Simplicity Travel aka Tradewinds Vacations
Complaint 116141 Details

I got a telemarketing call to come in to attend a 90-min. presentation with my spouse at Simplicity Travel, 4835 N. O'Connor Rd #200, Irving, Texas. I was promised 2 free airline tickets and a $20 red lobster gift card. (I was more interested in the gift card because I'm familiar with all the fine print with the airline ticket promo.) I was asked to flash a credit card logo when I got there. It was just like the telemarketer said: I was under no obligation to purchase - which was true. What I was not expecting was such a professional and tempting presentation.

We started asking questions when we got there. The receptionist said she was new and just started the week prior. The first agent said that the company was in that business location since Jan 2012., the presentation was more tempting than I expected. It was very professional and well put together, and the agents there aren't new to this and very believable. The presentation include top vacation spots and cruises with unbelievable “member” prices. The membership cost for all these perks were set at a one time payment of $8995 for a lifetime willable membership. After thinking about all the places we could go as a family and take our kids my hubby and I were really excited, however, we have one rule: NEVER make big purchases the same day, without sleeping on the decision overnight.

After the presentation, we were told the 1st 2 ppl would receive a $1k discount. After the agent talked with us one-on-one and we explained our financial situation, he out of the air came up with a "Plan 2" that was not mentioned in the group presentation on how we could get the same package for $5K by put $2500 down tonight and then we would be billed the remaining half at a 0% interest. He confirmed that we could start vacationing RIGHT away without paying the full $5k. WOW. Then when we said we're going to sleep on it. Then the agent came back and said he talked with the owner and the owner wants him to "help those folks out!" Can you say "Favor"? Next we were given a deal could pay $700 tonight and receive a 5-Year trial with full benefits. Hubby and I really had to think about this, we asked for private time to talk it over and starting searching the internet. Then we thought if this deal dropped for $9k to 700, if it's that desperate then what's good today has to be good tomorrow, next week, etc. We left that office with our free gifts and we thought about all those wonderful vacations and how we could benefit by being a member.

After we left we had time to think and reflect on the meeting. The receptionist was there said she started last week and did not know much about the company. (I found the recent craigslist ad online). The first agent at the beginning of mtg said that SIMPLICITY TRAVEL operated out of the 4835 N. O'Connor Rd #200 office in Irving, TX since the 1st of the year. The 2nd agent at the end of mtg said they were there 11 years! I searched dallascad.org Property records and there business name was not listed. I also searched on that address and found that in 2009 that suite was a massage parlor and since then it's been a real estate agent.
I also came across reservations4u.com site, that looked very unprofessional as if an individual designed it using a free web tool. Not what you would expect from a company that's been in business 11-30 years. I also did a whois.net directory lookup on the domain simplicitytravels.net and saw that it was recently purchased and only for a one year duration. The site minimal information, a paragraph on the "About Us" and appears to be created with a opensource free web script.

I noticed none of their professional brochures are branded as “Simplicity Travel”. It is a common name used by business owners all over the nation. So you may search and find good reviews for that business name, but dig deeper and you’ll see it’s in a different state. I was only to find info on “Simplicity Travels” in Irving/Dallas business within the duration of the last 60 days. Brochures are branded with other business names such as branded as "Smart Travel" and "Tradewinds Vacations." Searching on Tradewinds Vacations also brings up multiple companies owned by different people across the nation, making it harder to verify validity. BE WARE. It is always better to do businesses that you can verify their reputation online. Also if it’s such a good deal you shouldn’t be pressure to pay your one time fee before you leave the office.