I Won Big in Las Vegas by Sitting Through a Timeshare Presentation

[iftravel]

https://www.wsj.com/lifestyle/travel/i-won-big-in-las-vegas-by-sitting-through-a-timeshare-presentation-dc04ab16?mod=mhp

 

[vacationtime1]

Nothing new there. But it understates the amount of pressure put on people sitting through timeshare presentations, making the cheap vacation offer look appealing and simple for those who don't know better (I think it was $169 for three days in Vegas to sit through a Hilton presentation)

 

[WaikikiFirst]

WSJ? Nat'l Enquirer? Who can tell the difference? Pollution of the media pool is complete

 

[rickandcindy23]

I am far more cynical than the writer of the article. I know the angst in sitting through a timeshare presentation.

 

[WaikikiFirst]

I know the angst in sitting through a timeshare presentation

I don't. I only ever went to one.
I fully intended to buy a TS of that brand in that location.
I fully intended to see the unit and get their asking price $s.
I fully intended to make a counter-offer.
I fully intended to show them the exact equation that proved my counter to be the accurate valuation.
I fully expected them to drool and cry at my counter.
I fully expected to walk out soon after that.
All of that occurred.
I am the cynical one. I don't think their gifts are worth the time and effort of putting up with their nonsense, so I make it so that THEY NEVER EVEN ASK ME.
The entire thread about "Why don't they leave me alone?" is easily answered in a couple lines, and if you didn't already cross those lines it is easy to make it so that THEY NEVER EVEN ASK YOU.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I don't. I only ever went to one.
I fully intended to buy a TS of that brand in that location.
I fully intended to see the unit and get their asking price $s.
I fully intended to make a counter-offer.
I fully intended to show them the exact equation that proved my counter to be the accurate valuation.
I fully expected them to drool and cry at my counter.
I fully expected to walk out soon after that.
All of that occurred.
I am the cynical one. I don't think their gifts are worth the time and effort of putting up with their nonsense, so I make it so that THEY NEVER EVEN ASK ME.
The entire thread about "Why don't they leave me alone?" is easily answered in a couple lines, and if you didn't already cross those lines it is easy to make it so that THEY NEVER EVEN ASK YOU.

Good for you!

I will go, when the offer is right.

 

[jp10558]

I've been to two, and I generally think that's more than sufficient for me. I suppose if I was offered enough I might do another, but I doubt they'd meet my price. And I don't want to haggle with them either.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I have never been to a Hilton presentation and have only been interested since Maui Bay Villas was in the planning stages.

With Hilton's daily fees through RCI, the only Hiltons we have visited are the ones on the Big Island. So far, no one has even asked us to go on a presentation, not that I know of, anyway, but if they are calling Rick's cell phone, he is an automatic no.

That is the only timeshare system I have yet to explore--or not. At 70, maybe they will think we are too old to go.

 

[iftravel]

High pressure - high return! No free lunch.

This one is for lower pressure - low return. 20k Marriott points for a virtual session. Anyone did thaf?

https://www.marriottvacationclubs.com/s/special-offers

 

[JohnnyO]

I have never been to a Hilton presentation and have only been interested since Maui Bay Villas was in the planning stages.

With Hilton's daily fees through RCI, the only Hiltons we have visited are the ones on the Big Island. So far, no one has even asked us to go on a presentation, not that I know of, anyway, but if they are calling Rick's cell phone, he is an automatic no.

That is the only timeshare system I have yet to explore--or not. At 70, maybe they will think we are too old to go.

HGVC presentations are pretty easy. HGV (Diamond) a little more cheese with the whine. Both easily deflected if you want to learn but can also say NO.

 

[SmithOp]

I have never been to a Hilton presentation and have only been interested since Maui Bay Villas was in the planning stages.

With Hilton's daily fees through RCI, the only Hiltons we have visited are the ones on the Big Island. So far, no one has even asked us to go on a presentation, not that I know of, anyway, but if they are calling Rick's cell phone, he is an automatic no.

That is the only timeshare system I have yet to explore--or not. At 70, maybe they will think we are too old to go.

At King's Land when you check in there is a concierge desk, the check in desk will usually direct you over to the concierge to get a discount card or assist with booking activity. The concierge is the one that will press for a presentation.

I've done several in Hawaii, NY, and Marbrisa, never had a problem saying no.

 

[TUGBrian]

I always like to point out that nearly every person that bought a timeshare at a sales presentation walked into that presentation thinking "im not buying a timeshare"

 

[jp10558]

I have never been to a Hilton presentation and have only been interested since Maui Bay Villas was in the planning stages.

With Hilton's daily fees through RCI, the only Hiltons we have visited are the ones on the Big Island. So far, no one has even asked us to go on a presentation, not that I know of, anyway, but if they are calling Rick's cell phone, he is an automatic no.

That is the only timeshare system I have yet to explore--or not. At 70, maybe they will think we are too old to go.

I feel like in a lot of ways the locations are kinda limited. I think the only one I'm "raring" to go back to is in Miami beach, except now they're going to have construction for ~ 3years? And I mostly wanted there for the location. You could probably go to the Marriott down the block though IDK how hard the trade is - probably depends on time of year.

 

[WaikikiFirst]

nearly every person that bought a timeshare at a sales presentation walked into that presentation thinking "im not buying a timeshare"

There's the thing. I walked into that presentation thinking "I AM buying a timeshare", just not from them and not today, unless they meet my counter-offer.
Moral: make a counter-offer before you go in. Write it down. As soon as they make anything like an offer, put YOURS on the table. Never never again discuss theirs. Only discuss YOURS. And tell them that YOUR offer expires at the end of the day.

 

[dioxide45]

There's the thing. I walked into that presentation thinking "I AM buying a timeshare", just not from them and not today, unless they meet my counter-offer.
Moral: make a counter-offer before you go in. Write it down. As soon as they make anything like an offer, put YOURS on the table. Never never again discuss theirs. Only discuss YOURS. And tell them that YOUR offer expires at the end of the day.

Unless you are offering countering with resale prices, there's a good chance that even your counter offer is a bad deal. There are rareish circumstances where a developer purchase makes sense, but certainly not the norm.

 

[WaikikiFirst]

Unless you are offering countering with prices, there's a good chance that even your counter offer is a bad deal.

before I had any contact in any way with the "Resale Mkt", I assumed there HAD TO BE a resale mkt, and I had calculated what the prices would be in the resale mkt. That is your counter. $s & $0.01s that make it make sense. Everything has its price, and you know they'll throw up on the table before they accept the real mkt value of anything.
Seriously, it is simple negotiating. Know the #s. Put them on the back foot. Stop acting like their punching bag.

My counter-offer is a bad deal? LOL. Is everyone so insecure about this stuff?

 

[WaikikiFirst]

Unless you are offering countering with prices

Unless? I don't get it. You are going into a room where someone will ask you for multi-$10Ks. How do you go in NOT knowing the #s, the $s? How do you do ANYTHING but get back to $s every single minute? Mind-boggling.
It is like when I talked with CEOs in my Wall St job. I had exact items I wanted to discuss, and to always drill down on those exact items. And, in the usual circumstances where you could tie those items to $s & $0.01s, I always wanted to investigate those ties.
Of course, CEOs are used to just rambling on and people letting them do so, because, wait for it, they're CEOs, they're IMPORTANT. LOL. I was known as the guy who would interrupt and ask the same damn question over & over. And you know what? I was also known for "getting things answered that nobody else does".
If someone ASKS TO SEE YOU (which is what a TS mtng is) then YOU are in charge of driving the agenda. Not the other way around. And btw, the agenda = $s.

 

[moonstone]

Moral: make a counter-offer before you go in. Write it down. As soon as they make anything like an offer, put YOURS on the table. Never never again discuss theirs. Only discuss YOURS. And tell them that YOUR offer expires at the end of the day.

That is sort of what we have been doing in the last few years to cut short or get out of a presentation. We tell them that our last timeshare 'acquisition' cost us Zero dollars, didnt even need to pay the transfer/closing costs, so if they can match or beat that then they have a deal. I try to say that in a loud voice so the folks at nearby tables can hear us. We once had a sales guy at VV@Pkwy tell us we couldn't stay anywhere nice with a free timeshare - I said well we are staying here, in a 2 bedroom, on the top floor, for 2 weeks with some of the points from it!! He took us to gifting.

DH has a pretty thick skin and has said yes to presentations, many times unbeknownst to me, when I would have said no. We once did 4 in 1 rainy week in Kissimmee while killing time waiting for our adult kids to arrive. We were in town on a Last Call before moving into the 3 two bedroom units I booked for a family vacation. We have been there so many times there wasnt anything we wanted to do/see on our own. We got enough money in cash cards to take the entire family out for dinner and cover the cost of gas for our 3 weeks in Florida and part of the drive home. A way more in cash cards than what the Last Call cost. I have also had the concierge, or whoever books the 'tours', tell us the amount we would get for doing a presentation and I tell them we don't do them for less than $X amount ($50.-$100. more than their offer), sometimes they say ok.


~Diane

 

[WaikikiFirst]

sales guy at VV@Pkwy tell us we couldn't stay anywhere nice with a free timeshare - I said well we are staying here, in a 2 bedroom, on the top floor, for 2 weeks!!

It is always good to get back to the facts, esp when they're on your side.

 

[TravelJoy]

High pressure - high return! No free lunch.

This one is for lower pressure - low return. 20k Marriott points for a virtual session. Anyone did thaf?

https://www.marriottvacationclubs.com/s/special-offers

I have last yr was 50k + $100 Visa card just watch a pitch for a hr done and deposited into account, same as in person they rotate a couple of guys to upsell you but can't do much over the screen, no other shenanigans. Good deal

 

[rickandcindy23]

@moonstone One of our board members at Val Chatelle in Frisco stayed at VV@P about four years ago, and he said it was a dump, worst he has ever stayed. I told him he must be confused because it's actually a very nice resort. He was adamant that it was VV@P. He died in the last 18 months or so, he was quite old, but he was still sharp as could be.

Val Chatelle is nothing special, and he loved it there.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I have last yr was 50k + $100 Visa card just watch a pitch for a hr done and deposited into account, same as in person they rotate a couple of guys to upsell you but can't do much over the screen, no other shenanigans. Good deal

Where was that one? I would love to get 50K Marriott points for a presentation.

 

[rickandcindy23]

At King's Land when you check in there is a concierge desk, the check in desk will usually direct you over to the concierge to get a discount card or assist with booking activity. The concierge is the one that will press for a presentation.

I've done several in Hawaii, NY, and Marbrisa, never had a problem saying no.

Might not seek it out, but then I did see a person post that they get 100K + HH points attending Hilton presentations. Hmmm.....

 

[dioxide45]

Unless? I don't get it

I fixed my post. It should have said unless you are countering with resale prices. I don't understand the point of doing a counter offer if you have zero intention of actually purchasing. They won't accept a counter offer of a free timeshare or even timeshare at resale prices. So why go through the charade. Just say no.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

There's the thing. I walked into that presentation thinking "I AM buying a timeshare", just not from them and not today, unless they meet my counter-offer.
Moral: make a counter-offer before you go in. Write it down. As soon as they make anything like an offer, put YOURS on the table. Never never again discuss theirs. Only discuss YOURS. And tell them that YOUR offer expires at the end of the day.

Counter offers don't work with HGVC because deed prices are fixed. The only thing they can negotiate are the bonus points (which have limited value), or offer you a lower value deed.