If you have ever been on a nice vacation at a really great resort, there’s a good chance that someone has invited you to come and sit through a presentation. But not just any presentation – a timeshare presentation. Most vacationers have been exposed to this kind of invitation because they are the most likely people to actually buy. So if you’re taking a vacation soon and you suspect you will be persuaded to attend a timeshare presentation, here are tips on how to survive one (or a few):
Make sure you know what you’re getting into.
Before you take a vacation, try to research about any possible timeshare presentations that you might come across with while you’re at the resort. That way, you’ll find one that offers you the best opportunity at a schedule that is the most convenient for you. And yes, try to look for signs that it might be scam so you can protect yourself.
Know your incentive for coming to the presentation.
What are you there for, really? Is it to browse available real property for future purchase or maybe you just want to sit through it so you could qualify for the gift or discount at the end of the pitch? When you attend a timeshare presentation, make sure to keep your focus on the reason you’re there in the first place, so you don’t make any decisions that could affect your future finances.
Ask if you can afford it.
Buying a timeshare means getting money out of your wallet to pay the company that offers it. And that’s not all. There’s a regular payment you have to make over the course of many years, not to mention the fees you have to shoulder to cover for maintenance and other related expenses.
If you want to survive a timeshare presentation, don’t feel pressured to sign up for anything, especially if you feel it’s not right for you or if you don’t have the budget at the moment. Remember that there’s always a next time – the right time when you’re not only a willing attendant to the timeshare presentation but also a capable buyer.
Ask if you want it.
Never jump into making a decision you might regret later on. Remember that when you buy a timeshare, you’re actually buying a long-term investment. However, it’s not the kind of investment that functions in the same way as regular real property. Timeshares don’t appreciate over time. And since most of the advantages of buying a timeshare rides on how regularly you or someone you know takes a vacation, you might not really want a timeshare because you don’t really need it.
If you want to survive a timeshare presentation, make sure to keep this in mind.
Go ahead and take the freebie.
Even if you don’t buy or promise to buy anything, don’t feel guilty. If the folks who organized the timeshare presentation gives you a gift that is appropriate for your particular circumstances, accept it and thank them. Some people feel reluctant about accepting gifts from salespeople they don’t actually buy from but it’s perfectly okay. You’re not actually taking away a huge cost from these salespeople because the freebies are part of their marketing strategy and are already factored into the costs of producing the presentation.
The people who put up these timeshare presentations rely on the law of averages (which, by the way, is quite often on their side). That means they’re likely to recoup their investments thanks to great sales pitches and the folks who actually buy timeshares from them. So next time you get offered a gift during a timeshare presentation, go ahead and take it. Don’t worry. The salespeople will survive.