Ever listen to a Time Share Presentation ~to get free hotel or other freebie?

[TimeshareRevealed.co]

I am a skeptical person and yet i made a mistake. I bought timeshare from Point to Point Destinations in Vancouver, BC at one of such presentations. I based my decision on "facts" that I was told. It was too good to be true and would have been such an unbelievable deal... if everything was true and if we were told the whole story...

I posted facts that i discovered since. I won't even say what we were told and what we think. Just verifiable facts would be enough for anyone considering buying a timeshare.

Check it out here:


TimeshareRevealed.com


.

 

[*KeepMovingForward*]

I sat through one once and that was enough for my lifetime. I have to say that even if I was destitute and sitting through a timeshare presentation was my only hope for a vacation, I still would say no. Major hassle and so not worth the aggravation.

 

[natale1980]

I did one in the Dells going just for the free stay at a indoor water park... we were almost suckered into buying it until I remember that I wanted the DVC!!! and if I bought into this timeshare that I wouldn't be staying at Disney anymore.
Well that was the end of that!!! But it was a great couple really cheep days with my family!!
I would do it again.

-nat

 

[tdsimcic]

we decided to try it and see for ourselves and do one in dec which offers a 100.00 gas card at the ramada inn was told it was onsite and we wont be bussed anywhere and there is no pressure to buy (i am sure they say that to anyone) but to get 5 nights for 200.00 and a gas card we thought we would bite the bullet and try it we are taking our 5 year old with us hoping he will get crabby about leaving and that will be our out (gotta get him to animal kingdom)

me dh ds20 ss15 ds5

 

[tink2007]

I personaly have not but my parents just did. First, let me tell you my dad does not like to even go on vacation much less stay in a condo in Orlando. He also loves to eat salesmen alive. Car salesman usually end up in a corner in a heap crying when he gets done with them. Thats why I am still shocked to say my parents went to a promotion and bought one. He was very impressed with the whole thing. The property was beautiful, the service was excellent and the sales team was impressive. They already have reservations to go back in the spring.

 

[amytheobald]

We've done this twice...once was at the Vistana and we got $100 and two one day park hoppers...it was only 90 minutes, and it was worth it! We did it in Tennessee, and we got a 25$ gift card to TGIFridays, and 5 tickets to the indoor waterpark(which we were planning to go to anyways, and it would have cost us 100$) oh we also got breakfast for the whole family. It was worth it as well, and we both times did the clock thing, the first time we had left the kids with my dad in the condo, so we were very insistant on time because we had to get back to nurse the baby (who was 6 weeks old)...and in Tennessee we took the kids with us, they played in the kids club...but we told our oldest (who was 7) at 11:00 tell the attendant, I want my Mommy and Daddy Now, page them,and to be insistant if we weren't back by then! We told the salesman at 10:55 we were done and NO, and he was going into his speil just as our pager rang to return to the Daycare!LOL

Is that bad?

 

[teedisney]

We did the Fairfield in Orlando for Bonnet Creek 3 years ago. We go $100 for less than an hour. I am an owner already at a different resort and told them no thanks I already own that is how I was staying there that week.

 

[Purseval]

We go to a timeshare presentation every time we go to Orlando, more than one if we can manage it. If you have the time and manage it properly it's very profitable. For instance, if we are checking in on a Saturday we will leave for Orlando early in the morning (it's about a 7-hour drive for us) and get there for a noontime presentation. We listen, tell them no and collect 2 1-day 1 park tickets, worth about $140, then it's time to check in to the hotel. We will nap, freshen up and head over to Universal Studios (we have season passes with free parking included). Or we will just relax by the pool then head to Downtown Disney. The next day we start our vacation in earnest. On another break day we will do another tour, maybe get some more park passes or a dinner theatre (Pirate's Adventure is our preferred one). Again, $90-140 dollars depending on what you get. We plan all of our presentations around dead time and since we go to Orlando for 7-9 days at a time twice a year it's not like we have to rush around and see everything commando style.

There are a few golden rules:

1. You have to have the time. If you've saved for your 3-day splurge to WDW time is definitely money, don't waste it even for free tickets.

2. You have to have a thick skin. The salesmen are there to make money and they have many techniques to persuade you to part with it. They know that most of the people are just there for the freebies so even if they yell at you or tell you you've wasted their time and now they can't feed their family tonight that's their problem, not yours. If you can't say no stay far, far away.

Last time we went to Orlando we had to make 3 different hotel changes (trust me, it was worth it. We kept our daily rate at less than $45/night and stayed in 3* hotels each time) and we ended up getting 4 WDW tickets, $150 in cash and 2 Dinner theatre tickets. The next time we go (in October) we have a guest coming with us from England who has never been to Orlando, we probably will only go once to spend our time showing him around. It's always a time/money decision. We have plenty of the former and we love saving the latter so timeshares figure into our plans a lot. BTW, the absolute worst offer was from the DVC, they wanted us to take time out of our day at Epcot to tour their villas and have a free ice cream afterwards, whoopee

 

[inkkognito]

Besides timing, bring a printout showing resales for the resort. No timeshare can touch the resale prices so that will take more wind out of their sails. They won't even want you to talk about it because they won't want others overhearing so they'll want to get you out quick.

 

[dlz]

What timehares do you go to and what resorts do you like?

 

[dennise]

Purseval:

Where do you book these? I have done one int he past that I goton E-bay, but wouldl ike to try another. Discounted hotel rooms is my preference. thanks

 

[tink2007]

My parents did one with Marriott Vacation Club. We found it on the internet.
I think it was 4 nights for $300 plus $100 for tickets or golf. The resort was beautiful.

 

[hmhanel]

We did this the last time we were in Orlando. I believe it was with Ramada.

The promise was (1) two nights "Deluxe" accomadotions at a resort in Orlando, (2) 1 night "Deluxe" accomodations in Fort Lauderdale, and (3) a 3 day, 2 night cruise to the Bahamas.

We checked into our "Deluxe" resort in Orlando which was an ordinary hotel. It was located in the northern side of Orlando. The room was OK - average. We dutifully went to the 90 minute presentation after a free buffet breakfast in Celebration and a tour of the timeshare resort.

We had done this once, several year earlier and it wasn't a bad experience. Wow, was this the exact opposite! We wasted an entire morning and felt completely exhausted after the ordeal.

Later that night when we were returning to our hotel from a day at Disney and we were on the exit ramp waiting for the green light, a guy came alongside our car and tried to open the back door next to where our son was seated ! It scared the @^!* out of all of us!

The next day we drove to Ft. Lauderdale for a stay at our next "Deluxe" resort. It was so bad, and the neighborhood was so seedy that my wife refused to stay there. (As you may have guessed, it was not located on the beach) We ended up driving around Ft. Lauderdale and booking a separate room at a hotel on the beach. This was our first sane moment of the vacation.

The cruise to the Bahamas was fun. The ship was tiny, but we upgraded to a larger cabin and did enjoy ourselves.

To make a long story short. I made a solemn promise to my family that I would never, never, ever again, put them through another timeshare ordeal.

 

[jmpellet]

We did two just last month. First, Sheraton Vistana Villages $169 (plus $50 taxes) and NO tour required for 4 nights. Second Horizons by Marriot $199 (no taxes?) for 4 nights and presentation required. I'm a hard sell and he knew he didn't have me - we were out in about 60 minutes. FL law is 90 minutes and I had my cell phone handy with the time and he knew it. I would never stay for 3 or 4 hours.

I think it a great way to travel cheap if you have the time. We've been a number of years in a row so I don't mind throwing away a morning for the requirement. I am looking at The Fountains for December.

 

[lborne]

We do this all the time.
Out of the many many times we've done it, only a few times have I had to call time when the 90 minutes are up. Most of the time, we are out around the 1 hour mark. Here are my tips:


1. If you are staying at a resort and they call and offer you something to attend - say no you won't do it for so little. They always raise the offer. I typically get $50+ cash and 2 - 2 day Disney tickets.

2. Bring small hyper children. My 10 and 5 yr old boys are great. They interupt us all the time. The salespeople hate this and usually give up when they realize we are spending more time listening to our kids rather than them.

3. Answer all their questions with "I'm not buying". They ask, "How many vacations do you take a year?" - answer, "I'm not buying.". And whatever you do, do NOT ask them any questions. That's like waving a steak at a pit bull. No need to give reasons why you are not buying, as it just takes more time - but if you feel you must, this poor economy is a good excuse - or your new job where you don't get any vacation time and how this is your last vacation.

Within 30 minutes they will realize maybe you are not going to buy (duh), and will get you out quick to get someone else in. But watch out - sometimes they are annoyed or you are their last vicitm and they'll go outside to smoke (they all smoke), and leave you alone. Stand up and yell loudly that its been 90 minutes and you want out. They'll get you out quick so as not to upset the other victims.

4. Don't let them take you on the golf cart to show you the model. If they say the "have" to, ask them to show you in writing where it says that.

5. Tell them how many other presentations you've been to - lie if you have to. Use numbers greater than 20.

When they introduce themselves to you, they tend to ask personal questions and tell you all about their family - show you photos of their kids, etc. (Probably the photos that came with the wallet). I am frank and honest and usually say something like, we are here just for the free offer, while I don't want to be rude to you, I also don't want to offend you by having you think for even a second that I might actually buy. I won't insult you by feigning intrest and you won't insult me by trying to convince me to shell out my hard earned money for something I don't want. I know you will get in trouble if you don't make an attempt, so let's just flip through your books and charts as fast as you can. We've done this over 38 times in the past 5 years.

 

[jmpellet]

Wow, lborne -- that's great. Could you share where you find the offers? I am looking right now at timeshareorlando.com. I don't want tix, etc. I want a cheap stay

 

[lborne]

To be honest, my wife handles all the offers, so I don't know much about that, but I know the offers come to us and we don't look for them. We bought a timeshare resale 10+ years ago and that is probably why we are asked. For example, we've been to Bonnet Creek 3 times now - each time a new tower opens they call or send a postcard with an offer for a reduced rate stay and some added offer, like park tickets.

 

[kimberh]

We have bought 2 outside of Flordia, we had intended to do so before we went to the presentation. Last summer we went for a update for the one in our town. They saw me talking to my BIL, (he works there) when we said." NO, NO, and NO." They called me the next week and said," My BIL had mentioned that I was a good person, I would not have wasted their time, if I was not going to upgrade." Needless to say, this prompted a call to my BIL, which he said, " he never had a conversation with them at all."


They called me yesteday to come down for a Update, Guess what the answer was? They are a different breed. If anyone reading this has ever been a Timeshare salesman and didn't use these tatics, sorry. I will not go to another presentation, I will upgrade online, which I have done. They don't like for you to add points to your account online, but Oh well.

 

[Purseval]

All of the major hotel chains are now in the timeshare business so if you do a
google search for Hotel+Vacation Resorts and you will see plenty of them. Just remember that most of these hotels own value chains also, so if you get an offer from Wyndham for a 3-day vacation if you take a tour don't be surprised if you end up staying at a Days Inn or Super 8 motel because they own them too.

Most of the hotels have a link where you can talk to a representative or get on their mailing list. Find out if they have vacation packages where you "test out" their resort. What we do is look for one as a backup then go on Priceline and see if we can beat the price. So far we've never had to stay at a timeshare.

Ebay is also a good place to look. All they do is set you up for an appointment, you leave a refundable deposit then you get whatever you agree on plus your money back when you show up. In February we booked a tour at a resort right next to Arabian Nights. It was supposed to be for 2 Disney tickets but they were out so they gave us $150 cash, that was done through Ebay.

If you are on a budget an extra benefit of these tours is you get a free buffet meal so you can gorge yourself before the tour and not have to eat for the rest of the day, maybe 2 days

Universal Studios also has booths inside the parks with timeshare sales representatives. They rotate vendors every day so you can book tours there on your days off, that is where we booked the Wyndham resort near Downtown Disney.

Finally, look in the lobby of whatever hotel you are staying at, it's very common for them to have a rep on hand. I would avoid the booths you see in front of souvenir shops.

I have to stress again, don't go if time is a premium for you and don't under any circumstances buy anything. Even if you went to Orlando specifically to buy a timeshare you can do far better on a resale than from the sales people. Even the Disney Vacation Club sells at a discount on the secondary market compared to buying through WDW, just not as much because of the way Disney manipulates the prices. But that's a different subject altogether.

 

[inkkognito]

The cruise to the Bahamas was fun. The ship was tiny, but we upgraded to a larger cabin and did enjoy ourselves.

I see that ship often when we're cruising on Disney and it always cracks me up because the crew is inevitably fishing when they're docked in Nassau. Maybe that's the only dinner they get?