How legit are Timeshare presentation "prizes"?

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doomdragon6

doomdragon6

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Not timeshares themselves, I have no interest in them whatsoever. But I'm down by the gulf for a few months spending time with the gf before she leaves for Japan, and there are people advertising 2-day cruises for $150 total as a reward for sitting through a 2-hour timeshare presentation.

Now, I wouldn't mind dropping $150 for 2 days on a cruise for me 'n her, but how legit are these? Is there something to watch out for, or is it pretty straightforward? Or are they complete no-nos altogether?
 
HCGLNS

HCGLNS

You could be the man pleasingest hobo in East LA and still have better things to do than to attend one of those seminars.
 
Officer_Charon

Officer_Charon

Basically the prizes are dross. You'll get a small snack, a few tokens or trinkets that are valued at the amount stated, and 2 hours of your life gone. Not worth it.
 
Sparhawk

Sparhawk

Usually the prices are legit, but they still hound you on the cruise since they know your basic schedule. Depends on the cruise itself and how much you think you can put up with strangers starting up conversations about timeshares.
 
M

makare

my parents did the whole time share presentation thing in las vegas and then got a free dinner at a really nice place. They thought it was worth it. - anecdotal support for the win.
 
doomdragon6

doomdragon6

Staff member
Neat.

I actually read some other experiences, and it sounds funny how high-pressure they are. I would have zero interest in touching a timeshare, so I'd just be like "Yeah that's cool." until the 2-hour mark and be like, "Gimme mah shit."
 
M

makare

I just had a thought. I do not want to actually advise you do this because I'd hate for you to come back and say, "thanks a lot makare! We went for a cruise and they took my kidney! You and your stupid anecdotal support!"
 
Bubble181

Bubble181

Just to add to the anecdotal, my parents had some fun with time share prizes in Mexico and France. Both times they got what they wanted, and no further badgering. A dinner for 2 at a fancy restaurant and a day trip to some island or other - don't remember exactly. Anyway, if you don't mind obnoxious salesmen/women and crappy powerpoints, they said it was quite OK and good value, comparatively. I guess it depends on the salespeople, in how far they're honest and stuff.
 
Wahad

Wahad

...what even is a timeshare? The first thing that comes to mind when I read that is like stocks that apply to certain time periods rather than businesses.

''The economic news this week; the Roman Index has dropped by 2.5%, averaging out at 235, after a significant rise by the Victorian Timeshare Collective, which ended up peaking at 275.''
 
HCGLNS

HCGLNS

Timeshares are properties that are split between owners as an investment, normally in desirable areas that are expensive otherwise.

For example: you and I each pay 50% of the costs of some time share in Riverdale, you get it for 1/2 the year, I get it for 1/2 the year. The more people who join us, the lower the costs to us, but the reduced availability as well.
 
Bubble181

Bubble181

HCGLNS said:
Timeshares are properties that are split between owners as an investment, normally in desirable areas that are expensive otherwise.

For example: you and I each pay 50% of the costs of some time share in Riverdale, you get it for 1/2 the year, I get it for 1/2 the year. The more people who join us, the lower the costs to us, but the reduced availability as well.
Click to expand...
And if there're enough people to opt in, you can have several properties to choose from. For example, a beach house in Florida, a chalet in the Rockies and an appartment in New York. Then you can choose where you want to spend "your" part of the time every year. So, one year Christmas in the mountains, next year, spring break in Florida, year after, shopping spree in NY. Of course, you get into the whole "one week in NY is worth as much as 2 weeks in Florida" bit, and the whole "the time around Christmas is twice as valuable as any other time of year" and whatnot, and suddenly you find that for what you put in, you can just about go to NY for a weekend in april. Which would've been cheaper if you stuck to a hotel.
 
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