Lesson 11: Sharing Your Time
We’re in the car on our way Las Vegas right now. Since I am in the passenger seat typing, I have relinquished the wheel and actually let my wife drive for an hour or two. As we began the drive it reminded me of the last trip we took to Vegas. A year ago I decided to surprise my wife with a weekend getaway to Vegas. The idea was good, but the execution was less than stellar.
Lesson 11: Don’t try to fund a surprise getaway by attending mulitple timeshare presentations during the getaway.
My wife and I attended our first timeshare presentation a few years ago. In return, we received a voucher for a weekend getaway. When my wife’s birthday rolled around, I remembered the voucher. When I called to redeem it I found out that the vacation package consisted of 2 nights in a hotel. This meant we would be staying from Friday night until Sunday morning. Additionally, we would be required to attend another timeshare presentation during the “romantic getaway.” It seemed worth it for a free hotel room, so I agreed. I arranged the babysitter and took Friday afternoon off. My wife was surprised and very excited for the trip. We arrived in Vegas pretty late on Friday but enjoyed a midnight buffet.
The next day, we walked down the strip and were approached by a guy trying to get us to attend a timeshare presentation. My wife was not interested, but he caught my ear when he said we could have 2 free buffet tickets and 2 free tickets to a variety show. After 15 minutes, and with some help from the salesman, I convinced my wife to attend the timeshare presentation. We were now committed to attend 2 presentations in the next 24 hours. Within 5 minutes—no exaggeration—we were approached again by another person trying to get couples to attend a timeshare presentation. My wife explained to the woman that we were in Vegas because we had already attended a timeshare presentation and we still had 2 more to attend that day. I sympathetically nodded as my wife tried to talk us out of this, but I was secretly excited when the woman began making us offers. I told her that we already had buffet tickets and show tickets, but that we could use some cash. We agreed on $75 cash to attend the presentation. At this point my wife was visibly disturbed because the entire vacation would be spent at timeshare presentations. Again, with the help of the street peddler, I convinced her to sign up for yet 3 more hours of cheesy vacation videos and slimy sales pitches. As we walked away I could tell that I was in trouble, but I was so excited: not only had the entire trip been funded by timeshare presentations, but I would also now be one of the few to leave Vegas with more cash than I brought in.
During the 1 1/2 days in Vegas, we ended up spending a total of 9 hours at presentations, but did get free food, shows, and cash. Unfortunately we spent a total of 7 hours arguing in the car on the drive home because I ruined our romantic getaway. Fortunately we are now experts at resisting the urge to refinance our home to fund a shared rental unit in Nassau.
My suggestion: Don’t try to make money while on a romantic getaway. Instead, enjoy the precious time you have with your spouse. If you do need some extra cash, wait until your spouse falls asleep for a nap and sneak to the mall to participate in a survey or two.
2 Responses to “Lesson 11: Sharing Your Time”
We did the time share presentation thing once, and only once, for a free hotel stay in San Diego. Once was plenty for me. I would rather pay for a hotel than have to sit through one of those things again. If my husband signed us up for 9 hours worth of that while on a 2 day trip? I probably would have killed him. Maybe I could have gotten off on the “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas” defense.
By Shelley on Nov 7, 2007
We got 3 hours of timeshare hell in lieu of 3 free nights in a hotel, a free buffet, 2 tickets to a show, and a certificate to renew our wedding vows. However, we didn’t use the show or wedding certificate.
At the presentation we were hamming it up and told the sales people we were total hicks that ONLY liked to camp, but they still tried and tried.
Was three hours worth all the loot? I said yes, but she said no way!
Still if I did 9 hours of it, I would probably have to poke my eyes out with toothpicks.
By Karlmalone on Nov 8, 2007