So I got a message a while ago from a company called Oyster Bay something. According to the message my name had been drawn, blah, blah, blah, I was one of 3 finalists, blah, blah, blah, could win a car, please call back.
So I figured, what the hell, I’m sure it’s a scam but I’ll call anyway. Well, no question it was a scam. I don’t know what this Oyster Bay company is, although I’m sure it’s a time-share company or similar. The person I spoke to told me I had to be at the new office in Oak Brook Wednesday night by 7 (not possible for me anyway) to draw one of three tickets, each one of which was a guaranteed winner of a TV, a trip to Las Vegas or a car.
So far okay, if there are only 3 tickets then I win something, right?
Only problem, I have to bring my wife. I ain’t married. I’m in a great relationship, but we haven’t gotten engaged yet. I told the woman this, and she said I filled in a line that showed I was married on the entry form.
Okay, 1) I don’t think I’ve filled in any entry forms in the last year, let alone the six months they claimed. 2) I wouldn’t say I was married.
Anyway, she told me they wouldn’t let me in alone! Why? What kind of promotion won’t allow a single man in?
Damn Telemarketers! You’re not supposed to cooperate with them!!
I suppose that you, at least, wasted their time for a little while.
If it makes you feel better, I can tell you what you would have won: two nights in a 2-star Las Vegas motel, probably with no meals and certainly no travel expenses included.
The reason they want you to be married is that they don’t expect single people to be interested in timeshares, or vacation clubs, or whatever they’re selling. They probably also had a minimum income requirement as well.
Leeches.
Yeah, I subjected myself to a timeshare pitch once. I don’t know why - I think there was a free vacation as incentive.
Before the meeting, I told them I was married, but my wife wouldn’t be able to attend with me. They said, “OK, no problem, come anyway.” Then when I got there, they told me they wouldn’t talk to me without my wife there. I was pretty ticked off.
Of course, if I had listened to the pitch I would’ve said that I needed to talk it over with my wife. And that would have given me time to think it over, away from the salesman who wants me to make an impulse decision.
I’m convinced that less reputable companies make 99% of their sales that way. If someone tells me I have to make a decision right now I get very suspicious.