Time Share Pitches.... how "rough" are they?

[Papa Deuce]

My wife and I were discussing vacation plans for next year and Aruba was on the list of possible destinations, when out of the blue comes an offer from USAir and The Marriott Vacation Club in Aruba. It was for 5 nights for $499, transportation not included.

According to my BIL the price is great, though he never sat through one of these pitches. He goes to Aruba every year for two weeks and says that staying in Aruba is very expensive. In fact the literature has the trip valued at "up to $2100". I figure that they exaggerrate; it is probably worth $1000 - $1200.

Anyway, keeping my long story long, how hard to these salespeople push you at these events? The presentation is 90 minutes and is on the day before you go home. We have NO INTENTION of buying. If we were buying we would probably consider a DVC vacation ( not something I want, but the rest of my family would enjoy ).

Opinions?

As always, thanks. Chuck

 

[chrissyk]

I've never been to a timeshare pitch, but we have enough MarriottRewards points to stay at that resort for free for a week. We racked them up fairly quickly by getting their credit card. We just need to find a week to go one of these years! I think that the credit card gave like 15K bonus points for signing up. Hence, we each got one, since MarriottRewards accounts can be combined when you go to cash in for an award. It was something like 110K points for the 7 nights in that particular resort in Aruba. I don't know if this is an option for you, but it might be worth looking into to save yourself the hassle of the timeshare pitch

 

[geffric]

Marriott shouldn't be a bad as most - like westgate. We sat through many timeshare presentation before we bought DVC. If it was me and this is the vacation that I wanted, I would consider it. Timeshare presentations aren't all that bad..

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

We went to a Ron Jon's pitch while my sister was in town--b/c they gave RJ gift certificate just for doing it...they used the $50 to buy her fiance a shirt they used in their wedding in Hawaii....

Now--there are good stories and bad (DVC will let you waltz on out of there and not say a word--many times they've had folks walk right back in and purchase b/c they were impressed with how easy it is to walk out the door).

The more you get for free--I think the more difficult it will be to say no easily--especially when you are enjoying a holiday on their dime (for rooms). But they reap what they sew and they should expect that people would not want to buy.

The best way to be able to walk out of these presentations at their conclusion--is to not feed them any information they can use against you. The first part of yoru presentation is a tour--they speak with you casually but basically are interviewing you for later use. Then comes the sales pitch--give them very little information--it is over quickly--but once they have stuff they can use--it can take a while. Most people find success when they start watching the clock and once it hits 90 minutes--they refuse to hear more.

In our case we happend to go to Europe and it cost X amount of dollars. The guy said "oh you like to travel"...I said yes...then he said--"well for the price of 4 of your trips--you have a lifetime of vacations, etc etc"--then I pointed out--if he wanted to compare apples to apples--then my accomodations prices in places with kitchens was only Y. He had no comeback. We didn't buy--his behavior changed slightly--but didn't become mean or anything.

Just be on your guard--and don't feel guilty!!!

We did this once with a car dealer--they promised to buy your car even if you didn't buy one from them. We found a better deal elsewhere on a car and so bought elsewhere and came back to sell them our car per their advertisement. They were very angry (we didn't tell them about the new car)...but they did it. We didn't feel the least bit guilty. Now--we didn't go with the intention to not buy--but we did go in with the intention to possibly call them on their offer if we didn't buy. They didn't have that promotion for very long after that .

 

[Kimberle]

I went to a Marriott one down in Orlando, maybe 10 years ago. It wasn't bad at all. The rep wasn't pushy.

I have gone to a couple of others that are VERY PUSHY. When you are not interested, they won't offer you chairs, leave you outside in the hot sun, etc.

 

[laurajetter]

I have sat through many a time share presentation with my parents while growing up. They always started out okay, the rep was always very friendly and would explain the basics of the time share concept. Usually there was a walking tour around the facility so you get a feel for what it's like. Then, it's back to the big room where you sit down at a small table with your rep. There usually were a bunch of other families with their reps in that same room with you. Now it's down to the nitty gritty. The rep will get into the details of the time share, how exactly it works, why it's a much better investment in the long run for your family's vacations. They tell you all the fees and prices and there is usually some sort of "deal" they will give you as an incentive to sign up on the spot. When it starts to get serious where they want you to make a decision, my parents have found that no matter what reason or excuse you give them as to why you don't want to or can't sign up for the time share at that moment, they will have a comeback which always is hard to explain your way out of. I believe my parents had found one thing they could say which the rep really couldn't object to...If I remember correctly it was that (they claimed) my father's job was of the nature that his vacation time off was unpredictable as to when he could get off work and sometimes vacation plans needed to be arranged on a moment's notice. That usually quieted them down a little and they didn't have a sufficient comeback.

I can't speak for all time share presentations, but the ones we went to (many were in FL) were either moderately or extremely high pressure at the end. Sometimes after we turned down their offer multiple times the rep would go grab the head honcho who would come out and put the pressure on even more. I think I remember that the rep would usually turn colder to you at the end and weren't so buddy buddy as they were when they first met you. There was only one time I remember where the head honcho became unprofessionally hostile and was causing a scene because they had done everything they could to get my parents to sign but we kept saying 'no, we're not willing to commit to this right now.' Eventually he just threw his hands up and stormed away. I have to admit, the only reason my parents went to these was to get whatever prize they were offering for going...they thought a 90 minute high-pressure presentation was worth it in the end. I know there are probably some people who wouldn't condone that, and I understand. In fact, they don't really do it anymore, but they sure did when I was a lot younger.

I would recommend trying it, and as a first-timer I would remind you to not become intimidated if they put the pressure on. They can't make you sign up, no matter what tricks they try to pull. Don't let them make you feel guilty, just stand your ground. Personally, I never understood how anyone could just sign up right then and there for such a long-term financial commitment...I would never feel comfortable doing that. I'd want to go home, talk it over, look into it a little more and really give it some serious thought, not be pressured into it at the end of a 90 minute presentation. Of course, the great "deal" they offer would only be valid if you signed up during the presentation.

Anyway, good luck!!

-Laura

 

[Blondie]

Our first and last timeshare pitch was several years ago at Virginia Beach, it was through RCI.

We said no with the first rep. He then sent over another guy to once again go over the plus sides and finances, etc. We said no thank you again.

Then they said "hold tight, be right back" and sent over another person, only this time it was a young woman.

We once again said no thanks, but they made us feel extremely pressured. But we didn't back down, it just wasn't a good move for us at that time. It still isn't!

The one hour they promised it would take ended up lasting close to 4 hours!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Forgot to mention--my sister mentioned bankruptcy to the sales guy--he even had a comeback for that! (It wasn't listed on the form, so no reason to disclose ahead of time).

The best trick I know is to watch the clock--and make a stink at the 90 minutes if they aren't letting up and letting you go for fulfilling your obligation.

Enjoy your trip!!!

 

[bsnyder]

We did one a few years ago in Key West. It was a Hyatt Resort timeshare. We told the salesman upfront that we weren't interested, but that we'd like to hear his pitch anyway. He was extremely nice and not pushy at all.

 

[DawnCt1]

Originally posted by bsnyder
We did one a few years ago in Key West. It was a Hyatt Resort timeshare. We told the salesman upfront that we weren't interested, but that we'd like to hear his pitch anyway. He was extremely nice and not pushy at all.

I love time share pitches. Its a great way to get "free stuff" for a very small investment of your time. We recently did the Marriott time share pitch in Maui. It was well worth the 90 minutes or less that we spent there. I made it clear from the outset that we wouldn't be buying but came for the "gift". We also took advantage of a timeshare deal on the Big Island at the Hilton Waikaloa Village. I purchased the 5 days for $699 which included $100 Hilton dollars to spend on property. I managed to purchase the offer (which you had to do in advance) and get "unhooked" so that we didn't even have to attend the presentation. That was about as good as it gets!