On August 28 we featured a letter by Mario Attard in which he wrote: "In my view, the meeting was a planned session of mental and psychological harassment to try and lure us into investing in a venture, which personally I was not convinced let alone interested in pursuing."

His parting shot was: "In this connection, I wish to reiterate my disappointment of your behaviour and I can assure you that I will spread the word [including the media and higher authorities] on your unethical way of conducting business in Malta."

Mr Attard's letter was followed by a letter sent by Winston J. Zahra, who among other things wrote: "I would like to assure you that nothing on our end is planned to take a form of mental or psychological harassment. We are developing a top end international resort, which will be a high-end addition to the island's tourism industry."

Subsequently I received the following letter:

I need to respond to one of your letters in your column regarding the selling techniques used at the timeshare presentation for the Golden Sands resort at the Coastline Hotel. Your reader stressed that they endured planned sessions of mental and psychological harassment during the presentation.

My experience was very much the opposite. We were never hassled, harassed or pressured into buying timeshare. The sales tactics used were a bit cheesy and outdated but throughout the session the salesman and his management team were very polite and friendly.

During the presentation we were offered refreshments and at least 80 per cent of the time was spent on site at the Golden Sands. The resort sold itself. It was disappointing that the decision had to be made on the same day as it was a big investment but, to their credit, they did highlight that if we returned home and felt unsure we could cancel within 14 days with no strings attached. They did stress that the opportunity was too good to miss. However, after all, what do you expect when you attend a "sales" presentation?

I believe that, since I am a sales skill training manager for a major American corporation (Xerox) and a successful author of the sales book Chill Out guide to Successful Selling, I am ideally placed to assess the timeshare salespeople's performance.

I am very pleased to say that I have gone ahead with the decision to purchase a two-bedroom apartment at the excellent Golden Sands Resort.

My family looks forward to returning to Malta in the future upon completion of the resort. (Paul Butler)

I thank Mr Butler for his letter and I take the opportunity to welcome him to Malta. So far, I've had a lot of conflicting written and verbal feedback regarding the meeting referred to. Suffice it to say that I find the acute difference between the impressions made on those who attended the same meeting highly disturbing. At this stage I appeal to persons who were at this meeting to send me their comments accordingly. Indeed, this has proved to be an issue well worth looking into and discussing.

A particular aspect, which I consider to be highly disturbing, is the way potential buyers were given a Lm10 voucher, which they could use as a deposit there and then. In my opinion, although they were told that they would be able to cancel within 14 days, such an option still constitutes an application of pressure on the consumer. Despite the fact that s/he can cancel, in such a situation, the potential buyer is pressured to express an interest. Moreover, once the potential buyer has signed on the dotted line, the seller has obtained an upper hand.

I strongly believe that the potential buyer should not, in any way, form or fashion, be put in a position where they have to express an interest there and then. Most definitely such an approach puts the consumer in a disadvantageous situation. The consumer has a right not to be put in a situation whereby he has to express an interest at such an early stage.