Aggressive time share shills?

[Michael&Yvonne]

When I was in PDC in 2003, the one and only negative aspect of our trip was the constant harrassment from time share reps on every block along 5th. Does this still go on? If so, anyone know any local tricks for dealing with this?

[Heather]

Originally Posted by Michael&Yvonne

When I was in PDC in 2003, the one and only negative aspect of our trip was the constant harrassment from time share reps on every block along 5th. Does this still go on? If so, anyone know any local tricks for dealing with this?

It does, particularly in the few blocks surrounding the ferry dock.

Best tip, "no, gracias" and keep walking. Can't bother you unless you let them.

[sctx]

I throw their exact pitch lines back at them, it turns into a friendly banter.....sometimes, I just pretend I'm Italian and ignore them altogether... but generally, I turn it into a humorous exchange.....after all, I'm there to relax and have fun (drink tequila), not to get upset by anything trivial

[MWC]

Just keep walking. Or, if you can't help but be annoyed, skip up to Avenida 10 or down to the beach for those few blocks.

I don't like feeling so hard-hearted and ignoring the hawkers, but it's only gotten worse.

[Daddy B]

Originally Posted by sctx

...sometimes, I just pretend I'm Italian and ignore them altogether

Must one wear a Speedo for that stratagem to work?

[Leia]

We were pleasantly surprised in December with very few timeshare approaches, maybe five in two weeks. Yes, mostly near the ferry terminal and not even in our hotel! My stock answer has always been, "no deseo mas tiempo compartido" which apparently loosely means, "I don't want more timeshare." The odd one this trip pleaded with us to just play the game.

[sctx]

Originally Posted by Daddy B

Must one wear a Speedo for that stratagem to work?

yes, it really helps.... a tribal tattoo on your left arm is a must also.... and some small tortoise shell rimmed sunglasses

[JimmyMN]

Originally Posted by MWC

Or, if you can't help but be annoyed, skip up to Avenida 10.

That's usually my advice or I simply tell them they're waddling too slow like a tourist.

[FrankT]

It's all relative I guess. I feel FAR less attacked by these timeshare people in Playa than anywhere else I have been in Mexico. I hardly ever get approached, except for that one corner on about 5th and Calle 14 or 16 where they have a booth. That one spot they seem to try every time we walk by.

Frank

[kirbyfan]

My wife and i have unfortunately fallen for this not once but twice! Last time was in Playa with my best friend and his wife. When the lunch and tour was over and they took us into the big room for the hard sell I was shocked to see my friend and his wife get up and leave after about 10 minutes. We were in there forever! They wouldnt let us go and when we finally got out i asked my buddy how the heck they got out so fast. Robb (my friend) told me that when they asked what he and his wife did, he responded with I deliver pizzas for Dominoes and my wife works at Wal-Mart. That was all it took and they were out the door. Those dirty timeshare guys must be sterotyping the poor Dominoes and Wal-Mart employees as underpaid.

[JoanieBlon]

Poor Zydeco actually got nabbed by some woman time-share shark from Porto Real last year while I was off having a massage. She signed him up for a "FREE" breakfast and sales pitch which he of course never took her up on. She also was none too pleased when she discovered that he was married, as that meant I would have to come also. Zydeco just can't seem to say NO GRACIAS! There were so few time share guys on Quinta down by the bus station last weekend, that we sort of MISSED all the attention and calls to Zydeco saying "HEY!! Senor Mustache!" or "Hey! Pancho Villa!" I consider the sales tactics of the shop keepers in Playa VERY laid back to Tijuana, where they literally almost physically drag you into their shops!

[Bryzee]

Just say No?

[WBones]

Originally Posted by JoanieBlon

Poor Zydeco actually got nabbed by some woman time-share shark from Porto Real last year while I was off having a massage. She signed him up for a "FREE" breakfast and sales pitch which he of course never took her up on. She also wasn none too pleased when she discovered that he was married, as that meant I would have to come also. Zydeco just can't seem to say NO GRACIAS! There were so few time share guys on Quinta down by the bus station last weekend, that we sort of MISSED all the attention and calls to Zydeco saying "HEY!! Senor Mustache!" or "Hey! Pancho Villa!" I consider the sales tactics of the shop keepers in Playa VERY laid back to Tijuana, where they literally almost physically drag you into their shops!

I just squeezed a trip in to Mazatlan, before our annual trip to Playa in April. You have seen nothing untill you go there. you will be approached at least once every block. And then they will fly up on a pulmonia and jump out and start there sales pitch. Most usually give up quickly if you give them a No Gracias and keep walking. The worst we had was we stopped in a nice restaurant, and before we could order here comes the time share lady. I quickly told here that this was our last meal before we went to the airport in 3 hours. This only stopped her for a few minutes as she repeatedly approached us with more offers.This completely ruined what should have been an enjoyable meal. I later told this story to an owner of another restaurant. I knew that the establishment was allowing her to do this and that because of this I would not eat there again. She admitted that many of the eating establishment down there allowed time share people because they gave kick backs. I think in all my visits to Playa this has been a very small problem if any at all.

[JudyBluEyes]

I just usually say no gracias, but my dear husband likes to stop and "chat" :p We got caught by that same Porto Real woman too, and we were staying there and had on the braclets! She started out talking about something entirely different, I forget what, and then changed to the Real speal, we just told her we already did the breakfast and she quit. We've always stayed at AIs, but this next time we're staying in town. A lot of the timeshare people yell out the name of the resort you're staying at, do they pester people w/o braclets less or is it about the same?

[Bumper]

We've travelled quite extensively throughout the Caribbean, and to tell the truth, we find the time share sharks in Playa to be pretty laid-back lot, compared to many we've encountered. A smile and a "No, Gracias" seems to put most of them to rest. And after a few days of walking past them in their usual haunts, they don't even bother asking any more, mostly. You'll get the occasional aggressive keener, but they appear to be the exception, rather than the rule.