DFWsakp

I just came back from Westin PVR and attended a Timeshare Presentation.
It was less than 90 mins.
The Sales Rep was telling so many incorrect things that I finally had to stop him and correct the info
1. He told me about getting a 1 week stay at a Cat 1 - 5 hotel and 120000 miles for 270,000 points. I stopped him and explained that this was prior to merger. He insisted that this was information given to him at the beginning of the month.
2. He then proceeded to claim that Marriott points cost 0.55 cents (USD) per point and that 20,000 points will cost me $1100 and if I brought the timeshare, then he will sell it for far below :-)

The cost was going to be $16,000 for some 45,000 options and $750 per year maintenance fee.

I declined and walked off with 17,500 points and 20% discount on food and beverages (except alcohol) for the 7 days I was there. Saved me another $50.

Johnny Rocket

Are there any places to attend a time share presentation in New York?

YoungBubbie

Maybe the Marriott Pulse in NYC?

Being an owner I got a call to pick a city to preview any Pulse. 3 nights $99.
I chose San Diego.

sherriflinda

I did the one at the Pulse. It took much longer than they promised, but they did give a light breakfast and 20,000 points.

YoungBubbie

FYI

For future, you are not obligated to stay beyond the 90 minutes or whatever time was promised.
I read about a guy who sets his timer on his phone and announces times up.

Boraxo

I have been known to do that! Not to be rude, but because I hate the BS sales pitch regarding all the wonderful resorts around the world, etc.and the fake math that shows how much I will spend on vacation lodging. Just cut to the chase and tell me the buy-in price and annual maintenance fees, as well as any "bonus" offered for buying on the spot.

sherriflinda

Oh but I am a polite Canadian who let him finish and bring in the closer. Next time, i will have an "appointment" to get to!

crazyhorse

A trick that has worked for me every time (and I have done 3 Marriott, 1 Hilton and 1 Starwood over the past 10 years) is to show him the amount of points in all of our reward programs and the amount of nights that we travel for work and completely negate the argument that I would have "spent" the money anyway. I always promise that when we stop traveling for work and no longer earn the points, we would buy the timeshare.

sam007

Folks - any catches to getting the $250 visa gift card for the marriott vacation club information session? Does it last 90 mins or there's a 1:1 you have to go through with somebody later on?

​​​​​Also do they indeed give you the 250 gift card right away as promised?

Thx

sethMCOflyer

You simply need to tell them you have ice cream in your car and need to hurry home before it melts.

GrayAnderson

I'm personally a fan of "I have to iron my dog".

cfabar1

I find the MVC very much a sham. I prefer how other programs have fixed weeks you can trade rather than just points. I’d recommend people buy a used timeshare rather than direct.

YZF_Elite

Have received an offer (Canadian here) to go to Aruba (5 days 4 nights) for $399 US and attend one of these 90 min sessions. St. John, Hawaii and Orlando also mentioned for various prices. In fairness to the guy who called me, he was quite pleasant and not at all pushy. He is calling me back on Tuesday and I'm inclined to book one, but wanted to see if there are any horror stories. Perhaps there is another post here I cannot find that someone could point me to, but there don't seem to be a lot of catches being cautioned in this forum at least, but if anyone has any intel on what to expect other than the pushy 90+ min presentation I'd be all ears.

YoungBubbie

Bought one and we are going to St John later this year. Also booked a couple of nights at the Ritz in StThomas with Bonvoy points to extend our vacation.
Last one we did was at San Diego Pulse a few years ago. These packages are a great deal and only need to give them 90 minutes of your time. You just have to remember how to say No.
We do own a MVC week in Aruba but bought it on the secondary market 11 years ago. Been enjoying it every year.

YZF_Elite

Thanks. I want to take advantage of the St. John one, but every search for flights to St. Thomas I do seems to come up empty for a star alliance reward booking sadly.