Time Share Terrors

Time Share Loot -- Money, Tickets and All Kinds of Goodies!

By
Relationship Advice Expert April Masini

Last week, my husband and I were almost swindled out of a lot of money by a man selling time shares. We thought it would be really romantic to have a place we could escape to every once in awhile, but the more we looked into this company, the less comfortable we were with the situation. What is the real story on time shares? Are they worth it?

Sincerely,
Wanna-Be Vacation Vixen

Dear Wanna-Be Vacation Vixen,

It seems like every major vacation destination has “time share” salesmen pitching deals of a lifetime. These sales reps lure people in with a free show or $50 or something of the sorts and make the potential customer sit through hours of boring presentations. Although annoying, the presentations are not illegal. However, recently another reader wrote in to me complaining that some time share companies have crossed the line with their sales tactics and is “forcing people to buy”.

Now wait a minute!

I don’t think that anyone is holding a gun to a time share buyer’s head or threatening to harm their family if they don’t buy a time share. In fact, if they did, it would be illegal and subject to prosecution. Whenever someone submits to a time share deal — whether it’s for $50 or $250 — they’re agreeing to listen to a presentation in exchange for the loot. That’s all. And if someone’s agreeing to more, than they share responsibility for the agreement.

Sales are all about enticing a buyer and closing the deal. Some salesmen and women are more aggressive than others, and may seem more annoying to customers who don’t want an aggressive pitch. The best way to not be annoyed by one of these pitches is to be clear before you agree to take part, on what the conditions are. Get the conditions in writing, and stick to them.

And if it all begins to feel just wrong -- or if the hard sell is too hard for you, you don't have to be a victim. You don't have to stay. It's not jail, and you're not chained to a chair. You can always excuse yourself. Be polite, and expect your salesman to be angry, more aggressive or even to throw more loot at you to get you to stay, but that doesn't mean you have to. You can ALWAYS just walk out. Remember — the worst thing that happens is that you leave the pitch and don’t get your loot. It could be a lot worse than that!

And if you decide to go with a time share, make sure you keep the kids in mind! There are lots of time share locations that are better for kids than others. And you'll want to schedule time share slots that you're going to use for your kids around school vacations and breaks for maximum flexibility.

April Masini -- nicknamed "the new millennium's Dear Abby" by the media, is author of the best-selling books Date Out Of Your League and Think & Date Like A Man, the two (just released) step-by-step dating and relationship manuals, Ideas for a Fun Date and Romantic Date Ideas, and the critically acclaimed dating and relationship online magazine www.AskApril.com.

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