Original Message:
Even more complicated.... (by KC):
llhayden wrote:=============================================AH, so this is why I have noticed (on Ebay) that people say their timeshare is a floating RED season, then they list their weeks and about 10 weeks are missing (mostly summer weeks.) I thought RED (high) season meant ALL weeks. I guess those are the blackout weeks! Wow, there really is a ton of miniscule things to make sure you are aware of!
Well, unfortunately it's even a little more complicated than that. The whole "Red" season business is a bit subjective in the first place. It's really just an artificial reflection of historical "highest demand" time periods, and there are "shades" of red ranging between "pale pink" and "bright crimson". In most instances, even where there are "blackout" restrictions, the (so-called) "Red" season is usually a much longer time frame than just the restricted (blackout) period. In short, "red" season and blackout periods are entirely separate and distinct concepts, although there may well be overlap between the two time frames, with the extent of overlap determined by geography, seasonal demand, whether the fixed weeks there are all sold out already, etc.
Consider also, as another illuminating example of complexity, that in Hawaii EVERY SINGLE WEEK of the year is a (so-called) "Red" week. Yet, there may well still be some blackout periods for float week owner reservations at some resorts there.
You are absolutely correct that there really and truly is a myriad of little details in timeshare purchase and use. Accordingly, it behooves each and every potential buyer to become educated and well informed about timeshare intricacies BEFORE buying ANYTHING. In my personal opinion, one significant reason that many timeshare owners become disgruntled, unhappy or complaining is that, in plain truth, they never really learned or ever fully understood in the first place exactly what they were buying, what it is really worth, what reservation restrictions might exist there, or what the (often pure fantasy) "trade or exchange" value of their purchase really is. In addition, many buyers don't realize that "special assessments" pop up from time to time (fees imposed over and above the annual maintenance fees, arising from unexpected things like hurricane damage, etc.) and they scream like banshees when that reality arrives unexpectedly. In terms of real value, some timeshares on eBay aren't worth their $1.00 listing.
Timeshare can be a wonderful thing. However, timeshare is certainly not water which people should just jump into head first, unless they are a good swimmer to begin with. In timeshare, the time to learn to swim is BEFORE jumping in!