Bass Pro escalates bout with timeshare seller

Amid a court dispute that started over a month ago, Bass Pro Shops ended its marketing agreement with Bluegreen Vacations Unlimited Inc.

The Springfield-based outdoor retailer announced in a statement that as of May 25, Boca Raton, Florida-based Bluegreen Vacations no longer would be allowed to sell timeshare interests at kiosks in certain Bass Pro stores.

“Bass Pro does not tolerate high-pressure or offensive salesmanship in its stores,” the statement reads, noting Bluegreen Vacations “has not lived up to its contractual obligations on this important point.”

Bass Pro, along with sister company Big Cedar LLC, filed suit last month against Bluegreen Vacations for alleged breach of contract. Among other allegations, Bass Pro officials said Bluegreen Vacations engaged in “high pressure salesmanship,” violated the contract by charging “tour generation” fees to recover expenses and did not pay commissions as agreed upon. Bass Pro seeks at least $10 million in damages, Springfield Business Journal previously reported.

Bluegreen Vacations, a subsidiary of Bluegreen Vacations Corp. (NYSE: BXG), previously staffed employees at Bass Pro store kiosks who were tasked with selling interest in timeshares, including the Wilderness Club at Big Cedar.

On Tuesday, Bluegreen Vacations responded to Bass Pro’s decision to end the marketing agreement.

“Bluegreen was not advised of the termination by Bass Pro until receipt of Bass Pro's letter after the close of business on Friday,” officials said in a statement. “Bluegreen, which has not yet been served with the lawsuit, believes that even if Bass Pro’s claims were established — which Bluegreen believes to be unlikely — the amount of Bluegreen’s exposure relating to the monetary issues raised by Bass Pro pursuant to the agreement would be less than $20 million.

“Bluegreen intends to pursue all legal and equitable remedies available to it, including the filing of a counterclaim in the pending litigation, for wrongful termination by Bass Pro of the parties’ marketing agreement.”

Legal proceedings are in the early stages, with the most recent action occurring May 10, when a new judge was assigned to the case, according to online court records in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Missouri.