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Scams vs. Consumer Accountability in resales (by David J.):
I have read a variety of post / threads on this site that deal with timeshare resale scams. Although I agree there are many scams out there, it amazes me the number of people who feel it is their right to a refund or relief due to an ill-advised financial decision they made. It speaks volumes to the inherent notion that many have that being held accountable to an action does not apply to them. Indeed if a timeshare resale company that offers (for a fee) advertising on a their website for your timeshare ...extracts that fee fraudulenty the consumer is owed a refund. But if a consumer is about to agree to pay a fee for a service it is that consumer's responsibility do so as an informed consumer, and in most cases I believe the average American consumer would rather consume first and then become informed. As someone who has worked in sales and retail over 25 years it is my humble opinion that too many consumers would rather spend the time griping after the fact than be informed beforehand.
I have had great success in bartering for and / or selling items on free sites such as craigslist...but lets be real here. Do you really think you will sell your Cabo San Lucas timeshare by posting it in the real estate section of craigslist in Lancaster, PA? I think not. And as most of the timeshare resale sites do not promise a sale for the charged advertising fee...only the exposure (worldwide / ie WWW.) I do not see what all the griping is about. Face the facts...you bought a luxury item at retail that in most cases diminishes in value very quickly and even more so in tough economic times. To complain about having to expend time, energy and money to sell that item is childish. And if you do not want to spend the money upfront there are a variety of sites that offer brokerage (in the traditional real estate manner) with payment of commission due at time of sale.
Many folks who post here do so without spending time vetting the facts (in such the same manner as they consume). In the spirit of civil conversation and debate I do hope the number of rants on this site diminishes.