Timeshare Vacations?

[Irish Insanity]

WHY ARE YOU ASKING FOR ADVICE THEN??????????

He wasn't. He was asking for attention. And he got it.

Koon you should totally do it. Don't listen to these ninnies. Also, timeshares are a great investment. I don't know why everyone is being so negative.

Can't tell if serious.

 

[wizards8507]

Also, I get koon's thinking, the first time we did this my wife and I were also very prepared for some major 'fine print' charge to come out of nowhere... but nope, they really expect to knock your socks off, and guilt /talk you into this wonderful world they've given to you for free the last few days... let's you know how effective it is since they keep doing it.

That's a pleasant experience for you?

Why not just, like, pay for a vacation with actual money and save yourself the harassment?

 

[Irish#1]

I can't afford one. So again, if I know I won't buy a timeshare, this seems like a great deal.

That's what 95% of those who attend say, yet they end up leaving having purchased a timeshare just to end the torture and agony.

Don't be surprised if there's all kinds of fine print associated with the free vacation that you won't find out until after the fact. Can only go between certain dates, have to pay the taxes on the cost of the vacation, special processing fees, etc.

 

[ND NYC]

Wiz, any idea how much $$ Disney's Vacation Club (aka timeshare) brings in?

 

[IrishLax]

That's a pleasant experience for you?

Why not just, like, pay for a vacation with actual money and save yourself the harassment?

Maybe he personally values the hundreds of dollars of free vacation more than two hours of his time?

 

[Rack Em]

Maybe he personally values the hundreds of dollars of free vacation more than two hours of his time?

Clearly. He's spent more than two hours of his time in this thread.

 

[Irish#1]

Because again, asking people who've actually done this to see if there were any other surprises in their experience that I am not aware of. Cost wise, it makes complete sense to deal with the presentation. But are there other non-cost snags, such as you get pulled behind a the ship on a rope the whole time, and such?

I don't see how that's crazy to ask if others have done this and how it went and if they regretted it. Sounds like those that actually did this, don't regret it. Those that don't (you), say it's crazy.

Why ask for advice? Isn't this "part of the experience" you want to learn like jury duty?

 

[koonja]

"Why do this?"

Because I'm not rich, I still have student loans, I don't mind suffering for 1 day, paying taxes (that I'd otherwise still pay for on a vacation), to get two, 5 night cruise tickets that would otherwise cost ~$2,000 total when I can just pay the taxes for that value.

 

[wizards8507]

Wiz, any idea how much $$ Disney's Vacation Club (aka timeshare) brings in?

A lot. DVC is a bit different than these others ones, though. The sales tactics are much friendlier since Disney has a reputation to protect. Also, DVC membership holds its resale value much better than almost any other timeshare so you can get out of it if you need to liquidate.

Maybe he personally values the hundreds of dollars of free vacation more than two hours of his time?

"Two hours of his time" implies he'll be sitting in a room, bored, passing two hours. What's much more likely is that he spends four hours or more getting psychologically harassed. Subjecting yourself to that to save a few hundred dollars is #ForThePoors.

 

[koonja]

A lot. DVC is a bit different than these others ones, though. The sales tactics are much friendlier since Disney has a reputation to protect. Also, DVC membership holds its resale value much better than almost any other timeshare so you can get out of it if you need to liquidate.


"Two hours of his time" implies he'll be sitting in a room, bored, passing two hours. What's much more likely is that he spends four hours or more getting psychologically harassed. Subjecting yourself to that to save a few hundred dollars is #ForThePoors.

I am poor.

 

[pumpdog20]

Do it! Shoot maybe that guy from CHiPs will be there.

 

[wizards8507]

I am poor.

Then don't go on vacation. Hunker down and get those loans paid off.

 

[koonja]

None of you will be invited to my timeshare that I buy.

 

[Ndaccountant]

I am poor.

But what if I could show you that you can take your GF and future wife and family to Hawaii each year for transportation only? You will save thousands upon thousands over the next 25 years. You can't afford to not purchase this. With how much you saved, you can go on a real cruise next year, instead of the POS trip we are offering.

 

[ACamp1900]

That's a pleasant experience for you?

Why not just, like, pay for a vacation with actual money and save yourself the harassment?

It's only a few hours out of a few days and it saved us a ton of money considering all we got... to each their own but if you can't see how some can come to the decision we made, literally saving like a thousand dollars, then I'm not sure what to tell you. Question, have you ever done this, or are you just going off assumptions...

 

[gkIrish]

None of you will be invited to my timeshare that I buy.

With how easily you get convinced to do something that so many people are telling you not to do, why do you think you will have the willpower not to buy the timeshare?

 

[koonja]

It's only a few hours out of a few days and it saved us a ton of money considering all we got... to each their own but if you can't see how some can come to the decision we made, literally saving like a thousand dollars, then I'm not sure what to tell you. Question, have you ever done this, or are you just going off assumptions...

This should be a requirement to offer such one-sided, strong advice. These are the only people I'd listen to. Clearly those that have passed on this, are going to say pass on this, even though they have no more knowledge than I do about it.

 

[koonja]

With how easily you get convinced to do something that so many people are telling you not to do, why do you think you will have the willpower not to buy the timeshare?

Besides the fact that I couldn't financially do it, doesn't your question lead to the answer? Clearly I don't have a problem saying 'thanks, but no thanks', which you just laid out.

 

[wizards8507]

It's only a few hours out of a few days and it saved us a ton of money considering all we got... to each their own but if you can't see how some can come to the decision we made, literally saving like a thousand dollars, then I'm not sure what to tell you. Question, have you ever done this, or are you just going off assumptions...

I've done it once. My mother-in-law does it all the time. For context, she's the kind of person that has several millions of dollars but takes ketchup packets from restaurants to stock her fridge.

The last time she went to one of these presentations, she sold her extremely strong Hilton Grand Vacation Club timeshare in exchange for a crapfest of a membership based in the Dominican Republic.

 

[wizards8507]

Besides the fact that I couldn't financially do it, doesn't your question lead to the answer? Clearly I don't have a problem saying 'thanks, but no thanks', which you just laid out.

It's not whether you CAN or CANNOT resist. It's about the experience they put you through in order to turn them down. Even if you don't buy anything, it's an absolutely miserable experience to sit through.

 

[Irish#1]

With how easily you get convinced to do something that so many people are telling you not to do, why do you think you will have the willpower not to buy the timeshare?

I can see it now.......

Sales: Even though I've shown you how low the total cost of ownership is, I would advise you not to buy this at this time.

Koon: Forget that, where do I sign?

 

[koonja]

It's not whether you CAN or CANNOT resist. It's about the experience they put you through in order to turn them down. Even if you don't buy anything, it's an absolutely miserable experience to sit through.

I will prepare feverishly by remaining a member of IE for the summer .

 

[Irish Insanity]

That's a pleasant experience for you?

Why not just, like, pay for a vacation with actual money and save yourself the harassment?

Cmon now, over the last few years we've all been witness to Koon getting one over in somebody.

Koon, they'll make you register a credit card before they'll let you in to know that you can 'afford' a timeshare.

 

[ACamp1900]

In terms of harassment, I say they expect to guilt and hard sell you because they give you a damn good time prior to the presentation... (for context I've only done this twice with the same company)... my experience goes like this, you sit through a group presentation for like two-three hours... they cover everything they offer in the best possible light, then they break out everyone with a sales rep, at that point you can say 'no' and walk out... at most the manager comes over and says, what about this offer? and you say 'no' and you're done. I do notice that we are like the only ones doing this though, both times we are the first ones out the door so I take it their overall tactics work... so my thinking has always been... that's SO worth saving ~a grand on a pretty nice 3-4 day vaca. Again, my wife and I would do this all the time if we could, just me take.

 

[koonja]

Cmon now, over the last few years we've all been witness to Koon getting one over in somebody.

Koon, they'll make you register a credit card before they'll let you in to know that you can 'afford' a timeshare.

No new credit card. Only thing that requires a credit card, is the hotel in case I make purchases out of the hotel/stocked fridge.

Also, my GF is not required to go to the presentation since I qualify myself - and she still gets the cruise. She will be living with me, but is not on the house title obviously. From the sounds of it, she'd owe me big time to go into the lion's den alone.

 

[BobbyMac]

Koon, if you are an expert at saying no, do it. I used to go on a couple a year when I was in my 20's and 30's.

When they started their sales pitch, I'd tell them I was really disappointed in the property and they hired one hell of a photographer to make the brochures look that nice. Then thank them for their time and get up and walk out. When they chase you to the door whining that they will get fired if you leave without talking with their sales mgr, tell them they weren't cutout for this industry anyways.

If the Sales Mgr comes over before you leave, call out his attempts to close you. Things like... Did that trial close come out of a their manual or are you winging it? or Give me two trial closes followed by your best Apology Close. When he acts like he doesn't understand, tell him... No wonder you washed out of the car business.

I had a rude guy in Pagosa Springs, Colorado who i toyed with for an hour I made him get me 4 cans of Coke and just put them in my jacket pockets unopened, right in front of him. When the hour alarm went off on my phone, I got up and told him he should go back to New York and drive a bus because he couldn't even sell me a Coke.

Do it and screw them for all the little guys they screwed before.

 

[NDRock]

They do typically use some high pressure sales tactics on you. If you are mentally strong, capable of good desicion making and not easily swayed, you'll have no problem saying no to the presentation.

Enjoy your new timeshare.

 

[koonja]

Koon, if you are an expert at saying no, do it. I used to go on a couple a year when I was in my 20's and 30's.

When they started their sales pitch, I'd tell them I was really disappointed in the property and they hired one hell of a photographer to make the brochures look that nice. Then thank them for their time and get up and walk out. When they chase you to the door whining that they will get fired if you leave without talking with their sales mgr, tell them they weren't cutout for this industry anyways.

If the Sales Mgr comes over before you leave, call out his attempts to close you. Things like... Did that trial close come out of a their manual or are you winging it? or Give me two trial closes followed by your best Apology Close. When he acts like he doesn't understand, tell him... No wonder you washed out of the car business.

I had a rude guy in Pagosa Springs, Colorado who i toyed with for an hour I made him get me 4 cans of Coke and just put them in my jacket pockets unopened, right in front of him. When the hour alarm went off on my phone, I got up and told him he should go back to New York and drive a bus because he couldn't even sell me a Coke.

Do it and screw them for all the little guys they screwed before.

Lol. I'm not as tough as you, but I will say no.

So it sounds like anyone who's actually done this, no one has regret it. Weird how those who've actually experienced it have a different opinion than those who have never stepped foot.

 

[GATTACA!]

No new credit card. Only thing that requires a credit card, is the hotel in case I make purchases out of the hotel/stocked fridge.

Also, my GF is not required to go to the presentation since I qualify myself - and she still gets the cruise. She will be living with me, but is not on the house title obviously. From the sounds of it, she'd owe me big time to go into the lion's den alone.

Not only will she owe you big time for going to the presentation all alone, being out at sea has certain implications.......

 

[ACamp1900]

Crusader is an evil bastard... lol