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.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
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.
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.
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.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
What is the Value of a "Used" Timeshare?
Yeah, I hate the term "used timeshare" as much as anyone, but for now, it will have to suffice.
If you spend any time reading timeshare group forums or any of the so-called "consumer experts'" columns out there, you would think that a "used" timeshare is worth next to nothing and that they are next to impossible to sell.
Wrong on both counts. I'm talking about an "average" timeshare here, by the way not some renovated motel on the East Coast of Florida that hasn't been properly maintained in 10 or 12 years.
Many years ago when I was a salesperson and blissfully naive in the ways of timeshare, I held fast to the thought that "if you bought a timeshare 10 years ago for $15,000 and then sold it to someone 10 years younger than you, the timeshare should still be "worth" close to the $15,000 because they will get years of vacation out of it."
Naive perhaps, but when you look at what a timeshare is and how it should be used, there's nothing wrong with that logic.
Somewhere in the history of timeshare, it was "decreed" that timeshares don't hold their value and that they aren't worth anything on the resale market.
I have yet to figure out who "decreed" that and more importantly, why everyone today clings to that decree.
Everyone in the industry; developers, government agencies, legitimate resellers, owners groups, HOAs, individual owners and writers and bloggers need to band together and come up with a new "decree."
Who is with me?
If you spend any time reading timeshare group forums or any of the so-called "consumer experts'" columns out there, you would think that a "used" timeshare is worth next to nothing and that they are next to impossible to sell.
Wrong on both counts. I'm talking about an "average" timeshare here, by the way not some renovated motel on the East Coast of Florida that hasn't been properly maintained in 10 or 12 years.
Many years ago when I was a salesperson and blissfully naive in the ways of timeshare, I held fast to the thought that "if you bought a timeshare 10 years ago for $15,000 and then sold it to someone 10 years younger than you, the timeshare should still be "worth" close to the $15,000 because they will get years of vacation out of it."
Naive perhaps, but when you look at what a timeshare is and how it should be used, there's nothing wrong with that logic.
Somewhere in the history of timeshare, it was "decreed" that timeshares don't hold their value and that they aren't worth anything on the resale market.
I have yet to figure out who "decreed" that and more importantly, why everyone today clings to that decree.
Everyone in the industry; developers, government agencies, legitimate resellers, owners groups, HOAs, individual owners and writers and bloggers need to band together and come up with a new "decree."
Who is with me?
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
Hello, Diamond...Are You Out There?
I'm all for timeshare developers to do something to their product to hold its value and differentiate "new" timeshare from "used" timeshare.
But it seems to me that if the story I heard about Diamond is true (Diamond, please contact me to confirm/deny/enlighten), this is NOT the way to go about it.
The story as I heard it was that Diamond was going to charge consumers who purchased their timeshare on the resale market up to $8,500 in order to use any of the benefits of Diamond. Sure, this will effectively the Diamond resale market, but I have a nagging suspicion that it will stop anyone from buying Diamond on the primary market as well.
Can you imagine what would happen if Ford or GM came up with a policy that stated that they would charge $8,500 to anyone who bought a used Ford or GM in order for the car to be serviced by or with genuine products? Insane.
Certainly we can do better, can't we?
But it seems to me that if the story I heard about Diamond is true (Diamond, please contact me to confirm/deny/enlighten), this is NOT the way to go about it.
The story as I heard it was that Diamond was going to charge consumers who purchased their timeshare on the resale market up to $8,500 in order to use any of the benefits of Diamond. Sure, this will effectively the Diamond resale market, but I have a nagging suspicion that it will stop anyone from buying Diamond on the primary market as well.
Can you imagine what would happen if Ford or GM came up with a policy that stated that they would charge $8,500 to anyone who bought a used Ford or GM in order for the car to be serviced by or with genuine products? Insane.
Certainly we can do better, can't we?
Tuesday, December 20, 2011
How Many Points for A Purple Week?
Just wanted to clear up a few things today as I've received some emails recently from some very confused timeshare owners.
1) RCI and II no longer use colors to designate various weeks. IMHO that's a great thing, because as we all know, no resort or location is "all red, all the time."
2) Points are NOT the same across the board. 82,000 RCI points aren't the same as 82,000 Disney Vacation Club points, Marriott points, etc. IMHO that's a horrible thing as the consumer as of this writing really has no basis for comparison. I'll be addressing this issue in my new book which will be available next year.
3) Just because your resort is now offering points, or has switched to points, doesn't mean you need to/have to. It's best to work with someone who isn't trying to sell you something in order to determine what's the best way to proceed.
Keep the questions coming.
1) RCI and II no longer use colors to designate various weeks. IMHO that's a great thing, because as we all know, no resort or location is "all red, all the time."
2) Points are NOT the same across the board. 82,000 RCI points aren't the same as 82,000 Disney Vacation Club points, Marriott points, etc. IMHO that's a horrible thing as the consumer as of this writing really has no basis for comparison. I'll be addressing this issue in my new book which will be available next year.
3) Just because your resort is now offering points, or has switched to points, doesn't mean you need to/have to. It's best to work with someone who isn't trying to sell you something in order to determine what's the best way to proceed.
Keep the questions coming.
Monday, December 19, 2011
Calling Mr. Trump and Mr. Branson
Ah, the end of another year...time to reflect and time to look forward.
What does timeshare need? A kick in the ass, that's what.
So I'm calling on both Donald Trump and Richard Branson to give it the well deserved kick in the ass.
I'm not a big fan of Donald's politics nor his "I'm king of the world" stance, but the guy does know real estate and he knows how to keep things holding value.
I am a big fan of Richard's showmanship, marketing skills and sense of fun.
It's time to throw EVERYONE and EVERYTHING out and start fresh and these guys could do it.
Make timeshare fun, make it valuable, make it something that people and media talk about in a good way, make it something that is desired, make it something that holds its value, make it something that doesn't need smarmy marketing and sales techniques.
Let's face it, there hasn't been anything new or interesting or revolutionary in timeshare in, well, since it started. Let's shake things up.
Donald and Richard...my e-mail address is lisa@timeshareinsights.com. Talk to you soon.
What does timeshare need? A kick in the ass, that's what.
So I'm calling on both Donald Trump and Richard Branson to give it the well deserved kick in the ass.
I'm not a big fan of Donald's politics nor his "I'm king of the world" stance, but the guy does know real estate and he knows how to keep things holding value.
I am a big fan of Richard's showmanship, marketing skills and sense of fun.
It's time to throw EVERYONE and EVERYTHING out and start fresh and these guys could do it.
Make timeshare fun, make it valuable, make it something that people and media talk about in a good way, make it something that is desired, make it something that holds its value, make it something that doesn't need smarmy marketing and sales techniques.
Let's face it, there hasn't been anything new or interesting or revolutionary in timeshare in, well, since it started. Let's shake things up.
Donald and Richard...my e-mail address is lisa@timeshareinsights.com. Talk to you soon.
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