Tips for Surviving a Timeshare Presentation
There are people who make a sport of attending timeshare presentations just for the freebies offered. I am not going to condone or disapprove of this behavior, my role is simply that of an informer – letting the public know the ins and outs of a timeshare presentation. Now for the gifts… Depending on what resort you visit, you can walk away with a free weekend stay, television, show tickets, or some extra cash in your pocket. As you can see, gifts range from the mediocre to the extreme, all offered as a way to lure potential buyers into sitting through a presentation. Timeshare salespeople know that once they have you through the door, they have your attention. They also know that many consumers are simply not prepared for the types of sales tactics that will be employed, which translates into sales and commission for the salesperson.
Tips for Surviving and Escaping a Timeshare Presentation (Without Buying):
- Before you go to the presentation, find out when the busiest times are, and go during one of these times. This will give you the upper hand – when a resort is overbooked and understaffed, your likelihood of getting through the presentation in under 90 minutes is dramatically increased. You are also less likely to be the victim of high pressure sales; the salesperson will just move onto the next person if you seem uninterested.
- Before your session begins – tell them you will be up front with them, and that you expect the same treatment from your salesperson. The “If I like it, I will get it” approach will deter the salesperson from badgering, or otherwise pressuring, you into something you have clearly told him you are not interested in.
- Keep to yourself and try to be as boring as possible. Timeshare salespeople will use any personal information you provide to try and strike some sort of common ground with you, making you feel as though you can trust them. If they offer some sort of tale about how they know so-and-so from your town, just say that is nice, and ask to focus on the issue at hand – getting information about the resort.
- Hold them to the time frame that you have been promised for the timeshare presentation. If you were quoted 90 minutes, set your alarm for 70 minutes, and remind the salesperson at 70 minutes that they now have 20 minutes to finish up the talk.
- Do not lead on the salesperson. Do not pretend you are interested only to let them down at the very end. If you have no intentions of buying be sure to act that way.
- When they ask how much you make, lie. Pick a low to average income when asked how much you make per year. Admitting or saying you have a lot of disposable income is just going to make your experience that much more painful – think multiple salespeople all over you for hours on end.
- Tell them you already know about timeshare and its benefits, this way they will need to be more focused on the amenities at the particular resort, thus, shortening the presentation.
- Try not to talk too much, again, be boring. The less details you offer up about your personal life, the better.
- Be ready with an arsenal of reasons why you do not want to buy the timeshare:
- I am not interested in buying, I just want to trade to go to other resorts.
- I just bought a new house, I do not have any extra cash.
- I am swamped with bills – car payment, credit cards, new RV, home remodel, etc.
- The resort just does not fit my lifestyle – not enough activities for kids, location is too cold, lack of surrounding activities, etc.
- I can not afford it, it is much too far out of my price range. Be ready for them to offer ownership every other year, tell them it is still not affordable enough.
- You like your other timeshare better. This is a pretty solid reason, as there is no way they can haggle price to rope you into buying.
July 25th, 2008 at 8:07 pm
just say no thanks, get your free stuff, and get the hell out of there
after all, u did not seek them out, they solicited u to get something free for attending a presentation..
August 31st, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Say no and walk out dont talk to them any more also do not have them drive you there as you have no way to walk out always drive your self.
September 18th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
Really guys! how miserable has to be your life to attend a timeshare presentation? I know you may recieve an incentive to be there, but really, is it worth it?, if you already know what it is and you are not interested, dont waste your time, everybody knows is going to be more than 90min and every timeshare rep will let you know is a sales presentation, what do you expect? if you going to a restaurant, what do you think is going to happen?…Dont make up excuses, if you like it, you will use and you can afford it, buy it, that’s it, if you dont, just give your reasons why not to buy and get out.
October 7th, 2008 at 7:52 am
My life isn’t misearble – it’s great! And I am going to be staying in a gorgeous Hilton hotel for free and all I have to do is listen to a timeshare presentation. I think it’s definitely worth saving the $600 and now I get to go to Disney World. There’s no way in hell that I would ever buy a timeshare, though. Just have to make sure they know that upfront. I picture that it will be torturous but at least I get a great vacation out of it.
October 14th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
Just survived one in Branson…
December 20th, 2008 at 6:34 pm
People who just go to presentations are so cheap. Just don’t go if you have no interest. My girlfriend would kill me if I took her on vacation to a timeshare sales pitch. I actually own one and go on luxurious vacations every year. Going on timeshare presentations for a vacation is pathetic.
January 22nd, 2009 at 12:12 pm
James it isn’t pathetic. Everyone doesn’t have disposable income, and if they are offered a free trip in exchange for their time there is nothing wrong with seizing the opportunity. Kudos to you for making the most of your income and purchasing a timeshare.Just imagine the those wealthier than you saying how pathetic you are for not being able to afford to OWN your own vacation property and not own just the time you utilize it. Funny circle isn’t it!!
March 11th, 2009 at 2:04 pm
Pathetic is just the word for moochers who go to presentation after presentation with no intent whatsoever of purchasing. These are the same folks who stuff their pockets with salt, catusp packets and straws. Probably the same ones who sit in a restaurant just long enough to enjoy a comfy seat, some A/C, icewater, bread and butter, listen to the specials and leave. Amazing. Sad really.
June 17th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
Stu, which timeshare company do you work for?
June 26th, 2009 at 12:27 pm
[...] Take the timeshare upgrade tour that is offered. If you are already a time share owner, odds are you know what goes on during these types of presentations. A timeshare salesperson will try to convince you that their newest resort is the latest and greatest, or that you need to upgrade your current unit for the best of the best. Be polite, listen, go through the motions, keep saying “no thank you” and be sure to collect your handsome reward at the conclusion of the session. Some resorts will offer show tickets, others cash, whatever it is, it is sure to make your vacation a little more pleasant. For tips on how to make it through a timeshare presentation without buying be sure to read the post – Tips for Surviving a Timeshare Presentation [...]
September 29th, 2009 at 7:13 am
Well, we just signed up…..5 nights, 6 days at a five star in playa del carmen. 399.00 for us both total, at an all inclusive. Our plane tix are free from credit card points. So, our entire trip is really 399.00. Not really to bad. We will be boring and offer no personal conversation…IM telling them my husband just got layed off indefinately. (not true) We can get through this. Never done this before, but it might be kinda funny…..
October 31st, 2009 at 9:12 am
You stated that timeshares lure people in with gifts. Stores do that with sales and high priced advertisements. Timeshares do not advertise to keep their prices as low as possible. What makes you think that timeshares don’t know that you are going to lie, as you instructed above. We have heard it all from the truth to the ridiculous. You all act like you have come into the den of the devil and that gives you freedom to lie, but you expect us not to. That’s odd on your part. Pastors and christians in general are the worst. Ask anyone I the timeshare industry. You are given gifts. Do you repost it as such to the IRS? We do…Be careful, you will get audited at some point. You would not want all christians, african americans, old people, rich, poor to be judged by one evil person, would you? That is what you are doing. You are telkling people to lie, cheat, and steal (stealing by not reporting on taxes). People like you are what has caused our economy to be in the toilet.
November 6th, 2009 at 5:20 pm
Man… lotta timeshare employees on here… don’t listen to them folks. Be cheap, lie to these people… they are scum and it’s just that plain and simple… I love to make them believe I’m interested and then crash them at the end… just like people’s hearts crash when they realize these timeshare companies have found legal ways to trap people in contracts and STEAL AND ROB THEM. Timeshare people are now on my list as the #1 scummiest “business”people in this country.
November 6th, 2009 at 7:53 pm
if they want to offer a free trip knowing we aren’t gong to buy, why wouldn’t you take them up on the offer??? the dude who owns the timeshare and is bragging about his money is probably broke, living in california, with the real housewives of orange county, and losing his home to the bank. wealthy people don’t brag about how much money they have. my husband and i do very well and try to be very wise with our money!
November 7th, 2009 at 11:21 am
I am a timeshare sales rep and an owner of a timeshare. I have a husband, 3 kids, and live in an average neighborhood. I drive a car, go to the grocery store, and buy necessities like any other person. I am just like you, I just work for a resort company.
I don’t understand the anger and manipulation from so many people on this site. We know that people are skeptical and go to one or two presentations is normal. And sometimes, those skeptics buy and end up LOVING the program. It’s not a secret that people try to act distant. But, when you make a living out of going to timeshare presentations, it’s more of a shame. We work hard at our jobs just like you. Just like we weren’t forced to work here, we didn’t force you to come in.
The truth of the matter is that everyone timeshares. If you pay money for a hotel night, you timeshare. Your just paying it on a per usage basis. What is so wrong with buying a timeshare so that you don’t have to stay in cramped hotel rooms, especially when you vacation anyway. You already timeshare, its just a different form.
The timeshare system has changed A LOT over the last 10-15 years. There is a lot more flexibility to vacation through exchange systems. And the best part is you will always be able to vacation because you’ve already paid for it. So, even though someone may have coughed up about $20,000 for a timeshare + maintenance fees (which you pay at a hotel, it’s just booked in the nightly rate), they receive a deed, use it for their lifetimes and pass it on to their kids, and their kids can pass it on to their kids. The alternative is to pay over $100,000 (average $2,000 per year on vacation for 50 years of vacationing, 50*2,000=100,000)for renting hotels, eating out, and taking chances on unknown accommodations. And then, at the end, what do you have to show for it? Nothing. Just a 100,000 in receipts.
When you go intentionally to waste that salesperson time for a measly gift, just remember that you could be the one to take food out of their kids mouths. Instead of wasting our time on you, we could have really spent valuable time with someone who would really value our program. We are not the devil and we’re not taking advantage of people. I hope you remember this as you talk to your rep knowing that your not going to buy. Hopefully, you weren’t the reason for her getting foreclosed on because you were her guests when she could have had real solid people instead.
November 11th, 2009 at 3:16 pm
Casey – The “anger” shared on this site stems from many who were mislead. Mislead by people who work for timeshares. Mislead into thinking they would only be giving “90 minutes” of their time. Mislead into thinking they would get a nice family vacation for learning about timeshare, when in fact there are blackout dates and all kinds of stipulations. Mislead into thinking they could use their timeshare to travel the world, when in fact all those timeshares near anywhere significant are always booked up. Mislead into thinking the value of a timeshare is well worth it, when in fact they could stay at the Disneyland Resort with parkhopper passes every year for the next ten years and it wouldn’t come close to the cost of the timeshare and maintenance fees.
Before you lay on the guilt about sending someone into foreclosure (which I must add is SO typical of a timeshare worker), remember you chose your job. You chose a job that is founded on misleading principles. You solicit others who are not searching for gifts. The only reason you offer gifts for attending timeshare presentations is because you, and everyone else who’s ever been to one, know there is no way on earth that anyone would choose to attend one without something in return. If you don’t want people “using” you for the gifts, then I suggest one of the following: (1) quit your job (2) let them leave as soon as they are honest and tell you they just want the gift. That way you can move onto the next customer. (3) convince your timeshare company to not offer gifts.
November 25th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
I love you all guys!!!! the more you teach people to go into a presentation, the more you help us!!! I am not working at this moment, but I have been on bussines for more than 13 years and I LOVE MY JOB!!! I live in cancun, I work from 8 to 2, I have all afternoon for my kids, and you know what? I DON`T CARE IF YOU SAY NO!!! BECAUSE I ALREADY LIVE HERE! if everybody say yes, we will be like mcdonalds cashier! just checking your order. Please!! listen to all this guys and keep going on Time scare presentations, and if I have the chance to have 90 minutes with you, just let me know you read this page hahahaha will be funny!!!
November 25th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
By the way…. I can get you 4 days 3 nights at cancun or playa for 200 usd! ALL INCLUSIVE!
November 25th, 2009 at 7:50 pm
Well for all of you that have a bad experience in time share, if you went to one and you didn’t like the concept then don’t go back to these presentations, if you don’t like to waste your time don’t waste eather the salespeople time, they are just trying to make a living, imagine how do you feel if you go to work and after your finish your day your boss tell you “thank you very much for your hard work but I’m not going to pay you, and I don’t care you have a family to support”. Before to talk check how many people own a time share and how happy they are and how many more become owners, I’m one, then for people that say have been lied its your fault for no reading the contract, dont tell me that you don’t read a contract when you buy a car or a house or for your job. Please if you don’t like people taking advantage of you, why you want to take advantage of them?
November 30th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
This is so interesting, but I have a question for the Timeshare reps. What if we don’t want to be solicitated at all? We’re leaving in a few days for a hotel in Los Cabos and I’ve read reviews about the timeshare reps(concierge) approaching guests before they even check in. I’m a little worried because I’ve read numerous reviews claiming once they said no to the presentation, they were then treated badly by the hotel staff, not the service staff. I have also read reviews where once you said “no” there were no problems whatsoever. I’m worried though.. because although we could afford a timeshare, we ABSOLUTELY don’t want to attend one. I would like to know the best response to the offer of the presentation to end any future hassling, if that is indeed the case? I don’t want to lie and would like to be kind. I am going on vacation and have no interest in any financial decisions while relaxing, know what I mean?
December 2nd, 2009 at 9:21 pm
I work in the Timeshare industry and all I can say is please keep coming in for the gifts, I don’t care what anyone thinks about my choice of career, it’s the best in the world. I have found that people who think we are scum make the best owners because they’ve expected to be ripped off and when they haven’t you’ve exceeded their expectations. It’s obvious there must be a few bad apples but you can’t judge them all, just the same as if there is a bad doctor, lawyer, priest, police officer…you don’t judge them all.
I honestly believe that our reputation is hurt because we get you to make a decision in our time as opposed to yours, we take you out of your comfort zone and put you into a situation with which your not used to, which is making a decision about a large amount of money, usually the only times people make this decision for a large amount is for a house, cars or college. That’s why different types of people, with different occupations take different approaches…it’s not a trick or a sales tactic, it’s a sensible approach to finding the best solution for the couple in front of you.
You are not meant to understand our industry or why we offer and do what we do, the same as I don’t understand computers. I buy it, I use it but I don’t need to know how it all works to get things done and I never call the salesperson if something goes wrong, I call the support line.
So do the presentations, tell the sales person your only there for the gift, there is no harm done but remember the more presentations you do, the more likely you are to buy one or try one out…just like the lottery you’ll never win it if you don’t play it.
and Dave, we may be ’scum of the earth’ but I’ve never considered any couple that I’ve presented to wasting my time, the company offers these gifts and that produces couples to talk too.
Sas why tell us you could afford a timeshare? yet you don’t know how much one costs or what it could do for you. I doubt any hotel group in the world would last very long if the hotel staff treated guests differently because someone didn’t attend a presentation, just think what that would take for them to pick you out, make sure you weren’t attended to and all the while looking after hundreds of other guests, sure you more attentive treatment and better facilities if your an owner, you’d expect it.
If your that worried when you speak to the concierge, be polite and politely refuse, but if you like the place and plan on going back to the area wouldn’t it be a fine thing to find out what they really offer. The way to look at it is like anythin else we buy, we could all afford the cheapest option but why do we always want the one item that has everything and can do a hell of a lot more, how many times have you upgraded a room for a nicer view or paid for a better seat somewhere, got a bigger car with more gadgets, bought designer clothes instead of the cut price wal mart stuff?
Anyway, I hope I helped someone but if not just keep going for the gifts it really is alright.
Have a lot of happy vacations and merry christmas to you all.
December 3rd, 2009 at 5:57 pm
Seb, your comparison of the TS industry to buying a computer makes me laugh! Imagine buying a computer that doesn’t work as promised, you have to share with hundreds of people you don’t know, you can only use it one week out of the year, and you have to pay maintenance fees on for the rest of your life…even after you’ve stopped using it. And when you try and stop paying the fees, they come after your house! I’m sure you’re a great person, but come ‘on…
December 3rd, 2009 at 6:04 pm
By the way, Paola…comment #18…very funny!
December 3rd, 2009 at 8:48 pm
TNT, maybe the analogy was a bad one but I was talking more about service and saying a product is bad because it hasn’t worked as expected or faulty and instead of trying to sort the problem in the required manner some peopel choose to run around shouting ‘murder’.
As for your analogy to my computer…it really is bad, you don’t share with hundreds of people, others use your suite when your not, the majority are owners like yourselves so respect the place they bought, if you bought one week of the year that’s all you get, unless you have a bonus system…and yes you have to pay the maintenance fees until the life of the contract…same as a car, credit cards, phone, house or anything else. of course if you break a contract they want restitution as any company, but you’ll find that as with any business that reputation is worth a lot more than a few dollars maintenance fee, obviously companies have systems in place to put you off if you just stop paying…if you stop paying your house because you moved and don’t use it the banks will take it.
You’ll find the vast majority of contracts are set out in stipulation to Federal and Local Government criteria and there is a lot of industry standards. Is it my company’s fault that I sell you a product that you use for a number of years and then decide that it doesn’t fit into your plans anymore, take a car you buy it on credit for 5 years but after 2 you move to a place where your car isn’t needed, do you drop it back to the salesroom and say ‘thanks, no use of it now and I’m stopping my payments’, no you try to sell it on. Am I to be blamed if the market is flooded and your car isn’t as good as the next one or worth as much when you do?
The timeshare industry has a myriad of programs out there, all with different benefits and all with different contracts. I personally tell people I would never buy on the spot but I know I would and have done so for different things in the past. My only advice is if you don’t want to be sold, don’t go to a presentation, it’s the only guarantee you won’t be sold.
I will give one bit of advice, the easiest way to sell someone is through greed, the greed of getting something of value for a little expenditure, that’s why people take the gifts and go on presentations…it’s not the value of the gift, it’s the fact that you’ve only give a little to get a lot in return. Remember this when your on your tour, thinking it’s only ninety minutes before you get your gifts because before you’ve even said ‘Hello’, they know what drives you.
Happy vacations and a merry christmas.
December 16th, 2009 at 1:09 am
Y waste a persons time wen they re trying to make a living, most do care, everything in life is sold! don’t mooch, and all those excuses will not work we are only speaking of the travel dollars u are spending any ways, not ur boring bills. And the resorts are bad ass!