Visiting a timeshare resort as a gift...

[jayerose]

and decided to attend the timeshare presentation (for a gift card of $150).

I had never looked into one but did before the presentation and it doesn't seem to be a good fit for a lot of people as you are required to make monthly maintenance fees for the rest of your life.

We did say no a few times and were able to leave with no sale made :)

p.s. we also believe that an older couple were in the sales presentation as 'plants'.

[Stu from NYC]

and decided to attend the timeshare presentation (for a gift card of $150).

I had never looked into one but did before the presentation and it doesn't seem to be a good fit for a lot of people as you are required to make monthly maintenance fees for the rest of your life.

We did say no a few times and were able to leave with no sale made :)

p.s. we also believe that an older couple were in the sales presentation as 'plants'.

Would not surprised me if they used shills

[Sparty6971]

I remember when we as young (lower 20s) Air Force people would go to similar presentations using a steak dinner as the bait. We got lots of good meals before we started running out of new presenters. I think they started checking to see if we were part of the "free dinner" guys. lol Not sure that was legal for them to do but back in the early 1970s, maybe the rules were different. . . or just ignored. :icon_wink: Learned how to look very interested throughout the presentation and then how to calmly walk out at the break. Great fun for a pretty good meal.

[manaboutown]

Would not surprised me if they used shills

They likely were shills if the OP picked up on it. I wonder if some offerors of reverse mortgage and annuities dinners use shills?

[Stu from NYC]

They likely were shills if the OP picked up on it. I wonder if some offerors of reverse mortgage and annuities dinners use shills?

We have been to some financial type dinners where some of the folks having a dinner was a customer of the adviser and had wonderful things to say or course.

[CFrance]

I remember when we as young (lower 20s) Air Force people would go to similar presentations using a steak dinner as the bait. We got lots of good meals before we started running out of new presenters. I think they started checking to see if we were part of the "free dinner" guys. lol Not sure that was legal for them to do but back in the early 1970s, maybe the rules were different. . . or just ignored. :icon_wink: Learned how to look very interested throughout the presentation and then how to calmly walk out at the break. Great fun for a pretty good meal.
In the ' 70s, we got a free Thanksgiving frozen turkey for looking at a camping plot by a small lake. That was great, as we were just starting out and didn't have two nickels to rub together back then.
We didn't buy a plot. Our friends did, though, and used it for many years.

[Inspector Mark]

We have attended several time share presentations. I have no intention of ever buying into one but if they want to give me a couple of nights stay at a nice resort to hear their pitch than I am all in. I would never settle for some $150.00 gift card.

The last one we attended was for a property outside of Disney. We got two nights free at a resort that had a beautiful pool, bar, entertainment, ETC.

The sales pitch was very good. It was difficult to leave their offices because they kept bringing in different managers to help over come our objections. We knew going in that we were not buying anything so we just put up with it to get our free weekend.

In the end we got a fantastic free weekend for a couple hours of our time. As far as the time share company, I think they know the game. They need X amount of people coming through their gates to sell a few suckers.

[Tmarkwald]

I remember when Palm Coast got sued because they offered free 'car phones' for coming by. At that time (1985) car phones were $$$$ so it was an attractive thing. Turns out the car phone was a little plastic push button phone you plugged into the wall. It wasn't even touch tone. It just LOOKED like a car..

[juscause]

Time share may be the biggest scam on the planet that is also legal. Once you're IN, it's very difficult to get out. As a former owner who got out after 20 years, I can tell you that the costs of the "maintenance fees" just keep going up and up. The fact is that as we get older, taking the trip becomes less of a joy and more of a burden. Run.

[maggie1]

I remember when we as young (lower 20s) Air Force people would go to similar presentations using a steak dinner as the bait. We got lots of good meals before we started running out of new presenters. I think they started checking to see if we were part of the "free dinner" guys. lol Not sure that was legal for them to do but back in the early 1970s, maybe the rules were different. . . or just ignored. :icon_wink: Learned how to look very interested throughout the presentation and then how to calmly walk out at the break. Great fun for a pretty good meal.

My wife and I have been to several of these presentations (Time Shares & Future Developments) and have received hotel stays, free dinners, golf packages, and other promotional gifts. When it gets down to the salesperson asking "Well, what do you think?". Our response has always been: "Wow! That all sounds very nice, but we need to first check with our financial planner first - we'll get back to you." Then we pack up and leave for home.

[J1ceasar]

Actually timeshares will not be thought of as investments but can be a good deal if you look into the corporation offering them and their history the first thing you should ask is what their maintenance fees are and how much is their reserve. Then you have to ask if is it a Time limited timeshare like a 99-year lease or a point-based system or a real deed system. The only timeshares that have ever gone up are the ones that are on the islands in the Caribbean has any other ones most wanted for trades. By the way there are two major trading companies so you can use your weeks almost anywhere with enough time in advance we had four weeks in Puerto Rico for many years that cost us less than $300 per week for maintenance now compare that to the average of about $2,000 per week for a full one-bedroom suite that's currently being offered and you'll find out that we have saved quite a lot. Of course if you're 65 or older how many times more are you going to be going away? As for the shills I can't speak from any recent experience but it's commonly done in art auctions timeshare presentations and many other places by the way the best place to buy a timeshare is either on eBay or a place called tug t u g where you have owners reselling systems often for zero dollars just to get out of the maintenance fees that they can't afford anymore. Lastly unless your children are well off I definitely would not give them timeshares in your wills unless you discuss it beforehand. The only legitimate two ways of getting out of a timeshare is selling it, going into bankruptcy, or offering it back to the corporation. Excuse me three ways

[GaryKoca]

We had a timeshare through Marriott for about 15-20 years and enjoyed it. However, it no longer fit our needs, because most of the places are resorts where you spend the week lying on the beach, which is not what we are into anymore. We did sell our timeshare back to Marriott with a minimum of problems, however. They were much better than most programs about that.

[jbrown132]

Went to one a few years ago, they were offering a free steak dinner and two days three nights free at one of their properties in Bermuda. Had to pay the air fare only. The hard sell came at the property. I finally told them I had no interest at all, was just interested in the free dinner and mini vacation. The guy got really ticked off. I told him if they were stupid enough to offer freebies like this and people were smart enough to take advantage of them they had nobody to blame other than themselves. After the third night we moved over to another hotel and enjoyed the rest of the week’s vacation.

[Freeda]

We have owned a timeshare for 13 years and love it. It has provided a home away from home in Orlando near Disney for way less than it would cost retail to stay there; or that we can exchange for inexpensive travel to many other places.

[rlcooper70]

If you don't mind a three hour sales pitch you can get three free nights somewhere you might want to go. When we got up to leave and claim our "gift" they gave us a hard time. It was not fun. And it was not worth it.

[cj1040]

We have done this a few times and gotten some nice perks too.

[xlhig]

and decided to attend the timeshare presentation (for a gift card of $150).

I had never looked into one but did before the presentation and it doesn't seem to be a good fit for a lot of people as you are required to make monthly maintenance fees for the rest of your life.

We did say no a few times and were able to leave with no sale made :)

p.s. we also believe that an older couple were in the sales presentation as 'plants'.

You'll end up paying THOUSANDS (and in many cases, TENS OF THOUSANDS) of dollars. If you are really interested in a timeshare, do your due diligence on where you want, how often you may use it, annual maintenance fees and then buy one off of eBay for as little as $1.00 with no closing fees. Quite often, you'll find nice timeshares where the seller is now older, the kids are grown and the seller no longer uses it. They'll sell it for a low price just to get out of paying the annual maintenance fees. And quite often, the seller will also pay closing costs, just to get rid of it.

[Pat2015]

I got several timeshares on eBay for several hundred dollars, and pay $100 a month in maintenance fees. I get several weeks a year out of that which is well worth it. Would never ever buy from the timeshare corporation which would have easily cost $75k plus.

[Miguel 1952]

"There's a sucker born every minute."

[toeser]

and decided to attend the timeshare presentation (for a gift card of $150).

I had never looked into one but did before the presentation and it doesn't seem to be a good fit for a lot of people as you are required to make monthly maintenance fees for the rest of your life.

We did say no a few times and were able to leave with no sale made :)

p.s. we also believe that an older couple were in the sales presentation as 'plants'.


There are at least 3-4 companies that do nothing but get people out of their timeshare contracts. That says a lot about second thoughts.

[brfree1411@aol.com]

I know in Florida, they had no strict rules regarding time shares. Once the Ponzi stuff came out, they tighten the rules quite a bit.

[DAVES]

and decided to attend the timeshare presentation (for a gift card of $150).

I had never looked into one but did before the presentation and it doesn't seem to be a good fit for a lot of people as you are required to make monthly maintenance fees for the rest of your life.

We did say no a few times and were able to leave with no sale made :)

p.s. we also believe that an older couple were in the sales presentation as 'plants'.

We were supposed to learn as kids you get nothing for nothing. For me it was actually took more than one, one was free stamps on a matchbook cover. The second one was closer to our current home when there were sales of Florida land that was litterally under water.

Time shares? The ads for attorneys making a living getting people out of contracts they have signed should tell you not to.

[davem4616]

I actually mistakenly did what the OP did, but by mistake...I didn't realize that it was a Hilton timeshare resort in Orlando that I had booked into. I just figured the low rate was a result of my near diamond status with them that year

had to listen to over an hour of why I should invest....

walked away saying phew, glad that's over with

[retiredguy123]

Actually timeshares will not be thought of as investments but can be a good deal if you look into the corporation offering them and their history the first thing you should ask is what their maintenance fees are and how much is their reserve. Then you have to ask if is it a Time limited timeshare like a 99-year lease or a point-based system or a real deed system. The only timeshares that have ever gone up are the ones that are on the islands in the Caribbean has any other ones most wanted for trades. By the way there are two major trading companies so you can use your weeks almost anywhere with enough time in advance we had four weeks in Puerto Rico for many years that cost us less than $300 per week for maintenance now compare that to the average of about $2,000 per week for a full one-bedroom suite that's currently being offered and you'll find out that we have saved quite a lot. Of course if you're 65 or older how many times more are you going to be going away? As for the shills I can't speak from any recent experience but it's commonly done in art auctions timeshare presentations and many other places by the way the best place to buy a timeshare is either on eBay or a place called tug t u g where you have owners reselling systems often for zero dollars just to get out of the maintenance fees that they can't afford anymore. Lastly unless your children are well off I definitely would not give them timeshares in your wills unless you discuss it beforehand. The only legitimate two ways of getting out of a timeshare is selling it, going into bankruptcy, or offering it back to the corporation. Excuse me three ways
I think a timeshare is a horrible product. I wouldn't ask the salesperson any questions. Read the contract yourself. Why would you care what the maintenance fee is today? It can double or triple in a few years after you buy it. Most timeshares can not even be given away and you may need to pay thousands of dollars to get rid of it. But, it is important for any potential heir to know that, if you inherit a timeshare (or anything else), you can refuse to accept the inheritance. So, as a potential heir, do not sign your name as a co-owner to a timeshare. And, if you inherit a timeshare and you don't want it, you can provide a legal notice to the executor that you are rejecting the inherited timeshare.

[Jayhawk]

and decided to attend the timeshare presentation (for a gift card of $150).

I had never looked into one but did before the presentation and it doesn't seem to be a good fit for a lot of people as you are required to make monthly maintenance fees for the rest of your life.

We did say no a few times and were able to leave with no sale made :)

p.s. we also believe that an older couple were in the sales presentation as 'plants'.

Timeshare salesmen are master manipulators. - The King of Queens | Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/thekingofqueens/posts/2131995493536149)

[Dan M]

Back in the early 80’s we went to one of these time share presentations. My wife at the time, made me go so she could ‘win’ the promised set of dinnerware. Total waste of time and after suffering through the entire session, they gave her a set of plastic dishes for four people! Horrible!! We also attended a presentation in Cancun. The absolutely beautiful girls that greet you ply you with beer and very stiff pina coladas then turn you over to a guy that won’t take no for an answer. They make it sound like you would be crazy to pass up such a great deal. Later, you find it was a horrible deal and an utter waste of time. Never, never again!!!

[quietpine]

Our time share at a beach is very well managed. We don’t use it often because it rents for about twice what we pay to own it. Once we traded our week at the beach for a week in Switzerland. The unit is available to family when they want a beach vacation, that trumps renting it. So yes, we are happy with the timeshare experience but the return isn’t financial.

[valuemkt]

The aftermarket price per "point" is significantly less than what is offered during the presentation .. why ? the commission has already been paid. If you do your homework, you can pick up a high quality week for a reasonable price. Why would you want to do that ? I've stayed in hundreds of hotel rooms during my working years .. they are ok, but if i'm going to have a relaxing week somewhere, I like a 1200-1500 sq ft nicely furnished place. not a Red Roof Inn kind of person. The maintenance cost is way less than a hotel. Allows for the kids or friends to join for free. I have a friend that has accumulated 13 one week stays in Aruba, which he uses consecutively each year .. OceanFront. I only do Hilton or Marriott .. we could probably do the presentation. OTOH, we stayed at a Wyndham property on Sandestin several years ago .. both the presentation and the property were third rate

[RuthA]

We have owned a Timeshare and did use it a lot, but it limits your ability to go where you want to go. We got lots of free dinners. Once we went on a presentation and the sales lady got up and slammed her stuff down and walked out when we said No. Did not leave a good impression!

[Fredman]

Time share translates to “SHARE never ending high costs for a long TIME”

[DaleDivine]

Isn't this kinda like the "Lifestyle" The Villages offers?
:MOJE_whot::MOJE_whot:

[retiredguy123]

Isn't this kinda like the "Lifestyle" The Villages offers?
:MOJE_whot::MOJE_whot:
No. Apples and oranges. The Villages doesn't use any high pressure sales techniques.

[Joe V.]

"There's a sucker born every minute."

Like the suckers who buy boats! Had 5, big holes in the water to throw money into. They are fun, for a while though.

[Cranford61]

If you don't mind a three hour sales pitch you can get three free nights somewhere you might want to go. When we got up to leave and claim our "gift" they gave us a hard time. It was not fun. And it was not worth it.
I agree. Gotta feel slimy as you finagle for “free” mini vacation with no intention to buy.

[Stu from NYC]

I think a timeshare is a horrible product. I wouldn't ask the salesperson any questions. Read the contract yourself. Why would you care what the maintenance fee is today? It can double or triple in a few years after you buy it. Most timeshares can not even be given away and you may need to pay thousands of dollars to get rid of it. But, it is important for any potential heir to know that, if you inherit a timeshare (or anything else), you can refuse to accept the inheritance. So, as a potential heir, do not sign your name as a co-owner to a timeshare. And, if you inherit a timeshare and you don't want it, you can provide a legal notice to the executor that you are rejecting the inherited timeshare.

Went to a dinner many years ago and very quickly decided I did not want to be tied down to a specific vacation spot year by year and question how easy it was to swap with someone else.

They did not make it easy to walk out but walk we did.

[Compass]

How were you able to get out of your time share legally? As we are trying desperately to unload ours in Williamsburg Virginia

[retiredguy123]

How were you able to get out of your time share legally? As we are trying desperately to unload ours in Williamsburg Virginia
I have heard that the first step is to contact the timeshare management company directly to see if there is any chance they will take it back.

Contact other timeshare owners in the same complex to see if they may want to buy another unit.

Dave Ramsey recommends the "time share exit team" service. I would also suggest you look at Clark Howard's website for other tips.