How to get out of the TimeShare Pitch?

[zac495]

I own 3 timeshares - all resale. After your presentation - do NOT BUY. No matter how much you're telling us you're not interested right now- they are GOOD - the pitches are often GOOD. And timesharing is good - if done right.
So if you find yourself somewhat interested - do NOT ask too many questions. First of all, questions will stretch out the presentation. Second, you can come home and ask the questions on the TUG board .tug2 dot net. If you happen to like or want to know more about timesharing - come to tug for free answers. Also , let's say they show you a price of 25,000 with X bonus points . You can get the same thing for about 10,000 (no bonus points - but those points aren't worth 15,000). The salespeople will LIE to you if you mention resale, so don't bother.

On tug, many of us say the best way out of the presentation is to say we're broke. If you say it's too much money, they'll show you why it's worth it. If you say you can get it resale, they'll LIE and tell you why that's a bad idea. Don't argue with them. Just say you're barely making your mortgage and that you can't afford it. Thanks. Bye.

 

[dioxide45]

(developer pricing is typically 50-90% higher),

Actually it is more like 100% to 1000% higher. If a timeshare sells for 50% off, then the developer is 100% higher than the resale price. If you buy a stock at $50 and it drops to $25, you lost 50%, but to get back to where you started, it has to grow by 100%.

 

[robin09]

We did Westgate about 5 years ago. We bought, and were given a free breakfast the next day as congratulations. When we got home, we thought about it and decided to cancel. They took the "free" breakfast out of our down payment. I honestly don't know what made us but at Westgate, they got us in on one of those promotional cheap weeks. I wasn't crazy about the property, don't get me wrong.. it was pretty, had alot of pools. But the parking was horrible, I felt I was back in Brooklyn. Never again!

Needless to say, I don't learn my lesson, I went on the Sheraton tour with a promise of $100.. and I bought again , but this time we are happy. We kept it, don't like the payments, but LOVE Sheraton.

Make note to self... no more time share pitches!

You can't get out of it. It says on the check in materials that you have to pay rack rate if you don't go to the presentation. With that said it can be a cheap way to stay if you select the right company. Stay far away from Westgate as I hear they are brutal. We did one earlier this month as Horizons by Marriott and it was easy and we were out in about an hour. I did come armed with information about resales, etc. and he knew he didn't have a sale and let us go. The kids (7,6, and 4) did go to a playroom and weren't held hostage - they had a great time actually! We also stayed at the Sheraton Vistana Villages that week and did have to do a tour - got the $100 cash back. Rep tried to get me to do one (with an extra $100 incentive) but no go.

 

[calgarygary]

Actually it is more like 100% to 1000% higher. If a timeshare sells for 50% off, then the developer is 100% higher than the resale price. If you buy a stock at $50 and it drops to $25, you lost 50%, but to get back to where you started, it has to grow by 100%.

Actually I meant to say that resale is 50 to 90 % of developer pricing. Thanks for correcting me on that.

 

[dioxide45]

Actually I meant to say that resale is 50 to 90 % of developer pricing. Thanks for correcting me on that.

That's what I thought. Just wanted to make sure it was clear.

 

[hegsag]

So I found an excellent price on a condo for my next trip. I read the reviews about the resort and they are pretty good. So I know the place is a nice place. The terms of the deal say my wife and I have to attend a 90 min sales pitch in order to get the good price.

How do you go about getting a deal like this? I would be more than willing to go to a 90 minute presentation for a good deal.

 

[nicolem05]

I was just talking about this on a Bonnet Creek thread. we didn't take a timeshare deal for many of the already mentioned concerns but we were willing one morning.. the issue was we couldn't bring our kids (ages 1 and 6) and I was in NO way willing to leave them with strangers when I haven't even left them with a sitter of my own before! If you look in the fine print almost all mention that you cannot bring children.. a few say you can if they are under 2.
I would be very careful about this.. like I said in the other thread.. look to rent from an owner, get a great deal on your stay and then if you can attend for tickets and other goodies.. but if you don't meet your end of the "bargain" for whatever reason they will charge you full rack rate.