Do you go to timeshare presentations?

[DawnCt1]

Who is ever happy about that? I have gotton several marketing calls from Inn Season Resorts. Their marketing center is 15 minutes from my house and so I said, "what the heck". I am getting two "free" airline tickets that I am sure will be impossible to use but I do like the idea of the Olive Garden $25 gift certificate. Now if I can get out of there in less than an hour, I will have been compensated for my time fairly. I did some "research" on their properties and have found many on resale market from $1500 to $17,500 although the one's in the upper range are brand new listings. The mean price seems to be $5 to $6K.
So that's the first response to the agent. The second response is the availability of units for rent for less than the financial yearly cost (principal, interest and fees). I have found some on military.com from $284 to $1100 per week. I have done "well" at timeshare presentations. On Maui, we got a free night in the time share unit at the Marriott that we were already staying. With parking, it was a $400 value. On Kauai, we got $150 credit towards our dinner at the Hanalei Bay Resort where we were staying. It was an excellent meal. Last year on the Big Island, We got a rate of $135 per night for 5 nights at the Hilton Waikaloa Village. I was able to get "unhooked" before we traveled and did not even have to attend the time share presentation. That was the best deal. It was better than the $150 plus tax military rate which is an extremely good rate for that resort. So, the question is; I am wrong in taking advantage of this opportunity, knowing that I am going for the free gift?

 

[DawnCt1]

Oops, almost forgot to mention the free luau at the Hyatt Resort on Maui for the entire family. That was a good gift too.

 

[powellrj]

I would vote no, you are not wrong. How many times have you looked in a store with no intention of buying anything, but you walk out with a whole cart load. They want to get you into the "store" and will use whatever it takes to get you into it. Once you are there, its up to them to make the sale. Sometimes even the most hardened NO person will say yes!! They are just taking the chance you will be that person!

 

[Nancy]

I would love to go to these but DH just won't do it...so we miss out on the freebies. I see no harm in going and listening. Maybe I'm not interested in buying right at that time, but a few years from now...who knows?

 

[HayGan]

We will be doing our first one in December with Hilton (we get our first 3 nights at the Hilton DTD at a super cheap rate in exchange!) We will see how that one goes before we decide if they for us or not. (BTW, we have absolutley NO intentions of ever buying a timeshare!!!)

 

[wdw4us2]

So, the question is; I am wrong in taking advantage of this opportunity, knowing that I am going for the free gift?

No, I don't think so.

We haven't gone to one since we bought into DVC in '97. However, I recently completed an online survey (yes, I was bored) and was given the opportunity to get a 4 day/3 night stay at Marriott Village Lake Buena Vista for $189 total! All we have to do is go to the 90 minute time share presentation.

We also get continental breakfast and $100 credit for two toward the purchase of Disney park tickets. I agreed because now we can squeeze an extra trip to WDW when the kids have a 4 day weekend in Orlando.

Am I wrong to take advantage of this? I don't think so, because I have referred several friends to the same deal and, who knows, maybe one of them will buy into the timeshare.

 

[vacanut]

This reminds me of the King of Queens episode.

I have not attended a timeshare presentation but often wonder if they are worth it.

 

[bballmom56]

We did one in Atlantic City for Fairfield Resorts - it was a spur of the moment thing. We were told there was no obligation and we would get $50 cash and a certificate for a stay somewhere (I forget the details of that!). They said it was a 90 minute presentation. Well, never again! Over 2 hours later, we were walking out, after an unpleasant exchange when we said we were not interested. The agent spent far too much time in general chit-chat. We had repeatedly told him our family and financial situation at the time would not allow for such a commitment, but he kept on trying. It was hardly worth the $50!

 

[DawnCt1]

I would love to go to these but DH just won't do it...so we miss out on the freebies. I see no harm in going and listening. Maybe I'm not interested in buying right at that time, but a few years from now...who knows?

When the telephone solicitor called I told her up front that DH doesn't go to time share presentations. She offerred to put me down as single, I said, "okay".

 

[DawnCt1]

We did one in Atlantic City for Fairfield Resorts - it was a spur of the moment thing. We were told there was no obligation and we would get $50 cash and a certificate for a stay somewhere (I forget the details of that!). They said it was a 90 minute presentation. Well, never again! Over 2 hours later, we were walking out, after an unpleasant exchange when we said we were not interested. The agent spent far too much time in general chit-chat. We had repeatedly told him our family and financial situation at the time would not allow for such a commitment, but he kept on trying. It was hardly worth the $50!

I have a pre packaged arguement that I use. It usually goes something like; "I can invest the principal or avoid the finance charges, use the annual proceeds, which these days is closer to 4%, add the annual fees to that and find a condo in an area that I would like staying, preserve my principal and have no obligation". When that doesn't work as well, I point out what I can buy their units for on the resale market. Sometimes I know that figure although in Hawaii I don't always know. Then I say, if I come here we stay much longer than a week....etc. It doesn't fit our life style and I repeat, I came only for the free gift. I was asked to leave the Sands of Kahana after 45 minutes because the salesman was experienced and knew I would never buy. I told him I would be happy leave....with my gift.We got the free luau out of that. The salesman said to me, "Don't waste your time attending these if you have no intention of buying". I told him, it wasn't a waste of time. I don't make $350 an hour". DH always says, "he will never go again, aren' you embarrassed?" No, I am not embarrassed. I am polite and will never see these people again.

 

[live4christp1]

No I don't think you are wrong. We live about 2 hours from Gatlinburg/Pigeon Forge and make 1 or 2 long weekend trips up there a year. They always have people asking you to go tour so and so resort, etc. We start with no when they first ask and offer tickets to so and so attraction, then they start talking money. Lots of them will pay you $100 to go look. We usually make enough to cover the cost of our room while there plus some by doing 2 or 3 of these plus get free food while we are there, the kids get to play in the room, they usually give a coupon book for the area, we have gotten tickets to the Ripley's Aquarium, dinner certificates, etc. We have gone to the same ones over & over but if you read in their stipulations it says you can't have toured them in the past 6 months.

I don't think we are doing anything wrong as we aren't breaking their rules.....but we always go in with our minds made up, "we aren't buying"

When they ask why???? "well look at all the better deals I can get out there on the net, Redweek.com, etc."

 

[DawnCt1]

This reminds me of the King of Queens episode.

I have not attended a timeshare presentation but often wonder if they are worth it.

Time shares aren't worth it considering the price of resales. Many owners not only regret their purchase but they want to get out from under the annual obligation of taxes and maintainance costs and the less popular ones can be bought sometimes for five cents on the dollar. Marriott, Hyatt, Westin and Disney of course sell for more but less than retail. The gifts can be worth it. I don't have big expectations for the gift except for the restaurant certificate today. I wouldn't bother but its at 4 pm fifteen minutes away.

 

[luvflorida]

We attended a timeshare presentation in The Bahamas last year and I would NEVER do another one!

The representative "accosted" us on a street corner the evening before we were due to fly home. She was very friendly, with that beautiful Bahamian accent, and we said yes, we would attend the next morning. We really did have a slight interest and thought it would be fun to hear the sales pitch. I think the free buffet breakfast and ride to the airport was the selling point for us! She also promised airline tickets, t-shirts, and a bottle of Bahamian Rum.

Well, she picked us up, (DH, me, DS23, DD20, DD13), at our hotel the next moring and drove us to the timeshare location. She was an insane driver and we were all holding on for dear life as she raced at 50mph down streets meant for 25mph speeds. She told us several times that she had a schedule to keep. The kids all snickered when a bottle of rum slid out from under her seat when we took a corner on two wheels, but I just wanted to get out of that van!

Anyway, the kids spent a few hours on a gorgeous beach while hubby and I attended the presentation. The breakfast was delicious but the sales pitch was relentless. Everytime we said we wanted to think it over, a different guy would come out to try to persuade us to change our minds. I bet they went through five different salesmen, (and I swear each one was tougher looking than the previous one), until finally they realized we weren't going to buy. The atmosphere changed drastically when they realized we meant what we said. I felt very uncomfortable and couldn't wait to get out of there. In fact, we ended up taking a taxi to the airport because we just didn't want to ride back with "leadfoot".

It isn't worth it to me to get the freebies. Never again!

 

[Sarah'sMomfrom PA]

We recently went to Sedona, Arizona (DD and I)--DH had to stay home due to school obligations....we went to several of these presentations as this was a laid back vacation....told them DH wasn't with us and they said to just go as a single mom....we ended up getting almost $450.00 in cash and free dinners....helped the vacation budget as DH lost his job last year and I didn't want to spend a whole lot on the vacation....We do however, own two timeshares (one that we stayed at in Arizona and DVC) plus I used frequent flyer miles to fly out there so it was an inexpensive vacation and I always use the line that I already own two timeshares and couldn't possibly use another....the line in Sedona was to take my two timeshares and add additional money to buy into their much better resort....didn't work with me...if they want to give you free stuff and you have the time, go for it!!

 

[DawnCt1]

We attended a timeshare presentation in The Bahamas last year and I would NEVER do another one!


Anyway, the kids spent a few hours on a gorgeous beach while hubby and I attended the presentation. The breakfast was delicious but the sales pitch was relentless. Everytime we said we wanted to think it over, a different guy would come out to try to persuade us to change our minds. I bet they went through five different salesmen, (and I swear each one was tougher looking than the previous one), until finally they realized we weren't going to buy.

It isn't worth it to me to get the freebies. Never again!

It's sounds like you had a more than exciting ride. You made your mistake when you said "We want to think it over". DH has done that because he doesn't want to be blunt. I think its kinder to put them out of their misery and close the door to a sale quick and definately. I have never had to stay more than 90 minutes. As the time approaches I look at my watch repeatedly. The freebees have definately been worth it. We have netted over $1000 worth of tax free stuff for less than 5 hours of my total time. Most of the time I am gone in an hour and that includes the free breakfast and heck, ya gotta eat on vacation.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Never, don't have the patience for it.

 

[DawnCt1]

Never, don't have the patience for it.

I am not big on patience either so I work hard to leave early. I will be watching my watch today.

 

[UrsulasMyHero]

Growing up, my mom and dad took me to these all the time. Usually it was in Orlando (such is the pleasure of growing up in Central Florida) for an innane prize. I can honestly say that the prizes were never worth the boredom I went through. We also did a few of these on the gulf coast, that had places on Treasure Island and the like. Nice views, etc.. but over all too expensive.

My parents did, however get a trip for 3 days/ 2 nights to North Carolina in the Pisgah National Forest, a beautiful place among the mountains and purchased a week there. We still go from time to time. I love it up there and one week is never enough.

 

[reeddi]

I just got back from one in Vegas. They put us in the Flamingo right on the strip for three nights, $600 slot play - big BS waste of time, 2 tickets to a comedy club we didn't have time to use. BUT the hotel would have cost us about $360 so I signed up for DING got a cheap airfare and away we went.
I started with "bad financial timing" then when they offered the $1200 try it out for year deal. I just said "no" that was it. We went out the door with our goodies and away we went.
I asked the agent earlier in the presentation what the cap on the maintainence fees was and was that an annual percentage. Loved the look on his face - oh cr**, this lady knows the scam. Spent about another 20 minutes after that looking at the unit - came back talked money - out the door in 10.
What was funny was that the agent TOLD US that at most 17% of people say yes. So NO, don't feel bad. They know their percentages and just try their best to suck you in.

 

[froglady]

My BIL is the timeshare "king." He knows them inside/out, and will ask a zillion financial questions. Last time, he got the price down from $50,000 to $10,000, but still walked. He owns about 6, and has used all of his weeks for family reunions and vacations. HOWEVER, he is retired, and his youngest child is around 40, so he hasn't had to deal with school vacations,etc, and has lots of time to phone and "finagle" until he gets exactly what he wants.