Timeshare cancellation

[2porscheguy]

Originally Posted by Neilk

Ouch, at that price you could almost rent a decent condo for a week with no strings attached.

True! But HBR is a pretty high end resort in Princeville, Kauai. Typically a week in a 2 bedroom premium top floor oceanview condo, which is the unit we typically book each year 2 years out, listed on VRBO goes for about $3500 per week so we're still "way ahead" at $1710. You can't get much for a week in a 2 bedroom in Princeville for $1700!!

[drcoastline]

Thanks for the comments all. One of the girls that works for me has a Marriott time share and loves it. Uses it several times per year. Generally the same type of vacation over and over. Hilton head for a week, someplace in the Caribbean for a week. It works for her.

What sold me was the "agreement" with other time share resorts to be able to use my timeshare to either stay at another resort or get discounted rates. I am not going to say that it doesn't happen, but never have I been able to use that option. For that matter never have I been able to use any of my own timeshare. Always an excuse, it's booked, not enough points, blocked from that time slot, etc.

I have heard one option that may work. Sell it to someone about to declare bankruptcy. It transfers to them and gets wiped out under their bankruptcy debt.

I have reached out to a few attorneys waiting for some replies. Both have won class action suits against my timeshare company.

[legion]

Originally Posted by drcoastline

What sold me was the "agreement" with other time share resorts to be able to use my timeshare to either stay at another resort or get discounted rates. I am not going to say that it doesn't happen, but never have I been able to use that option. For that matter never have I been able to use any of my own timeshare. Always an excuse, it's booked, not enough points, blocked from that time slot, etc.

Wait, so you're paying for this and they won't let you use it! That seems like fraud.

[drcoastline]

Originally Posted by legion

Wait, so you're paying for this and they won't let you use it! That seems like fraud.

Yes I am unable to use it. But they word it in such a way that my request can't be filled. It's unavailable when I want to use it for one reason or another. I don't have enough points or the times I requested have been blacked out for my level or some such nonsense. There have been a few times I could have used it but I would have needed to pay addition fees. As an example the room may have cost $500.00 per night but my level on covered say $300.00. I could have paid the difference and been able to use the property.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by Rick Lee

I've never been to one, but always thought they gave a pretty hard pitch and then brought out bigger guns when that didn't work.

My wife got us conned into one of these in Vegas... they have kiosks all over town advertising "FREE STUFF".

Went through the dog and pony show/brain washing routine.

Went on for a lot longer than an hour.

I was livid, wife took me straight to Cabo Wabo and poured margaritas into me until I cooled off.

[id10t]

Originally Posted by drcoastline

Yes I am unable to use it. But they word it in such a way that my request can't be filled. It's unavailable when I want to use it for one reason or another. I don't have enough points or the times I requested have been blacked out for my level or some such nonsense. There have been a few times I could have used it but I would have needed to pay addition fees. As an example the room may have cost $500.00 per night but my level on covered say $300.00. I could have paid the difference and been able to use the property.

Hrm. Only experience I have is staying at my sister-in-laws TS in Ormond Beach. With hers, when she bought she was buying a specific unit for a specific week of the year - every year. Needless to say, weeks in the winter were cheaper than during spring break season or summer vacation time.

[Dantilla]

I've been through a few time share sales do-hickeys.

Brought friends with us to Whistler, so the four of us had a fun weekend that cost my wife and I one hour.
The four of us did it again, with our friends taking their turn going through the time suck presentation.

I asked all kinds of dumb questions as if I thought this was an investment property, tossing out all kinds of numbers, poor return on investment, yada yada, until they pretty much told us enough, they have other people waiting, enjoy your weekend, good-bye.

The only time share that has been good:
Another good friend's mother bought a time share that includes 4 weeks a year.
She used to work overseas, and used the trading system to stay at nice places while seeing the world. She let her son, my friend, to always use the Summer week, and we always got invited along.
The condo next door, same week schedule, came up for re-sale, so mom bought it. Two condos, side-by-side, we got to use the smaller one for several years, until Mom retired, moved back, and started using it herself (how selfish).
The family still enjoys using the condo a few times a year.

These are the only people I know who are happy with their time share purchase.

[mattdavis11]

The time share cancellation ads are on the radio here. 590 AM KLBJ runs at least 1 an hour.

My parents seem to be really happy with their time share. RCI, if I remember correctly. They are retired and travel off and on for about 2 months a year total. The kids just have to ask if we have a desire to use it. I have asked about availability, but haven't taken advantage of their facilities. My brother(s)? have. Seems worth it to them.

[mepstein]

We bought one at smugglers notch about ten years ago. Love it. We go there 2-4 times a year and occasionally switch to other places. Lots of great family trips over the years. Read all the fine print before we purchased so we knew what we were buying. Since we like to ski and the timeshare includes lift tickets, it’s actually a good deal for us. But for most people, time shares are a money suck and hard to get out of. We had both our kids listen to a really intense timeshare pitch and then see us walk away just to have them experience a hard sell. They would both be happy to take over the unit if we ever decided to move on but I doubt we will. Probably just take future grandkids up once the time comes.

[2porscheguy]

Actually we've done quite well at those TS sales presentations, in fact sometimes we'll go seek them out to get some free stuff...excursions, meals, free rental car, free nights at their demo resort, etc! I always tell 'em up front "We already own a TS and we're not planning on EVER buying another one! So it's your call on giving us the free stuff!"

So we sit through the 60 minute presentation, asking no questions and always end it with the same statement "We already own a TS and we're not planning one ever buying another one" at which point they usually give up and hand us the vouchers.."enjoy the rest of you vaca!"
In fact last year we were given 6 nights at the Hilton Waikoloa on the Big island with a free rental car plus two dinner vouchers..not bad for wasting 60 minutes!

drcoastline, is your TS based on the RCI points system i.e. do you own X amount of points or do you own a week at an actual resort?

[Salty Springs]

Timeshare Resales Listings Around the World

I have never owned a time share, but have done a lot of research. Never buy from the developer! And do your homework. These guys seem to be pretty straight shooters.
Dave

[Cajundaddy]

Sometimes the property will buy your TS week at 10c on the dollar. A win-win I think.

[2porscheguy]

Originally Posted by Salty Springs

Timeshare Resales Listings Around the World

I have never owned a time share, but have done a lot of research. Never buy from the developer! And do your homework. These guys seem to be pretty straight shooters.
Dave

Very true! We bought ours here back in 2005:

https://www.buyatimeshare.com/resorts/Hanalei-Bay-Resort.asp

The gentleman from Michigan was asking $15K. We offered $12K and he accepted. At the time back in '05, the developer was asking about $25K....what a rip!!

All in all we've been very happy with ours as we love the resort and are able to book the same condo two years out. I believe the key to making TS work is to buy at a resort that you plan on using most years. We have friends that bought in Sedona many years ago that trade theirs all the time. They do admit that in doing so what they get for in trade is often "hit n miss".....but they are ADVENTUROUS to say the least!

sorry OP....don't mean to hijack your thread!