You typically spend more than $80 per night for your vacation accommodations.
If you do spend more than $80 per night for vacation accommodations, you will undoubtedly understand what your money gets you in a hotel (not much) and more importantly, you will reach "financial break-even" in a relatively short period of time.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
10 Reasons To Buy A Timeshare-#1
You vacation on a somewhat regular basis, you enjoy vacationing and you plan to continue to vacation.
This is a simple, basic, yet overlooked reason to make the jump into timeshare. Without using the horrible word "invest" in financial terms, doesn't it make sense to "invest" in something that you own instead of rent?
This is a simple, basic, yet overlooked reason to make the jump into timeshare. Without using the horrible word "invest" in financial terms, doesn't it make sense to "invest" in something that you own instead of rent?
Thursday, March 17, 2011
10 Reasons To Buy A Timeshare-Introduction
If you do a search of the so-called mainstrem press over the past year or two, you'll find all sorts of "Stay Away From Timeshare" pieces. These pieces have a few things in common:
1) They are all written by writers who have never experienced a timeshare vacation
2) They are all writen by writers who assume that just because some timeshares unfortunately still emply outdated and heavy-handed marketing and sales techniques , the product can't be any good
3) They are all written by writers who still (sigh) are quick to condemn timeshare by saying that they are lousy investments, but have yet to talk about the "value" of 10 years worth of hote receipts
In truth, there are some excellent reasons NOT to purchase a timeshare. Here are a few of them:
1) You don't understand what you are buying. If you can't understand it from the salesperson, the resort or the reseller, you are not going to understand it enough to use it to your advantage
2) You don't vacation, see no need for vacation, have no plans to vacation and/or don't enjoy vacation
3) When you do vacation, you typically spend less than $80 per night and less than 7 nights per year
4) Paying for your timehsare will significantly reduce the quality of your life
Now that we got that out of the way, we'll concentrate on what timeshare is, what it can do for you and 10 reasons that you should buy a timeshare.
Starting tomorow, we'll be listing these reasons and as always, invite your comments.
1) They are all written by writers who have never experienced a timeshare vacation
2) They are all writen by writers who assume that just because some timeshares unfortunately still emply outdated and heavy-handed marketing and sales techniques , the product can't be any good
3) They are all written by writers who still (sigh) are quick to condemn timeshare by saying that they are lousy investments, but have yet to talk about the "value" of 10 years worth of hote receipts
In truth, there are some excellent reasons NOT to purchase a timeshare. Here are a few of them:
1) You don't understand what you are buying. If you can't understand it from the salesperson, the resort or the reseller, you are not going to understand it enough to use it to your advantage
2) You don't vacation, see no need for vacation, have no plans to vacation and/or don't enjoy vacation
3) When you do vacation, you typically spend less than $80 per night and less than 7 nights per year
4) Paying for your timehsare will significantly reduce the quality of your life
Now that we got that out of the way, we'll concentrate on what timeshare is, what it can do for you and 10 reasons that you should buy a timeshare.
Starting tomorow, we'll be listing these reasons and as always, invite your comments.
Tuesday, March 15, 2011
Heat Merchants
As my regular readers know, I was a not-all-that-sucessful timeshare salesperson and manager for more than four years. I started off in the trenches so to speak, with no knowledge of timeshare and no knowledge of sales.
In my experience, I came in daily contact with fellow salespersons and managers who sold using "heat." "Heat" can be anything from a small lie, to multiple not-so-small lies told to the unsuspecting consumer to pursuade them to purchase TODAY. I won't waste your time listing examples of this "heat" as I'm confident you know what I mean.
I won't say that these "heat-merchants" don't still exist and thrive in timeshare sales departments around the country...the fact is that they do. And many of these "heat-merchants" cling to outdated sales techniques, resort to lying and refuse to believe that timeshare can be sold without resorting to pitches of one sort or another.
HOWEVER, as with everything, the bad gets all the media attention and that's how stereotypes start and are perpetuated. It makes a far "juicer" story to talk about the lying timeshare salesperson. Heck, I used the bad stereotype myself when coming up with the design for the front cover of my first book, "Surviving A Timeshare Presentation...Confessions From The Sales Table."
The majority of timeshare salespersons are honest, hard-working people who don't use heat to sell anything.
I quote here a piece from "Inside The Gate" an online source for timeshare news:
The truth, however, is that a well trained and motivated sales professional who delivers an upscale informative presentation each and every time in an honest and forthright manner and adheres to proven selling and closing skills and techniques, etc. will out-sell any ‘heat merchant’ every day of the year.
So what are you to do if you come across a "heat-merchant?" Walk away. Walk away quickly and ask to see someone in charge. And spread the word. If you don't know how to spread the word, write me, write the National Timeshare Owners Association, write TimeSharing Today.
BUT, there is a caveat to this...make sure that you also spread the word when you have a good timeshare experience and make sure that you haven't become a "heat-merchant" yourself.
Timeshare is a great product for some people. No lying is necessary on anyone's part.
In my experience, I came in daily contact with fellow salespersons and managers who sold using "heat." "Heat" can be anything from a small lie, to multiple not-so-small lies told to the unsuspecting consumer to pursuade them to purchase TODAY. I won't waste your time listing examples of this "heat" as I'm confident you know what I mean.
I won't say that these "heat-merchants" don't still exist and thrive in timeshare sales departments around the country...the fact is that they do. And many of these "heat-merchants" cling to outdated sales techniques, resort to lying and refuse to believe that timeshare can be sold without resorting to pitches of one sort or another.
HOWEVER, as with everything, the bad gets all the media attention and that's how stereotypes start and are perpetuated. It makes a far "juicer" story to talk about the lying timeshare salesperson. Heck, I used the bad stereotype myself when coming up with the design for the front cover of my first book, "Surviving A Timeshare Presentation...Confessions From The Sales Table."
The majority of timeshare salespersons are honest, hard-working people who don't use heat to sell anything.
I quote here a piece from "Inside The Gate" an online source for timeshare news:
The truth, however, is that a well trained and motivated sales professional who delivers an upscale informative presentation each and every time in an honest and forthright manner and adheres to proven selling and closing skills and techniques, etc. will out-sell any ‘heat merchant’ every day of the year.
So what are you to do if you come across a "heat-merchant?" Walk away. Walk away quickly and ask to see someone in charge. And spread the word. If you don't know how to spread the word, write me, write the National Timeshare Owners Association, write TimeSharing Today.
BUT, there is a caveat to this...make sure that you also spread the word when you have a good timeshare experience and make sure that you haven't become a "heat-merchant" yourself.
Timeshare is a great product for some people. No lying is necessary on anyone's part.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Updates To Some Bad Guys
Hurrah! It seems that Timeshare Independence...one of those "postcard companies" claiming to be in business to "help" timeshare owners by taking their deed and thousands of dollars, is gone out of business. We've yet to see, however, if they are a parent company of other such companies, or in reverse, under the umbrella of a parent company.
And what about Rci Innoventions, one of the other companies that I've written about in the past? It seems that they are under continued investigation and their president has been busted for using other people's credit cards to charge restaurant and cell phone bills.
You really think that by now, consumers would know what to do and what not to do, but my e-mail box is a clear indication that they don't.
I'll say it again...if you are cold-called or otherwise solicited regarding your timeshare, STAY AWAY. I don't care what they say, how many "buyers" they have for it, how much bad news they have to say about timeshare, how similar their names might be to legitimate timeshare organizations, etc.
And for heaven's sake...use some judgement here...if someone cold called you about your car and told you they have a buyer for it, would you continue to even talk to them?
And what about Rci Innoventions, one of the other companies that I've written about in the past? It seems that they are under continued investigation and their president has been busted for using other people's credit cards to charge restaurant and cell phone bills.
You really think that by now, consumers would know what to do and what not to do, but my e-mail box is a clear indication that they don't.
I'll say it again...if you are cold-called or otherwise solicited regarding your timeshare, STAY AWAY. I don't care what they say, how many "buyers" they have for it, how much bad news they have to say about timeshare, how similar their names might be to legitimate timeshare organizations, etc.
And for heaven's sake...use some judgement here...if someone cold called you about your car and told you they have a buyer for it, would you continue to even talk to them?
Sunday, March 6, 2011
If You Follow Us On Facebook
If you follow Timeshare Insights on Facebook, you'll notice a change on our home page.
Facebook now allows companies such as Timeshare Insights to interact in much the same way an individual does.
What this means is that you will see posts by some other timeshare related companies and organizations on Timeshare Insight's wall.
This does NOT mean that we are losing our independent stance. This DOES mean that we think that there's a lot of good information out there and not all of it comes from Timeshare Insights. While we might not agree with everything that different entities say and do, we do believe in sharing information and allowing a free discussion.
We will of course, not allow postings on our Facebook wall from any company or organization that we feel does not deserve "wall" space...those transfer companies for instance.
We welcome your insight. As we said, our motto for this year is "Educate Yourself, Open Your Mind, Get Involved." The new Facebook changes will allow us to do just that.
Thanks.
Facebook now allows companies such as Timeshare Insights to interact in much the same way an individual does.
What this means is that you will see posts by some other timeshare related companies and organizations on Timeshare Insight's wall.
This does NOT mean that we are losing our independent stance. This DOES mean that we think that there's a lot of good information out there and not all of it comes from Timeshare Insights. While we might not agree with everything that different entities say and do, we do believe in sharing information and allowing a free discussion.
We will of course, not allow postings on our Facebook wall from any company or organization that we feel does not deserve "wall" space...those transfer companies for instance.
We welcome your insight. As we said, our motto for this year is "Educate Yourself, Open Your Mind, Get Involved." The new Facebook changes will allow us to do just that.
Thanks.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
New Professional Affiliation
Pleased to announce that I'm the newest member of the International Travel Writers Alliance.
http://bit.ly/f3cH5e
http://bit.ly/f3cH5e
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