Mexican time share gifts. $200 cash

by Gary Behling
(Green Valley, Arizona)

The only thing mor fun than timeshares gifts is BOATING

I've been doing timeshare presentations for the gifts for years. Some salespeople have referred to me as "A PRO". I love going to timeshare presentations for all the gifts I can possibly get. The best deal, other than Hawaii where you get $200 cash is Mexico.

In any Mexican resort city, all mexicans who deal with tourists in any fashion, are aware of, and try to deal in delivering qualified buyers (tourists) to various resorts. They receive $150 from that resort when you arrive and are qualified by resort personel whether you buy or not. The tourist ALSO receives about $150 worth of tour tickets and resturant vouchers and, or cash whether you buy or not from the resort. Those gifts are ALWAYS disclosed to you IN WRITING before you actually show up for the 90 minute pitch.

I ALWAYS negotiate with the person signing me up for half of HIS (or her) $150 in addition to the gifts the resort promises. I am usually successful when the people I deal with are waiters, bus drivers, car rental personel, maids, or just people you'd meet on the street. They pick you up at your hotel and deliver you to the resort site. You find your own way home WITH ALL YOUR CASH AND GIFTS. The person who delivers you gives you $75 (his half) at the moment you get to the entrance door of the resort. NOT AFTERWARDS either. I tell them "it's NOW or I go Home"

You won't make this deal with the mexicans who are higher on the timeshare "pecking order" like the agressive guys at the airport. They are the most elite and that's why they are at the airport bothering you the moment you get off the plane. You can't deal with the guys at the information booths either---although I was successful once in Puerto Vallerta. These people are one rung under the airport guys. They don't need to deal!!

The main targets for these timeshare sign-up reps are SINGLE WOMEN and next-- unmarried couples living together. If you are in these 2 groups, bargain hard! You'll get exactly what you want. I wish I were an unmarried woman, I could make a good living at this. Or, at least, go on all vacations for free.

We saved $1100.00 on our honeymoon in Hawaii!!!!

by lisa
(tampa florida)

We went to three different timeshare promotions, one one Maui and Two on Kaui.
We ended up saving $1,100.00. Yes, we did have to go to the 90 min presentations but we always scheduled them in our off times.
We got bogo helicopter ride, free dinner shows, a few dinners. We got $100.00 cash, $100.00 Amex card and 15,0000 Marriot points. We think it is well worth our time and we continue to take these tours.

Worldwide Travel Center

by Paul F Whiting
(Folsom, California)

My wife and I responded to a time share presentation offer of two free airline tickets to any place in the continental U.S., Canada or Mexico. I responded by phone to the prize desk and was assured it was a legitimate offer if we would attend a 90 minute time share presentation. I asked if we could select the dates of the travel and they assured me we could. We accepted the offer with a clear statement that we had been to several time share presentations and had never purchased one. No problem, come on down and get your prize. We were planning to use the travel to vacation in Mexico.

We attended the time share presentation which was low key and we had a salesman who was very congenial and understanding of why we decided not to buy. After a brief visit with a supervisor we were given our prize package. The salesman warned us that we must follow the instructions to the letter and that most of these "things" end up in some drawer and are never used. He also said to not lose our postcard because the ticketing number, which we would need, did not exist on the prize package.

When we got home and read the prize package brochure it became clear that we had won a two night, three day stay in a resort of the company's choice after we chose travel between any two International airports. There would be no way to create a two week window between the departure and the return, as had been implied by the representative during my initial phone call. It was also necessary to submit a $100 postal money order, $50 for each of us, in order to get our booking documents. The $100 would be refundable after we took our "vacation".

After discussing the situation we decided to go ahead and take the three day "vacation" even though it had little appeal to us. We had to select three dates, the first at least 60 days from WTCs offer and the other two dates at least 30 days apart, not to exceed one year. WTC would select one of the three dates. We sent in the $100 postal money order.

When we received our Reservation Request Form from WTC there were two other previously undiscussed requirements. We were supplied an IRS W-9 form which we had to fill out and send back to WTC so they could report a gift in our behalf to the IRS. Their form advised us that the gift is worth between $2,000 and $3,000 dollars depending on the dates we choose and that we could expect our taxes on the gift to be between $400 and $900 depending on our tax bracket. In addition to the IRS W-9 form we had to submit an additional U.S. Postal money order in the amount of $186 to cover the taxes.

The bottom line is that this cheesy quick Tuesday through Thursday "vacation" would cost us between $600 and $1100 dollars. Only an idiot would accept such a ridiculous offer. The rub is that the initial $100 is absolutely non-refundable without taking the travel.

It is obvious that this so-called gift is designed so that very few people will accept it. However, each person who applies will forfeit $100 to WTC. I am in the process of requesting the return of my $100. Writing to sites such as this and warning other people about this thinly veiled fraud is my way of fighting back.

If you get an offer for a "vacation package" from Worldwide Travel Center, run, don't walk the opposite direction.

Cabo San Lucas

by tom
(san francisco, ca, usa)

-Cabo San Lucas
-From 5/23/2009 (post swine flu) until 5/30/2009.
-2 couples + 1 female (Husband couldn't make it).

The Luis the Payless car rental rep pitched Westin for $450 discount on rental bill. Wanted $50 deposit and we said NO and drove off.

Called a few days later to see if the offer is still available. Luis said yes but wanted two couples for the presentation. Informed him that only one couple is willing to attend and was counter offered $250. I said we will think about it.

The hotel receptionist over heard my conversation and asked if I am willing to talk to his rep about a timeshare presentation at a different place. I said "Why not." Asked him to stop by the room when arrives.

2 hr pass and Hugo stops by and we haggle over the gifts.
Finally we agree on the following.

-Only 1 couple attending.
-5 Glass bottom boat ride with snorkeling + transportation. msrp $45/person ($225)
-3 Ride with dolphins top package + transporation. msrp $175/person (*525)
-1 Fishing on a panga boat for small/medium game 5 hrs + transporation. msrp $121
-$100 activities fee I will have to pay. (Bad)

He asks for a deposit of $20 and I said I don't have cash only VISA. He puts his own $20 in but asks for it back after the presentation. I agree and sign the papers.

Next day at 8 am Hugo arrives to pick us (Wife & Me) up. Before we get in the Taxi, I verify promised gifts with Hugo: Gifts with transportation. He verifies.

We arrive at the timeshare. While drinking coffee I re-verify the promised gifts with Hugo. He acts stupid and said the transportation is not included. "It's not on the paper." I get only a little mad (I knew he would pull something like this). Informed him that we will not be participating and leaving.

We walk around the block and someone else from the timeshare pulls us in (he looks like Ice-T) and I explain to him what went wrong. Leaving out some parts :P

We strike new deal!

-5 Glass bottom boat ride with snorkeling + transportation. msrp $45/person ($225)
-3 Ride with dolphins top package. msrp $175/person (*525)
-1 Fishing on a panga boat for small/medium game 5 hrs. msrp $121
-$100 gift certificate to a jewelery store (Good).
-$20 refund on the deposit (that I didn't even pay)

I sign the papers, attend the presentation and buy NOTHING!

At the end we:
-Pay nothing!
-Didn't get the transportation but we had our own car so it was OK.
-Forgot about the $20 refund on deposit but that was OK because it wasn't even our money.

What a great deal :)

120.00 CASH

by Erica
(Illinois)

We went to Gatlinburg for about a week. On the first night down there we stopped for some coupons at a booth. The guy asked us how we would like to make 120.00 cash, I was interested. I had to put a 20.00 refundable deposit down and the next day I arrived and sat through their presentation (1.5 to 2 hours). I told them we weren't interested and received my cash. Its worth it but just remember they don't schedule these things at like 6:00 in the morning they are at prime times to be doing things on your vacation. As long as your cool with using up to 2 hours of prime time vacation time go for it! We did 2 different ones while we were down there and would have done 3 but too time consuming.