How I Sat Through a Grueling Timeshare Presentation.

On Saturday after SITC at Meridian 16, I was hustled into signing myself up for a time-share presentation for gifts.

Last night I went to my scheduled presentation, sat through the brainwashing movie, listened to a relaxed salesman tell me about his life and simultaneously pitch their hustle. I was honest and told him I had a money pit I needed to pour my wages into and that I couldn't wouldn't spare the money to buy into a timeshare. I was unabashedly there for the gifts, as were the other twenty somethings who were obviously not Wyndham's target demographic.

I thought I was going to get out of it painlessly, but then he brought in reinforcements. An aggressive, slick, and tricky salesman stepped in to salvage the deal that the previous one obviously botched. I smiled a knowing smile, laughed at his hard-sell antics, and held my ground despite his best efforts to persuade me that I would be making a grave mistake if I didn't commit to a timeshare right at that moment. I told him he was worse than a car dealer, and he didn't seem to mind the comparison.

Eventually, with an air of hostility and frustration he gave up and I was free to move on to my exit interview. There, they made a last-ditch effort to get me to try their ownership without committing. I did not. They thanked me for my time, and pointed me toward the gift window.

I happily accepted $20 cash, a gas card, a DVD player complete with a little sound system, and 3 nights at a resort of my choice—I chose Seaside, Oregon for its beauty and for its proximity, so as to make it easy to get away to.

All in all I think I came out on top, even though the high stress environment was grueling. Yay for free stuff!