Bali Free Accommodation Cards Possibly Timeshare?!

Many times walking through kuta, I have had people giving me cards that you crack open and there's a prize on the inside, 2 times its been 7 days free accommodation. Im pretty sure its Timeshare, although it may not be.

Im just wondering, If I did sit through what ever BS they are going to try sell me, Are they really going to give me the room for free? OR is there a catch, Nothings free after all,

But in true ozbargain style, who could turn down a weeks free accommodation?!

Has anyone done this ? Is the hotel just not something you would want to stay in? There's always a catch, But an hour or 2 of my time, I could do with. Especially if the hotel is central

Comments

    1. Walking through Kuta
    2. People hand me cards with prizes inside
    3. Free 7 days accomodation

    Now I may cop some backlash from the OzBargain voters here, but there comes a line where common sense overrules a bargain. Those Kuta pan-handlers, souvineer sellers and all-round tricky buggers aren't working for your benefit. I'd exercise extreme caution.

    Most likely a Timeshare/high-pressure sales outfit. Also, think about it. If they're going up to people willy-nilly handing out 100s of cards to tourists and passers-by — how many hotel rooms do these people have? 7 days free accomodation for 1,000 people a day?

    Nope. Reeks of a scam.

  • What's very likely to happen is the 'free' week's accomodation is only going to be to people who buy a timeshare. Even if the touts live up to their promise of giving away accomodation after a 'short' presentation, do you really want to spend a day or more of your holiday sitting through a high pressure sales session? That's torture, not a holiday.

    It sounds like a time share scam. Plain and simple.

    As a kid I entered a competition for a short hotel stay. Turned out my family was invited to a high pressure timeshare sales session. The people who won the short hotel stay, were, shock horror, the only people who agreed to buy a timeshare property. The way my parents were treated and restrained from leaving (salesman actually stood in the doorway when they wanted to leave) was disgusting. Timeshare sales people work in a morally bankrupt industry designed to con people out of money.

  • I take up these offers quite often and they are not exactly a scam as you will get what they promise (plus more…). The reason why most people don't like them is because they make you attend a presentation for 1.5-3 hours (on average) to try and hard-sell you a very expensive timeshare deal. It involves a lot of arguing back and forth about why you aren't going to buy it which tends to wear you down to the point of frustration. However, if you are prepared for this and can handle the annoyance it can be a great way to get a cheap holiday. The standard of the resorts is usually pretty decent too.

    • This is more what I was looking for, What kinda +More are we talking?

      Last time I looked on Ebay, At cheap accommodation (over a year ago) they stated you needed to attend a 2hour seminar to get the cheap rate, So I figured it was the same kinda thing…

      Whilst in bangkok, I read prior about the Tuk Tuk Tailor Scam, The first few tuk tuks, We where like No no tailor, Next time I said to the wife, Lets do it, Get the 50c Tuk Tuk and see what this con is all about, We already decided we were not going to buy anything, And wanted to experience the High pressure sell, We looked at some nice brochures for 15 minutes got up and left, They where very pushie sales people, But I had no intention on a suit anyhow,

      • The +more is the presentation and high pressure sales tactics. They can't force you to buy it though so just stay polite and say it isn't going to work for your circumstances. Whatever you do, don't buy it. Even if it would suit you it can be bought second hand for less than half the price.

  • By the way, the timeshare resorts in Bali don't seem to be in central areas. That's not necessarily a bad thing but do your research.

    • +1

      Cool Cheers donga… I might give a crack, Add to the Tailor, Property Seminar, Gem shop
      Nothing like building resistance to high pressure sales…

      • I use the gem shops in Phuket as a bargaining chip. I let them bring me to all the gem shops in exchange for a lower price on the cost of the car/driver for a day. Just pop in for a couple of minutes, drink the icy cold welcome drink and then back in the car. :)

        • thats the go!

Login or Join to leave a comment