NRPI Page Responses

Subject: Re: NRPI/LandStaff.com

Hi Bill Sanders,

I just came across your webpage:

http://www.orangefrogproductions.com/ofp_infomercial_info_nrpi.htm

...and I had to laugh...AT NRPI! I interviewed with them some time ago for an Admin Assistant position and interviewed with their VP/Land Management, Ford Soliman, and Annie Cooper, their Recruiting Coordinator. The whole process was a joke! Ford Soliman talked about Eric Estrada SO MUCH during the interview, that I got tired of his bragging about Eric and himself, that I asked him straight out, if he has ever met him. Ford hesitated for a few seconds and said, "No....but I know people who have". I almost rolled on the floor laughing.

The job description that he gave me was SO ridiculous and confusing because there were so many aspects to the job that not one person can do in an 8 hour day by themselves, but they were expected to. Basically, he told me he micro manages everyone, because they need to hussle to sell their properties, and they can't afford to lose a sale. The job was, I was going to be on the phone constantly, trying to get sales, and would be working with piles upon piles of files stacked high on my desk, and each day, those piles had to be constantly moving, sorted, created, filed away, pulled, etc... It sounded like an assembly line in a factory. There seemed to be no care towards the customer(s), but only to care enough to make a buck off of them.

I was told to go see their Recruiting Coordinator, and she wanted me to take a test of some sort. I believe they were interested in hiring me, or I wouldn't have got that far. Well, by that time, I knew I didn't want the position, so I just left. The majority of their employees of what I saw were mostly Mexican/Spanish. I was very surprised to see that, and of course, that's why Eric Estrada fits so perfectly into their infomercials, to draw that nationality in. And yes, they DO try to market to seniors, very much so. I felt that they thought seniors were an easy target for a sale, and I was told that a lot of their inquiries ARE from seniors, as well as seniors making up for most of their property sales.

I would never, EVER, work for this company, or do business with them. I'd never refer anyone to them either. What I saw, and what was made known to me during the interview, I strongly feel they're ripping people off. And the funniest thing is...in the Job Section in the OC Register, the same AA position that I interviewed for some time ago, keeps popping up periodically. Seems they can't keep any one in that position...I wonder why??? <laughing>

Just my two cents...thought you'd like to know!

<name removed>
Southern California

Subject: OFP Comments [OFPv2/SSFF - Shams/Infomercial Info - NRPI (National Recreational Properties, Inc.)]

Hey Bill came across your site and found it interesting.

I can give my experience with NRPI. I live in California and had been visiting Pagosa Springs for a few years for it's great fishing and small town charm. When there we always looked around for the right piece of property for retirement someday. It was amazing how many properties were available with over 20 sub-divisions. One year we decided to look for a home instead of land as a 21 hour drive would not make building a good choice. When the info ads came out for Pagosa Springs with a free two day trip, we jumped on it! After the sales pitch we thought we'd go look at houses and talk to a realitor. Our flight tickets were 12 hundred for the two of us, paid buy NRPI. The travel deposit of $295 was on my credit card. We flew in to Durango which is 60 miles west of Pagosa which is the nearest airport. We were met at the airport by a NRPI person whom provided our itinerary for the weekend. We were surprised that our hotel was in Durango instead of Pagosa and that we would take a bus with about 12 others to Pagosa the next day. The hotel was first rate! The best hotel in town over looking the river. The next morning we joined the others for the tour and got to know each other a bit. I was telling everyone about how great Pagosa Lakes is and all the area has to offer and that I've been looking for property or a home there. That was a mistake! When we reached the sales office we were assigned an agent whom worked for a largest real estate office in town (Jim Smith) which also brokered all the property buying for NRPI around 350 lots in all. Our tour was for only 3 properties in the entry level. I think for $29000. each. Since I had first hand knowledge for what these lots were selling for the previous year, more in the area of $6-9K a deal wasn't going to happen for NRPI. However, we did like our agent very much, and told her we would like to use her to find a home the next month which we had been planning. She there was a conflict of interest with her regular job as an agent( Jim Smith) , and with NRPI so we just asked for her reality company name and said that we would contact her next month. After the whirl wind tour (hour) we were put back on the bus for Durango...thinking a nice walk through town and a dinner out would be fun. Durango is a great and fun town with lots of interesting shops. When the bus arrived at our hotel we were met at the door and told we were on a flight leaving Durango in two hours and to get our things together. We were extremely angry and demanded to talk with the supervisor at the sales office in Pagosa...he refused! He being Jim Smith. Our escort to the airport told us in confidence that we knew too much of the area and it's past property values, and so we became a risk for talking the others in our group at the hotel. We did not get our promised free weekend in Pagosa as stated... and the trip turned into a 33 hour ordeal instead ...which included five flights mostly in bad weather and a two hours of driving time. Maybe I should have taken this future. Our deposit was refunded promptly on the cc. The only satisfaction we have is that when we returned the next month we used a different real estate company to buy our home. Good old Jim Smith screwed himself out commissions on a $350K home.

<name removed>

Subject: OFP Comments [Orange Frog Productions v2 - Owner - Contact Me]

HI Bill,

thank you so much for all the very insightful information regarding NRPI aka National Recreation Properties, Inc. My parents bought in several locations of the country from NRPI such as Florida, Holiday Island, Arkansas, and in Tennessee. they bought six properties and now they are stuck with them and can't seem to sell them. they realize now is was a scam because the properties are lot less than what they bought them for. Since you have done all this research on this company you might know - is there any way for my parents to get out of these contracts and purchases of these land lots? It has caused our family so much emotional and financial distress. My parents are retired and they were hoping to buy land in hopes of trying to make a sound financial investment.

Please help us if you can or please steer in the right direction of where we can try to resolve this issue. Thank you so much for your assistance in this matter.

<name removed>

Sent: Sunday, August 12, 2007 3:12 PM
Subject: OFP Comments [OFPv2/SSFF - Shams/Infomercial Info - NRPI Responses (2)]

Hi, Bill:

I enjoyed reading your information about NRPI. You have collected a great deal of material, much of which to my knowledge, is accurate. I have experience only with their activity in Ocean Shores, Washington, a coastal community about 130 miles southwest of Seattle on the Pacific Ocean.

From the perspective of a real estate professional when considering buying land, a number of things should be considered prior to purchase.

NRPI purchases and resales of property raised values of all land in our area during the 3 years they were involved in Ocean Shores. However, land was much less expensive to purchase locally than through NRPI, a fact that a simple Google search could reveal to anyone considering buying.

I found it irresponsible that most NRPI buyers did not take the simple effort check the internet to see what real estate activity was like in Ocean Shores before they purchased. NRPI's refund policy is fair and honest, to my knowledge, and I think that buyers have some responsibility to thoroughly acquaint themselves with an area before jumping in, even if the airplane trip is free.

Ocean Shores has 4 or 5 franchise real estate offices with great websites revealing almost anything a buyer would want to know, prior to visiting. They all have 800 numbers so that any prospective buyer could call to learn about land here.

We did get a number of such inquiries and made a number of sales to people who had seen the NRPI infomercials, and to my knowledge, the hundreds of buyers of Ocean Shores we helped during that time are satisfied.

NRPI's presence and effect was fairly short term, however. The local prices rose substantially, but when NRPI was done and their promotion outside our area ceased, values slowly dropped back somewhat.

A explanation of this roller-coaster effect is that recreational property, even with a town and full utilities available, like Ocean Shores, is still an optional purchase, very unlike the ownership of a hometown residence. The motives for purchase and sale are completely different. As such, demand can be artificial and the owner's use of the property is usually only occasional.

Every owner can't be an investor, waiting for that next buyer to come along, especially when there are so many others that had the same idea when they bought.

Many years ago, the then empty lands all over this country were sold and settled in much the same way -- investors buying tracts of land out in the middle of nowhere, cutting them up into parcels, selling them to people who lived far away, and offering them something that they didn't have where they were.

Probably all of the cities and towns in our country were settled that way in the 2 centuries past. The lure of the West and of exceptional recreational opportunities compared with where you live are still powerful incentives to most of us.

Regards,

<name and contact information removed>

From: <name removed>
To: bill @ orangefrogproductions.com
Sent: Tuesday, August 21, 2007 10:03 AM
Subject: former <high-ranking officer> of horseshoe bay

hey bill- enjoyed your page. i am a former <high-ranking officer> of horseshoe bay. everything you write is accurate and you could probably go further. i have all the master inventory lists from sites, training materials, and other inside info that proves what you say is true.

keep up the great service,

<name removed>

--
<sig file/contact info removed>

From: <former NRPI employee>
To: bill @ orangefrogproductions.com
Sent: Tuesday, September 11, 2007 2:18 PM
Subject: NRPI...

Hi bill I recently came across your website. I'm very impressed. Accurate and exact! ... I was within great standings for the past several years, and due to political reasons I was terminated. ...

Feel free to email with any questions, I wish to be only as a private party, ... Thank you !

[The "missing parts" of this email contained potentially identifying information.]

From: <name removed by request>
To: bill @ orangefrogproductions.com
Sent: Wednesday, September 12, 2007 10:56 PM
Subject: OFP Comments [OFPv2/SSFF - Shams/Infomercial Info - NRPI Responses (2)]

I have a whole new perspective for you guys.

I could not believe when I read the description! A pack of lies and I know they know better now because I told them about all the problems and asked them to check it out. I wrote to them again [attempting to encourage them to be honest about the known problems.] Of course I will get no response from them and I am betting they will leave it describe[d] as it is. Very deceiving to any unsuspecting buyer spending too much on a worthless piece of property. ... I know no one else can do anything with it or even get to it.

One other thing, in their ad it looks like the directions marker is pointed to land beside the actual piece with GPS #. I even went so far as to send them a copy of my plat so they can see. But you can't see when blinded by the almighty dollar now can you?

Here's the thing, to claim you have not seen or to not know about a property is one thing but when you have been given specific information that would be easily checked out it is just plain dishonest.

I am still interested in acquiring the piece of land but I hate the thoughts of having to deal with them. I should probably wait and try to buy it from the poor person who may bid on it.

You may summarize and use my information but since I may have to deal with them please disguise the details and name.

[MY highlight. Reformatted slightly. Hope I edited message enough to remove identifying information. -wds]

From: <name removed for privacy>
To: bill @ orangefrogproductions.com
Sent: Monday, October 29, 2007 2:56 PM
Subject: OFP Comments [OFPv2/SSFF - Shams/Infomercial Info - NRPI (National Recreational Properties, Inc.)]

Hi Bill, I am a former employee of NRLL/NRPLI. They have employees that make fun of the callers and record the conversation to make disparaging comments about thier accent, name and concerns. They send out solicitation letters with the name Mark Raymond at the bottom and there is no Mark Raymond. It is a made up name. I always thought this was dishonest but management dismissed my concerns. One scam they like to do is make you an offer to buy your land and then cherry pick from those that agree to sell and then cancel the rest. Many people call needing money that is why they sell for such a low price and in about 1-4 weeks they get a letter saying they will not be purchasing their property. The standard response they are told to say is it did not meet inspection and if you request a copy of the report they laugh and hang up on you. They usually know within minutes of the agreement to purchase that they will not be purchasing the land. JUst an FYI.

Hi Bill,

I just found your web site by coincidence.

I was looking into NRPI because I feel that I am stuck with the land I purchased in Tellico Village, TN. I purchased this land in 2005 and have been faithfully paying my finance on auto withdrawals.

However, I just realized that I still have 87 more payments left. My original purchase price was $24,900 and I gave a $10,000 down up front.....by the time this is paid in full I would have paid over $67k for the land which today is worth about $12k.

Do you know if they have any case pending in TN regarding any similar deals like mine that I might be able to join in. Or can you guide me into being able to recoup my monies and getting out of this sour deal?

Please remove my name.

Thank you,

<name and contact information removed by request>