OMG, I won!!! (Austin, Canyon Lake, Canyon: buying, legally, timeshare)

[CptnRn]

Originally Posted by Florinator

So a couple of months ago I was at the mall and couldn't resists the sight of a brand new Audi, so I filled out some paper... I just got a call today, that, yaay, I've won, congratulations to me, all I have to do is show up at this address with a photo ID to pick up my prize. It's some resort at a lake South of Austin... and I will be offered a 90 minute tour of the resort and listen to some presentation... Sounds like a "time share" presentation, something I've heard of before, but never been to one myself.

Does anyone have any experience with this? It's over one hour drive from my place, I wouldn't bother for a $10 Starbucks card, but I think the sexy voice on the phone said the smallest prize was $500... Damn, for $500 I'd even listen to a Chihuahua bark for 90 minutes...

What say you? Should I stay or should I go? Is this thing legit or what?

So all that you really won is "another chance" to win a prize valued at $500+. I'll bet everyone who entered won the same chance.

[oldtoiletsmkgdflrpots]

Reminded me of the call I got today from Austin Homes I think it was. Some guy says, "so, I see you've been searching for homes on the internet."

I said, "hey, this is kind of a creeper call, how do you know I'm looking for homes?" Which I wasn't. He says, "when you fill out all that information on the page." I replied, "I don't fill in all the information on the pages."

Then he said someone must have used our phone number, which is kinda odd since it's private, but hey, it's the world of technology.

Anyway, back on topic, we had something similar as the OP and thought "we won"!! It was a big let down It's a ploy and I was a sucker. Lesson learned.

[Trainwreck20]

Just don't do it....you WILL win something (the smallest prize) and there MAY be some strings attached, but the day lost you will never get back. OFc, if you are actually interested in a TS, then that is a whole 'nuther story.

[tfresca]

It's a time share presentation. I've done them all over the world. You never win get anything too good although I did get a discounted cruise, I had to pay the tax. It's high pressure and it's really uncomfortable. Just don't buy anything. In fact freeze your credit before you go, so no temptation.

[izzy508]

omg, you can't seriously believe this line of crap. Total scam. Don't waste your time. Nobody wins except the people running the scam who manage to separate gullible people from their money.
-izzy

[jdvaus]

Yes, it sounds exactly like the Canyon Lake Time Share.

The prize you will most likely get after sitting through the presentation is a "reduced rate" on a three-night cruise, which they the value of which is something like $500; They give you an inside cabin at $500 less than if you paid full price.

[Florinator]

So I got a call from a rep today to "confirm my visit" for tomorrow. I was going to call and cancel (to be nice, as opposed to simply not showing up), but hadn't gotten to it yet. So I tell the guy my plans have changed and I wasn't going to make it. And I swear he repeated his spiel like 3 or 4 times, gave me a guilt trip, how they alread paid my personal consultant to show me around the resort and how I'm guarranteed to win one of the prizes. Very uncomfortable! I wanted to yell on the phone, like "are you serious"??? You think that by making me feel so uncomfortable, you're going to change my mind? He also asked me why I can't make it anymore. WTF? It's none of your damn business... Like I said, very uncomfortable.

[FueledByBlueBell]

Originally Posted by Florinator

So I got a call from a rep today to "confirm my visit" for tomorrow. I was going to call and cancel (to be nice, as opposed to simply not showing up), but hadn't gotten to it yet. So I tell the guy my plans have changed and I wasn't going to make it. And I swear he repeated his spiel like 3 or 4 times, gave me a guilt trip, how they alread paid my personal consultant to show me around the resort and how I'm guarranteed to win one of the prizes. Very uncomfortable! I wanted to yell on the phone, like "are you serious"??? You think that by making me feel so uncomfortable, you're going to change my mind? He also asked me why I can't make it anymore. WTF? It's none of your damn business... Like I said, very uncomfortable.

Good for you! Ain't nothing for free.

[RooCeleste]

I have a blast doing the timeshare presentations...have gotten a few hundred dollars in AmEx gift cards, gas cards, etc out of them. Canyon Lake is high pressure but I look at it as a chance to have some fun with them! ;-) I mean, really - do you think a professional couple with no kids (and no intentions of having any) REALLY gets excited to see a pool and playgrounds covered with hundreds of screaming kids??? They thought they had us by pointing that out!!!

The last time, they said it would be a 90-minute presentation...after the first 15 minutes of listening to the guy bemoan his marriage, I knew it would be probably at least double the length of time they said. So, I set the very loud timer on my phone for 75 additional minutes and when it went off, I climbed over the throngs of other people listening to him droning, walked out (with my husband following shortly) and told the people in the other room that they asked me for 90 minutes, I gave them 90 minutes, and I wanted my gift cards because I had no intentions of staying there all afternoon. I walked out with about $200 in AmEx gift cards and some gas cards for my drive! (The funny thing was, two other couples followed suit and were demanding their prizes since they had given the required 90 minutes!) My husband and I had a nice laugh all the way back to Austin!

[10scoachrick]

Originally Posted by RooCeleste

I have a blast doing the timeshare presentations...have gotten a few hundred dollars in AmEx gift cards, gas cards, etc out of them. Canyon Lake is high pressure but I look at it as a chance to have some fun with them! ;-) I mean, really - do you think a professional couple with no kids (and no intentions of having any) REALLY gets excited to see a pool and playgrounds covered with hundreds of screaming kids??? They thought they had us by pointing that out!!!

The last time, they said it would be a 90-minute presentation...after the first 15 minutes of listening to the guy bemoan his marriage, I knew it would be probably at least double the length of time they said. So, I set the very loud timer on my phone for 75 additional minutes and when it went off, I climbed over the throngs of other people listening to him droning, walked out (with my husband following shortly) and told the people in the other room that they asked me for 90 minutes, I gave them 90 minutes, and I wanted my gift cards because I had no intentions of staying there all afternoon. I walked out with about $200 in AmEx gift cards and some gas cards for my drive! (The funny thing was, two other couples followed suit and were demanding their prizes since they had given the required 90 minutes!) My husband and I had a nice laugh all the way back to Austin!

I need to pass along the 'Dinner Invitations' we get regularly from 'financial advisors' and 'retirement planners'. Someone could eat a darned good meal every couple of weeks just on those!