[BBMW]

Before going to the presentations, do a little research on the resale value of the units. Bring this up in the presentation. Could be lots of fun.

[yellowsnow]

Of course these things are a scam.

But I have had a great time at them and gotten some free stuff. Like a TV, steak knives, etc. Some of the stuff does have so many strings attached it's unusable. For example, I once got $100 of free gas. I was envisioning a debit card but you could only use it once a week and you had to mail them a receipt and send a SASE for reimbursement. Just too much trouble. Some of it is like those 'special' slots for free play, guaranteed to never pay off.

I seldom have to sit through the whole presentation. Usually they let me leave early. All you have to do is point out the price per condo and maintenance fee per year. Be sure to include over sells. I think they will sell about 65 weeks of ownership per year on each condo. Once you point this out, they are usually happy to see you leave.

Just for the sake of argument, let's say this condo is worth 200K because it's in a great, desirable, location and there are 100 units. The whole complex is worth 20M. Let's say they will sell you a 1 week 'share' for 20K plus the yearly 'fee'. If they sell each condo 65 times, each condo brings in a total of 1.3M. The whole complex then brings in 130M. And then you add in all the 'fees'. Yes, this is a racket. For profits like this they can afford to offer you almost anything for the possibility of a 'sale'.

[skisickie]

5 people with roundtrip air and hotel at 5 star for 2weeks is costing under 2 grand. We have to go to timeshare presentations. I am the best at saying no. I could even if it were George Clooney.

[Quick Enough]

Originally Posted by WestieJeff

One of my good friends vacations regularly in Cabo and Cancun and goes to timeshare presentations pretty much every time he goes down there. He says they are 1-2 hours in length and he usually gets $300-$600 worth of goodies. Varies from free dinners, flat out cash, free rounds of golf, etc. His last stay they comp'd the all inclusive fee portion of his hotel stay (that was an upgrade he had chosen) which for him and his wife was around $700.

Sounds like you can get some decent stuff if you can handle the high pressure sales approach.

I'd like to try it, but haven't been offered anything reasonable yet.

I have attended several. NEVER have I gotten high pressure.

The last said up front. You are going to sit through a 90 minute presentation. After that you will talk with a salesman. Their is NO obligation.

The salesman was very courteous. I let him give me his pitch. At the end I said no thanks. He said thank you and offered his hand and said thank you for your time. Have a nice day.

Timeshare is no different then any other sales pitch.

There are some good, some bad. Don't base your opinion on anyone else's experience. If you have the chance go to one and decide for yourself.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by ScoopLV

There are loads of people who will give their time share away just to be rid of it. Paying full freight for a vacation condo in this economy makes no sense whatsoever. If you want one, it's easy enough to find one for free.

I wouldn't take one even if it was given to me. You can rent a week in a timeshare for less than the cost of the maintenance fee. So why pay the fee every year and not be 100% certain of being able to trade for what you want. Just go rent it instead.

After renting for awhile, you can always pick up a week on the cheap if that appeals to you. Just don't fall for anything the salesmen tell you. It's all hogwash.

I agree with much of what you say, but I don't know anyone that would give their time share away. In fact most the people I know are very happy with them. As for renting for a week for less than the yearly maintainance fees, that isn't quite true either, depending on the location and the time share property. Even the one we had, which was thought to be top of the line had a maintainance fee of about 800 a year. The 2 bedroom units, which are rarely available for renting, especially in Vegas, rent for over $200 a night. Our daughtger has all 3 of hers in Orlando, same story but her maintainance fees are less than $500 a year. Even in Branson, you can not rent one for less than the maintainance fees. I do agree, there are better ways to purchase than directly from the company at a presentation.

[ScoopLV]

Originally Posted by nmnita

I agree with much of what you say, but I don't know anyone that would give their time share away.

Try searching. Again, there are LOADS of people who will gladly give their timeshare away -- PLUS they will pay closing costs -- to be rid of their condo.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by ScoopLV

Try searching. Again, there are LOADS of people who will gladly give their timeshare away -- PLUS they will pay closing costs -- to be rid of their condo.

I have to admit, I am judging my opinion strictly based on people we know and none of them are sorry they purchased. Our foster daughter did give hers back, but it was due to a business failure and she couldn't handle the payments (she didn't pay cash) nor the fees.

To me, the secret to liking, loving or hating the time share experience, is knowing ahead of time what you are getting into and not buying as an investment but a comfortable, built in, yearly vacation. It is all how your approach the purchase.

The Time share debate will go on as long as there are time shares. For some it is a total waste, to others they are a God send and to the rest they are just another form of a vacation home. I don't think there is a right or wrong answer.

Nita

[Bruin Rick]

Originally Posted by aitchem

My wife was convinced that Geo Holidays were giving away free airline tickets, vacations and $100 vouchers to spend as we see fit. As long as we submitted ourselves to a presentation by them at the jockey Club next to The Bellagio. Any thoughts I told them that I wasn't interested.

Only the dumb and stupid would buy a time share. You can get one for free if you look around.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Bruin Rick

Only the dumb and stupid would buy a time share. You can get one for free if you look around.

Well I guess there are a heck of a lot of dumb and stupid lawyers, doctors, engineer and finance experts among our friends who are really dumb and stupid.

Nita

[Isitmeorarethingsnuts?]

We have also been satisfied with all four of our timeshare purchases. The key for us was what rooms were going for in the areas we liked. Our timeshares are in locations where rooms go at a premium so it worked out well for us.

I personally wouldn't get a timeshare in Vegas because we are always comped rooms there. But I don't think someone is dumb or stupid for checking it out. Free airfare, rooms and $100.00 for sitting through a presentation sounds like a pretty good return for 90 minutes of my time.