Time Share Presentations

[Mr. Downtown]

Has anyone ever gone on one of these? A friend of mine is ponding the idea of taking his family up to Blue Mountain, this Easter break, to one of these operations. Free accommodation, meal tickets and ski passes but has to put in a 2 hour presentation. Doesn't know what he is in for if he agrees to and neither do I.

Anyone?? Thanks

 

[RogerRabbit]

no free lunch

If he can resit temptation and knows how to say 'no', he should be ok, usually lots of sales pressure...

 

[shakenbake]

Avoid the Pressure!

As RogerRabbit said, if he can resist the temptation, he can go ahead and be bored.

I did a very basic economic calculation assuming a meagre rate of return on the amount that they wanted for one of these operations, versusbuying into the operation. Guess what! not only was I ahead of the game financially, but I get to decide WHERE and WHEN I want to go! This is quite remarkable. What did P.T. Bailey once say? There's one born every minute!

My apologies to those who may have already bought into one. However, I have a friend who cased in an RRSP to buy into one. BAD MOVE! This friend has been tryng to book into a reasonable place now for three to four years and has had no luck whatsoever.

Think of all the MP sessions that you can afford with the interest you can get with the capital that you would have blown on one of those time share propositions!

shakenbake

 

[TheNiteHwk]

Just think if they are willing to go to all that expense put his whole family up for a week-end only for the chance of a sale and all the other families that will be there also how much they must be making. I.E. Way over priced. Then even after you buy your two weeks there are other on going fees for life or how ever long you own your timeshare. Also the company you buy from they must take care of the property etc.. what if they go under five years from now? Lots of other details to consider also.

Like someone also shared already too... they know how to put on the pressure to make you buy. If he is bringing the kids for example... it's not beneath them to appeal to them to pressure the parents.

I would pass if I was him.

http://www.cbs.gov.on.ca/mcbs/english/5QULLW.htm

 

[drlove]

Has anyone ever gone on one of these? A friend of mine is ponding the idea of taking his family up to Blue Mountain, this Easter break, to one of these operations. Free accommodation, meal tickets and ski passes but has to put in a 2 hour presentation. Doesn't know what he is in for if he agrees to and neither do I.

Anyone?? Thanks

I went to a few in Aruba... free breakfast, t-shirts etc.. Not bad if you don't mind spending a few hours with salespeople. You just have to be firm with them if you're not interested.

 

[Girth]

I have done the Marriott ones a couple of times in exchange for some heavily discounted rates at one of their resorts. Those were professionally handled and actually were pretty attractive offers.

I did another one in Hawaii in exchange for a helicopter tour for two, value about $300. I was firm with the salesman, who handled it pretty well, until the salesman in the next cubicle sold 3 weeks to a very well off widow without even trying. Our poor guy had sweat pouring down his face and pleaded with us to buy. I told him he wasn't a closer, and only closer's got the good leads. My wife told me it wasn't fair to quote Glengary Glen Ross.


If you are really getting the shaft and can't get away, tell em you will be able to buy as soon as your bankruptcy proceedings are finished.

 

[Mr. Downtown]

LOL. This is what I expected to hear from you guys. Thanks a whole lot! I'll pass some of your experiences along to my buddy.

P.S. I agree with you Maximadude. What mountain?! From an admitted west coast ski snob. LOL.

 

[shack]

I did one last summer at Horseshoe Valley. I took the free golf instead of dinner and booked my tee time for about 3 hours after the start of the presentation. That way I had a perfect escape. They couldn't keep me indefinitely.

If I recall correctly they told me their success rate is about 25%. That's pretty good if it's the truth.

 

[MuffinMuncher]

Time Shares

Do your research, and join one of the Yahoo groups devoted to this topic to hear strategies. I work with a gentleman who goes to Cancun for a week each year with his family for free by knowing how to play this game. On the last day of his trip, he goes to a presentation and works the salesmen until its time for him to "go to the airport to catch his flight home". They are so anxious to close that they give him a return trip voucher good for 12 months.

In addition, by going through the presentations so many times now, he knows their sales routine and pricing better than the sales guys he gets each year. He finally bought into one, but only after negotiating a price that was below their cost for an entry level 1-bedroom and upgrading himself to a penthouse corner 2-BR unit.

Not suggesting that everyone is capable of this, but if you have the time and patience to work the system, you can get alot of free trips and excursions and end up with a sweet deal if you want it.

 

[hardlicks]

timeshare presentations

Please be informed that the government of Ontario - in no way -has any legislation in plce to protect consumers with respects to timeshare scams or otherwise. I got hosed for $12K years ago for a resort on Georgian Bay.

BE VERY CAREFUL!!

On the other hand, 7 years ago I purchased a timeshare in the Carribean and have had absolutely no problems.

hardlicks

ps : Read the fine print and if you do go and they say that it's a one shot deal and you feel pressured - LEAVE!!!