Attended my first timeshare presentation yesterday

[PurpleSquirrel]

This is the new avenue I'm choosing to get free accomodation. I attended a Wyndham timeshare presentation yesterday for 2 hours and ended up with a 2 day/night stay at any of the 20 wyndham resorts in USA. In addition, also got a $100 off one night voucher at any of Wyndham branded hotels around the world.

Told the guy upfront I have no intention of buying timeshares and he was cool with it. At the end, they took me to a room where 2 nice ladies handed over the vouchers. Fortunately, these vouchers have no restrictions other than major holiday weekends. I'll have to see how easy is it to redeem them.

 

[GettingReady]

This is the new avenue I'm choosing to get free accomodation. I attended a Wyndham timeshare presentation yesterday for 2 hours and ended up with a 2 day/night stay at any of the 20 wyndham resorts in USA. In addition, also got a $100 off one night voucher at any of Wyndham branded hotels around the world.

Told the guy upfront I have no intention of buying timeshares and he was cool with it. At the end, they took me to a room where 2 nice ladies handed over the vouchers. Fortunately, these vouchers have no restrictions other than major holiday weekends. I'll have to see how easy is it to redeem them.

I really wanted to do a timeshare with Hilton, but the timing wasn't good. Keep us posted on how the redemption goes.

 

[Josh F]

I really wanted to do a timeshare with Hilton, but the timing wasn't good. Keep us posted on how the redemption goes.

I've done the Hilton one, everything worked out exactly as promised. Just make sure you get a sweet enough deal to make it worth your time. I found that by hesitating while on the phone that they would give me a better offer, but there was a limit. I think the 1st better offer was dropping the price of the stay by $100 and the 2nd better offer was by throwing in a free night cert.

 

[AlaskanTraveler]

I read somewhere that timeshare presentations on average have a 15% success rate for getting people to sign up for timeshares. That is why they can afford to give away such great incentives for attending the presentations. I've never attended any presentations, I've heard about the very high pressure sales tactics often used. Not sure I want to put myself through that unless it is a really great offer.
There are many people that go to these presentations without the intent to buy a timeshare and somehow leave owning a time share. My parents in their 60s are a prime example. They went to one of these ended up buying one timeshare. Stayed their first week and went to an owner's update meeting were served champagne and ended with a second timeshare for the same property. Just heard they went to another "owner's update" meeting last month and came out with a 3rd week. The whole time they think they got a great deal! $1000 a year in maintenance fees for 1 week. Plus the $15k-$20k they spent up front

 

[WavyCEO]

Sounds like my SO's father. He has about 5 timeshares, that he can't to seem to get rid of since he figured out that they weren't such a great deal.
I always like to go to the presentations since they usually give you a good incentive but would never buy one. I've gotten a weekend in Vermont, one week in Mexico, another in Costa Rica, and others. My usually MO is show up stay for about an hour, tell them I'm not insterested and if they persist I just get up and go, no reason to let them try to pressure into something you don't want in the first place.

 

[Brennan]

How do you sign up for these timeshare presentations? Are they targeted offers?

I've received calls from IHG and Hilton, but no decent offers.

 

[GettingReady]

I just got one from Wnydham after calling to see if they would merge accounts, etc.

Two different promotions.
#1: three nights at different locations. $249 total with a $200 Amex GC.
#2: two nights at a hotel and four night cruise on NCL. Freestyle meals, free alcohol. $599 + taxes for both of us. It's a two hour presentation. Maybe it's time for me to learn how to do the casino/chip thing.

 

[Kim @Savy.Traveler]

How do you sign up for these timeshare presentations? Are they targeted offers?

I've received calls from IHG and Hilton, but no decent offers.

A year or two ago I received and recently completed the IHG one. I received a call from Hilton Grand Vacations based on my Hilton status (obtained through a credit card, of course). The rep went through all the offers to which I said no (New York, Colorado?-I've forgotten at this point) and finally came around to the Hawaii one. I had recently returned from the Big Island, so I was vulnerable, but said no until she sweetened the offer with a rental car and points. The presentation wasn't as painful as I suspected. However, the property, while nice, especially for approx $100 per night with free rental car thrown in, wasn't something I would stay in normally. Glad to go for a week, but would do a flip key rental like I did for my first visit to the Big Island. I still have a $200 rebate on another IHG hotel stay that I need to submit after my next stay at a Hilton, and all the other redemptions went smoothly.

 

[WavyCEO]

How do you sign up for these timeshare presentations? Are they targeted offers?

I've received calls from IHG and Hilton, but no decent offers.

Like others I either get a call or an e-mail and I usually try to get them to give me a little something extra than their initial offer to get me to come in.

Also if you know someone that has a timeshare sometimes they can somehow get the company they use to call you and get a presentation.

 

[GettingReady]

How do you sign up for these timeshare presentations? Are they targeted offers?

I've received calls from IHG and Hilton, but no decent offers.

I would call the different programs and ask questions and/or book reservations. That's when we got the Hilton offer and today the Wyndham one.

 

[rsvp]

Told the guy upfront I have no intention of buying timeshares and he was cool with it.

I said that in my first timeshare meeting right before the preso started and the sales person quickly offered/asked me to leave and not waste my time (cancelling the freebies)!

 

[PurpleSquirrel]

I said that in my first timeshare meeting right before the preso started and the sales person quickly offered/asked me to leave and not waste my time (cancelling the freebies)!

Tell the sales person that whoever invited you to the presentation said there was no obligation. The rep I worked with asked me why I wouldn't buy timeshares. I told him last year I opened 2 Southwest credit cards, got 110K points, travelled to Canada and had a fun time for a week in less than 800 dollars for a family. If they could match that, I would definitely be interested. They realized it was a losing proposition and gave me the vouchers.

We should have a new thread for churning timeshares.

 

[heavenlyjane]

We got 35,000 Hyatt points for sitting in on a TS presentation in Key West afew years ago. It was offered to us when we checked in to our Hyatt Key West hotel (on points, natch!). Well worth the 2 hours.

The Hyatt TS property is in a terrible location, across from the ocean in a beachless area, miles from the historic district. There's no way I'd stay in a place like that, let alone own it. The sales person kept focusing on the potential to stay in other places, almost acknowledging that we'd not want to come to the home property very often.

 

[AlaskanTraveler]

I don't know why you would buy from the Timshare company anyway. You can buy timeshares much cheaper from tug2 by buying directly from an owner, and I wouldn't even consider that.

 

[heavenlyjane]

I don't know why you would buy from the Timshare company anyway. You can buy timeshares much cheaper from tug2 by buying directly from an owner, and I wouldn't even consider that.

People who buy timeshares are people who don't do their homework and are pressured by agents to buy impulsively.

 

[smittytabb]

I don't know why you would buy from the Timshare company anyway. You can buy timeshares much cheaper from tug2 by buying directly from an owner, and I wouldn't even consider that.

Yes, there is a secondary market. My SO and I did our homework and would never buy one anyway. We actually had fun at the Hilton one in NYC. We knew more about Hilton than she did.

 

[thedrills]

I did one with Marriott and scheduled for my 2nd one at the end of the month with Holiday Inn.
btw if you actually want to buy a timeshare you can buy them on ebay for pennies from owners fed up with the insanely high maintenance fees

 

[volker]

Is there a limit on how often the different chains allow you to get perks for such events?

btw if you actually want to buy a timeshare you can buy them on ebay for pennies from owners fed up with the insanely high maintenance fees

Is there a difference between old and new time shares? My in-laws seem to be happy with their really old one. It seems like they can use the week at other more valuable properties which is no longer allowed with new contracts.

 

[thedrills]

Is there a limit on how often the different chains allow you to get perks for such events?



Is there a difference between old and new time shares? My in-laws seem to be happy with their really old one. It seems like they can use the week at other more valuable properties which is no longer allowed with new contracts.

I would say that it depends on what you are being offered. I'm not looking to buy I just go and enjoy the reduced price vacation for 2 hrs of my time.
Although I would like to caution people. These salesmen are fantastic. I have a brother-in-law who does not have money who was convinced to buy a timeshare in vagas and another who went with no intention of buying and did. Luckily for them they were able to back out within 24 hrs.

 

[AnyNameYouWish]

We got a call about a month back for a Wyndham TS offer. Seemed decent until I looked online. The reputation of the presentations sounded exactly like our worst nightmare. So we never called them back. But OP's experience sounds perfectly tolerable.

 

[AlaskanTraveler]

I would say that it depends on what you are being offered. I'm not looking to buy I just go and enjoy the reduced price vacation for 2 hrs of my time.
Although I would like to caution people. These salesmen are fantastic. I have a brother-in-law who does not have money who was convinced to buy a timeshare in vagas and another who went with no intention of buying and did. Luckily for them they were able to back out within 24 hrs.

I think that is something to be very wary of, the salespeople are good at their job. With the figure I heard that 15% of timeshare presentation attendees buy timeshares maybe 5% go with an interest in buying a timeshare they rest go for the free perks except 10% of those walk out with a timeshare they didn't intend to buy. My parents (in their 60s) have now been convinced to buy 3 separate timeshares from Hyatt.

 

[thedrills]

I think that is something to be very wary of, the salespeople are good at their job. With the figure I heard that 15% of timeshare presentation attendees buy timeshares maybe 5% go with an interest in buying a timeshare they rest go for the free perks except 10% of those walk out with a timeshare they didn't intend to buy. My parents (in their 60s) have now been convinced to buy 3 separate timeshares from Hyatt.

Wow thats intense.
We went to a marriott presentation with zero intention of buying. The 1st presenter did an unbelievable job. His pitch was brilliant. He said, "how much would you be willing to pay for your car? He then said for much less than that amount you could have memories for your family for a lifetime. It all depends on what your priorities are." I'm not easily swayed, especially when my mind is made up, but I can definitely see how people say..."well now that you put it that way...."
They then brought in the "bad cop" who made us feel like s@#t saying that he can already see that we have no intention on buying etc. I made sure to ask for the ability to review my experience and I made it quite clear that the reason I DID NOT buy was this guys fault.

BEWARE smarter people than you and I have been coerced before.

 

[AlaskanTraveler]

I've been doing some online research on the timeshare presentations in exchange for free/discounted accommodations/tickets/food. I'm even considering it. This coming from someone whose parents have been coerced into purchasing 3 different timeshares.

My thoughts/findings:

• Don't think you can outsmart the timeshare salesmen. They are good at their job and do this for a living. Any excuse you have, they will have a comeback for.
• If you decided to go to one of these, your cost is your time as well as the risk that you will end up being coerced into buying one of these things. Believe me this happens! Some people report being physically and emotionally exhausted after these presentations. Some even state that the experience was so bad it wasn't worth the free/discounted vacation they received.
• You will likely be made to feel guilty for accepting the free gifts without the intent to buy a timeshare. DONT feel guilty. For them its all about the numbers. The more people they can get through the door to listen to the pitch the more sales they can make.
• You will likely be given a pitch by at least 3 different sales people but as many as 6 with each consecutive salesman being more experience then the last.
• If you let them, the sales pitch will almost always go beyond the 60, 90, 120 presentation time.
• Some people report that there are fees and restrictions on the freebies they received that they were not initially aware of. Make sure you understand all of the restrictions. There may be taxes, resort fees, gratuities that you were not aware of.
• Tips for getting out of the presentation ASAP: Tell them from the start you are not interested in buying the timeshare and you are doing it for the freebies.
• When asked why you don't want to buy the timeshare, don't give them any ammo or excuse. They will have a comeback for everything. This will just force you to come up with some other excuse, etc. Then the internal stress begins. I read about all sorts of excuses that people give the salesmen. Don't give them any. Just keep repeating that you are not interested in buying a timeshare. You are there for the freebies. Be nice.
• These people are very friendly and will ask questions about your life/travel preferences/family/spending habits/etc. Don't tell them anything. It's just ammo for them to develop a more effective sales strategy for you. Just tell them you are not interested in sharing details about my life with them. In fact just don't talk. You really should respond to every question with, "I'm not interested in buying a timeshare, I'm here for the freebies."
• Bring a print out of the offer you received. Among others things it should show the timeshare presentation time allotment. Let's just say 90 minutes. Tell them they've got you for the 90 minutes and no more. Tell them you have to leave after that. A digital stop watch may not be a bad idea.
• Some people are threatened with not receiving the vouchers that were promised when they want to leave. Make sure you stay the allotted time, then ask for the vouchers as promised.
• Frequently, people are driven/taken far away from their car/hotel room etc to a far off location. Your only way back may be in a golf cart or car from the salesman.
• If you are interested in signing up for one of these presentations, do some online research. I found that in the comments section of many of these blogs/posts about timeshare presentations for discounted vacations many of these companies respond in the comments with their email addresses. Contact them from there.
• As an aside for all the people that say they are happy with their timeshare, I believe that most (I didn't say all) are not honest with themselves. They just have too much pride to admit that they made a poor decision. Now they are out $8K-$30k initially plus the $800-$1500 a year of maintenance fees. Timeshare companies will not help you resell your timeshare, and you often cannot even give them away. You can buy or rent someone's timeshare directly at tug2.com. I do think that timeshares properties are actually pretty nice and staying at them with a family or large group is a great option. Buying a timeshare is not the only way to stay there. Use someone else's via tug2.com or endure a 2 hour sales pitch and stay at a greatly reduced cost.
• Thoughts?

 

[thedrills]

if you are unwavering then there is nothing that they can do. During my last one my wife kept on telling them that we just spent a ton on life insurance and all of our "extra money" was just spent. if you dont lose your mind due to the pressure then you should be ok.
They cant deny you the "reward" that you were offered.
Remember that you are not the only one that does this style of vacation and that not everyone in the room around you is actually interested in buying a timeshare. Its something that they see on a constant basis and they will try to make you feel so guilty that you are wasting their time....

Another point. If the presentation isnt on the campus where you are staying make sure to DRIVE YOURSELF they will offer to drive you to your meeting. Make sure that you have the ability to tell them after the 90 minutes that you are done and would like to leave.

 

[zceuxbhjutf]

• Bring earplugs. One I went to, they started us all off with a movie of how great the property was. It was turned up so loud it was painful.

 

[Jawa]

https://www.reddit.com/r/churning/comments/4ib96v/free_hotel_stay_a_cautionary_trip_report_warning/

Guy attends timeshare presentation for cheap vacation with no intention to buy and tries to razzle dazzle the salesmen with his points acumen. Ihg brings out their own points and miles nerd salesman who ends ip convincing the guy to sign.

 

[PurpleSquirrel]

Cancel a timeshare, if you lost your cool and bought one.
Time is of importance here. Usually, you have between 3 days to 10 days to send a cancellation letter (or fax one) to rescind your timeshare. That rescission letter is provided in the packet(has to be included by law).

Send it pronto and wait for check. On second thoughts, this could be a way to meet minimum spend on new credit cards.
1) Apply for new credit card for miles/cash/MR/TY points
2) Go to timeshare presentation.
3) Bargain timeshare to the minimum spend amount. Also, get freebies like free hotel stay or discounted stays.
4) Purchase timeshare and put it on the new credit card.
5) Verify rescission letter is included in your packet. When you reach home, sign it and send it certified mail or fax it.
6) Receive money paid in a few days , by check.

Goals achieved:
a) Meet minimum spend and receive miles/cash/MR/TY points
b) Free/discounted hotel stays
c) Free meals at timeshare presentation
d) Peace of mind as you don't have to argue why you don't need a timeshare.

 

[WavyCEO]

Mr. Squirrel I like the way you think! Haha. However can you pay with a CC? And wouldn't they refund it back to your CC instead of sending you a check?

 

[Benjamin]

Did anyone jump on that Hyatt offer for the Ka'anapali Beach Residences? Seemed like a ridiculous deal for a family Christmas holiday.

 

[Chum]

Did anyone jump on that Hyatt offer for the Ka'anapali Beach Residences? Seemed like a ridiculous deal for a family Christmas holiday.

My mother in law got one and I tried to use it for myself...they won't let me. They said that only my mother in law can take advantage of it.

 

[Benjamin]

My mother in law got one and I tried to use it for myself...they won't let me. They said that only my mother in law can take advantage of it.

Such a bummer. I am trying to get my family to join me on one of these, as it would really drop the rate for a holiday, but alas, "Flights are too expensive"...