In 1985, Laura Numeroff wrote a popular children’s book titled If You Give a Mouse a Cookie.
 
After 40 years, it’s a tale familiar to countless children, their parents and teachers.
 
But to recap, it tells the story of a boy named Matthew who, of course, gives a mouse a cookie. The mouse then asks for a glass of milk to go with the cookie. 
 
One thing leads to another and by the end of the story Matthew has provided not just a glass of milk, but a straw, a napkin, a pair of scissors, a broom…
 
Well, you get the picture.
 
And so do most Capital Vacations timeshare customers. 
 
Because Capital Vacations seems to have what you might call the “If You Give a Mouse a Cookie” business model. 
 
The high-pressure sales presentation is only the first step in a seemingly endless series of upgrade pitches designed so you to give Capital Vacations more – and more and more – of your money.
 
Jill certainly felt that way – so much so that she filed one of hundreds of complaints we found against Capital Vacations with the Better Business Bureau.
 
Warning: Jill’s Capital Vacations story is not suitable for children.
 
“Buying a timeshare with Capital Vacations was probably the most regrettable decision we have ever made.” 
 
“What was to be a new owner’s workshop ended up being a sales pitch to upgrade, with the other half of the points.”
 
If you give Capital Vacations a cookie…
 
“Then we were told that we didn’t have the ability to do that at another meeting we attended because we hadn’t really attended a new owner’s workshop the first time.” 
 
… they’ll ask for an upgrade.
 
“They proceeded to tell us that we would have to upgrade again, for several thousand dollars, to use points for maintenance fees.”
 
“We upgraded, feeling trapped and trying to make the whole situation work.” 
 
And if you give Capital Vacations an upgrade…
 
“We then vacationed to begin using all of the points we now had, when the next Capital trained deceiver informed us that it would be better use of points to book a desirable resort (every sales person touted their 4-star resorts, which only rate 3 stars on other sites) and then sell the week on RedWeek.” 
 
…then they’ll want you to buy even more…
 
“We were also told that maintenance fees wouldn’t increase very much at our new desirable home resort. Two months later fees went up $100.”
 
And if you buy even more… your fees still go up.
 
“Please save your children’s inheritance instead of buy this timeshare.”
 
Like we said, Capital Vacations is not suitable for children…or their parents.
 
You know who could give this story a more family-friendly ending? 
 
Travis Bary, the co-president of Capital Vacations. Email him at tbary@capitalvacations.com and ask why he won’t put a stop to the never-ending cycle of upgrade pitches.
 
Jason Gamel also has interest in breaking the upgrade rat race. He’s the President and CEO of the American Resort Development Association (ARDA), which represents timeshare companies in Washington, DC. Let’s email him at jgamel@arda.org and and what he’s doing to make Capital Vacations less demanding.
 
We should also contact Kenneth McKelvey, the chairman of ARDA’s Resort Owners Coalition, which claims to represent timeshare owners. He’s also an executive consultant to Capital Vacations. Let’s email him at consumer@arda-roc.org to find out whether he’s helping  timeshare owners sleep better at night.
 
Does each upgrade request lead to another at your timeshare company? Use the contact information in this list of ARDA VIPs to tell your company’s leaders to stop.
 
Have you been caught in the mousetrap of constant upgrades? Share your experience with us at info@timesharefacts.com. 
 
PS:  Follow us on social media.  Twitter   Facebook   Instagram