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Remembering why you bought your timeshare! (by Phil L.):

lancec13 wrote:

The reason why so many bought (from the developer) was because the salesperson(s) lied, exaggerated, misled, misrepresented, and oversold what owning a timeshare could do for the buyer. ==================================== We as many in the early eighties bought from the developer because there wasn't the resale we now have with computers. Honestly we never felt lied to because the salesmen did give us information on timeshairing and the resort. He did tell us we were buying a vacation week for use or exchange for many years and would save money and he was right. When we left timesharing we spent alot more than our maintenence fee's even now and had less time and space in hotels. We were never once told we could keep it 10-20 years and sell for what we paid. We were told we had the use of our unit for thirty years because it was Mexico and at that time americans could only own the use of the unit for 30 years then it returns to the resort. Each year like buying a car a timeshare value goes down again for common sense people this was obvious. We were told we could exchange through Rci which was also true. Maintenance fee question was a common sense question when we asked about the fee's going up as the resort gets older and was told just like buying a home cost go up with age. phill12 =================================== True, the buyer should have done more research before quickly handing over thousands of dollars for and on-the-spot, spur-of-the-moment purchase but those purchases were likely based on all the lies and misrepresentations the salesperson(s) used. ==================================== How many people buy cars and being told it gets 40 miles to the gallon to then find out your lucky to gets 35 miles? Bought a house to later find some old pipes or roof problem, thats part of life and a buyer should be smart enough to have these things checked before buying. ================================phill12

What about the classic, "Oh, you can rent it out for [well above your maintenance fees]" when we all know that it's not as easy or guaranteed as it sounds? ====================================

Before 2007 you could rent in most 4/5 star resorts most good weeks but renting a timeshare was never the reason to be buying one. Even now you still rent for more than your fee. phill12 ================================== hen, of course, there's the ploy where they hand you the catalog for RCI or Interval International telling you that you can exchange anytime, anywhere at any of these zillions of resorts for a "small" exchange fee. Yeah, right. ====================================

Again why would a adult with any common sense think you could buy a one bedroom 3 star resort and exchange to any location in the world each year? phill12 ====================================

As for those who "now want to know how to dump their unit", that's probably because they realize that they can rent for less than the amount of their maintenance fees and, inversely, cannot recover their maintenance fees if/when they rent it out (if they can even find a renter). ==================================== This was one of the points I was trying to make in that for many reasons many people want to dump their timeshares but there are also many that read these forums and decide they want to dump their unit when they can still be enjoying it in use or exchange. I hate the term DUMP because this says owner doesn't see any value in owning so why should a buyer.I guess this means a home owners taxes went up so he should dump their house too. ==================================== Also, the last sentence that I quoted from you may sum up some owners' frustration. They bought thinking that it would provide them with a lifetime of travel savings only to find out that three years down the road, their situation changes and can no longer afford the maintenance fees or the travel expenses.

Again how is this the developers fault that they bought something and few years later things happen and they can't pay the bills? It seems you list all the excuses for these buyers being taken without giving the buyers the blame they deserve in this because there the ones that maybe jumped on free vacation and had to sit through the resort presentation and get free money or dinner . Anyone in timesharing knows when you except this you will get a hard sell because that is why your getting these freebies! I would never stick up for timeshare developers but they are doing their job and anyone with common sense knows this going in. They don't hold a gun to your head forcing you to buy they gave you freebies to sit listen and hope to buy. I have over the years heard and read many postings when being told by some of the other old timers on these forums that they can just say NO and leave. It never fails that some will repost saying if we leave before our 90-120 minutes we don't get our freebies. Or like Hawaii they would make you pay your five day stay which was only right! LMAO There is enough blame to go around in timesharing for problems and I have always stated the one of the down turns in timesharing was when owners wanted to rent their weeks and this became a bidding war to the bottom which cost the exchange company the units and locations to make exchanges. It is funny how its everyone elses fault but the buyers but then they dump their unit and leave the other owners at the resort paying for their missing maintenance fee's!

Bottom line we all know if a timeshare sales person mouth is moving they probably are 50% lies. Its up to the buyer to ask right questions, never buy at that time and that deal that ends when you leave is always on the table. I will say same as I have many times along with other old timers on these forums trying to help people before they lose money. If you want to go to these tours don't take your credit cards with you and don't sign anything. Go home and read these forums like Tug or Redweek and learn. I doubt many people go to a home showing and buy at the point. Again " COMMON SENSE"

PHILL12