Anybody ever go to those Timeshare presentations for free gifts?

Got approached by Welk Resorts Branson at a Thunder game with my girl. They were looking for married couples, but told us we seemed like a "committed couple" enough so it was cool and plus either of us alone made what their combined threshold was, so they assume I guess there might be a chance we are interested. They are giving us 2 r/t tickets to Vegas just for attending (and I had to pay $99 for the 2 day stay).

Then I registered to win a car in the Dallas mall, few days letter get a call saying I am a finalist and they want me to come listen to a 1hr presentation about their company, again no obligation to purchase, and just for attending and hearing about their company they're giving us r/t vouchers to anywhere in the US.

Girlfriend then gets something from dinnerfortwo.com that they are going to be in our city and they are offering like 2 wedding rings, a gift card to some jewelry site, maybe travel, I forget.

ANyone ever messed with any of these? I remember a long time ago they did a similar thing in Pigeon Forge and were buying my parents event tickets and dinner for sttending those timeshare sales pitches but r/t tickets, in this economy, seems expensive as hell.

Also, what is even the appeal of a timeshare? Wouldn't it be cheaper for me to just get a hotel for 7 days whereever I want to go whenever and then less trouble becuase I don't have to trade days/locations

Heard mostly bad things about timeshares from those who bought in

I had a time share in Mexico for 10 trips or 10 years, whatever you used first.  I got conned into it while I was on a vacation in Cancun and they offered me some free ish at the all inclusive resort I was at.  Anyways I agreed to the hour presentation and ended up copping the time share for dirt cheap.  This wasn't your average timeshare where you get a condo etc.  This was at the actual resort and was all inclusive of meals, alcohol, etc.  I ended up going back to Mexico like 4-5 times for 7 day stays, staying at the resort, and being on the all inclusive package, nh.  

It paid for itself after about 2 trips.  The only reason it was worth it in my scenario is because the resort was so huge it was almost impossible for them to be fully booked, meaning I could go whenever I wanted with no hassle.  Unlike a traditional timeshare where you are sharing the same room/condo with multiple other timeshare owners.

Outside of that, most the stuff they offer or want to sell you is simply to get you in a room for a sales presentation.  And once they have your number or email they are relentless.  

Always wondered this.
Not the time share info. Just the free stuff lol

I went a few years back. Got a "Free" trip to Vegas. Was way more of a hassle than it was worth. They hard sell you and make you feel like trash for not buying their time shares, then when you do get the info on redeeming the "free" vacation trip to Vegas, it's similar to a rebate. You have to mail something off and then send a deposit (I think it was about $85) to pay for the "Taxes" of airfare and hotel. The airfare they try to give is the earliest/latest flights and the hotel is way off of of the strip, similar to a Travelodge. I ended up getting $100 for NOT going, including my refund of the deposit. From the day I got the voucher to the time we booked the trip, it was 4-5 months later. Wouldn't do it again, personally.

with things like this, 95% of the time if its too good to be true it usually is.

my boss owns a timeshare in hawaii for like 30 yrs, never really had a problem from what she told me. i think if you are serious about keeping it for a long time, it's okay. but if you looking to get out of owning it may be difficult to sell, neary impossible

DMan14 said:

my boss owns a timeshare in hawaii for like 30 yrs, never really had a problem from what she told me. i think if you are serious about keeping it for a long time, it's okay. but if you looking to get out of owning it may be difficult to sell, neary impossible

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basically

Pull up, get the free ****, and dip. It's that easy. Don't fall in the trap. If they try to hit you with the guilt trip, hit em with something else. When it rains it pours

My girl and I have done it twice. Both times to VA Beach. We got a free 4/5night stay in a decent hotel.  Cant recall which one. But the process was pretty seamless. You signup, they give you a timeframe of months where you can cash in your trip.  The day arrive, you go through the little presentation, which admittedly.. is hoursss long.  like 2-3.  Then.. your done. The rest of the time is yours.

FlyNY said:

Pull up, get the free ****, and dip. It's that easy. Don't fall in the trap. If they try to hit you with the guilt trip, hit em with something else. When it rains it pours

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this

some of them better than others but just keep your ground firm 

It was actually a very good deal, unbelievably amazing if I chose to only use it for international and other high cost destinations which I could have. I actually almost caved a few times but kept just saying No because I wasn't there to buy regardless of how good a deal it is, just wanted my free stuff (r/t airfare anywhere in the country, 20$ gas card $100 dining certificate). They normally do it as a group presentation but we were the only couple at our time slot so we got to get a 1 on 2 with the sales lady. It's definitely high pressure, and the more you say no the more they keep coming back with lower prices and more perks. I could have paid 750$ out the door (even made payments, no interest or minimum) and had 2 trips (a trip is 8 days 7 nights or less, still costs you a full trip everytime including coach airfare, stay in a resort/condo/suite with upgrades, no blackout date). Airfare alone would cost more than that for 1 person to some places even domestically but certainly international before you even talk about the room and board. Might revisit it around my wedding time. Could get the 26 for $10,000 package, get married in Africa or South America, and make everyone pay me the ~$400 back and be fully covered for the travel/stay.

Either way, lasted a little more than an hour, just had to stand firm and kept telling her no then she sends you to her manager to get the free gifts, he improves the offer, then you get your stuff whether you say yes or no.

My parents have a time share in Orlando which is great since that place will always be a popular vacation destination.

The good thing is that they can trade time shares. For example, wherever we go on vacation every year, we book the resort by trading time shares. It's awesome. 

It's useful if you travel a lot. My family and I go on a vacation every summer so we get use out of it at least once a year