Companies are getting desperate. I “won” a prize this week I felt I had to write about. It was from the Club Seasons Canada’s Win A Vacation a Year for 10 Years Contest.
I received a letter stating I was one of their daily winners. What did I win? Well, Club Seasons Canada is a timeshare company. I won a 45 year timeshare. (Apparently, I won the Platinum prize.) It is a legitimate win. I do not have to sit through a 90 min. presentation or a hard sales pitch. It’s mine if I want it.
The catch? Why do I feel this is a borderline win? Well, I have to pay the annual maintenance fee. (Approximately $688 Canadian per year.) Not a bad deal if you already plan to go where they have their resorts. (Wish I had won this before we went to San Antonio TX last summer!)
(I know a few people that have timeshares and love them. I even had the pleasure in spending a week in one and it was great. We drove to Florida, bought our own groceries, spent most of the week by the pool. Cheapest, most luxurious holiday – outside of a win – I have ever been on.)
Club Seasons Canada is even offering to refund the maintenance fee and take back the membership if I am not happy after my first stay. Seems like I can’t lose. I just can’t see myself going to any of the places they have resorts. Plus, I don’t want to spend about $700 annually for something I may not use.
Since they can’t sell the timeshares, why not give them away? The maintenance fees get covered and the resorts get filled. Not a bad marketing tactic.
I have a week to think about it. We’ll see…
January 21st, 2009 at 2:49 pm
Don’t do it, it is a complete and total scam. The girl when confronted hung up… if you won something, you won it. THis is only a marketing ploy to get you to call them to do business.
Save your pennies and shop online to find your dream holiday…
January 26th, 2009 at 9:39 am
So what did you end up doing with this? My husband just won the same thing but we are scheptical to give our money upfront if we may not be taking the trip for a while. Not much information on the internet about this company. I’m curious to know if anyone has actually taken their trip yet.
July 29th, 2009 at 11:21 am
We just got the same thing…Im going to do some more research and possibly give it a shot. The only thing I am a little concerned about is the maintenance fees. $709 US is a little steep for a timeshare. I’ll let you know how it goes.
August 3rd, 2009 at 3:42 pm
I just went over the phone with somebody about the same deal.US 709 for a week paid upfront in a resort of my choice for my whole family. It sounds to good to be true. However I have to pay yet for the air fares or drive from Canada over there. There no detailed pictures in the website about the locations. Maybe something to think about.