I have a friend who just booked Westgate Lakes for November for her family of six. Her room (she was told) has two king beds and a full size bed. She has an appointment set to meet with the timeshare agents on the second to last day of her trip. She paid $375 for her reservation for seven nights. Some of the things I have read have been terrible but some have been great. How horrible is their presentation? Will they annoy her with phone calls? She's a bit nervous because $375 for the week is so cheap! Will she regret staying there? Their plans are to spend three days in WDW, one day at the hotel relaxing, one day at Sea World and one day in the Tampa area.
Thanks for everyone's opinions!
First that is a great rate but she'll "pay" for it in an aggravating and extremely high pressure sales pitch. Since she is getting a big discount on her rate she is obligated to attend. But she must remember she is under no obligation to buy.
The requirement is a 90 minute stay with a sales weasel. She needs to know that they can easily make this 3-4 hours or more if she lets them. Here are some pointers to meet the requirements but not be there all day:
- If she's married or in a committed relationship both adults must attend. If not both she hasn't met the requirements.
- The 90 minutes doesn't start until they begin the canned presentation. Eating time, chit chat, looking at wall posters - that time doesn't count so she needs to be clear from her arrival that she is there to fulfill the 90 minutes and doesn't want anything else. Use a watch and look at it often. By the way the food sucks and isn't very sanitary anyway so don't waste time with it.
- You aren't done when your weasel stands up to "get this finished". In fact you've just begun. You will then meet 2 or more higher pressure closers that will lower prices, change offers and basically do anything to get a signature on a contract. Stand firm as it is
NEVER a value to buy any timeshare at retail (developer) pricing - and that goes double for Westgate as it's best never to buy there retail OR resale.
- You must say NO and mean it. NO Repeat it over and over NO.
- One trick that works - but you have to know exactly how to use it - is to find a "fatal flaw" with the resort. That could be that you need a 6 bedroom because your extended family from Appalacia always travel with you (they are at a BBQ place or Hoe Down right now while you talk!) but Westgate Lakes only has a maximum of 4 bedrooms. Or you like the units but because they only have windows at the far end your claustrophobia won't allow you to stay there (ignoring that you are in a unit NOW - but Weasels aren't the smartest animals). Or it's too many kids - too thin walls - something they cannot possibly fix so you can hang your hat on that as to why you'll never buy. This works but if you pick the wrong thing and they "fix" it then you lost another bit of leverage.
- Finally start saying "I'm not going to buy. I've been here over the 90 minutes. I need to go now" over and over if they keep delaying you. If they start making noise about her having to "pay more" because she wants to go she must remind them she has met her obligation in time.
Good luck to her. She'll get a reasonably nice place for one day of torture but, as long as she doesn't succumb to the pressure and buy, she'll have a good deal.
One final note. Should she make an error and buy (and if she plans to say "yes" early - don't drag it out) she
MUST immediately rescind before the 7 day period to do so is up. She must follow the instructions exactly and do it on the 1st or 2nd day - don't wait.
NEVER buy from the developer. Never.
