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.

Two (2) types of membership are offered. One 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.

Membership Features: 3-year membership, 3 resort weeks per year and not exceeding 21 days, maybe consecutive and in same resort, no guest weeks allowed, resort weeks cost start at US$398 in 5 and 4 star resorts

Gold Crown Resorts is actually the company where the memberships are managed. The company buys excess inventory from timeshares and resorts all around the globe.

Why Memberships Are Better Than Timeshare:

- there is no maintenance fee under a GRN membership; with timeshare, there is an annual maintenance fee

- timeshare usually allows only one vacation per year; with GRN, unlimited number of vacations

- timeshare initial purchase cost is generally more than GRN membership cost

- between the annual maintenance fee in timeshare and the cost per resort week in a GRN membership, the latter is generally lesser

Downside to 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.

- a member cannot cancel his/her reservation; one of the ways GRN can provide accommodations well below the standard rates is because they receive specific non-cancellable dates when a request is made.

- the available inventory decreases with the increase in the number of members; while GRN used to be sold solely through a personal presentation, it is now being sold through network marketing online and the number of members has increased since then.

The Affiliate Program: Perpetual Leverage Compensation Plan

Many people are joining its affiliate program because of the compensation plan. In brief, this is how the plan 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

2nd Sale 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

Affiliate Sales: Every time your affiliate makes a sale, you also earn US$1000 or US$500 depending on what type of membership your affiliate sold.

So for example, you have 5 affiliates which sell 2 platinum membership per month, you earn US$10,000 monthly.

Marketing System (How Memberships Are Sold):

Aside from GRN itself which has its own official website, third party marketing systems have come out recently. They all offer a marketing site/landing page, information pages, contact or list management and autoresponders although some have additional features like a virtual assistant. Some of these third party systems are:

GRN System (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

You can get started right away with these systems as all of them have back offices containing training resources, guides on where and how to advertise, etc.

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

What Our Research Suggests:

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 you earn from heavily discounted rates. So even if you just become a member and not become an affiliate, you will eventually recover the cost you paid for your membership fee.

If you like to sell memberships as an affiliate, please remember 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 practical implementation and step by step guide. But 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 flux, 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 overall picture and the significance 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.