Westgate Town Center: How do I avoid the Timeshare Pitch

[disrev]

So, I've stayed at the Westgate Town Center twice before. I love the price, the location, the price, the room layout, the price, the pools, and did I mention the price?

What I can't stand is that both times I stayed there before I was all but forced into sitting through a timeshare pitch. The first time we had no clue what we were getting into when asked to attend a free breakfast and fill out a "Maintenance Report". The second time, we said we were not buying and no going to sit through a presentation. We were told we had to do the "Maintenance Report" or we could be charged extra.

I vowed after that trip to never go to Westgate again. Well, this year we're going over Thanksgiving and the week after. A deal at Daytona Beach fell through last week and the best price (by far) we could find for what we want was at... you guessed it, Westgate Town Center.

We are staying (as we did the last two times as well) on a guest certificate through Interval International.

So, here's my question... Has anyone stayed at Westgate Vacation Villas or Town Center and been able to completely avoid going to the presentation? If so, how did you do it?

 

[spiceycat]

be rude!!!

westgate is rude and not above telling stories to you so you will go to their meeting.

or you could do what someone else did - they made the appointment on their last day after they knew they would be gone....

really hate to be rude - but with Westgate do IT!!!

tell them you don't want to listen to a sales pitch on your vacation and if they continue to bother you will tell II.

 

[Judyat]

We stayed at Westgate Lakes Resorts last march and part of the special price which it certainly was we agreed to listen to a sales pitch. We didn't want to but I have to say that it went well. They were not rude and they took no for an answer. They came down on the price a few times and we just said no we really can't. I don't think you have to be rude unless they are. They were not and we got a free lunch and a $50 gift certificate for their restaurant next door which we thoroughly enjoyed along with some other perks. We enjoyed our week there in a nice 2 bedroom and it cost us less than $200.

 

[Detailor]

We are staying (as we did the last two times as well) on a guest certificate through Interval International.

So, here's my question... Has anyone stayed at Westgate Vacation Villas or Town Center and been and been able to completely avoid going to the presentation? If so, how did you do it?

You're staying as the guest of an II member who, I take it, either purchased a Getaway week or exchanged one of their timeshare weeks or an Accommodation Certificate (bonus week) for your week at Westgate Town Center.

If that's the case you are under no obligation to attend a timeshare presentation, period! And under those type of vacations you will not be charged one penny more if you don't attend a presentation.

You'd only be obligated if you're vacationing under the terms of a stay that was arranged directly with Westgate that requires that you attend a presentation (these are usually 3 night or 4 night stays). Interval does not broker these types of stays so if you've got an II guest certificate then this doesn't apply.

Just tell them you're not interested when they ask you at check-in and unplug the phones in your villa so you're not annoyed by sales calls.

Dick Taylor

 

[disrev]

be rude!!!
really hate to be rude - but with Westgate do IT!!!

tell them you don't want to listen to a sales pitch on your vacation and if they continue to bother you will tell II.

You're staying as the guest of an II member who, I take it, either purchased a Getaway week or exchanged one of their timeshare weeks or an Accommodation Certificate (bonus week) for your week at Westgate Town Center.

If that's the case you are under no obligation to attend a timeshare presentation, period! And under those type of vacations you will not be charged one penny more if you don't attend a presentation.

Both very helpful. Thank you.

 

[bearzabout]

I've stayed there a few times and have never done the tour. I've even been able to talk them out of escorting me to the room. I just nicely decline over and over and say I've stayed before, know the drill and just want to get to the room. If they press me, I tell them I've read many trip reports and know how badly they treat people at the meetings and will never agree to attend one. That pretty much shuts them up. They do get short and a bit rude, but their behavior would not keep me from staying there again.

I also never answer the phone in the room. Unplugging it is a good idea.

By the way, be very careful driving in the parking lots. There are so many golf carts zipping around randomly and at high speed.

 

[BonnieA]

When I go to a timeshare, thru skyauction usually, I never get pressured. First of all, if I am with my husband I tell him to wait in the car. If they ask me who I came with I will tell them a friend. They don't want one half of a married couple on the timeshare tour because they can't commit (oh dear, I will have to call my husband before I can commit). So if you don't admit you are there with your spouse, they won't want you.
I usually got with a girlfriend. They definitely don't care for two married ladies vacationing without their husbands.