Timeshare Presentations: Does anyone go for the free stuff?

[2moretrees]

I just came back from my friend's place and I was amazed at all she got from timeshare presentations. She started attending them about 2 years ago and has turned it into an art. I was looking at all the free gifts she has received and was just amazed. Discount and free tickets to all kinds of local attractions in the area where the timeshare presentation was, trips, dinners, electronics and much more.

She says that all presentations are not the same in the gifts they give and she actually researches which ones are worth attending for the free gifts.

I'm wondering if there are a lot of people that do this and if it is worth investigating?

[terry1156]

Re: Timeshare Presentations: Does anyone go for the free stuff?

I think I'd rather go to the dentist and have my teeth drilled with no pain killer than sit through one of those!

[baselle]

Re: Timeshare Presentations: Does anyone go for the free stuff?

It depends on how impervious you are to the hard sell. And believe you me, for the free stuff they will try to sell you hard.

[elcheapo]

Re: Timeshare Presentations: Does anyone go for the free stuff?

be careful when dealing with these folk it could spell disaster. Me personally I do not have the time to listen to them try to con me

[cicy33]

Re: Timeshare Presentations: Does anyone go for the free stuff?

We did one in gatlinburg tennessee last year. We got $80 free plus a free 2 night stay certificate. It cost us about 2 hours of time. I would probably do it again but not with the kids with us. It would also be interesting if it was something I was actually interested in. Fortunately we NEVER make large money decisions in 5 minutes so that was never an issue. We even explained that to them several times. We must think over decisions like that for at least 2 weeks if not longer. I mean they are talking about thousands of dollars!

[sweeps]

Re: Timeshare Presentations: Does anyone go for the free stuff?

A good way to tell whether you're being ripped off is whether the salesperson lets you walk away and think about the deal. I've never been to a timeshare presentation, but I've been to other presentations.

One in particular that sticks in my head is when my wife and I went to a bridal fair before we got married. One of the booths was offering free china and crystal glasses if you would come see a "free" presentation about their dinnerware. Well, turns out it wasn't about the china and the glasses, it was about a cookware set they were trying to sell. They were selling an 18-piece set for over $2000. (!!) Admittedly, they were pretty convincing. And I assume they get some people to buy since they target young, naive couples.

Anyway, their sales pitch mentioned that this awesome deal was only good if we signed on the spot. If we left the room, the deal would "never be available again". That's about the time we hit the road.

[34saving]

Re: Timeshare Presentations: Does anyone go for the free stuff?

We do them when the "good ones" (IE cash or cash equilvalents) are local. I'm now immune to the hard sell Dh and I have even considered making a game of it and playing good cop bad cop with them BTW, did you know it's un-American to not go into debt for a timeshare? That was one of the pitches once . . .Yikes!

[frugalfarmwife]

Re: Timeshare Presentations: Does anyone go for the free stuff?

Won't go near those things, sales pitches drive me nuts!

That said a friend got suckered into a camping package that I had to laugh hysterically after we got off the phone! For "only" $7 a night they can stay at cabins across the country owned by this company, umm, nearest one is only 2 states away and friend is a farmer, they NEVER leave the farm! I didn't have the heart to ask her what they got taken for but know that just recently they tried to her her up for a $2,000 maintenance fee!

KJ

[shaggy]

Holy old thread revival, Batman!

[moneysma]

I've gone on a few vacations that were essentially free. All I had to do was go to the seminar. They do the hard sell and make it hard for you to leave. But when I did this, I was in college and would show up to the seminars right from the pool. So I would be in my bathing suit and have a drink with me. The salesman realized fairly quickly that his time was better spent on the others attending.

[JoeP]

We did it once. Never again. Felt like a high-pressure cult.

[margaretsims]

Timeshare Presentations

If you are not interested in purchasing a timeshare, do not attend a timeshare presentation! The free gifts are not worth wasting a day of your vacation, and putting your hard earned money at risk of being scammed by the timeshare salespeople

[pandacashback]

I been only once to a lousy timeshare presentation on my city ( where they offered nothing but juice ).

I hear a lot about timeshare offers where they include sweet deals, while their sales pitches can be annoying, I wouldn't mind to give it a try for a good deal

[disneysteve]

I know this is an old thread, but since it's back....

We've gone to 2 timeshare presentations in recent years. One was with Marriott. The other was with Disney.

The experience at Disney was top-notch, couldn't have been better. No pressure. They were nice as could be. When we arrived, they provided snacks and drinks. When the rep first sat down with us, he asked a few questions and I explained that we are big fans, visit Disney World regularly, and have no intention of buying into DVC. I explained how we vacation and what we spend. I also explained that the main reason we were there was because we are big fans and I'm very active in the Disney fan community and I wanted to better educate myself about DVC and what they have to offer. The rep totally understood and proceeded to go through the whole presentation and tour knowing full well that we weren't going to buy. At the end, we got a free family photo, free ice cream, and each got a $25 gift card. It was a fun day and I would happily do it again.

The other experience was much different. I am a Gold Marriott Rewards member and have always gotten excellent customer service from the company. This was NOT our experience with the timeshare division. The salesman was rude, arrogant, and obnoxious. He pretended to listen to what we said and then proceeded to make comments that made it abundantly clear he wasn't listening all that well. When we got to the point where we made it crystal clear that we weren't buying, he got angry and all but threw us out of the office. We got our gift (a gift card I think - don't remember for sure) and went on our way. When I got home, I wrote a scathing letter to Marriott about the experience and received a very nice apology letter.

[JoeP]

The other experience was much different. I am a Gold Marriott Rewards member and have always gotten excellent customer service from the company. This was NOT our experience with the timeshare division. The salesman was rude, arrogant, and obnoxious. He pretended to listen to what we said and then proceeded to make comments that made it abundantly clear he wasn't listening all that well. When we got to the point where we made it crystal clear that we weren't buying, he got angry and all but threw us out of the office. We got our gift (a gift card I think - don't remember for sure) and went on our way. When I got home, I wrote a scathing letter to Marriott about the experience and received a very nice apology letter.

The one we went to included: the sales guy asking way too many personal questions and being challenged on almost every one, him bringing in The Closer once he detected we weren't going to buy (the giveaway may have been when we said "We're not going to buy" the tenth time), the sales guy looking like a cold and abandoned puppy as The Closer was applying the pressure, The Closer using an expletive aimed at me when he concluded no sale, having to wait in line for our deposit back and a pair of tickets to a show, and having to wait outdoors for 15+ minutes for some imaginary bus that was supposed to come and bring everyone back to our hotels...we walked back.

Everyone is different, but I consider the whole experience to be worth a lot more than just $25. Even if someone offered $100 I am not sure I'd want to go through that experience again. I just don't like being treated rudely, divulging personal information, having to defend my choices, and spending my time doing that as opposed to something I enjoy.