[Simple5]

Went to Las Vegas with the wife this past weekend and checked into the casino we were staying at. We dropped off our shit in our room and went to get something to eat. We walk towards the lobby holding hands when we were met by a hotel worker who asked us if we wanted to see a show for free. Instantly a red flag went up. My happy-go-lucky wife on the other hand wanted to hear this person out. Immediately we were led to a desk with a girl with a bad case of tits being punished by an extreme push-up bra. She showed us a bunch of shows that she said were for free. Skeptical I asked her what the catch was. She leaned over the counter, punished mashed together tits in my face, and said that all we had to do was listen to a 2 hour presentation and that there would be a meal included.

Of course she wowed my wife with some of the shows that were on the list. We signed up. I had a bad feeling about this. Fast forward to the next day we attend the "presentation" where we were met with a timeshare salesman. My wife chatted it up with him and I had the face-palm going. He gave us the whole deal about timeshares and said that the timeshare was now a point system. he stated that if we purchased a timeshare that we would receive 105,000 points plus a bonus 195,000 points for signing up. He showed us a book of all these places that we could travel to. He pointed out Branson, Missouri stating that one night was 5000 points. When I asked to see the book he said that we should go see the local timeshare property so we could take a tour. Red flag went up again but the wife wanted to go see.

The place he took us to was amazing. Super clean and well maintained. He showed us a 1 bedroom and then the grand finale was a 4 bedroom. Needless to say my wife was in awe while in my head I was saying "lets get the fuck out of here!" After the tour we get back to the office where he asked if we were interested in buying. He again focused on my wife showing her pictures of hawaii and asked her what her dream vacation was. She said Spain. He told her that the timeshare had property in Spain as well. In my mind again I was like "shit".

While he was talking to her I was on my phone looking up the company itself. It is a legit company and people do have timeshares with them and enjoy it. However, while researching I found people saying that it would be better if we bought in the secondary market from people selling and not paying retail. When he saw that I was concentrating on my phone he directed his attention to me asking me questions to keep me distracted from my phone. Basically my wife was "all-in" at this point.

He told us that he would see if he could get us the "best deal". This best deal was $17,900@17.99 percent for 105,000 points a year with an initial 195,000 point bonus and a maintenance fee of 54.95 a month FOREVER. I had my doubts and laid out all the negatives for my wife but she was so adamant on this that I didn't want my vacation to go awry so I told the sales guy that I needed more time to think about it because it was a huge decision and that the interest was ridiculously high. My wife now looking sad asked if we could finance through a second party. He said "of course!". That sealed the deal for her.

I on the other hand was still on the fence. He walked out and all of a sudden he called in the big guns. when I say big guns I mean a tall, blonde, huge racked, bubble butt chick that looked like she had to be poured into her skin tight dress. This must have been their "closer". She immediately went after me saying that it would make my wife happy and that it would make our marriage better. My wife of course agreed. After a while I just wanted to get the fuck out of there because while I was on my phone I saw the Nevada law where I can basically cancel the contract within 5 days. I signed all the shit and we left.

I didnt speak about it until our day was over and when we were back in the room she fell asleep and I stayed up all night reading the contract. I was right. 5 days to cancel the contract via certified mail. When the wife woke up I showed her the book and explained to her that we had been snookered. We signed up for 105,000 points for 17,900 dollars and this added a 195,000 points. For this to be even remotely worth it and us not being stuck with going to Branson, Missouri for vacations it would have to be a 300k points and above plan. Hawaii hotels were 45k points and above. The list goes on.

I also showed her that these were selling for 80-90% cheaper than what we were being charged buying retail from them. Sat her down and told her that we could cancel this and look for one on the secondary market. Shit, these plan points are listed on fucking ebay! She asked me why I did not say anything. I told her she was too busy being dazzled by the sales people to see that I didn't have a good feeling about this purchase (also the fact that she is where my next 1,000 lays are going to be coming from was a factor as well). She agreed with my rationale and also decided to cancel as well.

So, I just finished up typing up a cancellation letter and packed up their "welcome aboard" crap to send back to them. Also called my lawyer who said he is ready if there are any issues.

My wife drives me nuts sometimes.

[FDM68]

Timeshares always= bad decision... Had to go through a similar situation many moons ago with the X.

[Ammonia]

I would never let my wife lead me around like that, let alone make a purchasing decision for me. You have some balls to grow and a wife to tame.

[MrRoboto]

Originally Posted by Ammonia

I would never let my wife lead me around like that, let alone make a purchasing decision for me. You have some balls to grow and a wife to tame.

Ding!

[upstatedoc]

I didn't even have to read the whole story. That happened to us in Orlando in april. My bro-in-law has a timeshare there that we utilized. He's had it for almost 30 years and its a great location. I made the mistake of getting a discount on Disney tics in exchange for a "1 hour presentation" which turned into almost 3 hours. What a f*cking idiot. My wife was ready to castrate me. Lesson learned.

[ddk632]

Haha, my parents used to do these presentations to get a free cruise or whatever, and they both knew they are never buying a timeshare. So they would act interested, have dinner, go on a free cruise or 2 night stay somewhere (this used to be the norm, maybe now it's only a free meal you get enticed with, but it used to be a free trip, during which you had to go to a presentation for a couple of hours), and laugh at all the people who actually buy timeshares! And that, my friends, is why I am a cheap bastard!

[Maestro]

My Wife and I have done a few just to get the freebies, the time share places hate us since we are really good at the good/bad cop routine. Never once left signing anything, and a few times got the follow up calls with the continual badgering to do sign up. A couple of time they were even willing to cut a better deal over the phone after you walk away.

Most are not worth it that is for sure, unless you travel all the time and willing to go places when they are not busy. It just does not fit most peoples schedules and lives.

[Nati Beastcat]

I wouldn't have signed sh*t just to get outta there... I would have stood up and said we're leaving! NO talking, NO questions! Just got up and said I'm done here! Let the wife get mad etc. I don't care she'll get over it

When someone corners me into something and starts pushing Thats it for me!

So did the cancellation go through?

[roastbeef]

well the first problem in that clusterfuck is YOU not having the balls to tell your wife it was a raw deal and dragging her out of there.

and to top it off, you got wowed and shafted by a cheezy las vegas sales guy selling time shares? where are you from?

[Foodle]

Interesting story. I've always avoided these, since the drain on my time isn't worth the freebie to me.

Other thoughts:

1) Signing a contract that you intend to cancel later, sounds like a really bad idea. Even if by law you have a few days to cancel it, there's always the possibility of something going awry in the process.

2) Not sure why you didn't just take your wife aside and explain what was going on, especially the part about being able to buy shares on the secondary market for much cheaper. She still gets her nice vacations and you get to save a lot of money.

3) No pics of the "closer" = fail.

[Bobble]

Traditional Timeshares = No

Vacation Resort programs = Yes

We have two of the later, for that we get 1 week anywhere Westin/SPG has vacation property each year in a 2 bedroom private lockout, Cost was $22K each period, is a deedable property which means you can will it, give it etc.

The stuff they told you is no way in hell going to be nice, Our maintenance fees are 25 times that each property. That includes property tax as it is real property and deedable.

As far as buying second hand, with the SPG/Marriot (yes they are different companies but same programs) if you buy resale there's a whole laundary list of things which you cannot do most importantly to me is I cannot transfer options and points within the system. What that means is if we decide to not use one of our weeks in a year(we get 2 one for each property) I can convert those directly in hotel nights anywhere in the world there is a an SPG property(Westin, St Regis, Le Meridian etc). For example last year we converted one week, and using additional points we stayed for one week in Paris no cost at the Prince De Galles.

I have not paid for a vacation with the exception of airfare for a long time. Works for us as we travel at least 2 weeks every year to somewhere, Hawaii, Cancun, Bahamas, St John etc..

If you are serious look into those not the Traditional thing and always buy the high season at a lower price resort. For example we bought when they introduced, 1st or 2nd phase, on 2 Palm Springs properties, we get the same point value as people buying in Hawaii so we can stay there. Only catch you get first reservation choice at your home property but we book 9 months out so we never have a problem getting the room and location we want. BTW never been to our home property except to sign the deeds. It works if you work it.

[kevinbahnz]

I know friends and relatives who do these just for the freebies. They go on over 5 trips a year..

[Simple5]

Thanks for the tips guys. Yes, my wife and I are usually on the same page when it comes to these types of things but they "woo-ed" her so much that against my better judgement I signed (though knowing I had a way out). We had a long discussion regarding this and yes we are on the same page now that both of us HAVE TO BE IN 100% agreement when it comes to these types of purchases.

This morning I mailed out the Cancellation Letters via Certified Next Day Mail. We had a call from the Salesman as well checking in to see if we "made it home okay" and if "our trip was good". I forwarded the contract to my lawyer and scanned all the Certified mail/shipping receipts. He told me that there should not be any issues and that they get cancelled all the time. However if they do decide to mess with us then he will pick up the ball from there.

I feel better about the whole situation now. Few lessons:

1) Take the free shit and run
2) Wife and I need to be on the same page 100%
3) I should have taken a picture of that closer

[persian54]

Originally Posted by Nati Beastcat

So did the cancellation go through?

+1

Originally Posted by Foodle

3) No pics of the "closer" = fail.

+a million

[bimmerfrk]

HAHA! this post is halarious. Reminds me of the movie "Glengarry Glen Ross" lol! "Boy Mr _ _ _ _ _ _ do i have a investment property for you!"




and dont forget "Coffee's for closers" Enjoy that time share ;-)

[boymonkey]

What a waste of vacation time.

[SunnyD]

Time for a new wife.

[UncleWede]

I've never been to my "home" resort in Palm Springs either

[persian54]

Originally Posted by UncleWede

I've never been to my "home" resort in Palm Springs either

Going a bit OT here.... but are the springs in Palm Springs good?

I miss the onsens (Hot Springs) from my time in Japan... but don't want to fly to Japan just for that lol. I was thinking maybe Palm springs..never looked into it though

[Bobble]

Originally Posted by persian54

Going a bit OT here.... but are the springs in Palm Springs good?

I miss the onsens (Hot Springs) from my time in Japan... but don't want to fly to Japan just for that lol. I was thinking maybe Palm springs..never looked into it though

Ojai is in your backyard check them out.

[carve]

1) Be blunt. Just tell your wife what a bad deal it is right in front of the sales guy, and ask why you shouldn't just buy on ebay. No need to be polite. If they said one hour, I'd set my watch for one hour and tell them in advance I'm leaving when it goes off.

2) There's no such thing as a free lunch. Interest alone is $3k/year! It limits where you can go. I'd say I want to vacation in Nepal or something like that.

Salesmen fcuking hate me :P

Bobble: that sounds like kind of a bad deal to me.

Has anyone gone to one of these things and made it clear right off the bat you're just there for the freebie and have zero interest in buying?

[Nate4641]

My family got roped into one of those time share pitches about 6 years ago at Atlantis in the Bahamas. My parents ended up purchasing and have loved it ever since. They offer me the chance to use it and I keep trying to get a turn, but you practically have to book a year in advance and I never know if I'll be able to go. It too is on a point system with seemingly random high amounts of points which probably helps sell to certain people. Research would probably be the best idea in buying a time share instead of just doing the first one that a big tittied blonde pitches to you.