In the early days of timeshare when the industry was just beginning to arise, the product was relatively unknown to the public. This is also the time when people are not acquainted that much with the disadvantages of timeshare ownership and the time when no one else want to get rid of his/her timeshare. Before, timeshare resorts started the practice of gifting clients to come in and see what they had to offer. These are the days when timeshare resorts were routinely giving out toasters, color televisions, dinner certificates, and pretty much the kitchen sink in return for your time listening to a sales presentation.

Later on, the timeshare developers arrived at the idea that their product was too uniquely positioned to take advantage of traditional advertising methods. Also, this type of marketing did work to some extent with respect to the old-time timeshares. Eventually, that method filled salesrooms day after day, and some of the people attending the presentations did purchase the product. This also dragged the industry to the image of the hard-sell timeshare salesperson, the questionable- at-best selling practices so prevalent in the old days, and the often less-than-honest image that timeshare still holds for many consumers.

In a recent survey, it revealed that 79% of consumers polled thought that they had to endure a high-pressure sales presentation in order to purchase a timeshare. On the other hand, the timeshare industry is, as a whole, doing little to dissuade consumers from that image. In truth, the majority of timeshare presentations are the result of some discounted vacation package or other gift.

All in all, timeshare and companies offering timeshare relief are no different from any other commercial product out there in the market. Moreover, the timeshare product these days is good enough to easily sell itself without having to lure customers to presentations with offers of free vacations or gifts.