 Great advice - dealing with TIMESHARES |
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| Here is some very useful advice on how to deal with timeshare salespeople when traveling to Mexico. This is all based on my trips to Cancun and (more recently) Cabo. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
DuffMan76 AC Post Count: 1 Msg: #1 751 days ago, October 20th 2007 | This past September, my wife and I went to Cabo San Lucas. I would have to say that the trip was mostly amazing. The biggest complaint I have about the trip was our experience with how they try to sell you timeshares. Although we went to Cabo, the following pretty much applies to any tourist spots in Mexico (I’ve been to Cancun and it was a similar experience. In fact, this can apply to any city/country where timeshares are common. | At some point in your Cabo trip, you will eventually be approached to attend a timeshare presentation. I advise that before you go, try to decide whether or not you are open to (and have the means) to buy a timeshare. If you want to buy (or are open to buying) a timeshare in Cabo, that’s great. I hear it is one of the nicer places to do so. When you go down there, don’t let them know that you are open to buying. If they think you are undecided, they will throw extra gifts or other incentives at you to try to close the deal. You can certainly get full spa treatment, free night(s) stay at the resort you would be buying from…you get the idea. They are very generous and aggressive with these incentives, so take advantage! Obviously, if they know you are already sold, they will just save the free stuff for the next guy. Now if you already know that you will not be getting a timeshare, you still need to prepare a little, so as to minimize the headache and inconvenience the timeshare people can bring. I read from several places online that even some airport taxi drivers will try to take you to a timeshare presentation. I didn’t want to deal with that, so I made travel arrangements with my resort. They told me to look out for the company called “Cape Travel”. When we arrived at the Cabo airport, right after the baggage claim, we were greeted with a guy, “You’re expecting a care service, right? We’re work with the car service company.” At first I was guarded, but he asked to see my printed travel voucher. He looked legit, he even reviewed our voucher and highlighted the reservation number. He told me that the driver will be there in 10 minutes. In the meantime he was going over the tourist stuff to do while at Cabos. Then he started to talk about a new resort. He wasn’t with Cape Travel, he was just a timeshare salesperson! He wanted us to attend their presentation and offered some free stuff (cruise/tour discounts, Mexican blanket, breakfast) just for attending. They just asked for a $100 deposit to guarantee that we will return for the presentation. I was so mad, but I tried to politely tell them no. I said, “We just got in, we want to relax for now and we’ll decide later”, but they still tried to get us to commit to the presentation. They were so aggressive the whole time (although it was more subtle in the beginning). By the way, they will give you so many excuses as to why you have to decide now, “deal is only good now”. It’s all BS, don’t fall for it. In the end, it took us about 20-30 minutes to get away from them. All because I didn’t want to be rude. Worst part was, our car was there the whole time, I felt so bad. If you encounter the people at the SJD/Cabo airport (and you probably will because they have a booth), if you don't want to go to their presentation, tell them you will wait for your driver outside (your driver is probably already there). Maybe even tell them they left a message on your cell that they are there waiting. Although they have no intention of buying, many people attend these presentations anyway to get the free stuff. The timeshare people say it is only 90 minutes of your time, right? Well, the presentation is 90 minutes. But there is more to consider: 1) 90 min - sales presentation 2) 30 min - tour (if not included in their presentation) 3) 40-60 min - transportation (round trip) 4) 20-30 min - free breakfast 5) 20-60 min - sales person will try to convince you to buy You’re actually looking at giving up your entire morning. If you are OK with this and have no problem dealing with the super-aggressive salespeople, then go get your free stuff! It’s just that I heard a lot of complaints about it taking much longer than 90 minutes and screwing up people’s schedules. Plus I heard that the free breakfasts were bad. Here are some suggestions on how to get the sales people off your back: - Many places like their customers to be in their late 20’s or older. Tell them you are too young to buy (if you can pass for early 20’s). - Tell them you are attending graduate school and need to pay off student loans. - Tell them you just got married or are saving for your wedding. - If you are with your spouse, it’s common that both must attend to get the free stuff. Try to tell them you are just friends or siblings. This way, only one person needs to attend, and at least the other can enjoy his/her morning (just a suggestion). - Don't be afraid to be rude. Being nice will just take much longer. I found that was a waste of time. They simply spend the time trying to change your mind. They don't care about you, they just want their commission. I commonly hear that the salespeople are so friendly, but when you decline to buy, they turn nasty and don't care about you. Whether you are buying or not, here is a great way to get the most stuff from the presentation. Just tell the guy you will think about it. This works great if the timeshare in question is with the resort you are staying at, you can easily track down the guy who is offering you the free stuff. Actually, they’ll most likely call you back to see if you decided. If see that you cannot decide, they will offer more. Remember, they get commission just for getting you to the presentation. Good luck. I hope this info helps. Enjoy your vacation. rciblogger RCI Family Post Count: 3 Msg: #2 729 days ago, November 12th 2007 | Sorry to hear about your timeshare experince | Our family has owned TS for years and truly love it, we will never stay in a hotel again There are sevarl tips when looking to buy first never attend a prsentation- visit the resort on your own Never buy from the developer or resort Buy it one the resale market we paid <$500 for our unit that the developer was advertising - selling for over 10k If interested you can read our story at http://rcitimeshare.blogspot.com/ http://www.rciblog.com/ we have lots of advice on how to reap the most benefits TimeshareRevealed TimeshareRevealed Post Count: 2 Msg: #3 481 days ago, July 16th 2008 | Did you know that even some of the "free" things may in the end cost you more than if you just paid cash for it? Check it out on google about free cruises that some timeshare companies are offereing. After all taxes, fees and extras you may end up paying more than if you just bought a cruise in a travel agency. | But if you know that you are not going to buy anything, why would you even go to such a presentation? And if you cannot make your mind, check the facts. I bought timeshare from Point To point Destinations (PTP Destinations, West Coast Timeshare) in Vancouver, BC. I posted my experience and facts here: www.TimeshareRevealed.com [Edited: 03:32 - TimeshareRevealed ] aliu2 alice liu Post Count: 2 Msg: #4 131 days ago, July 1st 2009 | The following describes our encounter and bitter experience with NH Krystal, their sales staff and manager between the dates of September 2007. Upon arriving at Cancun airport on September 8th we were greeted near the airport exit by Diego Carballo Sandoval of NH Krystal. He initially answered our questions about where we were going and then offered us free tickets to popular tourist attractions in exchange for attending a “celebratory” presentation at his hotel on the morning of September 9th 2007. When we asked if this was for a time share, he said no, it was not. | At the hotel, their salesman Eric Guerrero offered to sell us membership to their Krystal International Vacation Club (KIVC). When we asked again if this was a time share, he said no, it was not, it was a “vacation club” and “something better.” They offered us 13 “Power Weeks” and 17 “K-Plus Weeks” at their club that he said we could rent out for ~$700USD net per week guaranteed. (A) He described this as a good investment opportunity because we could get all our initial payment back and more within 3 years. (B) He said also there were no annual maintenance fees and we would only pay when we use our weeks. (C) We could rent a room at all the expensive hotels in the R.C.I. book for just $399USD per week for up to 6 people. (D) To sell the existing time share in Las Vegas for a good market value and the proceeds from that would repay her money back for the purchase of the KIVC membership. When we asked again if the rental money is guaranteed, their salesman Eric Guerrero said it was guaranteed. He said that their partner Regal Rentals and Resales would be able to list and rent out our weeks with no problem. We paid a total of $9, 900.00USD ($4, 950.00 was paid from Mr. Au’s MasterCard and $4, 950.00 was paid from Ms. Liu’s Visa card) for the purchase of the Krystal International Vacation Club membership. We were told would also receive an invoice from Regal Rentals and Resales for listing fees of our 13 Power Weeks, 17 K-Plus Weeks and Ms. Liu’s time share in Las Vegas when we got home. At this point, we thought we could relax and enjoy the rest of our vacation in Mexico and then enjoy the benefits of the KIVC membership when we got home. However, when we got home and went on the I.C.E. web site, we discovered that the hotel discounts their salesman told us about were not there. Most of their listings were at market rate and the maximum occupancy per room was 2 people. Furthermore, our membership info was incorrect and if we tried to change/edit it, it resulted in an error on the web site. There was also no apparent way for us to add our family and friends to use it. The I.C.E benefits were nothing like what their salesman Eric Guerrero described. We also never heard anything from Regal for over 3 months. Ms. Liu’s time share in Las Vegas was not sold as it was promised it would and there was no rental money for our weeks at NH Krystal. It was not even apparent that the Las Vegas time share and our weeks were listed at all by Regal. To make matters worse, on January 4 2008, we received an invoice for maintenance fees for 2008 even though we never used any of our weeks. To our dismay, all the benefits their salesman Eric Guerrero said we would get with the KIVC membership were turning out to be untrue. When we looked to our contract to see how we could cancel after a year to get our money back, we were shocked to discover that we were not given a copy of that paper of the contract. All the other contracts and papers for KIVC, I.C.E. and R.C.I. were there except the one that their salesman Eric Guerrero said would let us try it out for 1 year. When we called Krystal to complain, the Quality Assurance manager RAY RUBIO denied the existence of any such document and was rude to us. We felt completely betrayed and worry constantly that the sensitive information we gave them during the purchase of the membership would be abused, we were DECEIVED and LIED TO with their DECEITFUL SALES PRACTICES and MISLEADING INFORMATION. We feel that the contracts we signed with NH Krystal and Regal Rentals and Resales should be cancelled and our money returned to us because they have not given us what was described and promised. They deliberately misled us and gave us false promises so we would sign their contracts and give them payment. We therefore hold both companies responsible; NH Krystal for perpetrating the scam and Regal for being a knowing and willing partner to perpetuate the scam. Here's a helpful website for those thinking about buying a Krystal timeshare, or for those who have already purchased and are looking for alternatives: www.nhkrystalfraud.com aliu.  Laura and Eric The Coronados Post Count: 26 Msg: #5 112 days ago, July 20th 2009 | The story the first poster tells about in Cabo is what happens in Cozumel and Cancun as well. There are people at the airport that act like they are there to great you. They look at your voucher and tell you what the driver that picks you up will be wearing (example -"drivers from x company wear a yellow shirt") Even though these people act like they are there to help you and tell you about some great tourist spots, they are only looking to sell you a time share. Do not fall for it!! They will steal your precious time and make you spend money you didn't want to. I have heard that many of them are very high pressure and don't make good on their promises. Also beware of staff at the hotels. Many are genuinely nice, but many of them also "moonlight" as timeshare salesman. | Even with all of the timeshare sales people circling like sharks, I still love Mexico and it is one of my favorate destinations. 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