We survived our timeshare presentation!
A while back I posted a query for suggestions on surviving a timeshare presentation. The replies I received were informative and laugh out loud entertaining.
I am back to report that we did get through our timeshare persecution with a minimum of pain and suffering.
96 minutes.
Yes, indeedy…we managed to complete our timeshare presentation obligation in 96 minutes flat. Perhaps we lucked out. The salesman assigned to us was more than happy to dispense with the movie and facility tour and get right to the questionnaire designed to ferret out how much discretionary money we have.
With a little small talk, we find out that he is a former real estate agent. He does not explicitly say it but we get the idea that he is working as a timeshare sales rep because he needs the job.
He opens with the question, “How much do you know about timeshares?”
I (ever so sweetly) tell him that that right now a timeshare purchase does not fit in our financial picture and that if we were to buy one, it would be resale. We agreed to the invitation as a chance to experience the Hilton property and take advantage of a inexpensive trip to Las Vegas.
After that, we were polite and attentive. He presented the benefits of the Hilton system and then shocked us with the retail prices of the ‘popular packages’. I can only remember the details of the first package. It was $42,000 for 7000 platinum points.
We all are very aware that this is just the smoke and mirror part of the sales pitch because the next step is to get his boss to see if there are some deals that would fit our budget a little better. The second salesman has what he describes as a very basic package for $11,044. We did not ask to see the particulars, we just politely declined. They did not try to hard sell us and that was that. We were done.
As we thanked our first sales rep and said our goodbyes, he whispered to us, “If you do buy resale, use a reputable agent and make sure there are no liens and the maintenance fees are paid up. You don’t want any nasty surprises.”
Our stay at the Hilton was a positive one. The service was top notch. However, I think 90% of the guests are there for the timeshare sales experience. During our presentation, there must have been at least 60 other couples receiving the same sales pitch. (I wonder if the service at the Hiltons that are not primarily used for sales is as good?)
We had dinner at Benihana the next night and one of the couples seated with us also went through the Hilton timeshare pitch. They were not so lucky. Their appointment lasted longer than 2 hours and the sales people would not give up. They kept coming up with offer after offer. They did not buy either but would have liked to had the prices been better.
If we had the discretionary money I would certainly consider buying a Hilton timeshare. My only concern is that in the Hilton system the second bedroom has another full or queen bed. I would prefer the second bedroom to have 2 beds.
Anyway, I have determined that if/when we do purchase a timeshare it will be one that has a the flexibility of a point system. I just don't know what company it will be.
Thank you again for all the sage advice,
Karen
PS. my hubbie made me swear to never ever put him through one of those again!
) as to the legitimacy of the salespeople's claims now. 
-I believe from all the slander suits generated back and forth between resorts, but I could be off on that.