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Post by Wiltony on Jul 31, 2023 13:54:34 GMT -5
My only experience with that guy was one "the dis" youtube video I watched, from which I got the heebie-jeebies. He did not seem like a person I would like to hang around for any length of time.
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Post by disney54us on Jul 31, 2023 15:47:28 GMT -5
Did a little searching and WoW just wow. What a blank, blank. Hope the Karma train comes around quickly for this man.
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Post by Ellie54 on Jul 31, 2023 15:53:36 GMT -5
Wow is right!!
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Post by maxsdad on Jul 31, 2023 16:08:39 GMT -5
I'm trying to catch up now. Had work stuff I couldn't get away from (our own drama in the world of gemstones when people try to sell diamonds that don't belong to them for nearly double the price). No need to choose words carefully here - we're adults. My history of the DIS is long. I was there shortly after it was founded in 1998 while looking for info for a 1999 family trip. It was small and awesome and pathetic in terms of tech. But it was family. In 2000 I used Dreams Unlimited for my honeymoon. Fantastic TA then. In 2002 I watched Pete personally screw his devoted members in a number of ways. Then snoopygate and some other things happened with mass bannings in 2008. I was caught in a crossfire on accident and they were going to reinstate me when I told them they could suck it and outed them on a few shitty things they did behind the scenes. It was after that that I found out my awesome TA was totally used in a toxic way with work. I heard more rumblings of toxic work environment and how he treated his young new sexual partners as well as current or past partners. In short this man is nothing but a totally narcissistic asshole. I've kept a lot inside since I know there are resources there but I prefer not to give this man one click of mine if at all possible. People like him honestly get what they deserve. I only feel for those caught in crossfires but tbh I am shocked Pete held control this long. He should've gone down in flames like 20 years ago. But suck ups probably helped keep him going. Wow, you go way back. I didn't start engaging with the boards and podcast until 2009 when I was planning my first trip. I used Dreams Unlimited for my second trip in 2010 before going the way of renting then purchasing DVC. I still occasionally listened to the podcast but found it less useful as time went on. I went on to become a travel planner myself, and I'm glad I'm with another agency (my travel planning work is just a side gig, and I think Dreams Unlimited agents are pretty much full time). It was always pretty obvious that Pete was full of himself and was often a jerk to those who worked for him, but he's really a toxic manipulator. Dustin and Sean have been posting detailed accounts of their personal experiences on Tattle Life if you wanted to read more. Dustin is @justthisonce and Sean is @the Mando there if you want to zero in on their stories. It will be interesting to see how things play out. I'm guessing there's a lot of legal conversations taking place behind the scenes to separate the businesses from Pete. |
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Post by capeokw56 on Jul 31, 2023 16:24:11 GMT -5
I'm trying to catch up now. Had work stuff I couldn't get away from (our own drama in the world of gemstones when people try to sell diamonds that don't belong to them for nearly double the price). I don't mean to sidetrack the thread but..... This sounds really interesting if you'd care to share your story.  |
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Post by helenabear on Jul 31, 2023 16:29:45 GMT -5
I'm trying to catch up now. Had work stuff I couldn't get away from (our own drama in the world of gemstones when people try to sell diamonds that don't belong to them for nearly double the price). No need to choose words carefully here - we're adults. My history of the DIS is long. I was there shortly after it was founded in 1998 while looking for info for a 1999 family trip. It was small and awesome and pathetic in terms of tech. But it was family. In 2000 I used Dreams Unlimited for my honeymoon. Fantastic TA then. In 2002 I watched Pete personally screw his devoted members in a number of ways. Then snoopygate and some other things happened with mass bannings in 2008. I was caught in a crossfire on accident and they were going to reinstate me when I told them they could suck it and outed them on a few shitty things they did behind the scenes. It was after that that I found out my awesome TA was totally used in a toxic way with work. I heard more rumblings of toxic work environment and how he treated his young new sexual partners as well as current or past partners. In short this man is nothing but a totally narcissistic asshole. I've kept a lot inside since I know there are resources there but I prefer not to give this man one click of mine if at all possible. People like him honestly get what they deserve. I only feel for those caught in crossfires but tbh I am shocked Pete held control this long. He should've gone down in flames like 20 years ago. But suck ups probably helped keep him going. Wow, you go way back. I didn't start engaging with the boards and podcast until 2009 when I was planning my first trip. I used Dreams Unlimited for my second trip in 2010 before going the way of renting then purchasing DVC. I still occasionally listened to the podcast but found it less useful as time went on. I went on to become a travel planner myself, and I'm glad I'm with another agency (my travel planning work is just a side gig, and I think Dreams Unlimited agents are pretty much full time). It was always pretty obvious that Pete was full of himself and was often a jerk to those who worked for him, but he's really a toxic manipulator. Dustin and Sean have been posting detailed accounts of their personal experiences on Tattle Life if you wanted to read more. Dustin is @justthisonce and Sean is @the Mando there if you want to zero in on their stories. It will be interesting to see how things play out. I'm guessing there's a lot of legal conversations taking place behind the scenes to separate the businesses from Pete. I looked today and noticed I really stopped posting in 2010. I had infertility issues and forme a bond with moms. I stayed to update them for a while. Then we all moved to other locations as we got tired of the tyrant. I have a lot of lifelong friends from the DIS, so I have good thoughts in some ways at least. I'm bookmarked to look more at the TL site. I'm getting through the DIS thread right now. I feel so bad for those affected by him. I've known for like 21 years that he's a fraud. I know he deals with addiction but honestly watching him screw person time after time either financially or emotionally, I have little positive to say other than he created a site that gave me good friends. I kind of hope he crashes and burns but those who really are good don't suffer more than they already have. This probably will be one of my meanest/bitchiest types of posts I will do, but that man is downright awful. |
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Post by oldhalfelf on Jul 31, 2023 16:37:01 GMT -5
No need to choose words carefully here - we're adults. Well, although I surely agree, if that isn't quotable in unexpected ways, I don't know what is....  Seriously, however, I would be reassured to know from you that there is no chance of an unexpected merger or acquisition, at least without discussion, right? Thanks,  |
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Post by helenabear on Jul 31, 2023 16:42:20 GMT -5
I'm trying to catch up now. Had work stuff I couldn't get away from (our own drama in the world of gemstones when people try to sell diamonds that don't belong to them for nearly double the price). I don't mean to sidetrack the thread but..... This sounds really interesting if you'd care to share your story. I've been working for a small mom and pop shop for almost 15 years now. Started as IT/web work and then evolved. I know the inventory almost as well as my boss and spend time scrutinizing photos and videos and such. I went back to school for some letters to put next to my name from GIA. So it's a great job for me, look at diamonds, sell some, and do web work. I was checking out a big name site, because they seem to have made a huge shift from just settings (what I knew them from like 2 decades ago) to selling diamonds. I check out big names to see what they offer. I look at IG and others to see trends. I try to stay on top of what's out there since our clients often will refer to big names like that. I had recently helped source some diamonds for our site - some really sweet stones. One I kind of fell in love with for myself. Diamond prices have been crazy since covid and I was doing some research when low and behold, a diamond we sold and hasn't been available since early July (ring is being made as I type) was on said site - as available - for twice as much as we listed it for!!We had a ton of conversations this afternoon on what we should do. My boss wanted to blast them. I wanted a softer approach. So we went that way. This big name site is claiming "transparency" but how on earth could we have sold a diamond for half as much as they claim it is costing them? So I helped create an IG post with screen shots (blurring out company name) and used it as a positive for us. We can get amazing diamonds at fantastic prices - and we don't ever sell a diamond we don't bring in and touch with our own hands (yes I do it all remotely but I know what I see now in videos vs real life). Sometimes even when we look at diamond databases to source stones, a diamond might photograph well once or the video belies its true beauty (or lack there of) so we want real eyes and real videos and real pics to share. We used it as a way to say we're here for our clients and we'll personally check every single stone before we sell it. This stone has been in our hands since the last week or two of June. A site shouldn't still be offering it a month later - that's seriously bait-and-switch tactics so many shady places do. Long drawn out but it was an interesting find of mine. Just waiting on the ring to be finished as I actually designed the setting  |
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Post by helenabear on Jul 31, 2023 16:44:13 GMT -5
No need to choose words carefully here - we're adults. Well, although I surely agree, if that isn't quotable in unexpected ways, I don't know what is.... Seriously, however, I would be reassured to know from you that there is no chance of an unexpected merger or acquisition, at least without discussion, right? Thanks, With the DISBoards and MagicOwners? I can only speak for myself as I don't think that's ever going to happen. We're in different leagues. |
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Post by capeokw56 on Jul 31, 2023 18:13:49 GMT -5
I don't mean to sidetrack the thread but..... This sounds really interesting if you'd care to share your story.  I've been working for a small mom and pop shop for almost 15 years now. Started as IT/web work and then evolved. I know the inventory almost as well as my boss and spend time scrutinizing photos and videos and such. I went back to school for some letters to put next to my name from GIA. So it's a great job for me, look at diamonds, sell some, and do web work. I was checking out a big name site, because they seem to have made a huge shift from just settings (what I knew them from like 2 decades ago) to selling diamonds. I check out big names to see what they offer. I look at IG and others to see trends. I try to stay on top of what's out there since our clients often will refer to big names like that. I had recently helped source some diamonds for our site - some really sweet stones. One I kind of fell in love with for myself. Diamond prices have been crazy since covid and I was doing some research when low and behold, a diamond we sold and hasn't been available since early July (ring is being made as I type) was on said site - as available - for twice as much as we listed it for!!We had a ton of conversations this afternoon on what we should do. My boss wanted to blast them. I wanted a softer approach. So we went that way. This big name site is claiming "transparency" but how on earth could we have sold a diamond for half as much as they claim it is costing them? So I helped create an IG post with screen shots (blurring out company name) and used it as a positive for us. We can get amazing diamonds at fantastic prices - and we don't ever sell a diamond we don't bring in and touch with our own hands (yes I do it all remotely but I know what I see now in videos vs real life). Sometimes even when we look at diamond databases to source stones, a diamond might photograph well once or the video belies its true beauty (or lack there of) so we want real eyes and real videos and real pics to share. We used it as a way to say we're here for our clients and we'll personally check every single stone before we sell it. This stone has been in our hands since the last week or two of June. A site shouldn't still be offering it a month later - that's seriously bait-and-switch tactics so many shady places do. Long drawn out but it was an interesting find of mine. Just waiting on the ring to be finished as I actually designed the setting  I was right... this is wicked interesting. It's a topic that I have never given a second thought to but it is fascinating. I never would have thought that shady things happen in the diamond and gem industry. I know... naive of me but I just never thought about it. I can only guess that covid has driven diamond prices upward. Which makes me think we should get DWs diamonds (one in particular) appraised again for the insurance policy. Btw.. did you get the one that you fell in love with? |
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Post by Adelard of Bath on Jul 31, 2023 19:10:34 GMT -5
Hmm, we've got a diamond in this house somewhere...just the one.
Oh wait, it's packed up in a box in the storage unit, in a box with a piece of tape with "kitchen shelf decor" written on it.
Now, somewhere I have a wheel for my grinder that has diamond bits embedded in it. Boy that works well.
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Post by rwethereyet on Jul 31, 2023 19:39:07 GMT -5
So this is why I got an email from them stating that the payments I had made for my cruise go directly to DCL and that DU does not retain any of that money. I had no idea this was going on. I have been a member there almost since its inception, but the only thing I use it for is information on DCL. I learn things there I don't learn anywhere else. I have always thought that Pete was a jerk, but had no idea how awful he really is. I agree with a previous poster, it gives me the heebie jeebies to look at him.
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Post by disney54us on Jul 31, 2023 19:43:02 GMT -5
Very interesting on the diamond front. So you are a tech guru, forums owner and a GIA specialists…. Impressive and sounds exhausting.
I first heard about the dis board in early 2000, when we were on a DVC cruise. There were many meets and someone told me about the board. I joined back then when it was smaller but still at that point already had become a cliques place. Certain posters were fawned over, others who had a question were easily ignored. But I did find a nice group of people some who became closer friends over the internet than in RL. And some we met in person. Social media sort of took over and one of our group created a “private “ fb group😂as if there is such a thing on FB. So really there went being on the boards.
There was a great recipe board with actual recipes from Disney. It is a great treasure trove hundreds of pages. Other than that and checking for a recipe, really never went there.
As far as you and meeting a great group of people when you were having fertility issues. Well there’s your boy! 5’10” I believe you said entering HS. I remember when on the closed forum (honestly I don’t remember the name, right now) he was just a kid.
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Post by BWV Dreamin on Jul 31, 2023 20:32:30 GMT -5
Wow just wow! I have looked all over Disboards for the drama but can’t find anything. I only see posts alluding to the situation. Can anyone post a link?
@ rwethereyet I too got that email from Dreams Unlimted. I have used one of their agents for years and was confused as to why I also received that same email.
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Post by helenabear on Jul 31, 2023 20:51:32 GMT -5
So this is why I got an email from them stating that the payments I had made for my cruise go directly to DCL and that DU does not retain any of that money. I had no idea this was going on. I have been a member there almost since its inception, but the only thing I use it for is information on DCL. I learn things there I don't learn anywhere else. I have always thought that Pete was a jerk, but had no idea how awful he really is. I agree with a previous poster, it gives me the heebie jeebies to look at him.
Absolutely! I saw this discussed on the forum - people are worried that DU will go belly up. I hope not for the TAs sake. I've been working for a small mom and pop shop for almost 15 years now. Started as IT/web work and then evolved. I know the inventory almost as well as my boss and spend time scrutinizing photos and videos and such. I went back to school for some letters to put next to my name from GIA. So it's a great job for me, look at diamonds, sell some, and do web work. I was checking out a big name site, because they seem to have made a huge shift from just settings (what I knew them from like 2 decades ago) to selling diamonds. I check out big names to see what they offer. I look at IG and others to see trends. I try to stay on top of what's out there since our clients often will refer to big names like that. I had recently helped source some diamonds for our site - some really sweet stones. One I kind of fell in love with for myself. Diamond prices have been crazy since covid and I was doing some research when low and behold, a diamond we sold and hasn't been available since early July (ring is being made as I type) was on said site - as available - for twice as much as we listed it for!!We had a ton of conversations this afternoon on what we should do. My boss wanted to blast them. I wanted a softer approach. So we went that way. This big name site is claiming "transparency" but how on earth could we have sold a diamond for half as much as they claim it is costing them? So I helped create an IG post with screen shots (blurring out company name) and used it as a positive for us. We can get amazing diamonds at fantastic prices - and we don't ever sell a diamond we don't bring in and touch with our own hands (yes I do it all remotely but I know what I see now in videos vs real life). Sometimes even when we look at diamond databases to source stones, a diamond might photograph well once or the video belies its true beauty (or lack there of) so we want real eyes and real videos and real pics to share. We used it as a way to say we're here for our clients and we'll personally check every single stone before we sell it. This stone has been in our hands since the last week or two of June. A site shouldn't still be offering it a month later - that's seriously bait-and-switch tactics so many shady places do. Long drawn out but it was an interesting find of mine. Just waiting on the ring to be finished as I actually designed the setting I was right... this is wicked interesting. It's a topic that I have never given a second thought to but it is fascinating. I never would have thought that shady things happen in the diamond and gem industry. I know... naive of me but I just never thought about it. I can only guess that covid has driven diamond prices upward. Which makes me think we should get DWs diamonds (one in particular) appraised again for the insurance policy. Btw.. did you get the one that you fell in love with? Maybe..... Might be why I designed a setting for it too There are so many shady things going on in the gem world. Sometimes I wonder how any of us survive based on what others do. The whole Kay (Signet Co) diamond switching thing has people questioning us all the time. I had a would be client accuse us of sending a fake because her jeweler couldn't find the inscription - a guy who admitted he wasn't trained to find them anyway. I politely told her we would be inspecting the stones upon return to make sure nothing happened to them. That's when she realized how offensive she was. Covid actually caused diamond prices to completely tank for a while. Then it went way too high in recovery. The threat of global financial issues dropped the prices recently too, though I've been watching an increase again this past month. I bought and sold a few stones during covid years personally where I made money and the buyer got a great deal depending on when buying and selling occurred. When going for an appraisal ask for replacement value not some inflated value. Also check who you insure with. Not all are good and I make zero money saying this, but Jeweler's Mutual is my go to for US citizens. Their prices are more than fair but when it comes to replacing lost/stolen/whatever they are the best. None of this they pick the item or stone for you and you get no say. I've dealt with them as a client when my cat temporarily lost my earring (was filing a claim when 2 days later I found it again) and of course as a jeweler. Both directions they are the best! Hmm, we've got a diamond in this house somewhere...just the one. Oh wait, it's packed up in a box in the storage unit, in a box with a piece of tape with "kitchen shelf decor" written on it. Now, somewhere I have a wheel for my grinder that has diamond bits embedded in it. Boy that works well. Oh boy, this just made my heart hurt --- poor diamond waiting to see the light of day outside of the box Just kidding. But yeah industrial diamonds on diamond blades rock (bad joke) Very interesting on the diamond front. So you are a tech guru, forums owner and a GIA specialists…. Impressive and sounds exhausting. I first heard about the dis board in early 2000, when we were on a DVC cruise. There were many meets and someone told me about the board. I joined back then when it was smaller but still at that point already had become a cliques place. Certain posters were fawned over, others who had a question were easily ignored. But I did find a nice group of people some who became closer friends over the internet than in RL. And some we met in person. Social media sort of took over and one of our group created a “private “ fb group😂as if there is such a thing on FB. So really there went being on the boards. There was a great recipe board with actual recipes from Disney. It is a great treasure trove hundreds of pages. Other than that and checking for a recipe, really never went there. As far as you and meeting a great group of people when you were having fertility issues. Well there’s your boy! 5’10” I believe you said entering HS. I remember when on the closed forum (honestly I don’t remember the name, right now) he was just a kid. My kid is kind of why I stuck around for a couple years after. Those ladies became good support to me in a bad time through both trying and pregnancy loss. I'm not sure what happened to all the groups but some stuck. Some I hold so dear to my heart. The DIS could be full of cliques and I was probably a part of some but I jumped in with a lot of people to have fun. Some were very much sucking up to others though lol but back to the kid.... yes, he's 15 and about 5'10" though about to be a sophomore in HS. We're doing driver's ed already (temps here at 15.5) He was born a b few months before the mass bannings in 2008. He's a good kid and I'm lucky I have him! I'm not entirely an owner here. We have a few people who have their fingers in but really I see this as our space as a whole. I didn't want any kind of crazy ownership so if one of us wants to leave, there are others to watch and take over. Disney would have to really tick me off for that to happen. I'm still looking forward to PVB2 and hope to goodness I can buy as I want for more points there. I'm so bad! I do have a weird background in tech and now gems, but it's fun. Two fun hobbies of mine became a great part time job for me. |
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