Starting Off On The Wrong Foot: My First Timeshare Presentations
My wife and I were approached in the hotel lobby during a vacation to Orlando several years ago. The woman was some sort of sales representative, but didn’t mention any sort of sale. Instead, she offered us free tickets to several attractions. All we had to do was attend some sort of presentation that, she assured, would last no longer than 9a 90 minute presentations. It seemed to be quite a bargain, and we were more than willing to attend.
This was our first timeshare presentation. We were impressed by how practical the whole package seemed, and excited about the concept of paying for tomorrow’s vacations with today’s dollarshaving tackling, and thereby savings on the price of future vacations. The resort and its amenities were fantastic, but we hesitated because of the price. We knew nothing about vacation ownership, even though we always stretched the value of each dollar.
The resort was impressive, and we were intrigued with the concept of timeshare. However, the price, the lack of reasonable financing options, and the high pressure sales tactics made us skeptical. Instead, we decided to walk away. We concluded that a timeshare was something we simply could not afford, and that it probably just wasn’t right for us.
One year later, we attended another timeshare presentation in Charleston, South Carolina. We had recently moved to Charleston, and were offered both cash and gift certificates by a sales representative on the street. Once again, to get these wonderful gifts we merely had to attend a timeshare presentation.
We went to the presentation with the firm notion that we were not going to buy a timeshare. We knew it would be out of our budget, and the idea of owning a vacation property in our home town seemed insane. Yet we completely forgot about the aggressive sales tactics, and ultimately succumbed to them.
What should have been ninety minutes stretched into four hours. Our heads began to hurt, and we were confused. After watching the videos and seeing every family enjoy their experiences, buying a timeshare at that very minute seemed to make sense. We wanted all of the wonderful vacation experiences that we saw. We wanted to be able to exchange our timeshare week for a stay anywhere in the world, and we were ready to start.
We decided to buy a timeshare in our home town of Charleston, South Carolina. But with a $22,000 price tag, the decision was made in haste and against our better judgment. This was when our search for real knowledge began. Our pending timeshare purchase was going to nearly break the bank, and it made us worry. We had stumbled upon something that sounded wonderful, but we needed more time and more knowledge.
Sheri Bateman says:
Dont act dumb. You had already gone once and knew what you were in for. These people that ARE SALES REPS, are doing their jobs. Just like you do every day. Except for the fact that we have to deal with people that spend there vacations living off of others. The free gifts get you to see the point of ownership rather than renting your vacations weather you get it or not is your problem. Not all understand the value of family and getting better vacations for LESS money then you are ALREADY spending. If you choose to go on another presentation then it is your own fault if you had a head problem. You knew FULL WELL what you were going to do and it was all for a few FREE trinkets.
Monday, 5 June 2006 @ 4:46pm
Lucy Thompson says:
You reap what you sow. If you are taking timeshare tour after timeshare tour then you are the reason alot of timeshare sales reps lose their jobs. Shame on you. Unless you are a moron, one timeshare tour is enough for you to choose to own or not. I am sooooo sick of the complaining Freddie the freeloaders. If you’re so poor that you need to be a moocher in order to entertain yourself then you are pathetic! It will come back to you. Shame on you.
Monday, 26 June 2006 @ 9:04pm
Alexander says:
Thank you both for your comments. I understand that these people were sales reps and just doing their job.
I did not attend those timeshare presentations to take advantage of anything but I was enticed by the freebies and discounts being offered. I couldn’t help but notice since there seemed to be hundreds of those “body snatchers” everywhere in town. I’ll admit it - I wanted to know what they were doing.
When I first went, I had never attended a timeshare presentation and really didn’t know what I was getting into.
I loved the concept - I still love it today, in fact - it was just too much money for what it was, at least for us.
The past few years since my wife and I have bought our timeshare intervals have been absolutely fabulous. The quality of vacations, range of destinations, and caliper of resorts we have gotten to stay at blow my mind. Our families love us for sharing!
I still go to timeshare presentations whenever the opportunity strikes, but now it is to check out the resort and learn about different vacation clubs in case we decide to get something else.
Saturday, 29 July 2006 @ 5:07am
Char says:
I know of people who own several time shares and use them to enjoy their lives.
They have been many places, experienced other cultures, enjoyed many beaches and more; If you use it and enjoy it’ it must be a good thing.
If you go just for the gift then sit and complain SORRY! your glass is always ½ empty anyway.
Wednesday, 27 June 2007 @ 7:00pm