there and then. We walked out without buying any packages but with our "earned" free vacation deal only to find out we have to pay up front for (REFUNDABLE?) deposits to take advantage of their FREE vacation deal. They also put so many restrictions on travel dates and advance notice we have to give them, it is almost impossible to find the right combination of available dates of both 8day cruise and 2 round air line tickets to any lower 48 contiguous states.
FOLKS!
DO NOT FALL FOR THIS SCAM.
WHEN YOU GET AN INVITATION TO ATTEND THEIR PRESENTAION OFFERING A FREE VACATION DEAL, DO NOT WALK BUT RUN AWAY FROM THESE GUYS.
GO THE A MOVIE INSTEAD. YOU WILL HAVE SPENT 90 MINUTES OF YOUR TIME A LOT BETTER.
i to went to a presentation in indianapolis indiana we got involved and just got back from our first trip...i must say we saved over 3k on our trip...
I was called by a robo dialer/ prerecorded message buy Simplicity travel offering a free cruise with airfare. I am now starting a class action lawsuit against them. Anybody else that's been called should jump aboard. You just might get that cruise after all.
Anybody know how to stop the payment to Tradewinds Vacations / Simplicity Travel? We paid by credit card last night. Credit card service said it was approved, but I can't dispute until it's posted. Has anyone else tried to dispute? Result?
Got'em - How do we find out more about your class action suit? Might be interested in joining you.
We just attended the sales pitch tonite. same address as the place listed on O'conner in Irving.
I was impressed by how well it was put together. they say that they pay their sales reps a salary. We had a nice man sit down at our table and 'warm us up'. while we were waiting, since almost everyone else was buying, I started to ask the guy some ?'s... one ? was "do you get paid a fair salary". He said, "no we are straight commission"
Straight commission is fine just be honest about it. I will never do business with the company nor do I recommend anyone else to do business with them.
My spouse was called announcing she had won after entering for a free cruise and airfare, I just knew it was a scam and told her to ignore it. Two days later I got a call on my work cell phone saying the same thing. I found it hard to believe they had both of our cell phone numbers by accident and really believed what I heard. So we went to the hotel presentation (which they shamelessly claim you WILL leave with FREE cruise tickets and free airfare for just listening to advertisements in hopes that you will be a repeat customer) we sat and filled out a survey after flashing some ID and credit card (again shamelessly claiming no scam by stating over and over how they are not taking any of your credit card info, all the while secretly screening the crowd to make sure we all DO have credit cards they can try to leech onto.) only to have some s***-eating-grin typical salesman fool who apparently has no idea what he is a part of come sit down and tell us there must have been some mistake someone should have told us about the requirements; on the survey we checked the box that said we make a combined income of 40, 000 - 50, 000 a year and those who are eligible to view the presentation must make at least 60, 000, but if the address we had given was correct they would mail us a lesser free gift for viewing the presentation anyway. I asked "So long story short, no free vacation?", "Yes, " he said.. so out the door we went and came right to this website after feeling really stupid. After reading these posts it Looks like we really dodged a bullet, but I tell you this was really rough on us; this was a time that we really could have used something like this and to be led out to the middle of the city on a friday night was not easy AND on a GUARANTEE that we would leave with a free cruise only to be embarrased in front of your spouse by being told you dont earn enough to recieve the free gift you were assured you had "won". I am very serious about joining a class action lawsuit if you post kore info! DO NOT FALL FOR THIS SCAM!
IT BETTER BE LIGATE
this better not be a scam...if soooo they will be prosecuted.n took 2 court with my attorney to meet them...NOT CLOSE 2 PLAYING AROUND...
What has progressed with the Class Action Suits? We just spent 30 minutes on the phone with a telemarketer.
G and L
I would like to know how to join this lawsuit. I purchased the vacation package October 2012. They haven't done anything they said they would.
maybe you guys should stop being mooches and go use the product for what its inteded to be used for, u say we will never make a big decision on things, we have to think about it, well this is all ways of saying no...youll never come back to buy the product or any other purchase because the longer u wait the more imformation is forgotten, so returning is not an option cuz ur lack of imformation has decreased. my wife and I joined and it comes down to this, do you see value?useage?is it affordable? if those 3 are a go then join..if not dont hold the company liable cuz u didnt become a member, we r goin on our 3rd cruise with them, oh and the gifts are GIFTS like price is right or jeopardy..if you win there are taxes. just like the lottery. your mooches and want things for free, like the gifts and now ur crying lawsuit cuz u want something easy and free, you should be ashamed. mooches!
-Happy member...please contact me with questions...[protected]
Satisfied member needs to learn how to speak/write proper English. If I went through your response with a red pen you wouldn't be able to read any of it... And apparently you are a liar as well, seeing as how your telephone number is for a Dominos Pizza in Fort Myers, FL.