Free factory tour of Murano glass factory SCAM

Thanks for the warning - we'll be sure to stay away and warn anyone we see going in there.

How did you find this "free" tour?? Brochure? Flyer? Internet?

Ah, found your other post over here

And you were surprised about this because...?

They give you a free ride over in a speedboat...and then you take a vaparato back. Beats the Vaparato both ways. I agree that we need to know what the scam is.

Just a note that there is a new DM vaporetto (Direct Murano) from the Piazzale Roma to Murano that takes 21 minutes. You can avoid the scammers by just taking the ACTV vaporetto out to Murano and walking around by yourself.

What a shame that your memories of Venice are not so wonderful after this unfortunate incident. We took one of the "free tour to Murano" speed boat rides to Murano after being approached in the Piazza San Marcos. (Can't remember the name of the factory) We first discussed our visit with the "salesman" and with a reasonable feeling of being in control of the situation, zoomed off to Murano, had an interesting tour of a factory, bought a few small, inexpensive souvenirs that we had already planned to get, then strolled around the island and took the vaporetto back. We found this to be a great way to get an opportunity to ride in one of those beautiful wooden speed boats we always admired on the grand canal. This was not our first time in Venice. I guess anyone taking advantage of the "free ride" offer had better be aware that they may or may not have a good experience and be prepared if they want to take their chances. We did notice on this last visit that the glass artisans in Murano are suffering from a drop in sales of high ticket items. In the pre-euro days the dollar was so much stronger in Italy and many of these beautiful items were a much more affordable treasure to take home.

Sorry, I should have mentioned that this was our first trip to Venice and Europe. We saved up for 10 years for this trip and really looked at everything as a "once and a lifetime" experience. I guess we were just too naive, but I'm sure that we are not the only ones like this who go to Europe for the first time.

I actually posted more about the scam and Michelle, The OC, So Cal USA has the link (sorry, don't know how to post a link). But for the record the tour package that we booked through Costco Travel had included a Murano, Burano, and Torcelli day trip. However Costco called and said they were going to change that tour to a walking history tour of Venice since the hotel informed them that "hotel room package" included a tour of a Murano, Burano, and Torcelli and didn't want us to pay for something that was already included. So we went on the tour offered by the hotel thinking that it was a legitimate tour. Since our "tour" was in the afternoon, my husband and I were the only ones on the beautiful speedboat which took us to Nuova Venier factory on Murano. We had no other tourists to confer with (and did I mention that this was our first day in Venice). Anyway, long story short the boat leaves we get a "factory tour" which consisted of sitting on the side and watching a bunch of guys blow glass for 5 minutes (which was cool) and then listened to a sales pitch/gallery tour for another 20 min. We found some glasses which we liked and then after some pretty pushy sales tactics I was made to sign a bunch of papers which were all in Italian and it turned out the price which we were quoted was about 1000 euros less than was charged to our credit card (this is more fraud and theft than scam, and our credit card company is now dealing with them).

After all of that the salesman told us that he would do us a personal favor and lend us his boat back to Venice (and not to Burano, and Torcelli as we had thought). Oh well, maybe in another 10 years we can try again.

I should also add though that other than this unfortunate experience Venice was beautiful, totally unlike any other place than we had seen before. I think just having an espresso listening to the classical music (from live musicians) in Piazza San Marco and watch people play with the pigeons makes it worthwhile trip.

We are really surprised at the problems people have had with Murano glass. We found them very good and helpful, we bought a chandelier. They sent it to us in NZ free of charge and came well packaged and safe. We had no brokages, but found we needed a longer chain, so rang them and asked for some other spare pieces. We got these within three weeks and again they did not charge us. While there they treated us very well, gave us coffee, and there was a lovely ornamental jug I liked, they sold us that for half price. We visited there 6 years ago so maybe changed since then.

This is why I have complained about a frequent poster who insists on promoting one hotel in Venice and the "free" speedboat rides to Murano.

You wouldn't believe the nasty PMs I get in return, but I think its warning to the unwary.

Marie,

I know how you feel. We have pretty much written off Puerto Vallarta because everyone (literally) tries to sell you a timeshare. You can't have a friendly conversation with anyone. The kicker for us was our last meal of our last visit. A Canadian girl was living there and working as a hostess in a restaurant. You guessed it, when she came to see how our dinner was, she pulled out some time share brochures.

The Murano glass thing is somewhat of a scam. Anything that's free usually has some kind of strings attached. I've been offered the free ride to Murano/glass making demonstration but just said no. At least in Venice they seemed to take no for an answer - apparently once you're in Murano, it gets worse.

In response to Doug's very subtle comments about me - I am Italian - I have been going to Venice for the past 35 years with small groups under my wing and have NEVER had problem one with Murano!! So, for a poster to come on Rick's site and try to ruin the Murano experience for everyone else is WRONG!!!
There will always be one person per every 10,000 that has a bad experience or complains about something. That doesn't make it true. And Doug, If you were ever in Venice and ever went to Murano via a water taxi please make a first hand honest comment about the experience of sitting and watching a glass blowing demonstration and then being ASKED if you'd like to see the upstairs showrooms. If you had ever done it you'd know better than to make your snide, arrogant, uninformed nasty remarks!!

Ciao, Greg

What really surprises me is why a two year old thread has been started again? Look closely at the dates...it's exactly two years old.

If you do go, find out where the larger tour companies/cruise lines take their passengers. Those businesses are usually legit. If they weren't, the tour/cruise companies wouldn't allow their guides to take people there.

However, be wary of "tours to Murano" that you get for "free." They don't necessarily work with the most legitimate glass blowers. Do some research, go on your own, and Murano can be a very pleasant experience.

And remember, anyone trying the hard sell for you to take one "free" trip over another, is getting a kickback from the glass blower. (And to be honest, anyone taking a group into a glass blower will be "offered" a kickback from the sales to that group.)

Frank, this same story was also resurrected in the "To the Boot" board under the title "DO NOT take the free tour to Murano". Poor Marie, she's being inundated with e-mails for a 2 year old post.

Yes, that would be my mistake -- I didn't look at the original date on this post, nor did I notice that the other post is over 2 years old. Ooops.