Watch out for Westgate presentations

[laynemiller]

Hi everyone,
We are enjoying Park City at the Westgate near the Canyons Ski Resort. but, I want to issue a warning about the timeshare offers here. We stayed in Park City in July and made arrangements to come back for the weekend and to listen to a presentation. The facilities are beautiful and I was eager to see it for myself. Our "deal" was a two-night stay for $40 and $50 back following the presentation. We made a reservation for the presentation at 10 a.m. Saturday, but when we arrived Friday night (we live within a two-hour drive of Park City), we were whisked into parking and transported to the presentation before being allowed to check in. That was the first sign something was up. Following our firm "no" to the sales presentation (we already own six weeks of timeshares) we were told we would have to check out Saturday morning. We argued but did not have our original confirmation because they took it from us prior to the presentaion, but were told they would make the adjustment the next morning. I had called the resort about a week before and they confirmed we were checking in Friday and checking out Sunday. When we tried to straighten out the mess this morning, no one with authority was in. Well, my wife became pretty forceful this morning and went to bat for us. We finally convinced them that we were supposed to be here for two nights, but we have to move out of this room and check into another room at 4 p.m., which means we must store our stuff (including our food) in the lobby until our new "home" is available. We suspect a mistake was made but it appears the sales department is pretty shady and cannot be trusted. We have exchanged into Westgate for August of next year, but now I'm wondering if that was a mistake. Has anyone else had problems with Westgate? Should we keep our reservation for next year, or should be go somewhere else? We love the facilities and really love Park City. This is about our sixth visit here over the last three years, so I would like to come back if possible, but I am nursing a very sour taste in my mouth.
Layne

 

[timeos2]

Westgate equals sleezey sales. Period.

As you discovered Westgate is all about sales. Nothing else. Sales. Sales to invited guests such as your 2 night stay (which usually does tend to require a sales presentation by the way - yours didn't?), sales to exchange guests and sales to owners (both of which do NOT require you attend).

Now that you tasted the slime they will drag you through be aware that any exchange you make in can be stress free. You don't need to attend any updates, presentations, etc and no matter what the weasels say they cannot throw you out or charge you extra because you blow them off. They will say and do anything to rope you in so be prepared to take the offensive.

First try to avoid the ride to your unit. We do that by arriving very late on check in day (also helps us to avoid the crush of people created by all those check ins and the "need" to lambaste them with the opening sales sleeze salvo on the trip to the unit). By 11PM or so the weasels have gone to their den for the night and you can actually just get your key and drive to your unit on your own. Second at the first sales contact that you cannot avoid accept a date and time for your torture. Yup - make a date with the devils. But try to make it after 10AM on your checkout day - just be "too busy" prior to then - or even fib a bit and extend your stay by one day and schedule it for then - your honest mistake on that date I'm sure. Then any other requests for a sitdown can be answered with an "I'm already scheduled" which means they walk on to the next victim. Finally unplug all unit phones unless you like being called at 6:30Am to 11:30 PM by the sales team. If you need to call out within the resort plug it back in for a few moments (and for a laugh listen to the frantic messages from the weasels on the voice mail). Otherwise use a cell phone they are cheaper anyway.

Be sure to take advantage of any free things they offer during the week - and always remind them you are already scheduled. Finally check out and have your final chuckle as you think of the desperate look on the weasel face as they call your unit at 9:30, 10; 10:15 et al wondering where you are for your meeting. With a little luck you've wasted an hour or so of their time and protected someone else besides yourself for those few moments.

It's terrible that they operate as they do but thats the case and you have to protect yourself. Don't fall for anything they say and you can have a great stay at a nice resort. If you like it buy resale as they are available for pennies on the dollar from all the poor people who got sucked into a presentation and actually bought. Don't be one of them.

 

[spatenfloot]

Timeshare weasels are among the worst sales people to deal with. You can make your stay much more pleasant if you simply ignore anything they tell you and do not go to any meetings, updates, or whatever else they want to call them.

The funny thing is that the better timeshares would be much easier for them to sell if they didn't do all the hard sell sleeze tactics. Plus the developer could sell for about half the price without all the promotional gimmicks and huge sales force.

 

[Art]

Strange, but True

On our recent trip to Park City, the couple we were with got caught by the Westgage recruiter on Main St.

We didn't want to hang them out to dry so we signed up, too. Weasel that I am, I talked the incentive up to $175 for each couple.

When we arrived at the Canyons for the pitch, the desk people figured out that we were from the same area and asked us if we were traveling together. I'm honest, so I told them we were. The up-shot was that the 4 of us did the pitch together.

The saleslady was a very pleasant young woman who happened to be totally outclassed by an experienced and resales knowledgable TUGGER. The whole conversation was very congenial, and she and the two follow-up weasels gave up quite easily.

And yes, both couples received their money with no problem.

Doesn't sound like a Westgate presentation, but it really was.

Art

 

[melschey]

Hi everyone,
. We have exchanged into Westgate for August of next year, but now I'm wondering if that was a mistake. Has anyone else had problems with Westgate? Should we keep our reservation for next year, or should be go somewhere else? We love the facilities and really love Park City. This is about our sixth visit here over the last three years, so I would like to come back if possible, but I am nursing a very sour taste in my mouth.
Layne

We had similar concerns about a reservation at Westgate Vacation Villas in Orlando because of all the bad things we heard about Westgate. Members of this board recommended that we keep the reservation and be firm in keeping away from the sales people.

We kept the reservation and enjoyed our stay. It was a great resort and we would go back. The only thing bad was the checking procedure was very disorganized but every thing else was great. The sales force didn’t bother us after we said no.

Based on our experience I would keep your reservation but just make sure you don’t accept any offers from the sales department.

 

[Hoc]

What are the incentives there? We have three couples who will be in Park City in December (at the Marriott) and I like a challenge.

 

[laynemiller]

Here's an update....
We moved into our new place Saturday afternoon, but the timeshare creep was absolutely rude. I told him how inconvenient the whole thing had been but he did not respond. I told him we had not been treated this shabbily anwhere else, including Mexico. I explained we own six weeks of timeshares and attended two dozen presentations and he said, "You must do it for all the free stuff," and I explained we like seeing the properties because we're probably not finished buying. He lost his temper and suggested he could throw us out. He never apologized but we are in a bigger room than before. The front desk people have been very nice and accommodating and Westgate is very nice. Thanks to you who have responded. TUG has helped us many times and I am a much, much smarter timeshare consumer than a I was before. It's been a nice weekend even with the stress.
Layne:zzz:

 

[JLB]

There's nothing new about this warning, but it reminds us that the information shared here is targeted at those who have not heard it before.

So everything needs to be repeated occasionally.

 

[AwayWeGo]

Is There An Echo In Here?

So everything needs to be repeated occasionally.

Shucks, if I didn't repeat myself practically all the time, I wouldn't have anything much to say.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[dougp26364]

My wife has forbidden me to exchange into any Westgate resort due to the threats of additional charges if we didn't attend the "maintenance meeting" when we stayed at Westgate Town Center way back in 2000.

Personally, I thought the resort was resonably nice compared to some resorts we've seen. There were some problems but nothing major. The only reall issue was the continued attempts to get us into a sales presentation made to look like a maintenance meeting. Well, that and having to be escorted to our room by a salesman.

Since joining TUG, I'm sure we could avoid the pressure get-you-to-a-presentation tactics but, my wife won't even consider allow me to even think about exchanging into a Westgate resort. Fortunately, there's plenty of other resorts out there for exchanges.

 

[PerryM]

6 out of 7 folks just want the free gift

I really get a kick out of the salesreps who only sell, on the industry average, 1 in 7 tours (sales presentations), and blame the 6 out 7 folks for coming just for the free gifts.

Homer Simpson said it best: "D’oh".

This past July we toured the Embassy in Maui, which is now the Sunterra, we tour them each year and get a free gift.

This year we accidentally took the tour 363 days from last year, we were 2 days early (1 year wait time between tours). Well our slick salesrep recognized us from last year and disappeared for 10 minutes. He was waving a file folder. “You are 2 days early since your tour last year”, oh he was steamed, "you don't qualify for the free gift".

Yes, we were busted; miscalculated by 2 days and slick caught it. He was quite proud of himself, maybe they have a bounty or something for folks who don’t wait 1 year between tours.

Anyway, we wanted to see a 1 BR since we could exchange into the Embassy with our WM credits. He begrudgingly took us up to the 1BR and I asked how many sq ft in the 1BR. He replied “How should I know?” Well we finally ended the tense tour back at his little table.

“You folks are here just for the free gift”! he loudly proclaimed and other marks/////folks turned their heads toward our table. I replied “Of course”. Well this just flummoxed him to no end. I asked what the price of a 1BR 4th of July week cost and he said $40,000 and then demanded to know if we were serious since only then would we get the real price. I said that because of his rudeness we were not interested and would take our business elsewhere.

We left and he just sat there – I didn’t take the bait; his bluff fizzled. We congratulated ourselves for getting the valet parking ticket validated before we started the tour. We then headed off to the FairField tour.

And these are the same turkeys who try to con you out of $40,000 day in and day out.

 

[talkamotta]

Bought at Westgate Vacation Villas 10 years ago. The cost was $5K, EOY, for a 2 bedroom. The salesman was the top salesperson at that time. The next year the same salesperson took us all out to dinner and gave us discount tickets to Disney. I went to his sales presentation and for another $1K I got an EY into another unit that was newer with a loft. I had put the first one on a contract with 9% interest and the new contract was interest free. (I was not as educated about timeshares at the time) The third year I stayed at the resort, the same salesman just called and then came by with some discount tickets and a free dinner and asked if we needed anything and I said "no". He didnt bother me again. He did take me for a ride in his new lambordini. He was kind of happy about his new car. He sent me birthday cards and Christmas cards for the next 5 years, since then I havent heard anything from him.

Two years ago, I got caught by the maintenance meeting. Dont go to those. The little weasle was very irritating when I told him that everything was good with my condo and was there anything else I needed to do because I was busy vacationing and I couldnt think of any reason to buy another Westgate unit. One was enough. Not only did I know more about Westgate and the other locations but I knew more about timesharing. It was kind of fun pointing out his ignorance. Once is enough in any ones lifetime to do that though......

I have gone to Westgate Park City several times and have never attended another sales meeting and have had a wonderful time. It is my favorite of all the resorts in Park City. Mountainside does have nicer pools. Price isnt that far....It can be a fairly inexpensive vacation with a great opportunity for lots of relaxation. :whoopie:

P.S. Dont every buy from the resort. Im suprised my salesperson didnt take me for more money. I was pretty dumb. You can buy my $6K for less than half that amount on ebay.

 

[labguides]

While we were checking into Westgate Park City in June, 2006, a man approached us and said he had a tin of cookies for us. Not being ones to turn down sweets, we went into his office. We were traveling with a guide dog in training and the manager had made an exception and allowed us to stay there, so... we figured this person was just checking out the guide dog in training to make certain she was well behaved

It was immediately clear that he wasn't interested in us except as potential buyers. We told him we own 2 weeks of Marriott and that is all we can use. He quickly stood up and said "Welcome to Westgate" as he ushered us out the door. He definitely was polite.


We definitely want to return to Westgate Park City.