Cupid's Puppet Posted March 21, 2015 Posted March 21, 2015 Last weekend I went out to a sporting event and filled out one of those entry forms to win VIP tickets or a vacation to Hawaii, Vegas, or the Caribbean. I filled it out because my luck has been great over the last few months with things like that. With this, it seemed to be no different. I received a call where the guy let's me know that I've won the vacation. I'm already wondering who I can take on this "vacation for 2" since I have no significant other right now. So the guy tells me the only catch is that I go and listen to a 90-minute presentation by them (probably similar to one of those timeshares presentations). I'm thinking no big deal. He asks me questions about income, credit score, age, and relationship status. While I was old enough to get the tickets, he said that I had to be at least 30 if I was not in a relationship. The guy probably thought I was hurt because I wouldn't get the vacation. Little did he know I was hurt for the mere fact that my relationship status prevented me from a really cool vacation (that truth be told, I probably would have given to my parents as a gift). So I just feel really sad right now after having a somewhat okay day .
Author Cupid's Puppet Posted March 21, 2015 Author Posted March 21, 2015 He didn't ask for credit card numbers or SSN or anything like that. Even with my age he just wanted to know my age range. For my credit score, he just wanted to make sure it was over 650, and he wanted to make sure my income was above a certain amount. He didn't ask for exact figures on anything. The only PII he had were my name and phone number. 1
Frank13 Posted March 21, 2015 Posted March 21, 2015 You didn't win anything. Everyone who filled out those tickets "won" this. It's a 90 minute high pressure sales presentation. Do you think you are the only one who is going to be there for this? They are going to try to sell you something to more than pay for this vacation. 3
sunburned Posted March 21, 2015 Posted March 21, 2015 You didn't win anything. Everyone who filled out those tickets "won" this. It's a 90 minute high pressure sales presentation. Do you think you are the only one who is going to be there for this? They are going to try to sell you something to more than pay for this vacation. Frank is right! "Everyone" wins. You were not discriminated against. This is par for the course with time share sales. They know, in general, you'd need to be over 30 to have the income to afford it ... unless you were in your 20s and married with a dual income. From their perspective, it's not worth their time to pitch, say, a single 26 year old guy. The likelihood of that demographic purchasing on his own is just about nil. 1
Author Cupid's Puppet Posted March 21, 2015 Author Posted March 21, 2015 Look you guys. I understand the 90-minute presentation would probably be a sales pitch, which is why I referenced that it sounded like what people did when trying to sell timeshares. It probably was going to be a presentation on timeshares. I don't care. I've sat through those sales pitches without buying anything and still got something free or discounted. It happens a lot in Vegas. I know there's a catch. There's always a catch. The reason I'm venting is because no matter how much I try to escape my negative thoughts of being alone, there is always something or someone around the way to remind me that being single is a defect, a hindrance, an unfortunate fate, etc. That there are always little reminders that being coupled is rewarding while being single is punishable. It's no different than how people vent when their married friends don't invite them to places. I know this is trivial, and the hurt has subsided overnight due to a good night's rest. But I can't help but think what other times in life will I be discriminated against for being single. And yes that is discrimination. I don't care if they were trying to sell something. It was still discrimination, and two types at that - age and relationship status.
kenmore Posted March 22, 2015 Posted March 22, 2015 I hear ya! In my industry (insurance) they say over and over (and the state licensing dept tests us on it) not to discriminate. They mean of course on sex, race, religion etc. But they as an industry discriminate all the time! They even say so. Rightly so too, I suppose. Sure, a young male driver IS more likely to get into an accident, and someone in their 80s or 90s IS more likely to die. They say it's not really discrimination because it's business. I can see that, but it's discrimination. Same there. They must do what's right for their industry. I see you know that and was not the point of your thread, but I wanted to point that out anyway. Yes, I hear ya. I have no desire to be alone again. I have been single, married, widowed, affianced and soon to be divorced. That last one is the one I fear. It has a stigma attached to it that I don't want, and there's nothing on this Earth that can stop it. It had nothing to do with any choice I made, it's just something I need to deal with, and it's not going to be fun, but I don't intend to stay in that bracket for long! Once you get used to your situation and maybe get back out there, these kinds of things won't bother you anymore. I don't know what you wish to do, but no matter what you will get settled and be ok eventually. For me, I'm in the crappiest place I can be short of being homeless! I went from a nice life with my first wife in our own house to widowed in the same house to married in that house to married in a different house (one she bought) to having to live by myself in a 10 x 10 room in a relatives house because old house is occupied by tenants. I'm grateful for a place to stay, but it still sucks! I'm so looking forward to the day when I'm back on my own and dating a new lovely woman. Hopefully this time one who has the capacity to actually give a damn about someone other than herself. Sorry, got offtrack. I'll just end this by saying you will be OK as will I. Keep that chin up! Ken
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