Recap: Timeshare Premise
For those who are unfamiliar, a timeshare is a deeded ownership to a property, usually consisting of one week at the property or a bundle of points to be spent on a combination of nights. Also, they are typically sold in a presentation format, where they show you the benefits of ownership, including a tour of the resort, finally culminating in the sales pitch and options by associates and managers. You may also pre-purchase a timeshare presentation (also called a package) and receive a refund once it is complete.
This article will focus on the key timeshare tips to remember before and during your presentation. See my first post on why, where, and how of timeshares, and my second post on what to expect during a timeshare presentation.
Golf on the green? Resorts may include this as an amenity. From Pixabay.
My Time at Timeshares
While I assume there are many who are more experienced in attending timeshare presentations and dealing with timeshare companies, over the past year I have attended more than a handful, learning about the industry and applying a critical eye to the entire process. I have broken down what I feel are the five key tips to both a smooth and fruitful timeshare presentation experience. These should help travelers of all types when considering or participating in timeshare presentations.
5 Pro Tips of Timeshares Learned in 2016
-
Understand that everything is negotiable.
The initial gift offers are quite flexible, as the selling agents are highly motivated to get you to the presentation. They have a lot of leeway in terms of gift options and amounts, and you should feel comfortable using Art of the Ask to push for a different or higher offer.
More gift cards? Dining credits? Extended vacation duration? A different set of gifts? Flexible visit time? See what you can get.
Additionally, if you are able to build a repore with the selling agent, they would be more willing to help you. By asking and knowing the selling agent commission, which varies from $20 to $75, you can know how far you can eat into it. On a whim, I once got an agent to purchase ice cream for us, on top of my negotiated timeshare tour package! That was an incredibly tasty, delicious waffle cone.
-
Separate agents at different selling areas can offer different timeshare gift packages for the same touring company!
Same company, different selling location, same city, more gifts? Yes you read right. I experienced this in Las Vegas, where a kind and helpful selling agent told me the best places to find better offers. You will usually find the more run-down or shadier resorts to have agents offering better touring packages than those in nicer casinos. This is to compensate for the quality of people, he told me. They simply have to offer more, and thus have greater flexibility.
So, to maximize your potential offer, explore your area, and see if there are multiple selling agents working for the same travel company. If so, see what offers you get from different areas.
-
Don’t think that it has to be miserable.
Selling presentations are by nature adversarial, and it is no different during timeshare presentations. They will be friendly, hoping you purchase from them, perhaps offering basic food and drink to you. One of the key things I learned is to keep an open mind. Maybe a timeshare currently fits your travelling lifestyle, or perhaps later in life.
Or, if you are absolutely against it, don’t let it come out too much. Remember, these marketing and sales agents are just doing their job, and are human as well. You may learn something new, or be able to teach the selling agent about your travel experience.
-
Read everything with a careful eye.
Regardless if you are purchasing, read everything carefully. Anything signed requires especially close review. This was a painful lesson for me, as one of our first experiences was exceptionally negative when I failed to careful review a credit form. The company ended up pulling the credit of me and my lady, dinging our scores for two years. It was a disastrous timeshare experience overall, and I was sure to communicate as such during my feedback and to their corporate management.
Pay attention and take the time, even a few seconds, to ask questions, and make sure you are fully aware of what is going on. This is a serious, high-priced transaction, much like purchasing a car or a house. Even if you do not purchase, be sure that everything you sign is on the up and up.
Taking notes can’t hurt. From Pixabay.
-
If you’re interested, take notes.
If interested, take notes on the presentation. What was offered, what are the capabilities and benefits, and what were the prices? They may change in the future, but this will allow you to compare experiences and companies. This continues off the previous point to read everything with a critical eye. Make sure that you hold the company to the promises and claims made.
Note-taking may come in handy even if you are not interested. In my previous timeshare issue, it was helpful to write down everyone I had spoken to (my marketing agent, sales agent, presenter, manager, etc.) to be able to more accurately provide feedback. If you encounter any issues with timeshares as you go about your travels, your notes will serve you well.
Conclusion
Timeshares are time-tested product that may be a fit for a certain demographic of travelers. Also, these tips are handy for current or future timeshare presentations. Negotiate (using Art of the Ask) for the best tour package, much like you would for a car or a house. Shop around (if possible) especially in a place with a high concentration of timeshare properties. Come prepared, with an open yet critical and sharp mind. Pay attention to everything that goes on, and make sure you leave a winner. Lastly, no matter how sweet the deal is, take time to do your research and think it over.
As always, explore your timeshare opportunities near you or when you travel, and please feel free to let me know about your experience!
Other articles in this Timeshare Presentation series include:
- Timeshare Presentations Intro: Why, Where, and How?
- Timeshare Presentations: All About The Experience
- 5 Pro Tips to Know about Timeshare Presentations
- Timeshare Presentations Finale: 4 Common Sales Tactics
Featured image from Pixabay, of a resort in Cancun, Mexico. Timeshares in Mexico are an interesting bunch. Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links which, should you click through and/or make a purchase, grant me a commission. Also, I only post in the best interest of my readers. Lastly, thank you for supporting my blog and my travels.
What do you think of my analysis? Let me know in the comments, or reach me directly at TheHotelion@gmail.com! Like my posts? See more here, on TravelUpdate! Follow me on Facebook (The Hotelion) or on Twitter and Instagram: @TheHotelion
Tip 1: They are lying to you. The unit they are selling has zero retail value. You are stuck with a $20k, and an annual fee of $1000 that you cannot ever recoup Tip 2: You will find all the RCI, Interval, and etc. properties on Hotels.com for rates that are as cheap as or cheaper than the annual maintenence fee for a 7 day stay. And that is before the $20k upfront fee. Tip 3: The timeshare seller will tell you of all sorts of benefits. Yhi5ngs like discounted airfare using your weeks/points membership. Those do not exist. All… Read more »
All of the above are excellent reasons we have rejected every timeshare offer received. However we love the gifts and enjoy talking business and sharing our travel habits with complete strangers for money.
Simply put, your article encourages an “industry” that makes its living ripping off consumers. That’s criminal on their part.
I don’t care how much they pay you, or how much free travel it gives you. Every attorney general in every state should immediately close down every timeshare. Period. They are all guilty. They cannot be proven innocent, in my my opinion.
I respectfully disagree – as they do state the costs involved upfront, and it actually does work for some people. For those who don’t want to do as much research into deal hunting, to have stability in travel each and every year, or for those with families who enjoy it, I’m sure timeshares work for some people. They don’t work for me, so I’m trying to inform others to be both resourceful and careful, while also enjoying their experience as best they can. I’m more of an advocate for simply getting the freebies. I would suggest writing your congressional representative… Read more »
I own a timeshare and enjoy it. They’re not as flexible as points with hotels, but if you can educate yourself on the pros/cons of your membership, you can learn to maximize your benefits and avoid many of the pitfalls. If I had to do it all over again, I would still buy a timeshare, but I would do more research as to which program I would have bought into. And I would most likely buy on the secondary market, even if it means losing out on some of the “benefits” that come with buying direct from the company. You… Read more »
Absolutely – requires a lot of research, and due diligence. Secondary market is the way to go – esp with all the dirt cheap or free ones available on ebay and the like!
One of the main problems I have with timeshare, is that the sales system is designed to keep you from educating yourself BEFORE you make the purchase. I went to one in Mexico, not knowing anything about timeshares and in fact, didn’t know I was on a timeshare presentation while I was on it. At the airport, the told me that they wanted to “Check out” a new resort and see if I might like to stay there next time I came to Mexico and that there’d be no pressure to buy anything. It turned into almost 4 hours even… Read more »
I don’t think they are as well regulated outside the US. I’m not advocating buying by any means, but two hours for free goodies works for me.