Resale Time Share Pitfalls And How To Beat Them

Posted on | September 27, 2008 | Leave a Comment

Many of us have heard the horror stories associated with resale timeshare scams over the years. We’ve heard of companies doing everything short of holding a gun to your head to make you buy. The general impressions of the industry are negative. So how can you avoid getting taken advantage of in this cutthroat business?

The best way is to not even get involved in the first place. Timeshare companies will make promises galore to try and lure you to their lair. “Get free tickets to Disney World and you’ll also receive three days and two nights at our beautiful resort. All that’s required of you is a short 90 minute tour of our resort. We’d just like your feedback on our resort.”

I’m sure that almost all of us have heard something to this effect over the years. See the video here as an example: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zelAjGGRX8s

However, what you didn’t hear was that the person you’re talking to is actually just taking your money and selling the rights to your tour to some other company. Along the way your reservation and all the things you were promised have a good chance of getting lost in the shuffle.

That “upgraded” room that you paid for on the ocean might not even exist by the time you get to your hotel.

What about that “90 minute tour”? Actually, that’s usually something that runs about six hours, not 90 minutes, and it’s not a tour. Instead, you’re held hostage and berated about how much money you’d be saving if you simply buy the timeshare.

Don’t believe their numbers, either. Usually, they’re grossly overinflated, and the company touting those numbers is often a fly-by-night operation that’s not going to be in business for long.

They’ll then throw out some astronomical number that you might not spend over 20 years of vacationing. Although we will undoubtedly vacation for 20 more years, the likelihood of this company still being in business after 20 years is slim.

If you are somehow brave enough to tell the first guy who accosts you “no,” they’ll persist, look at you like you lost your mind, and bring in someone called a “closer.” This “closer” then throws in another offer that’s usually less than 50% of the first offer to make it look as though you’re REALLY, really getting a steal.

If you somehow are brave enough to tell them both no, another person will then be sent to the table to take a “survey” of how you were treated. Part of the “survey” is to offer you another price that’s like a third of the first price you saw.

Of course, not all companies that participate in resale timeshare are “shady,” but most of them are. The smartest thing to do is not to take advantage of the so-called “tours” they offer, because most of them aren’t a good deal and are a lot of trouble. If you do happen to go on one, though, make sure you stand your ground. Don’t let us know you and if you don’t want to buy, don’t. If they pressure you into buying, they’ll have won and you’ll have lost. You’ll feel terrible if this happens, so save yourself the trouble and just don’t go in the first place.

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