Friday, October 28, 2011

Read the Fineprint


Recently I had the Clause No 6.1 thrown in my face by Club Mahindra exec. I really marvel the way their language changes from sweet talk at enrollment to legal as soon as you signup.
But take a look -
  • Sep 10 - Signed up (really regreting the decision !!!)
  • Sep 23 - receive email letter introducing service feature
  • Sep 25 - I shoot off mail with discrepancies and issues
  • Oct 23 - get the papers in mail
Since Sep 27, yet to receive concrete clarifications, getting wishy-washy explanations.
Now the infamous Clause 6.1 states to the effect that there is 10 days lookup period, but wiseguys at Club Mahindra have put it from payment date, while they will send papers for scrutiny after 15 days by email and 45 days my mail.
As per Club Mahindra exec lookup period would start from 10 Sep. Raise hands who feel that this is just. On what ground will the customer base his decision, Mr Club Mahindra Exec.
On the other hand comparative scenario from insurance -
  1. Get 30 days lookup period
  2. I think it is from day when you get the papers by mail.
I think this is a good case to follow-up on, and try to get some sense knocked in by courts directive by imposing some sense on the clause.
Why even put up a farce of being fair Club Mahindra. No wonder so many compliant in online forums.

Does the executive inform you about Clause 6.1 when you signup - YOU WISH, but then where is the fun of living on the edge... I had asked the person at time of signing if there was something which i need to know there, he just passed it up saying no it is just saying same promotion things.


SUMMARY:
  1. The lookup period should be from when they give something in writing.
  2. Do read the clauses to the people who come to enroll before getting them to sign.

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Club Mahindra fee structure explained


Note: This is at the 2011 Q3 prices, as was given to me.
For taking a RED studio membership, this would cost you Rs 389,855 /-
The RED membership means peak season membership. Studio membership means for 3 adults or 2 adults and 2 children.
There are four types of membership season classification:
  1. Purple
  2. Red
  3. White
  4. Blue
Coming back to the price, the pricing seem reasonable or so would it seem. 
But consider this, @10% returns, you could stash this amount safely and have Rs 38,985 /- to holiday every year without taking Club Mahindra holidays.
Wait that is not all.
You have to pay additional Rs 9681 /- per year as Annual Subscription fee. 
So in fact, if you had not taken Club Mahindra membership you would have extra Rs 48666/- to plan your holiday on your own . 
The advantage as such -
  1. You are not restricted to Club Mahindra resorts.
  2. You are not subject to availability of the Club Mahindra 
  3. You could even take holiday abroad where Club Mahindra has limited presence. (There is RCI option, but we will cover that as well, and see the economics of going there via Club Mahindra) 
  4. You could even choose not to take holiday, but indulge in acquisition or shopping fancy like a new gadget or something.
  5. At the end of it all you still have your principle Rs 3,89,855 / in hand.
LESSONS:
Look at the pricing and don’t get swayed by what the Club Mahindra executive packages as mouth watering lollipop.
NEXT:
We will cover the EMI option which they offer and see where it leads or rather leaves you.

Friday, October 21, 2011

The good part ...


Club Mahindra package offer you the facility -
  • take holidays for a week for next 25 years
  • can split your week, or accumulate it.
  • can advance a future week, after having been a member for a year. 
  • can take friends or relatives along, or gift them your holiday entitlement for a nominal fee.
  • flexibility of subscribing to high-premium peak season vs more moderately priced mid-season or peak-season options.
The big plus would be the resorts of Club Mahindra which are supposed to be quite good. They are placed at some of the best locations.
Seems too good to be true; maybe that premonition is correct, as somewhere at back of mind you know - Nothing comes for free. Read on…

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Jiyo Life par ‘ulloo’ mat bano


This blog is my way of helping people get to know what they might be getting into, when they take Club Mahindra packages.
I try to peal some of the marketing sheen off what is given to show and what it actually means for you. 
For the un-initiated, Club Mahindra offers holiday packages for Indians, where users pay subscription to holiday for next 25 years. Sound good, well can be good, but read on.
There might be some caveats which we will try to uncover as we go along.
Welcome to the journey, which i would try to make painless for you.
This blog will try to cover the painful truth, so if you are looking for nostalgic, marketing bit, I suggest you head to the official site .