I Sent Some People to The Royal Sands and...

[heathpack]

... They loved it! So much so that they bought from the developer. Doh!

One of my receptionists at work was telling me how she and her spouse wanted to leave the kids behind and take a relaxing vacation. They were looking at all-inclusives in Cancun in September. I tried to get them to consider the Pacific Coast of Mexico, since the weather would be a little better. Nope, they were heart-set on Cancun. I suggested they not go with AI, they could do better with restaurants and bars. Nope, they wanted to know for sure what their expenses would be and not feel compelled to scrimp.

Well, it was Cancun in September and I had an Accommodation Certificate from II. I told them I'd see if I could find something good for them. Sweet, a 1BR at the Royal Sands was available, I booked it and off they went.

They had a few strict instructions from me. First: do not go to the sales presentation. Second: Do not buy a Mexican timeshare from the developer.

Of course they went to the sales presentation. And yes they bought a timeshare. Or so the tell me "even better, we bought 'points', we can go anywhere". Yikes. No idea what they bought. Have the Royals gone to a points system? But very excited and happy about the purchase, so I didn't rain too much on their parade. I'm pretty sure they're past their rescission period now anyway.

These sales people are very good at their job. We took some friends to the Westin Kaanapali and they wanted to buy from the developer too. Thankfully I was able to talk them off that ledge!

Anyway, this is crazy to me and I feel a little badly now for fixing them up. They might have been better off paying too much for a hotel room vs too much for a timeshare. Who knows though? Maybe they'll make good use of it and be totally happy in the long run.

 

[SMHarman]

Help them understand the points system and the need to book early and slowly back away.

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[LisaH]

Ask them when you bought and how long is the rescission period. Perhaps they can still get out of it?

 

[vacationhopeful]

Help them understand the points system and the need to book early and slowly back away.

Best advice GIVEN ABOVE ... whatever it is that they brought .... YOU should NOT learn their system.

Do not take "ownership" of this purchase. The LESS YOU KNOW, the better for your work environment!

 

[Passepartout]

You can lead a horse to water....... We invited another couple to join us at Grandview Las Vegas. We were delayed a day getting there and by the time we got there, they had attended the presentation, bought the whole 9 yards and were all chummy with the gifting desk where we got a week's worth of show tickets. They never 'fessed to buying- I'd warned them against it- until it was too late to rescind. Neither they- nor we- have mentioned timesharing since.

At least they can afford it with no hardship, but as all TUGgers know, buying resale is the name of the game.

Jim

 

[heathpack]

Lol, when I saw the sunburned cheeks of the receptionist at work today, I asked her how her trip was. She was effusive and said how great it was, they totally LOVED it, they LOVED timeshares, they are the BEST THING ever.

"Tell me you didn't buy a timeshare."

Her immediate response was along the lines of I know you told me not to but we got a really good deal, and a free trip to Hawaii (??), and money off all of our expenditures during the stay and we didn't buy a timeshare anyway, we BOUGHT POINTS!

Whatever, she's happy and hopefully it will work out for her. She clearly knows and remembers that I told her not to buy, so I'm off the hook. The less I know about her purchase the better, that way I can't possibly get sucked in to helping her use it. But I will say she's not the helpless type. Pretty good chance she'll figure it out if its not a total scam. Which it probably isn't, since it's a Royals purchase of some kind.

 

[rickandcindy23]

S-,

It seems people just don't use their heads. But honestly, a lot of us made that crazy decision (like us 34 years ago) to buy a timeshare from the developer. We had second thoughts and tried to rescind back then, the very next day, but the developer lied to us and said we had no rights of rescission. I think there were laws to protect us, but how would we figure it out? I was only 26 and very unworldly.

Now the internet is such an easy way to see resales and figure out a better way to get into timeshare for 99% less, but these folks just don't get it. They should have done a little research, but you have "to let it go." There is nothing you can say to people who don't want to listen.

Totally off subject: Our granddaughter just turned one last Sunday, and she loves Frozen. She is absolutely mesmerized by the music and the characters. We are taking her to Disneyland in March. :rofl:

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

Some years ago I arranged with my sister for her and her husband to stay at Bali Hai on Kauai. Before she went I discussed with her the sales program, pointing out how much we had paid for the unit that she would be staying in (we bought it on eBay for $1000).

Sure enough, while they are there I get a call from her asking about this package they had just bought. I told her to rescind. I mentioned again how much we had paid for the unit that we were in. I offered to take her to eBay to see units that were for sale. But she was totally hooked on all of those benefits that were only available with the purchase that she had made that day from Wyndham, and that she would be losing those if she rescinded.

Three years later she was asking me what she could to rid herself of the albatross she now realized she had bought. When I told her that it was essentially worthless, and she should be happy to find someone who would take it off of her hands she didn't want to hear it.

I next heard from her when she said she had found a company that had guaranteed her that they could sell her ownership for what she had paid for it within 90 days. But they needed a $600 payment upfront to recoup their marketing cost. I told her don't do it. But I knew she did.

A year later she asked me about another company that wanted money. I told her again to not do it. I didn't feel it necessary to point out that she has pissed away the $600; I knew that she knew that. And I know she ignored me once again.

A year or two later she was again asking me what she could do to get rid of the thing. I again pointed her to TUG, and the bargain basement deals. Later she said that she had talked to their family estate planning attorney, and she was interested in taking it over from them. That was the last I heard, so I'm guessing that deal actually went through.

Which once again shows that you can lead someone to data, but you can't make them think.

 

[heathpack]

Totally off subject: Our granddaughter just turned one last Sunday, and she loves Frozen. She is absolutely mesmerized by the music and the characters. We are taking her to Disneyland in March. :rofl:

Speaking of Disneyland, we have decided to use our VGC points in concentrated batches every 3 years because APs have gotten so expensive. So we're going Thurs-Sun the first weekend on October, then the 2nd weekend in Dec and the last weekend in Jan. We did single nights last Feb and in June.

But Saturday is a block-out day, so you know I'm bringing a bike. I want to pre-ride the course for a race I'm doing in November.

 

[klpca]

Whatever, she's happy and hopefully it will work out for her. She clearly knows and remembers that I told her not to buy, so I'm off the hook.

You tried.

Which once again shows that you can lead someone to data, but you can't make them think.

Truth.

When we first started timesharing, I was anxious to share our good fortune with my friends and family. Not any more. One family went to a presentation (didn't buy thankfully - we had the discussion pre-trip) but the husband told me that his wife was in tears because the presentation was such high pressure - Diamond. They had been warned but they went anyway. Next we sent a friend's daughter and new SIL on a trip to Sedona for their honeymoon. Of course they went, didn't buy (and didn't seem traumatized), but three years later they are still getting calls from Diamond. Other friends want to take trips but can't commit when a great week pops up using an AC. My mom has had me book trips then decides not to go. So no mas. From here on out if someone asks me a question I will be more than happy to offer my help, but I'm not putting the offers out there any more.

 

[nightnurse613]

Same here: when I get guest accommodations for any of my "friends"-I always make them PROMISE they will NOT attend a sales presentation and, if they do, they WILL NOT BUY. Fortunately, most of our "friends" are too poor - although they report that they are tempted (a couple have bought--resale).

 

[SMHarman]

Perhaps we need a will not buy pledge. Like norquests no taxes pledge the republicans take.

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[LUVourMarriotts]

I've had my parents stay at different Marriott's and a non-Marriott once. They know timeshares to a point, as they own at a converted motel to timeshare in Vero Beach. They love it, Driftwood, because its dirt cheap and a bunch of their friends from NH go at the same time they go every year. Anyway, when I get them weeks I practice saying "NO" with them over the phone. They used to own a car dealership, so they understand that sales people aren't always truthful, but they can still get suckered.

This past spring, they stayed at a unit I got them in FL after their Driftwood stay and my mom calls me and says, "we went to the sales presentation today, and it was actually great." I got nervous right away. Luckily, her next sentence was, "We only had to sit and listen for an hour and they gave us $150 gift card." Phew.