"Remember when timeshares had class?"

[rikkis_playpen Diamond Club Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close rikkis_playpen]

I just had a very interesting conversation with a DVC owner... We'll call her Ethel..

Ethel is now looking to liquidate her ownership because of a single bad experience via an RCI exchange! I tried to calm her, but she was adamant.. I explained that being a DVC owner may have insulated her from some of the negative timeshare experiences, and that Disney tries to control what exchange properties were available to her. Obviously her past exchanges had been satisfactory via Interval. I encouraged her to try and give DVC more time to try and do the same with the RCI system.

I didn't phase her one bit... I did manage to get her to promise me to wait a week or so before returning docs, but in the end sent her a sale contract as requested.. (I'm amazed I still have a job with all the people I try to talk out of selling or buying on impulse!)..

Basically- Ethel's story went like this..

Ethel used her DVC points to secure an exchange week into a Las Vegas timeshare, as she had a friend who had been hospitalized and wanted to be in the area for a few days. While she was there, she was pressured many times to tour the resort- but always declined. This frustrated her, but she dealt with it..

One day after returning from the hospital- Ethel met an elderly couple in the elevator. She said they had a "dazed and exhausted" appearance and she was concerned so asked them if they were ok.. They said they were fine, the elevator doors opened and they all got off together..

After a few steps, the couple stopped and the husband told his wife they were on the wrong floor. The wife burst into tears!

Ethel invited them to her room (I'm guessing at this point that you have guessed that Ethel is also elderly and perhaps far more trusting than the average lady). They proceeded to tell her a horror story about being trapped in a presentation for almost four hours! Ethel said they were too polite to get up and walk out, even when the salesperson started trying to belittle and embarrass them into a purchase. They weren't even obligated to attend (they were also on an rci exchange), but just didn't feel comfortable walking out! Ethel said they talked for about a half hour while the wife composed herself, then went back to their own room.

Ethel then made the statement that really struck me.. "Do you remember when timeshares had class?"......

If you've read some of my past posts- I hope it's evident that I absolutely love the timeshare product but hate the primary way it is marketed to consumers! I honestly think that timeshare properties provide my family with incredible vacation opportunities that would otherwise be unobtainable to us.

However- never once have I ever really thought of a timeshare developer in this manner..

I guess what I'm asking here is simply, what timeshares would you say exhibit class and dignity?

[Larry Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Larry]

Timeshares no longer in sales

The one's that are sold out and run by a responsible HOA with no agenda other than making sure that the timeshare property is well maintained, well managed and has the owner's best interests at heart.

[1950bing Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 1950bing]

The only time I felt they had class was before I purchased. I soon learned class= lies after contract.

I never saw any " owners best interest at heart."
I did see owners viewed as cash cows. IE: SA

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

The one's that are sold out and run by a responsible HOA with no agenda other than making sure that the timeshare property is well maintained, well managed and has the owner's best interests at heart.

So true!

[bighut Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bighut]

I don’t know if you’re allowed to, but I would love to know the name of the resort. My wife and I went to 4 presentations over 10 days in Vegas when we were first starting out using timeshares. We spent the nights at their resorts, ate lunch on them and my wife doubled the chips they gave us to gamble. I eventually bought at the Wyndham Grand Desert. I also own at Summer Bay Desert Club. They had okay people and good people. However the other two, Club De Soleil and the Cliffs at Peace Canyon were horrible. Lucky that I don’t mind telling a person where to get off, so we ended those presentations. I feel sorry for those who are too polite.

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

There have been a few developers in the past that had a little "class". They'd give you their presentation, let you think about it or talk it over in private if you wanted but, when you said no, that was pretty much the end of the presentation. Sure they'd maybe try to overcome one of two objections but it was always a soft sell.

Ethel's experience reminds me of why we probably will never set foot in a HGVC presentation room again. Our last stay at our home resort, the woman booking "owner updates" was relentless. This despite the fact we told her they had nothing to offer us in the way of incentives that we were interested in, we felt comfortable with our knowledge of timeshare and we just didn't want to waste a couple of hours of our time. She still hammered away until we relented (our mistake).

Once in the room with the salesman it was as bad as any high pressure presentation we've ever been on. They even tossed in the "trial" membership despite the fact they knew we were owners. At the end, when we refused the incentives (remember, they didn't have ANYTHING we were interested in), I thought they were going to pass out. The idiotic managerd insisted we go to the gifting desk to get something. I humored him and then told the girl at the desk the same thing he refused to hear, they had nothing we wanted. She went through the options again and I said no one last time, turned around and left.

So yes, I remember when a few timeshares had class. We haven't stayed at our home resort in a few years but, next time we do, the booking person will certainly understand my no means no if I have to say it twice. If they're not going to have any class I'm not so sure that I will either.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

I know others will disagree, but my experience with Marriott has always been positive except one time. We have been owners for almost 10 years and took an update in March. No pressure, informative (For them and sometimes for me ) and leave with my gift.

Now this could change when they try to 'resell' me my already owned weeks as points but up until now -I would describe them as a class act.

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

I know others will disagree, but my experience with Marriott has always been positive except one time. We have been owners for almost 10 years and took an update in March. No pressure, informative (For them and sometimes for me ) and leave with my gift.

Now this could change when they try to 'resell' me my already owned weeks as points but up until now -I would describe them as a class act.

I have always had professional and informative timeshare presentations and updates at the Marriott. Were we supposed to only comment about timeshare presentations or if we are treated with class?

I can't help but feel like Bing that the big developers treat us more like a cash cow than a valued customer. I am not complaining about their service either but mainly about the ever increasing costs and extra fees they can come up with next and they are all guilty of that.

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

I've run into a few classy presentations and then there was Westgate and a few less obnoxious others.
Having worked in sales, I expect most companies push for sales and have training programs that set the type of selling approach used.

[Ryne08 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ryne08]

What year are we speaking of when t/s was classy: must be prior to 1968,

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

The one's that are sold out and run by a responsible HOA with no agenda other than making sure that the timeshare property is well maintained, well managed and has the owner's best interests at heart.

Absolutely! Though I am not sure it is perceived as any "classier" than other timeshares... but I do own one of these and really appreciate the management.

I know others will disagree, but my experience with Marriott has always been positive except one time. We have been owners for almost 10 years and took an update in March. No pressure, informative (For them and sometimes for me ) and leave with my gift.

Now this could change when they try to 'resell' me my already owned weeks as points but up until now -I would describe them as a class act.

I have found the few Marriott presentations I've been on to be low/no pressure and very professional. But it's been a few years, so I can't speak to current practices. Even when I told them upfront I had bought resale, because they have access to resales and Marriott sales has the ability to sell any Marriott regardless of where you tour. Though it was, every time, very aggravating to actually collect the promised points in my account after the presentation. I mean, really really aggravating, not worth the time spent but I was very interested in seeing the new buildings on Maui and they wouldn't show them without a "tour. "

[mpizza Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close mpizza]

Are we talking timeshares with class or classy timeshare salesmen/women? Just like every other industry, reputable salespeople will be successful and the despicable sharks will sink.

I've only been on two timeshare tours, and I was treated well. In fact, after the Marriott tour I walked away to think about it, and months later called to purchase receiving all the pre-construction perks originally offered by my salesman. In fact, I plan to schedule a Marriott tour in July since I want to get some info on the purported "points" system, and I have no fear about being treated badly.

And forgive me if I missed something, but although I have total sympathy for the naive couple that was treated poorly, it wouldn't cause me to sell my timeshare. There must be some underlying reason Ethel wants to sell her DVC.

Maria

[ArtsieAng Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close ArtsieAng]

mpizza

I plan to schedule a Marriott tour in July since I want to get some info on the purported "points" system, and I have no fear about being treated badly.

I just took a tour in Aruba for the exact same reason......Salesmen was very nice. He gave us lots of info on the upcoming points system, (Of course, no way of knowing if what he told us is true.) and no pressure to purchase, whatsoever. It was great. We were out of there in about 30 minutes. In fact, we had to go back the next morning to collect our 15, 000 points because he was afraid that he might get into some trouble for letting us out of the presentation in just 30 minutes..........We went to the desk the next morning and our 15,000 point confirmation was waiting for us. It has already been posted to my account.

[JWC Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close JWC]

This timeshare sales presentation horror story is no different than what has taken place over the past several years. As others have said, not all are bad but the good ones are the exception rather than the rule. We have been to 3 sales presentations with the last one being 17 years ago. The first 2 we went to were with the intention to buy which we did. We were aware of resales but we wanted those particular resorts at that time and there were no resales because neither resort was open yet at the time we bought. Both presentations were low key with no pressure. In fact the sales manager at the first one talked to us before we signed asking if we were sure that we really wanted to buy a timeshare. The 3rd one we went to was just to get information and it was a horror story but we survived without buying anything. We told them upfront that we had no intention of buying.

I have seen many instances of high pressure trying to get us to attend a sales presentation. The worst was in Lake Tahoe several years ago. This was not at a resort but at the boarding area of a boat tour we went on. They had no connection with the boat tour at all but simply stood where you had to go past them in order to board the boat. If you didn't stop to sign-up for the presentation then they called you names and were downright obnoxious and rude. With all the negative horror stories about the Grand Mayan/Mayan Palace sales presentations, we have never had any pressure to attend one. We have exchanged into the Grand Mayans 5 times in the past 5 years and each time we have just said we don't attend sales presentations and they have let us alone every time.

Since the last one we took 17 years ago we just don't attend presentations period. There are no incentives they can offer us that would ever get us to do a sales presentation. Our time is worth far more than any gifts.

[frank808 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close frank808]

Well I have to say that Disney is the classiest presentation I have been to. No sales pressure even when I told the guide that I bought mine at resale. Even though I have bought resale, the next contract I am buying at DVC. I have to get in Grand Californian and the resales are going for more than what DVC wants. Plus it is easier to get the UY I want from DVC as the resales for GCV are very slim considering it is the smallest in the DVC network.
On the other hand I have a gone to a few more presentations and it was just so high pressure. I am not affected buy the sales tactics but my wife feels guilty whenever we go with no intention of buying from developer.