Tahiti Village

Have you seen or heard these ads that have been playing the last year or so for a place called Tahiti Village?  Sure you have.  I don't think I have driven more than twenty minutes in my car without hearing one.  It features some floozy named Tanya Roberts, hawking free vacations to Las Vegas.  At first, I thought this was some new casino that was trying to get people to visit by offering free trips.  But then the ads kept playing and playing, and eventually appeared on television, as well.  That made me wonder two things:  First, what, exactly, is this Tahiti Village, and how can they make money by giving away free vacations.  Sure, I can understand giving away free weekends to promote a new product, hoping to made up for it in gambling revenue.  And the ads appear to say anyone who calls can get this free vacation, meaning they need a lot of gambling revenue to make it up.  And the second thing I wondered is, who's Tanya Roberts?

When I first heard the ads, I assumed Tanya Roberts was some kind of actress, but I had never heard of her.  Granted, I haven't heard of everyone, but I figured I would at least know her name if she had been in anything I had seen, or anything popular, regardless of my having seen it because, quite frankly, regardless of how popular some shows are ("Will & Grace" comes to mind) there are some I simply have no desire what-so-ever to see.  It's not that I'm a television or movie snob who refuses to watch anything not produced by PBS.  I like a lot of really bad sitcoms.  But with some of them, like the aforementioned "Will & Grace," the very idea of them repulses me so much, I just can't bring myself to watch, even for journalistic research.

However, I still know who the stars of the show are.  Well, their names don't come immediately to mind, but if you said their names, I think I would be able to place the show.  (Wasn't one of them Eric-something?)

Anyway, having never heard of this Tanya Roberts, and, given the tone and style in which she was speaking and the vacation destination she was touting, I figured she was an actress in some less-than-mainstream type of movie.  I can't mentioned which type, since this is a family blog -- it has a wife blog and a little girl blog at home -- but I think you get my drift.

But I was wrong.  Apparently she has been in a bunch of things.  According to a search I did on the Internet Movie Data Base (IMDB.com), she has appeared in about forty different things, including about a third of the episodes of "That 70s Show" playing Midge.  I've no idea who Midge is, because that's another show I could never bring myself to watch.  She was also in a Bond movie, one episode each of "Fantasy Island" and "The Love Boat," a whopping seven episodes of "Charlie's Angels," then about thirty-five other programs and/or movies I have never heard of.

After a while, the radio ads apparently weren't bringing in enough free vacationers, so they put them on television.  If you ever see one again, instead of pulling a muscle to change the channel as fast as possible, hit the mute button and watch.  It's hilarious.  She stands in front of a pool delivering her spiel, bouncing up and down and weaving back and forth like, well, like a drunk college girl who has to pee but doesn't want to walk away from the frat guy she's flirting with.

Not that I would know what that looks like.

More recently, those ads have also featured Alan Thicke.  I guess they realized they weren't getting enough business with the fifty-year-old floozy, and figured he would bring an air of class to the proceedings.

Now, just one question remains.  Just what is Tahiti Village?  On the ads, it sounds like this wonderful new resort and casino that enjoys giving away free vacations.  A weekend in Las Vegas.  Tickets to "A hot show" on the Las Vegas Strip.  Family fun all around, and you pay nothing.  Sound too good to be true?  Maybe.

I did a Google search for Tahiti Village.  Turns out, it's a time-share.  If you have been an adult for more than a few weeks, you have gotten time-share offers before.  Come visit us, listen to our presentation, and go home with a nice parting gift, which could even be a trip somewhere.  The Ways and Means Committee and I went to one of those a few years ago, and, I must admit, it sounded pretty good.  We didn't buy anything, but they did give us a television and a free trip.  We never took the trip, but we used the TV a lot.  It's a small one, but still pretty nice.

I don't wish to give the impression I think time shares are a scam.  Actually, for some people, I think they may be a pretty good deal.  I've known quite a few people who own time-shares, and they love it.  You own one place, but can visit any other place in their system for a slight fee and airfare.  They love them.  I must say, if you're the type, this Tahiti Village thing may not be such a bad deal.

But can't they find a better way to promote it?

Comments

[Jen]

Hello I work for Consolidated Resorts and I love my job this company is wonderful. And this is Time Share done right. Thank you very much.

[RICK]

HI:

I JUST READ THE BLOG AND I CAN SEE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE MIXED FEELINGS ABBOUT TIMESHARES, I MYSELF WORKED FOR TIMESHARES IN CANCUN AND I LEARNED THE WHOLE THING SINCE I WENT FROM BEING ONE OF THOSE ANNOYING GUYS INVITING PEOPLE ALL THE WAY TO CLOSER IN A SALES ROOM AFTER A FEW YEARS, AND I DECIDED TO WRITE A BOOK ABOUT IT CALLED LYING FOR A LIVING, IN IT I EXPOSE A LOT OF WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON DOWN IN CANCUN, AND I THINK THAT A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WHO WRITE TO YOUR BLOG WOULD PROBABLY FIND IT VERY INTERESTING AND USEFUL, UNFORTUNATELY ALL OF THE LITERARY AGENTS THAT I HAVE SUBMITED A QUERY LETTER TO, TRYING TO GET THEM INTERESTED IN IT HAVE TURNED ME DOWN, SINCE I´M NOT A PUBLISHED AUTHOR.

BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE TIMESHARE BUSINESS DOWN IN MEXICO AND WOULD LOVE TO READ THIS, SO IF THERE`S ANYONE OUT THERE THAT CAN HELP ME TO GET THIS BOOK PUBLISHED I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU SINCE IT HAS BEEN FINISHED FOR ALMOST A YEAR.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ THIS, AND IF ANYONE CAN HELP I´M LOOKING FORWARD TO HEAR FROM YOU SO PLEASE SEND ME AN E MAIL TO lying4aliving@hotmail.com THANKS AGAIN BYE.

[RICK]

HI:

I JUST READ THE BLOG AND I CAN SEE THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE MIXED FEELINGS ABBOUT TIMESHARES, I MYSELF WORKED FOR TIMESHARES IN CANCUN AND I LEARNED THE WHOLE THING SINCE I WENT FROM BEING ONE OF THOSE ANNOYING GUYS INVITING PEOPLE ALL THE WAY TO CLOSER IN A SALES ROOM AFTER A FEW YEARS, AND I DECIDED TO WRITE A BOOK ABOUT IT CALLED LYING FOR A LIVING, IN IT I EXPOSE A LOT OF WHAT IS REALLY GOING ON DOWN IN CANCUN, AND I THINK THAT A LOT OF THE PEOPLE WHO WRITE TO YOUR BLOG WOULD PROBABLY FIND IT VERY INTERESTING AND USEFUL, UNFORTUNATELY ALL OF THE LITERARY AGENTS THAT I HAVE SUBMITED A QUERY LETTER TO, TRYING TO GET THEM INTERESTED IN IT HAVE TURNED ME DOWN, SINCE I´M NOT A PUBLISHED AUTHOR.

BUT I DO BELIEVE THAT THERE ARE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE TIMESHARE BUSINESS DOWN IN MEXICO AND WOULD LOVE TO READ THIS, SO IF THERE`S ANYONE OUT THERE THAT CAN HELP ME TO GET THIS BOOK PUBLISHED I WOULD LOVE TO HEAR FROM YOU SINCE IT HAS BEEN FINISHED FOR ALMOST A YEAR.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO READ THIS, AND IF ANYONE CAN HELP I´M LOOKING FORWARD TO HEAR FROM YOU SO PLEASE SEND ME AN E MAIL TO lying4aliving@hotmail.com THANKS AGAIN BYE.

[Los Angeles]

I found your write up after doing a google search - I liked it. REGARDING Tahiti Village, my fiance and I took the tour recently without any intention of buying (we did it for the hotel voucher), but as it turned out we ended up really liking the place, and ended up buying a Time Share from them.

I agree that their sales pitches are too strong on radio, and even a bit once you get to the property, but not all their people are bad... it's sort of like the car dealership ratio. Tahiti Village was surprisingly nice (very clean, modern, and comfortable), and I've stayed at some fantastic time shares in Tahoe, Europe, etc.

Their radio ads are beneath the quality of what they're selling, but I guess their marketing people think it's helping them.

[vito]

Dumbing down? I think if you think someone is going to give you a vacation for free, your down as down can be. Anyone who thinks that you get a vacation for free deserves whatever misery comes their way. Can you say, "I can't sell my timeshare that was such a great deal, baby."

[Mr. Motown]

Woof--thanks so much for your strategic tips, not the least of which was "Buy from a timeshare broker". I have no problem looting the corpses of the haplessly impulsive. I'm still totally not in the market for a timeshare, but I'll certainly enjoy saying "No" in nicer digs and with more free swag than I would have before reading your post.

[yvette]

Your friends may SAY they love the time share they bought under extreme pressure and the promise of a bottle of tequila and a blanket, but, they kind of HAVE to say that lest we all know what kind of push-over they are!! Everyone I know who fell for the time share routine either has sold it or is trying to unload it. They're a joke. Your blog is very funny!! I love the wife-blog and little-girl-blog comment!

[Dan]

I just saw the ad on television, and did a Google Earth search for Tahiti Village. The ad says "in the middle of the strip" - it should read "in the middle of nowhere. The southernmost hotel on the Strip - Mandalay Bay - is some ways north of this property. Sounds a little like deceptive advertising to me. Want a real laugh? Visit their site and check out the "activities". My two favorites are the Bingo and the Cookie Decorating...and this is for "couples only"?

[The Gibster]

My wife and finally gave into one of the hundreds of 'personnel capture agents' Tahiti Village has stationed at the doorways, corners, and sidewalks on the Strip. They took us to the help-desk at the casino, and signed us up.

We went for the bus ride, waited in the lobby of the run-down former apartment complex they called a resort, and waited for our name to be called. When we were called we stepped to the check-in desk, and the young man asked what room we were staying in at the 'Wild Wild West'. We said we weren't in a room.

Deer-in-the-headlights time.

I explained we have a custom truck parked on the pavement out there, and we're staying in that.

Now deer-in-the-headlights and gaping mouth check-in boy says, "Hold on just a minute, pa-leeze" and scurries away with all the fevor of a bank teller with a bum at his window.

Mr. Manager shows up and says we're NOT QUALIFIED to 'participate in this offer'. But to keep fom being too 'overly discriminatory' he said he would still give us our prizes. He coughed up the steak dinner for two at the steakhouse, the comedy club, and a couple of other vouchers to something.

I'm still taken aback by the stupidity of the staff of salespeople. Because I drive a truck, I don't qualify. Hee hee. Yeah right. I won't give any specifics but if you arrive in Las Vegas in a motorhome, let's say a half-a-mil worth of motorhome, you don't qualify.

If you arrive in a custom truck, (not just dolled up, C-U-S-T-O-M) worth let's say, oh quarter-mil, and make, oh, more than $100K, but less than $200K, even if it's just a little . . .you don't qualify!

I guess I can't be too disappointed. Most resorts and high-end hotels we stay in are not as nicely appointed as our truck. We always enjoy giving tours to hotel personnel wanting to see the inside who then ask why we're staying in the hotel if this is what we live in.

I guess the point of this whole post is the lesson I learned, and what we laughed about that night over the $48 ribeye - just remember their whole focus, they're salespeople, there to sell, not to think.

Thanks for the ribeye Tahiti Village!

[tom]

thanks for info I thought this was a scam but you no what they say if its to good to be true then it probably is.

[Katy]

I just heard the ad on the radio (102.3) and called the number. The guy on the phone said they will mail these tickets in the mail. He never said anything about it being a timeshare...in fact, he didnt really say anything at all...so i thought it was fishy, so i googled tahiti village and found this blog site. After reading what everyone had to say, I dont want to do this anymore and will throw away what comes in the mail....thanks guys!!! This blog has potentially saved me tons of money!!!

[MeMoe]

Wow,
I've been all around the internet searching for reviews adn comments on Tahiti Village. This is probably the first good set of complaints I've seen lately. I've never written reviews about reviews for anything but just wanted to see if I understand why some people would "hate" such an opportunity to own a timeshare or vacation share.

Im not a sales rep just an owner so these comments are important to me. I want to know whats going on with something I purchased and plan on using in the future.

Now I understand about the commercials and calling in and all that. But you did realize that you were getting something free. Regardless if you stayed in a great hotel or not. You received a free thing at no cost to you ( You do get your deposit back , Iknow). We always want to cry and scream that someone is scamming us, when we do the same thing.

" Okay honey we will go to this "presentation" but were going to say no and take the free tickets and run"... They promised a presentation and free tickets and your deposit back, and you promised your time. mARKETING IS MARKETING AND every company does it. Mcdonalds puts a million dollar game out there every year inticing customers to purchase their larger items to win and NOBODY EVER WINS. Wheres the complaints with that? lol

Anyways you and I know that Las Vegas is one of the largest or even the largest tourist city in the US. The price for a hotel is ridiculous, and expedia and others are just rising as well. Having the opportunity to have a spot ready for you when you need that week long vacation or split up daily vacations a year ( which we usually take anyways) for less than $200.0-0 a WEEK???? Any hotel in Las Vegas or Any where for that matter would run you around $200 a night.

Some are upset that there is no casino, no smoking yadda yadda. Sometimes staying away from a casino can get you to a point where it wouldnt be a burden on your pocket. This is for couples and families who are seeking to travel around the world forever at the same rate. I didnt feel pressured at all. And yes we initially went for the Lance Burton Tickets and free buffet but we realized we walked away with something much more. An opportunity.

I havent found anything legitimately negative written on the internet or any where else.

But here are some things that I have heard that was either mis interpreted, miscommunicated, or the person is just as angry as they want.

" I couldnt cancel after 7 days"
Well sweetie you have five days... Next

"They said they would help me sell or rent it"
I signed documents stating that I understand they do not assist in renting or selling your property.

"They dont have shuttles to the air port and you have to pay for a cab to get there"
Well you sayed hundreds of dollars on your trip and not even the big hotels provide free shuttle service to the airport. Not even the airport provides free shuttle service. The charge 11 bucks a person.

"I was pressured into going to this presentation for something free"
Pressure? Hmmm how weak can you be?? You can always say no to the free stuff and purchase it yourself hipocrite. Or how about walking down the street and letting the slappers pressure you into nudity. If you want something and you make a move on it, its your fault, no one elses.

" I purchased this timeshare and never got to use it"
Well dude, why did you buy something with no intent to use it? You just dont work well with money do you? Probably have lots of money issues becuase someone told you to buy it. Duh...

"They said it was free but I had to tip, or pay taxes"
WELCOME TO AMERICA MY FRIEND where we tip at our discretion and pay the man for everything we do. I would rather pay an 18 dollar a day fee to travel to Jaimaca and have a great place to stay, rather than pay 97 dollars at a hotel that recently damn near burnt to the ground. We want it all and complain about it even more.

Its all too incredible to complete but you get my drift. Dont feel lame because you didnt have your game face on as planned. No one can ever force you to do anything you dont want them to. If you stayed thats on you. Dont trash something because you have no backbone. You wouldnt like it if I came to your house and you didnt serve me as I wished and told the world you had the worst hospitality in the world.

Lol

[Danielle]

I fell for this SCAM! You call the toll FREE # and they charge you $20 over the phone for this "free" vacation. So then you think, well I'm only paying $20's still seems worth it right? WRONG! Then you have to follow exact directions in a timely matter. You have to send a money order (for a refundable $129), certified mail (even more money), as a deposit to "secure your spot". After you have hopefully enjoyed your stay, you have to send a written request for you $129 back, certified mail again in a certain amount of time. Most people I can imagine don't want to go thru all of the energy of doing that so they lose their money. And that's how they make the $. I set up a confirmed date to visit this "Resort", and it is to some hotel that I have never heard of. Its off the strip and there is not even a pool. My trip is on Monday, so I will report back, assuming all goes well. I looked up the hotel online, and the rooms only costs $30. So am I really getting a deal? The rep told me that this is the only hotel they offer this promo for. There is no Tahiti Village even involved. THIS IS A TOTAL SCAM!!!

[Bill]

Never under estimate the predictibility of stupidity

[ds]

i want a drink by the pool

[sue]

I just want to say that I called Tahitian Resort today and had it out with one of the managers about the farse that they are putting over the radio and tv about 2 nights 3 days in Las Vegas. When I asked the woman on the phone how much out of pocket expense we had to put out she said nothing all you have to do is pack your luggage and your on your way. She also said that all the information would be mailed to me. Well in short I emailed WNIC and also Channel 4 problem solver because I am sick of companies and people taking advantage of other people, it is time we put a stop to this crap. If you are interested in time share then by all means go for it but don't promote it they it is being done but offering an all inclusive trip to Las Vegas, just come right out and be upfront and tell the public what it is you are offering, it sounds to me like they are hiding something when the present it like they have been doing.

From a very angry, mad and hurt person.

[Hot mama of 4]

My husband and I bought a timeshare from Tahiti Village, while on our honeymoon to LV. We got free tickets to Zumanity, free airlines tickets, and a free vacation. Tahiti Village worked with us, and got us on a plan that would fit our budget. Granted, we only get to use our timeshare in Vegas every other year, which is fine with us...four kids at home make travel here hard. We are going back this June for a few days, have a week, but my youngest is only a year old, he hasn't really been away from us for more than a few hours. Hopefully, we have a better stay than what many of you have had. If not, we can always use the exchange for another timeshare, we know of a few good ones that we can use.

[ac]

OK, FIRST OFF, YOU SHOULD NOT BUY A TIME SHARE IF YOU ARE NOT GOING TO USE THE HELL OUT OF IT, WE BOUGHT THE TAHITI VILLAGE ONE, AND PLAN TO GET EVERY CENT OUT OF IT.........................................REALLY, YOU HAVE TO TAKE ALOT OF VACATIONS LIKE ME AND MY FAMILY, OR JUST DON'T BOTHER.......................ALOT OF PEOPLE BUY ON IMPULSE, AND MORE THAN HALF CANNOT AFFORD IT ANYWAY!!!!!!!! I HAVE TO SAY THAT'S WHAT HOTELS ARE FOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

AND IT IS ON THE STRIP, LAS VEGAS BLVD IS ON THE STRIP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!DUH!!!!!!!!!!!

[Hot mama of 4]

We do travel a lot, in fact we take at least 2 or 3 family vacations a year, or more...I just dont see Las Vegas as a family event, seeing as how our kids are all under the age of 10. Plus there are stipulations in our contract...if you use half, then you get two weeks out of the year, if you use the whole thing, you get only one week a year, and again, we only get to use it every other year.

[Kim]

We were plucked off the streets right in front of our hotel for this. Neither my husband or I wanted to buy, but they offerred us breakfast, $100 slot play and $25 food credit if we went to their presentation.

We also heard the commercials and my husband asked if Alan Thicke would show us around. It was halarious. These people thought he was serious and have no sense of humor at all --- even though they come off friendly. You must have to be on gaurd when selling this thing.

Since there's NOTHING to do in Vegas in the morning we did it. They wanted $40, but promised promised promised us we'd get it back. Actually that I would get it back. I was slightly annoyed at their sexist comments. Like the first guy said "Wow, you're a software engineer. I'd expect it out of your husband, but you?" Hmm... I guess he thought I was a dumb blonde. "You'll never have to put your wife up in a dumpy hotel room again" -Yeah, I make the reservation and let me tell you, my husband takes good care of me. Please don't insult him again.

Anyway we boarded the bus to go WAAAAAAY down Las Vegas Blvd. The strip is barely visible from TV. They gave us our $40.00 back right before we boarded the bus.

We listen to the speil. There were sooooo many things that made me laugh... like are you serious??? One was how all the sales people (there is one for each couple) would hoot and holler and clap through the whole thing like it was the most exciting thing in the whole world. These people hear this thing like four times a day, seven days a week and it is still super exciting.

Then there was this wheel with only prizes on it and if you became an "owner" you could spin it. Also there were these balloons you could pop when you became an "owner" with more trips. WOW! Funny how during the presentation I heard these balloons popping. This place was so fabulous that the presenter could barely say two words and people were buying.... Because a place like this wouldn't try to deceive us by planting their people as potential customers in the audience would they?

The best part was my husband wouldn't let the Allan Thicke thing go. Demanded to see him. Demanded if we bought Allan Thicke must have dinner with us - stuff like that. These people were so uptight they thought he was serious and making promises that we would meet Allan Thicke! Even going as far as to say they could set us up by the pool to have a drink with him.

After all the hoopla, we finally saw the numbers. WOW, we would have to take like 100 + vacations before this made sense. We said NO - the numbers went down. No again - numbers went down. Any excuse we had the had a lame answer too. Here some examples:
1)
Us: We have no idea how Tahiti Village compares to other timeshares. Before we make this big of decision, we will need to research your company.
Them: We'll tell you how we compare ... (go on with some gobly gunk about TV)
US: Um - we've known you for 10 minutes, you seriously think we are going to take your word???
Them: Well how much time do you have - we'll go do the research right now.
Us: Yeah, well seeing how this is our vacation, we'll do that when we get home.

2)
Us: We need to see how this will fit into our finances
Them: Well, you take vacations, right - obviously this fits.
Us: Yeah, well we don't pay $350 a month for a vacation. We need to talk to our accountant to see if this makes sense.
Them: Do you take your accountant on vacation?

They finally give up and we finally get to go have lunch. To their credit, we were given everything we were promised for going to their presentation. To our credit we did do our research when we came home and found that it just wasn't a fit for us. Too bad we won't be able to meet Alan Thicke!

[Alski]

What I really hate about the commercials is that they think we are fools, and that these semi-celebs are actually talking to the radio host. I'm waiting for a shock jock or a comedian to get ahold of the commercial spiel and throw in some double entendres.

I don't mind commercials, I've been listening to them (or ignoring them) my entire life. But it really BUGS me when I hear fake commercials...if you want to get my attention to sell me something, do a funny skit, put some nice music on, or just plain talk about what you want to talk about, don't try to BULLSHIT me.
Do these folks think that people listen to only one radio station and won't recognize that the answers given by the semi-celeb are the exact same on every station?

[bLAH]

meH, Coast to Coast AM is blasting this with a fake conversation with roseanne barr, cause thats a spokesperson that make me want to go there....

[The General]

Just got back from Vegas and the whole Tahiti Village tour.

No real surprises, we got the high pressure sales pitch. You just have to be good at saying "No" if it's realy not for you. Sounds like you can pick it up cheaper on the resell market anyway. Watch out for one of their closers, Scott. 50 years old with leathery skin, frosted tips, and a soul patch (only in Vegas). When we told him I was getting re-deployed to Iraq and we really couldn't afford to do it, he turned and asked my wife if $40 week was really going to take food off he table.

Also know that they are not going to put you up in the best rooms. Remember, they want to show you how much better it is to be at their resort.

[Randy Myer]

I called around 1.5 or 2 mo. ago and i am still waiting for information. please send wanting to get away for a while

[Tonya Roberts]

Can you say, "High roller treatment baby!"