Hassle can be a nuisance but after a few holidays in Turkey it seems very mild in PDLA.

Shhhhhhhhhhhh Margaret be very careful making statements like that

Pete

Hello,

I work in tv production.

It is my understanding a production company's undercover researcher asked to be relieved of the asignment because they perceived their personal safety was compromised.

This was not from the tourists that they contacted but from the organisation who had hired them.

My own experience of a similar street encounter was to come back to see my wife being interviewed by a girl. I had gone off to make a purchase and when I returned,after some time, the scratching was being done keener than a dog with fleas and my wife is nobody's fool....... usually!

The technique was based on deflection:- interest in the child, interest in our holiday, deflection back to the child, deflection to the card, deflection back to the child, Deflection to the woman walking by, back to the card at all times a little more info on how you would be helping her get her commission for completing the card and how grateful she was for compliance and what a big favour we were doing for each other.

This was the hook.

When I got back and saw what was going on I was less than pleased.

I firmly, and surprisingly for me, politely said sorry not interested. To her credit she accepted that and went away.

The arguament was heated after we left but when I was heard to say conned and timeshare we were followed by a deeply frustrated cohort of the girls and were subjected to a rant about the endgame of the contact her chum had made.

It is my very considered opinion that this girl was in withdrawal.

These people for the large part I view as merely pests. Kids wanting a place in the sun a fun life and a means to support it.

I maintain that they are out of their county, out of control of their personal situation and a potential danger to tourists.

They are subject to control by ruthless employer's who have no regard for them.
To say they are enslaved is strong but not too far from the truth.

Question you must ask:

The kids are for the most part users of any recreational drug they can get hold of; if that is not affordable ie from their completing transaction with you as tourist they go without. When someone is denied that which they crave it can turn them into somthing nasty.

Our encounter was very much like this. Gullible tourist familly's are prey animals to these people nothing more.

The new ones are a pain, the others are more threatening.

Sorry to end this message on such a bleak note but please consider your personal safety when approached by these people.

Would you show interest from someone offering you this in your own country, I would hope not.

Please don't think these people are welcomed or supported in the countries you visit. Please don't encourage them.

Best regards

S

We were approached by someone wanting us to complete a "tourist questionnaire", insisting absolutely nothing to do with timeshare. The scratch cards didnt come out until later then of course we won the top prize. Wanted us to go along to an office at Puerto Colon - turned out to be clubclass holidays. We didnt fall for it. I find the most difficult part is when they plead with you go just so they can get their commission and insist that you can just walk straight out afterwards. That never happens.

We were approached by someone wanting us to complete a "tourist questionnaire", insisting absolutely nothing to do with timeshare. The scratch cards didnt come out until later then of course we won the top prize. Wanted us to go along to an office at Puerto Colon - turned out to be clubclass holidays. We didnt fall for it. I find the most difficult part is when they plead with you go just so they can get their commission and insist that you can just walk straight out afterwards. That never happens.

and they use "silver" staff for this particular ruse which puts you off your guard as well so be warned.

Just take your mobile phone and say that you are going to phone the police....
And if they still don't stop just DO phone the police.
Advise: Allways put the phonenumber of the police in the memory of your mobile phone.

Just returned from PDLA, we stayed in Mediteranean Palace. We haven't been approached by a tout once.
Had a wonderful time!!!!

That's good news Natasha.
There were always loads of them,right around the area,each time we'd been to the Med Palace before.Glad you had a great time.

I was in Los Cristianos in March when approached by a woman shouting "hey blondy" and then the usual banter I said I wasn't interested and carried on walking. She shouted after me when I ignored her that I was snotty and had a fat arse!! which really rattled me as I have just lost 5 and a half stone I am only 8 stone now!! so I marched back temper really flared now I tapped her on the shoulder and asked who the hell she thought she was talking to by now I had an attentive audience I thought she was going to pass out she told me to "F" off or she would knock me out!! she was then joined by her friend who also tried to "have a go" my husband stood between them so they couldn't both get at me! I told her she had a lucky escape. We carried on walking but they had telphoned ahead with our description and a group tried to harrass us I wasn't scared but I didn't want my husband to get caught up in anything nasty so we went into a hotel and 'phoned where we were staying and someone came to get us. This sort of behaviour should not be allowed to go on. We went for a relaxing 25th wedding anniversary holiday not to be hassled by these people. The only consolation is that I know that she was really scared and picked the wrong one that day!!

That's awful, Sue!

I would ignore anyone who shouted, "Hey blondie" at me! That, for a start, was rude - never mind the rest of the abuse!
What annoys me, is the rudeness of these people! Because I'm really gonna buy a scratch card off someone who has just swore or abused me. <sarcasm

I think a very good retort to these touts would be "if the product you're selling is so good , why do you have to tout your wares in the street like a common prostitute ?"

On the subject of holiday clubs , did anyone see the Old Dog , New Tricks programme last night about a holiday club in Bournemouth? The people working for that company were a very nasty bunch. They threw the cameraman downstairs, and Lynn Faulds Wood ended up badly bruised from the manhandling she received from them.

That's awful Trisan!

just returned from a 2 week stay at the columbus. had a fab time, and for the first week saw no touts! went to las vistas beach on the monday, and got stopped by one offering us a card for the new cosmos hotel in adege. my husband told her "no thanks, got caught out the last time in tenerife" and she turned nasty, swearing and carrying on at us! told us we didn't know what we were missing! we replied that we could live with it, and if we did want to buy somewhere on the island it would be off our own backs, and through an estate agent. she was still carrying on when we walked away. don't think she was too happy!

Back from Tenerife last weekend. Amazed at the reports on here. We were approached by the girls in PDLA. I just told them " been there, done that and even have the t/shirt to prove it". I just found them very nice, they just accepted what we said and just said "hi" evert day when we passed them after that. W had no problem with any touts though approached everywhere we went. We also had a lovely chat with the very happy Scottish girl who was doing her bit outside the Eugenio shopping centre in Puerto Colon. Thanks to her we went for some lovely walks which we would not have found without her help. They are a pain, but we found them no problem.

Back from pdla, the only place where we had any problems was around vista beach, One bloke dropped his scratchcard a few paces infront of me and insisted that I had dropped it, Never had much abuse, I also noticed that the cleopatra beach area you don't get them but maybe thats because theres a high police presence in that area.

This forum has made me laugh quite alot, especially on some of the misconceptions of what timeshare is and how it works.

The best post has to be from Makum110, honestly, i dont want to get personal, but ive never read so much rubbish in my life, are you really up yourself that much....

to put a few things straight,

quote from Makum -

1) "I have a proper job in an office and don't have to beg people to take a scratch card from me to make a few cents in the hope I can survive another week on the island, hence I get sunshine only on a weekend. Dont worry mate I'll be here long after you have gone back home skint, and your tan has faded to milk bottle white!"

2) "Somewhere (sometimes I name my area, sometimes not) you could only dream of affording on the miniscule commissions your earning from (insert the company name if possible) mate!"

dont delude yourself that these people earn "miniscule commissions"

to give you an idea this is what they earn

Canaries: between 100 - 300 euros for each couple.
Costa Del Sol: 120 - 200 euros
Algarve: 120 - 140 euros
Malta: 100 euros
Cyprus: 180 - 200 euros
Greece: 60 euros
Majorca: 120 - 200 euros
Thailand: 30 euros
Bahamas: 40-50 euros

And thats just with my limited knowldge.

Now, it is far from inconceivable that the best OPC's manage to convince 10 - 20, sometimes more, couples each week

do the maths,

the majority manage 6 - 10

the rubbish ones 0 - 6

- whilst remembering this is tax free -

Me personally i have spent 2 summers doing this job, and whilst there have been swings, between the months of May and September, I find myself earning on average 1500 euros a week. and that is being modest.

After spending the last year living and working here (IT Manager for holiday company, and previously a Holiday club )

IT manager in tenerife, well i used to do IT recruitment, and I know the salaries are not that great. 50k tops is what i would guess. Unless your a contractor, and if so, they are bigger scammers than timeshare touts.

If you REALLY want to spoil their day... Rip the card up. They know which prize is on which card, and their management keep tabs on whos been given what to stop Jonny Scratch Card Tout giving the 'free holiday' card to his mum / friends

Absolute Rubbish. The management does not care one iota what cards have been given out. Every 2nd card is a winner. if you rip it up, it is disrespecting the opc and they will get riled, but not for the reason you suggest. They can no way stop the tout giving the cards to friends or family.

I allow myself the satisfaction of realizing that the abusive ones are obviously not getting many punters in and are now desperate. They know they will soon be sacked and on their way home back to the UK. Meanwhile I will still live here, and you lot will still be making plans for your next holiday here.

Again, absolute rubbish. You cant get sacked, OPC's are on commission only, and to get sacked is almost unheard of, unless of course the opc causes trouble for the company. But in no way ever is an opc going to get sacked for underperforming.

The abusive ones are just idiots, they might be desperate, they might not, I would guess its because youve made a sarcastic remark that they bite back at you.

You live there, well done, have a medal.

There all just sad weak people who think they can come to a hot place and make a fortune from the likes of you without any effort or skills. These people will not and can not obtain a decent job in ANY country and cop out by taking this kind of work. Most last less than two months and that's how the companies like it. They want fresh upbeat attitudes! Once the realization that they are not getting rich, and in fact can't even survive here on their "wages", the companies sack them and get in another batch of hopeless cases.

sad weak people, lol, thats quite funny.

but some of them do make a fortune. well not enough to be a millionaire, but in comparison to what other unskilled jobs pay.

yes, a lot last less than 2 months.

again rubbish about sackings and wages

hopeless cases lol, your ignorance is laughable.

and will not be able to get a decent job? what is a decent job? a well paid one? a skillful one? Who likes working? As for me, I know I dont want to work for anyone else again, so once im done with timeshare, I will look to set something up for myself, success or failure, who knows. But everybody is different. Decent job.... give me a break.

Some companies even sack em before they are paid, this saves them even more money! Managers I have met brag about it. So if you're thinking of coming out here to be an OPC ("On Pavement Canvasser"), think hard. You will spend your entire time making virtually nothing other than a nice tan. Then you'll get sacked and go home penniless, an even more sad individual than you obviously already were in the first place!

Again, rubbish. The only thing remotely true is that some companies hold back wages if they find the opc to blag. Meaning they put couples in that dont fit the criteria. for example. they are underage.

Anyway thats my bite for you - well done
--------------------

Other things

There are a few ways to stop these people before they annoy you.

Pebble wrote

We all have ways of dealing with unwanted intrusions into our life, whether it be at home or on holiday.
Albeit they are rude and overpowering, don't sink to their level.
A firm but polite "No thankyou" followed by "Have a nice day". then cease all communication.
It works for us.

Spot on!

or "we are going home in an hour"

or "live here" tho that wont always stop the eager ones, as they will try to get you to lie about that.

'Gambling is a sin and scratchcards are gambling... Can I talk to you about Jesus?'

Thats Hilarious, i like that.

But why all the other tactics? like walking apart, playing deaf, saying nein and buying german newspapers.. i mean its ridiculous.

On the safety issue, ive never seen or heard of peoples safety being at risk, they must be isolated incidents. i dont know.

Seorasb also talks alot of rubbish....and some truth

The technique was based on deflection:- interest in the child, interest in our holiday, deflection back to the child, deflection to the card, deflection back to the child, Deflection to the woman walking by, back to the card at all times a little more info on how you would be helping her get her commission for completing the card and how grateful she was for compliance and what a big favour we were doing for each other.

This was the hook.

Correct,

Believe it or not, there are many selling skills that are employed to get a couple to go to the resort.

People go mainly due to either

1, Greed - they want the prize and are freeloaders.

2, Compassion - To earn the opc their commission.

or 3, Have nothing to do and are curious.

----------

I posted something on another forum about what you get if you go to a presentation.

Its a holiday. No cash, no camcorder.. a holiday...

well, 7 nights free accomodation, and in some instances flights as well.

to get the holiday,

1, you have to meet criteria, e.g between 30 and 65, homeowners etc.

2, Pay a 30 pounds admin fee

3, agree to do another 90 minute presentation when on that holiday (you are of course going to another timeshare resort)

thats it.

i know loads of people that go to presentations just to get a holiday. in our business they are known as gifthunters..

i have a lot more to say on the subjuect but i guess by now you are bored lol, so will try to wrap up.

oh yeah, if the product was so good why do they need people on the street like common prostitutes or something.

Are you serious??????

Theres 2 main forms to sell a product, Brand advertising, and Direct marketing

Advertising TV selling cars, insurance, loans, coca cola
Advertising Magazines, 5 videos free with your first purchase - Losing your hair? Graham gooch recommends......
Door knockers selling Gas
Telesales staff selling stationary - advertising space - recruitment - mobile phones (you know those annoying indians) ha - Double glazing even.
Market traders, 2 for a pound.
Holiday in the thomas cook window.
That dress which is normally 100 pounds, now half price.
PR's in Tenerife trying to get you in their restaurant or bar

If all those products were so good, why do they push it.???

I could go on and on.

The reason there are touts, is because it works. simple as.

They try selling it other ways, through adverts, on the internet, telesales staff.

but the best way is to do the old fashioned way, by kidnapping couples and doing the old "how much did you pay for holiday, are you going to holiday every year" pitch.

-

Anyway, my rant is finished now, hopefully you will have learned a few things.

End of the day your going to get touts that will be persistent, but a simple no thanks, or similar is all thats required.

and if you fancy a free holiday, go to the presentation, say no at the end, and say bye bye.

Hi

Thank you for the rant and Goodnight !!!!

Daveyboy.

just remembered 1 more thing I wanted to add.

The reason people do this job, well me actually.

You work 10-4 no later or earlier
Work when you want
Work where you want
Work however you want
Work in the sun,
Wear what you like. I hate suits and ties now lol
Travel the world, can work all over, Nearly every Mediteranean island, Egypt, Canaries, Malta, Majorca, Ibiza, Greece, Cyprus, Egypt, Thailand, Bali, Goa, Oz, Bahamas, America to name a few.
They pay for flights, and give 1 months free accomodation every time.
Harder you work, the more you earn.
Very good money.
Tax Free.
Meeting people - the majority of couples are nice, few idiots, but thats life.
No tube trains
No boss giving you the carrot and stick treatment
Better quality of life.

e.g If i take home 1000 sterling. we normally work 5 days, 6 hours a day assuming no lunch break, thats 30 hours a week.

30 hours a week to earn a grand. Cant sniff your noses at that.

Downsides

No holiday pay, sick pay, pension scheme, as what an employee would get.
Too much time off.
Timeshare people are compulsive liars and hard to trust.
Hard to earn money in the winter. Can go to thailand or oz or bahamas or mexico but the rates arent as good as european ones.
not much of a career.
not much skill development.

Think i said everything now lol, so will leave you in peace.

can we talk about jesus lol, quality....

The simple fact is that a lot of timeshare companies are run by crooks and in my experience, they all use deceitful methods to get you to buy.

to "Dogwindy"

you may well earn loads of cash, but i earn my honest without been Deceitful to people. just remember what goes round comes round in life, and i'm sure at some point you will have your comming