by Alain Schuster
This unbiased review of the Global Resorts Network, covers both the product (which is a discount luxury travel membership) and the affiliate program which offers a Perpetual Leverage Compensatipn plan.
One of the two types of membership in the GRN is a Platinum membership which cost US$2,995.00.
If one is a platinum member, he/she is entitled to unlimited vacations per year. His/her membership is lifetime, fully transferable and willable to his/her estate. Resort weeks cost from US$298-699/week in 5 or 4 star resorts (or in a few cases, up to US$799/week in Hawaii, etc.). A member can also offer friends and family guest weeks and they can avail of the same discounts as members do in these resorts.
The second type of membership is a Gold membership. The cost is US$ 1,495.
The Gold membership is a 3-year membership. A member is entitled to 3 resort weeks yearly (not exceeding 21 days), and this may be consecutive and in the same resort. The cost per resort week start at US$398 in 4 or 5 star resorts. Unfortunately, guest weeks are not allowed for this type of membership.
It is actually Gold Crown Resorts which handles the membership. What the company does is purchase excess inventory from timeshares and resorts all over the world.
Advantages Over Time Share:
- timeshare requires annual maintenance fee; with GRN, no maintenance fee is required
- unlimited number of vacations per year as a GRN platinum member; with timeshare, usually only 1 vacation/year
- the cost of a GRN membership is generally lesser than timeshare’s initial purchase cost
- cost per resort week is generally less than annual maintenance fees in timeshare
Some Shortfalls of GRN:
- a member has to be flexible when it comes to travel schedules due to fluctuations in resort vacancies; you just cannot leave for a specific resort at a specific time and date that you want; while customer service will do all they can to accomodate your preferred schedule and resort, there is no guarantee of a reservation.
- reservations cannot be cancelled because GRN is able to give its members very low rates is because when it makes a reservation request, it receives specific non-cancellable dates.
- the size of the inventory decreases with the increase in number of members; before, memberships were sold directly to customers through a personal sales presentation; but since the membership started to be sold online via network marketing, membership has increased and therefore, the available inventory decreased.
The Perpetual Leverage Compensation Plan
This is what makes the affiliate program so enticing to many. This is how it works:
Sale # 1: You don’t earn anything yet on your first sale as this is passed up to your sponsor or upline to activate your first level
Sale # 2 and thereafter: You receive US$1000 on each sale (if you sold a platinum membership) or US$500 (if you sold a gold membership). Your upline receives the same amount on each one of your sales as well
Sales of Your Affiliates: Each time your affiliate makes a sale, you also earn US$1000 or US$500 depending on what type of membership was sold.
For instance, you have 5 affiliates which sell 2 platinum membership per month, you earn US$10,000 monthly.
Marketing System (How Memberships Are Sold):
While the Global Resort Network has its own website, there are other marketing systems offered by third parties. Although they vary in cost, all of them offers a marketing site/landing page, information pages, contact or list management and autoresponders. Some also offers additional features like a virtual assistant. Among them are:
GRN System (run by Priceless Possibilities) US$29.95/ month, Ty Coughlin’s Reverse Funnel System US$299.00/month, GRN Biz Builder (run by QuickLister) US$34.95/month, GRN Team Buidler (run by B.O. S. S.) US$79.95/month, Global Pro Builder US$39.95 - 69.95/month plus set up
All these different systems have back offices to help you get started as soon as possible.
Feedback from Customers:
“Global Resorts Network is also the first & only company I have ever seen were there truly is a product in place that is in demand & of real value unlike the majority of the 2 & 3 step money games with products that have no value. Meaning you can actually go out & sell this product / membership aside from the opportunity….” Source: http://www.work-at-home-forum.com/14_2845_0.html
“Well, I did everything step by step and used their exact key words and phrases for advertising. I utilized everything they suggested. $15,000.00 later still no sales! …” Source: http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/318/RipOff0318260.htm
“Global Resorts Network is for real…and a great deal. Where else can you get a lifetime membership for less than $3000 one time…no recurring fees, no exchange fees, no maintanance fees, and can book weeks at 4-5 star luxury condos for under $300 to $700 as many times as you want. The company that provides the condos has been doing this for 20 years very successfully. I’m a member and think it’s a fantastic value….” Source: http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=40329
“I do not have a problem with Network Marketing, and I am not calling this a scam. However, I do have a problem with reverse funnel system, and Ty Coughlin’s screaming loud recordings on my answering machine …” Source: http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/308/RipOff0308997.htm
Here’s Our Verdict:
Our research shows that overall, this is an excellent product. The traveller can save a lot of money and still enjoy the luxury of a 4 or 5 star resort. However, if a member wants a specific resort or location, he/she has to be flexible as to when he/she can travel.
The membership fee can be recovered easily from the savings earned from heavily discounted rates. So even if you just become a member and avail of the travel benefits, you will eventually recover the cost you paid for your membership fee.
If you like to become an affiliate, please take note that while there are third party marketing systems to help you, you still need to acquire long-term skills on affiliate marketing. Most of these systems focus on step by step guide. To acquire long-term skills is not to have you follow instructions like a robot. The world of internet marketing is always in a state of change, trends emerge and disappear and if you haven’t acquired long-term skills, your ability to make money online is only temporary or close to zero. You need to understand, acquire skills and practically implement techniques and at the same time see the whole picture and the why of all the actions you are taking.
The GRN affiliate program is not a get-rich-quick scheme. You have to be prepared to spend for monthly fees and other marketing-related expenses such as advertising which can be costly.