You're vacationing in the Bahamas with your girlfriends when the charming man in the flowered shirt comes by with offers of a free bottle of rum, breakfast and access to exclusive beachfront property for the day.
All you have to do is tour a time-share resort that just opened on the island.
You're intrigued by the prospect and find yourself in a luxury resort seated next to a salesperson trying to persuade you to buy a unit at the property.
He promises a deal you can get only for that day. You're tempted by the thought of being able to visit the pristine piece of beachfront property every year.
But wait before you sign any papers. Never make a decision in a day. And make sure before you spend thousands on a vacation spot that you're going to use it for years to come.
Time shares - where consumers typically purchase a piece of a vacation property for the right to use it once a year - are growing in popularity. Industry leaders describe the purchase as a good vacation option for many people.
About 4.7 million households owned the vacation properties last year, compared with 4.4 million in 2006.
Many people like to invest in the properties because it helps push them to take a big vacation at least once a year, and it can provide them the opportunity to visit many different places.
But some customers buy a time share only to realize later that it's not the thing for them. And the properties can be difficult to sell once you own one, according to industry experts.
"As soon as you buy it, you're practically stuck with it for life," said Brian Rogers, who with his father runs the Timeshare User Group, an online community of time-share owners that provides information on how to buy and sell the properties. Resale Internet sites are filled with properties that people find they don't use or the value isn't quite what they expected. Some sell for as little as a dollar.
Many properties drop in value as soon as you buy them, much like a car. Some properties at resorts such as Walt Disney World and other popular spots provide better resale values.
Experts point out that while time shares are often considered a real estate transaction, they don't have the same kind of return as a house or condominium.
"I think they're good options if people understand it's about better vacationing and that it's not a real estate investment," said Howard Nusbaum, president and chief executive officer of the American Resort Development Association, an industry trade group.
There are three main types of time shares: fixed and floating weeks, and point systems.
A fixed week is better for people who like to go to the same place at the same time every year. For instance, a family that takes an annual trip to Ocean City would likely enjoy such a setup, according to industry experts.
The floating week is good for people who may want to trade their time with someone who has a time share at a different location. For example, someone who buys a time share at a Disney World resort could trade the stay for a New York City hotel one year.
The point system, where you use points to go to various places, is the most flexible and best for those who like to try different locations.
If you're not one to take a vacation every year, a time share might not be the best option. Likewise, if you're a spontaneous traveler, a time share might not fit your needs because you often have to book several months in advance, said Lisa Ann Schreier, a former time-share saleswoman and author of the book Timeshare for Dummies.
"If your idea of a vacation is sleeping on grandma's couch, a time share is probably not a good product for you," Nusbaum said. "If you spend a couple of thousand dollars a year on a vacation, you'll like it because you're going to get more for your money."
There are also other factors to consider, such as yearly maintenance and penalty fees if you don't use the time share enough. Some properties will charge fees for repairs if the resort is hit by a hurricane or damaged in some other way. Others might charge parking and cleaning fees once you arrive.
Then there's the price of a time share.
How do you really know whether what the sales representative is offering is the best deal? The average time share costs about $15,000, with $500 in annual maintenance fees, according to ARDA.
With the point system, if you don't buy enough points annually, it might be difficult to book at the nicer resorts or locations. Similarly, if you buy a week at a prime time of year, such as Christmas, it will be easier to exchange it for periods when people don't typically travel. Destinations that are in high demand are also easier to trade.
Don't feel as if you have to book the day you visit a resort time share. While some deals are available only for a day, you can usually get savings a week or even months later, experts said. You can also ask to leave a deposit and give yourself a night to consider.
"The presentations are set up so it makes you feel like you're getting the best deal out there," said Rogers, who runs the resale site of previously owned properties.
"People can't stand to pass up a good deal. But in actuality, you have as much time as you want to buy a time share. If you call them six months later and ask for the deal, they'll jump through hoops to give it to you."
And Schreier says consumers shouldn't be afraid to negotiate for a better price, lower fees or more amenities.
"I'd always negotiate something," Schreier said. "This isn't a $50 pair of shoes we're talking about."
Also, look at other financing options. The interest rate that time-share developers offer often is higher than you could get from a regular bank. Most states give you seven to 10 days after buying a time share to change your mind. You can also use that time to find additional financing.
If you decide to sell your time share, consider that the resale market for some properties is about 30 percent to 50 percent of the price initially paid to purchase it, according to the Timeshare Users Group.
You can advertise online for free, or for a listing charge of $10 to $35, at resale sites such as TUG Timeshare Marketplace, Redweek.com, MyResortNetwork.com and Transaction Realty.
Some experts said it's best to avoid any service or broker that asks for an upfront fee of hundreds or thousands of dollars to sell your time share. Some lawmakers and experts warn about groups that target people desperate to get out of time shares.
You can also try to rent your week to other vacationers or donate it to a charity. Some companies might also allow you to deed the property back to them, although fees can range from $500 to $4,000.
"Not all companies will do it," Rogers said. "But it's worth asking. The worst they can do is say no."
tips
Buying a time share
* Make sure you'll vacation every year.
* Ask about maintenance fees, penalties for nonuse, cleaning fees and other costs.
* Find out whether you can bank unused time-share weeks to use later.
* Consider buying from a current time-share owner, whose price might be lower, rather than a resort.
* Be wary of sales tactics that force you to make a quick decision.
* Do your research to see the going rate of other time shares.
* Figure out what type of time share is best for you: fixed week, floating week, point system.
* Find out if you can rent out your time-share week.
tips
Selling a time share
* Know that selling a time share could be difficult.
* Don't automatically expect to get back what you originally paid.
* Research what similar time shares are selling for on the market.
* Stay away from third parties who offer to sell for you in exchange for high payments.
* Sell during peak seasons, when people are looking to vacation.
* If using a broker, get a written listing of the services they are providing and the fees. It's best to do it on a commission-only basis.
Sources: Timeshare Users Group, www.cruising-america.com, bankrate.com