How to Say No to a Timeshare Salesman

They say that if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Have you ever found yourself out west in the United States, lured by the promise of a free vacation? Or perhaps you were already on vacation and you were casually approached by someone in town saying you could have a free day of horseback riding or dinner for 2 at an exclusive restaurant? If you start to sense something is too good to be true, run, don't walk to your nearest exit. If all else fails and you find you have fallen victim to the promise of some fabulous offering, then you have a fallback plan.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Go alone to the presentation if possible. Then you can always say that you have to consult your husband or wife before deciding.

2. Run for the nearest exit when the timeshare presentation is over. Since the exit will usually be locked, try to sit at one of the tables that is nearest to the exit.

3. Know that timeshare salesmen have a number of tricks up their sleeves designed to make you feel foolish for not taking the opportunity to actually save money on your future travels. Your job is to counter their tricks. For example, when they ask you how often you travel, you can say only once every 10 or 20 years-or that this is the first time you have ever left the house.

4. If they say that while you may not be interested, but your children or relatives are, you can respond appropriately saying that you are tied up in an ugly custody battle right now and money is tight...or you now need to take care of an ailing relative with Alzheimer's and a timeshare purchase is not in your near future.

5. Emphasize your lack of money. Usually to even get inside a timeshare opportunity, you have to qualify with a certain annual income. When they start to put the pressure on, and ask you what about this opportunity does not appeal to you, you can respond by saying that you would love to try it, but your company is downsizing and you are next on the list of people getting axed. At that point they should stop the presentation and let you off or out.

Tips & Warnings

• Decide before you venture in if what they are offering is really worth the pressure of a direct sales approach that you are invariably going to feel!

[chicago2009]

on 5/9/2009 It sounds like rokjok is a loser, broke-ass timeshare salesman who can't cut it in the real world.Get a new "career" where you will make more money - like sweeping floors at McDonalds.

[rokjok]

on 5/8/2009 you probably do you tool. Why is it that it's always ok to LIE to the salesman, but if we lie TO YOU then we can get sued?YOURE the one that tried to capitalize on the free tickets, free movies, free whatever so don't play that holier than thou **** you idiot.You say that salesman have gotten too pushy and overbearing, but you MAKE US DO IT with your lies and underhanded tactics.You don't want the timeshare/car/motorcycle/boat/house then KEEP YOUR ASS AT HOME and don't take the salesmans time.What makes this woman an authority anyway? Are you a former salesperson that couldn't make it, so you decided to make it tough for the rest of us, or are you that laydown that we all love that's SOOOOO good at telling people how not to buy, but you have 5 pairs of the same shoes, 4 cars, a closet full of clothes you never wear and your husband has threatened to cut you off?Sign me, Successful ...

[4timeshare]

on 10/20/2008 asking someone to lie in order to get free gifts and get out of there is good advise for loosers who don't know what to do with their time or how to afford the gifts without stealing the time of the timeshare salesperson. very good. next time advise on how to steal also...

[dceclint]

on 7/28/2008 awesome. Love the humor. I attend these all the times and make a game out of it.