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Has Anyone Ever Taken One of Those Vacation Packages Where They Try To Sell A Timeshare?
Other - United States
Recently, I signed on for what seemed to be an excellent vacation package. Two nights stay at a Williamsburg, VA resort w/two adult tickets to Busch Gardens included - all for only $89. Additionally, they are claiming they will give me two more nights at another time - FREE of charge - to return.
Upon verifying this package, I realized it is a time share selling package. You get this rate - but you have to devote an hour and a half to them dragging you around the resort and attempting to sell you a timeshare in it. There’s no obligation to buy (supposedly) - but you have to at least take the tour and participate to get the rate and return package deal. The return trip doesn’t include the hour and a half tour again.
Has anyone ever done this? Did they make you sign anything? Is putting up with the tour and timeshare selling attempts worth it for the trip or is this a scam that will only inconvenience me and my family on our vacation?
Tags: Adult, Attempts, Busch Gardens, Family Vacation, Hour And A Half, Inconvenience, Obligation, Return Package, Return Trip, Sell Timeshare, Time Share, Vacation Package, Vacation Packages, Williamsburg Va
August 26th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
When my DH and I were newlyweds, with limited budget, we use to do these 1 or 2 times a year. We were in locations we would have chosen to visit anyway, and the 2-3 hours (it generally takes this long, especially if you are not ready to make a purchase) didn’t seem too much of a sacrifice. We divided up the cost of room and any meals if they were offered, and figured it wasn’t a bad rate of hourly pay! Be warned, however, they can be very high pressure, and it all looks great while you are there. If you have little sales resistance, or are impulsive, you will walk away with a time share that may have a lot of hidden costs, and in the long run, doesn’t really save you much money. My husband and I decided in advance who would be “the bad guy” that would not agree, no matter HOW TEMPTING!
August 26th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
You’ll leave with a timeshare! Don’t do it unless you really want a timeshare.
You can’t get the tickets to the attractions if you don’t go. My trip included a stay at a hotel, and a cruise and you couldn’t get the tickets to the cruise if you didn’t sit through the timeshare stuff. But it wasn’t as simple as touring the timeshare. You sit around until you basically either convince them you can’t afford it (which you can…they make sure of that) or you sign the papers and put the down payment on a timeshare.
Then your phone number is in the system and they call you over and over again until you sign up for another b/c now you’re a “hot” lead…someone’s that bought before. Or you are a warm lead because you’ve taken the package and you may take another one.
Good luck! They aren’t worth it if you ask me and I’ll never do it again…cruise or not!
August 29th, 2008 at 1:31 am
My husband and I have done this (but not in Williamsburg, VA). After sitting through the presentation, we met with a salesperson - when he realized we were not interested, we went on our way and had a good mini-vacation. We were not charged anything additional. If you are worried, I would suggest asking them to clarify in writing that you are under no obligation to purchase a time share and that the cost of your vacation package will not increase.
Good luck!
August 30th, 2008 at 9:03 am
If you don’t mind the boring waste of time taking the “tour” and the subsequent hard-sell presentation, and if you have the presence of mind and the wherewithal to say “NO” to their offer — timeshares are a money-losing/wasting proposition — then by all means enjoy the rest of the trip. Those time-share “come-ons” are pretty good deals if you can ignore and resist the obnoxious sales personnel!
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