Sundance Vacations Sweepstakes
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By Anon (not verified) on Fri, 04/17/2009 - 9:30am.

If you entered the Sundance Vacations sweepstakes with the hopes of winning the grand prize but NOT with the express intent of inviting relentless telemarketing calls bordering on harassment, and you have been the recipient of uninvited or unwelcome telephone calls and are registered on the federal or state Do Not Call lists, you should call the FTC at its toll-free hotline at: 1-888-382-1222; or you should call the specific state in which Sundance Vacations has sales offices:

(1) Illinois 1-800-386-5438
(2) New Jersey 1-800-242-5846
(3) Pennsylvania 1-800-441-2555
(4) Wisconsin 1-800-422-7128

You may find the following article very informative and interesting:

http://naskiewicz.blogspot.com/

My boyfirend and I recently purchased a vacation plan from Sundance after filling out a raffle ticket at a Bull's game. We did indeed recieve a free cruise (3 night 4 day) with round trip airline tickets included. We haven't taken it yet b/c its valid for a year and we want to wait until next month. During our visit to the location, the employees where very nice and did not really pressure us into making a purchase. My boyfriend and I liked the idea of going anywhere in the world for four hundred dollars. Of course, you still have to buy plan tickets, food, everyday stuff, but that's with any vacation. Plus, Sundace even has spots where extra activities are included with the packaging deal. We got the ten vacations for $4000 (no matter what package, each vacation is $400, initially until you talk them down). To make up some of the money (we only pay $69 per month) we advertise the Excess inventories online and sell them for a little more than their actual price. We then use that money to pay off the remaining balance. The sell representative even suggested that we do so, once we told her we couldn't afford the 30 but could do 10! We are happy with our decision because we can go on a nice vacation (every week of the year if we wanted to) and have friends come along with us. If the vacation is from the excess inventory, you pay $200 dollars, regardless of # of rooms! I think that if you really enjoy vacations and have the time to go on them often/sell them/ or plan on taking them within the next 5 years, Sundance is a good choice for you. And believe me, you CAN talk them down. One of my friends that was at that game with us talked them down to 1200 for 10 vacations! I wish I did that, lol. Its all in your self-confidence and letting them know that you aren't a fool, just like with any other sales company but especially in vacations.

O yeah, and for the record, its not a time share company, the company has won many awards, and NOTHING is EVERY 100% free. If you know you can't afford their final price given, just say no.

Hi everyone,

I just wanted to clear some things up about Sundance Vacations.

I, by no means, work for, or really care about Sundance Vacations other than winning a 3 day cruise and round trip airfare from them.

I am actually writing because when I read all the complaints about this company it made me nervous to go ahead with my "prize." I thought I would explain a little bit about how it worked.

I went to a baseball game, put my name on a card, got a call winning a free cruise and round trip airfare.

I was asked to attend a fairly simple hour long presentation on why I should buy their vacation package. I declined due to a lack of funding and interest, frankly.

I was then given my cruise certificate. I was able to choose between Mexico or the Bahamas.

This is where people seem to have the problems. The instructions on HOW to go about getting your free vacation are somewhat complicated, however, worth it if you stick with it and keep on it. Clearly they don't want to make free vacations easy because it costs them money, however, if you are intelligent enough to follow the instructions (mail this, call this person, etc.), it IS possible to get what you have been guaranteed.

My advice is to start right away and keep track of everything that you do.

If you are willing to go through the not completely convenient (but still very simple) steps, it's worth your time.

I just returned from a 3 day cruise to Nassau and enjoyed it very much. I will honestly say that after reading all of these reviews I never thought it would happen, but it did!

Another thing I'd like to clear up - the expense. Of course they say "free" but people need to understand that they will be expected to pay taxes and some other fees. Basically I will say that I spent on this vacation about 1/3 of what I would have spent if it weren't for Sundance offering it to me.

Basically I just wanted to make it known that it is not necessarily a scam. Maybe it won't work out for some people as well as it did for me, but it IS possible! Good luck.

In December, 2008, during the neverending annual Christmas shopping at Southridge mall, my fiance, Jody, and I came accross a "sweepstakes" to win a mercedes automobile. We happily entered while "ooing and ahhing" over the vehicle. We left the mall and thought nothing further of putting our names and phone numbers into this sweepstakes. This would mark the beginning of an unforgettably painful experience the both of us would endure.

At the beginning of January, 2009, a month after entering in this sweepstakes, I received a call on my cell phone from a woman by the name of Brenda. Brenda seemed very friendly on my voice mail, stating that I won a cruise to the Bahamas from entering in a sweepstakes at Southridge mall. Being the naive 21 year old that I am, I was ecstatic about my luck and happily commited to taking whatever steps necessary to claim my "prize." I emphatically called the number left on my voice mail and asked to speak with Brenda. Brenda was gone for the day (it was five minutes after this supposed BRENDA had contacted me) but Lisa would be happy to help me. Lisa asked for my phone number and sure enough verified that I was the lucky recipient of a 3 night cruise to the Bahamas. I simply had to sit through a one hour seminar in Brookfield, WI at a Sundance vacation office. It started at 7pm on a Friday night. Lisa assured me that this would be "quick" and I would be on my way home with my voucher for the free cruise "within an hour." I thought "how easy is this? I am the luckiest guy ever!" I agreed to attend the seminar and was instructed to bring my significant other.

Friday rolled around and my fiance and I headed to the Sundance Vacations office ten minutes prior to our seminar. We filled out the necessary information sheets, had a seat with the 30 other people in the waiting area, and awaited the seminar. A very healthy looking man named Rick called us into the "Presentation Room" for our seminar. My first impression of Rick was that he was a very personable, honest and charismatic person...a likeable guy. He ratteled off one of the most enjoyable pieces of speech I had seen in a long time in person. I remember thinking "I like this guy, I want to work with him and Sundance." Little did I know, everyone in that seminar was being buttered up to be fed to the sharks in the adjacent room. When the seminar concluded, after a good 45 minutes, we were instructed to follow the person who called our name. I remember thinking "Rick is going to have his hands full calling each of us up individually" but before I could finish that thought, the door we used to enter the Presentation Room flew open followed by an army of SUNDANCE soldiers each armed with a file for each couple in the room. This is where I thought "uh oh, my Rick loving days are over."

Rita, an italian immigrant with a marvelous accent, was assigned to Jody and I, who both still had a belly of false optimism and excitement for our cruise. Rita sat us down at a table in a cafeteria style room with blairing music. I thought nothing of the music, I just recognized that it was really loud, and I wondered how I would here the instructions for our free cruise.

Once Jody and I sat down with Rita, Rita began pitching an offer of 30 vacations for $12, 000. We let her ramble for a while, then like an idiot, I engaged. I told Rita, "we really only take one or two vacations per year so we would have no use for a package like this, do you have anything smaller?" She said "you know what? I think we might, let me bring my director over." A man, who I swear was the twin brother of Steven A Smith from ESPNs 'Quite Frankly, ' shook my hand and sat at our table. He confirmed his understanding that we would not use 30 vacations in one year and said he was prepared to give us a great deal of 10 vacations for $4500. We simply needed to pay a $900 down payment and $339 for taxes and surcharges by March 15th. My fiance was very quick to accept the offer, I requested that both sales people leave our table so that my fiance and I could talk. Jody really believed this was a great deal (we are both impulsive buyers) and she had me convinced, when the sales people came back, we said we were in! Steven A Smith requested a check for $900 from us, I made him aware that I was uncomfortable handing over this amount of money right after the holidays, I then proceeded to say "You know what, I really dont think this is a good idea right now, just not a good time." He and Rita looked at me like I was insane! Steven A Smith told me that he would be able to hang on to the $900 check for a few weeks, if I needed that time. After much hesitance, Jody mentioned that this would be a good idea and we shouldnt pass it up. Because of my resistance to the whole thing, the salesman noticed that Jody and I had listed that Hawaii was our dream vacation destination. He offered to throw in one "extra trip" to hawaii for free with buy one get one free airfair if we would sign up, this would give us 11 vacations for that price. Jody gave me the look that we should accept. I did.

Rita and the director proceeded to have the contract written and the application for credit filled out. Once the application for credit (which would be for the $4500) was filled out, the director came over and filled out his section. I noticed him writing a 12.9% APR. When I questioned it, he simply said "you dont have to worry about that, your payments will only be $80 and most people double pay each month, it will be paid down in no time." I began feeling pressured at this point and in turn became pompous. They left for a moment and came back with a binding contract this time, I felt even more backed into a corner than before. I told Rita that I was going to read through the entire contract. Jody had already written the check for $900 and had given the information to have the $80 automatically deducted from her checking account. I came to a point in the contract that stated "there is no right of recission and no right to cancel at any time." Once I read this, I told Rita, "Rita, I'm sorry but the answer is no!" She was angry and made clear that they did a lot of work to get this done for us and that this is important as young people as we would have these vacations for life. I said that I understood and it seems like a good deal, however, I was not comfortable committing to putting ourselves $4500 in obligated debt without having time to think about it, I asked for a week to go home, then make her aware of my decision. She said that no one gets invited to these seminars and opportunities and I would never see a deal like this again. I said so be it. She ripped up our application, got Jody's check back to her and then walked us to a small waiting area.

A man by the name of bill, a fat ugly car salesman type with a yellow beard and the ugliest face I have ever seen, stepped out of the hall and introduced himself. Outside of his office, he was very nice. That was about to change. Bill offered us a seat in his 6 by 6 box of an office. He said, "I'm the guy who gives you your free cruise." I thought the hard part was over, so I joked "that makes you our new best friend." He laughed. He explained how to make the reservation for our cruise and register online or by mail. After concluding the walkthrough, Bill said, " Now I dont know what happened in there, but (writing) I want to offer you this number that can only be offered by me." The number was $779 which would take the place of the $900 down payment. I said, "No thanks." He countered by saying, "Actually, I was going to cut that in half, $400 today? How does that sound?" I said that I did not want to, that "no" is final. He asked "why?" I explained that it is not the right time, but I really liked Sundance and wanted to work with them in the future at some point. He said "well you wont get this in the future, can I ask why its not the right time? Do you realize how much a trip to Hawaii is? It doesnt make any sense to pass this up." I said that I did not want to do this, there is no right to cancel and I do not want to make a decision like this right at the spur of the moment. He said, " well you are already making your decision by saying no, you wont get this again. Wow, Ive never encountered a person who wants to spend more for less down the road, theres no logic to it." I then, a little frustrated with this fat pile of trash, said "with do respect, what is ilogical is to pin any couple or individual down in an effort to get them to make a decision that would increase their debt without allowing them time to evaluate their situation. That is a bit ilogical if you ask me. The ansewr is no and thats it." He then conceded defeat, offered us our voucher and sarcastically said "enjoy your free trip then..."

We will see how the trip goes, if there is one, but I would not recommend that you go into something like this unprepared. I am glad I did only because I really learned from this and developed a backbone. If you are passive and can be easily persuaded, this is not for you. These people do not care about how this obligation to them will effect your day to day lifestyle, so you really have to be outspoken and take control immediately. I let it get way too far! luckily we are not out any money and we have the voucher that we came in for!

I hope this article helps those of you looking into this, e-mail me with questions at [email protected].

Nick

I entered to win a $50, 000 prize at the 'tour de elk grove' (a summer festival) when I 'won!' a trip for 3 days, 2 nights at a Marriott of my choice.. After being very spektical, as I should have been, then HARASSED me almost by calling me nearly 2 or 3 times a day.. The telemarketers are EXRTEEMLY pleasant and REALLY make you feel like they understand your sketisim.. SOO she now offered me 'free airfare' and a 'free $1, 000 online shopping spree' ahhhhh RIGHT! but I figured they specifically said this is NOT for a timeshare or to buy anything.. that its just their way of 'advertising their travel discounts' So what DO i have to lose?? well over an hour and a half of my time and LONGER if you dont have the 'i'm out of here' attitude..

They insisted I bring my boyfriend because we live together - so we went.. It was a rainy friday night, we didnt have anything special to do, its right down the street - and if we can just stick to the little weekend get-away they we offering - cool! then I had NO problem listening to the 'presentation'

To my surprise a room full of people also showed up! I figured that we ALL couldnt be suckers!! but anyways - The presentation was short but introducing us to their sales pitch.. for a FIFTEEN THOUSAND DOLLAR TRAVEL PACKAGE!!! $15, 000!?? WOW! for not 25 BUT 30 weeks of VACATION! (on special that day! of course!) Then Dwayne ends the presentation by having a SWARM of sales people wisk us away to their desks to see if we would like to right a check or finance the $15, 000 package...

I just started laughing!! my boyfriend asks the kid that 'has been there 4 weeks' if he was serious!? of course he says, 'yeah, why!?' He said well its $12, 000 today - with the 20% off not $15, 000 BUT THAT MONEY HAS TO BE PAID THAT DAY - AT THAT TIME - NO time to even think about it! Then or never they said!!!

When I made it clear that we ARE NOT interested in purchasing ANY type of package and that I would NOT be writing him a check or having the package financed.. He brought his 'boss' over to the desk.. The boss then does us a 'SPECIAL deal' of $7, 800 for a smaller package.. which we were so aggravated that I wasnt even listening what it was for.. So I said NO.. please just let us go - we arent buying anything.. the kid throws in there 'wow! he never passes that out! he must have liked you guys..'
PLEASE!!!

Then they sit us in another little room to wait for the manager to 'validate our vouchers' I asked the girls that were sitting in the room waiting with us if they were offered the 'special deal..' and the guy must have liked them too because they were offered it!! SURPRISE SURPRISE!!

After being there for an hour and a half they wisk us away now to the manager's office.. who now offers us 'a special package that they only let him use twice a year..' for $895 and he could waive some fees.. blah blah blah - THAT was in fact the final attempt to get me to turn over a check to them.. but a scam none-the less..
I then checked on here (because a friend told me about ripoffreport.com) and of course the place that our FREE TRIP is from is called Spirit Incentives and there's pages and pages of horror stories.. not to mention the complaints about Sundance Vacations..

I know now to check this whenever skeptical!! and just wanted to give a heads up to anyone willing to WASTE their Friday night like we did - DONT DO IT!! its a waste of time and is a complete JOKE!

I have tried calling the location I went to - to question this 'free trip' that they gave us.. along with the Online shopping spree that I did not receive and it keeps looping me through an automated system that wont even get me thru to the receptionist.. And I've been calling the number that they had me do the reservation to hear the 'presentation' thru and they gave me a bogus number to contact Spirit..

I never thought of myself as a stupid person - but holy cow- today I feel like SUCH an IDIOT for going to this thing!! the only thing making me feel better is to warn those of you that are considering going!!

Nichole
Elk Grove Village, Illinois
U.S.A.