Tuesday, January 31, 2012

What We Do and Why We're Different

I've received LOTS of e-mails lately from confused consumers asking what Timeshare Insights does and how we differ from other companies/organizations out there.

WHAT WE DO
We educate, we write, we consult and we sometimes (oftentimes) rant  We DON'T sell, rent, buy, broker, list, transfer or represent any timeshare or any timeshare company.  We DON'T get a commission or kickback from any company we may recommend a consumer use.  We DON'T play favorites.

We gather information from many places in an attempt to make things clearer for the consumer.  We also work with timeshare resorts and exchange companies from time to time---the ones that are interested in actually HELPING timeshare owners as well as INCREASING the number of happy timeshare owners.

WHY WE'RE DIFFERENT
As I said, we don't sell timeshare.  We are not a listing service.  We don't charge a membership fee.  We aren't a media company so we don't sell ads or subscriptions.  (This blog is free.)

Yes, we have two books (soon to be three) for sale, but we don't push them on anyone.

The biggest difference is this---WE BELIEVE IN TIMESHARE WHOLEHEARTEDLY AND WANT TO SEE IT BECOME MORE ACCEPTED AROUND THE WORLD.  WE DON'T BELIEVE THAT IN ORDER FOR THE CONSUMER TO WIN, THE DEVELOPER HAS TO LOSE, OR VICE VERSA.

We improve by talking with each other, respecting each other, sharing information and educating ALL parties---consumers, each other and the media.

We look forward to working with EVERYONE who shares those beliefs.

Monday, January 30, 2012

Two Important Meetings

On Sunday, February 12th, the Orlando area meeting of the National Timeshare Owners Assocation will be meeting. 

On Sunday, March 18th, the first meeting of 2012 will be held by the Florida Timeshare Ownes Group.

Why do I keep harping on these meetings?  Because there are over 4 million timeshare owners in the United States and the combined attendance at these meetings will be no more than 250.

Really?  250 people interested enough in finding out more about timeshare, new ways of using their timeshare, exchanging information about resorts increasing annual fees, resorts going broke from an astonishingly high default rate, the new "tricks" that unscrupulous companies are using to take advantage of the lack of timeshare knowledge, etc.

Mind you, both of these organizations receive more than 250 inquires a month each from frustrated consumers.  And yet, the meetings will not have any of these consumers present.

Each meeting will have a full roster of timeshare experts on hand to answer questions and guide frustrated consumers.

If you own a timeshare, you need to be there.  I don't know how much simplier I can make this.  Both Ed Hastry and Frank DeBar have DONE most of the work for you---they've organized the groups and rounded up the speakers.  All you need to do is show up.

Visit http://www.nationaltimeshareownersassoc.com and http://www.tsownersgroup.com for details.

Sunday, January 1, 2012

A Note From RCI

RCI Members recently received this e-mail:

RCI has learned that entities with no affiliation with RCI are contacting timeshare owners and incorrectly stating or implying that they are a division of RCI or otherwise affiliated with RCI. These third party entities may offer to assist in the sale or rental of owners’ timeshare interests for an upfront fee or invite an owner to attend an informational meeting to discuss ‘updates’ to RCI exchange programs. Please exercise caution if you are contacted by anyone claiming to be related to RCI and call RCI directly at 1-877-968-7476 (RCI Points® Members) or 1-800-338-7777 (RCI® Weeks Members) with any questions.

We also have learned from RCI members that certain transfer companies are offering to transfer legal ownership of an owner’s timeshare in exchange for payment of upfront fees and execution of a power of attorney to complete the transfer. Owners receiving such offers may wish to consult with an attorney and/or their resort to confirm that a transfer of ownership and the corresponding maintenance fee obligation will occur as represented and any resulting sale or rental will be honored. Similarly, if a marketer should ever offer an RCI member the option to ‘trade in’ her or his timeshare in exchange for monetary credit against a new purchase, the RCI member may wish to obtain comfort that the transfer of ownership (of the traded timeshare) and corresponding maintenance fee obligation will take place as promised, keeping in mind that the owner’s home club or resort may require its consent for certain ownership transfers.

RCI values its members and supports efforts by the American Resort Development Association Resort Owners’ Coalition (ARDA-ROC) to help timeshare owners navigate through the secondary market. While some entities are legitimate resellers or rental agents of timeshare inventory, others are not. For additional information, RCI members may wish to consult with their club or resort or visit ARDA-ROC’s Timeshare Resale Resource Center at http://www.ardaroc.org/roc/resource-library/default.aspx?id=2645

Sincerely,

Gordon Gurnik
President
RCI


Nice job by RCI on this...wondering if II has sent a similar letter/warning.  Now to find out how many owners actually pay attention to this.

Education is key in 2012.