Tipping The Social Media Scales Is VERY Easy

Have you ever watched one of the morning news shows where they have a segment named "Trending on Twitter" or something similar?  I checked one day to see what in fact was trending on Twitter and not surprisingly, their trending list was fake. It was a list of topics they fabricated so they could feature them for whatever their reasoning was.

Not a good thing but not dangerous.  Or is it dangerous?

It got me thinking about timeshare related posts on Twitter and how many times I read that positive or neutral timeshare mentions far outweigh negative mentions. So I did several month long studies of timeshare mentions on Twitter. And yes, neutral mentions far outweighed negative ones.

But with just a little digging, I found some red flags. 

*  A full 48% of the mentions were ads for timeshare properties on the secondary market.

*  24% were ads for mini vacs linked to sales presentations.
*  10% were for industry news. 

*  9% were total gibberish including non existent or broken links. 

*  3% were positive comments.

*  The remaining 6% were slightly/overtly negative or complaints 

I suppose that ads for timeshare properties on the secondary market and ads for mini vacs linked to timeshare sales presentations can be considered neutral.  As can legitimate timeshare industry news. I'm clearly NOT knocking timeshare news being posted to Twitter.  Industry news definitely needs to be shared.  I do it whenever I deem it necessary.

Looking more closely at the ads, a clear pattern emerged. The same handful of Twitter accounts were blasting ads for mini vans. And another handful were blasting ads for timeshare properties on the secondary market.

  

The mini vac ads were clearly placed be what I call Twitter bots. Multiple Twitter accounts posting the exact same message. Over and over again.  Most were poorly written and contained so many grammatical errors, I doubt anyone would actually book a mini-vac through them.
 

Only a small percentage of the timeshare for sale ads/tweets came from well known-legitimate timeshare resellers.  The good guys as I call them.  The vast majority of them were not.  These companies are not well known, use misleading photographs in their tweets (any timeshare for sale in Orlando is accompanied by a photo of something at the Walt Disney World Resort for instance) and have an astronomical tweet to follower ratio. And these ads seemed to be similar to the mini vac Twitter bots.

For a terrific and insightful article about "Twitter-bots" read this from Fast Company:

http://www.fastcompany.com/3031500/how-twitter-bots-fool-you-into-thinking-they-are-real-people 

It's evidently quite easy to control what's trending or showing up on Twitter or any other social media channel. We should be asking who or what is behind all these Twitter bots and what their purpose really is.

 

Around The World In 80 Days With Timeshare

I recently shared the story of a British company, eXpections Holidays, that showed how intrepid travelers could literally go around the world using 80,000 RCI points and some of the benefits of RCI.

I sat down with Roy Forsdick, the Commercial Director of Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket Ltd. (the parent company of eXpectations Holidays) to find out more.

 Lisa:  How did you come up with the idea for this adventure?

Roy:  There was a very popular TV series in the 80’s which featured Monty Python’s Michael Palin in which he was challenged with retracing the footsteps of Phileas Fogg from the original “Around The World In Eighty Days” novel. This was my first real introduction to the story and I happened to stumble across one of the episodes on YouTube last year which brought about the question “Could we travel the world on 80,000 points?”. Despite what I felt was quite a compelling case, I couldn’t convince our CEO to send me round the world for 12 weeks! However, since the aim was to demonstrate the value and flexibility of points, a virtual journey using real-time availability from RCI was equally effective and also in keeping with the original novel. 

Lisa:  How can one become a member of eXpectatiions Holidays?

Roy:  “First Time Buyers” can become members by simply purchasing a minimum of 30,000 points. They’re great value, for example, the purchase price for 80,000 points (which may be an excessive membership level for some people) is only £3,799 (approx $6,000). You then own the right to use that same amount of points year after year. 

For existing owners it is important to first explain how the club has been set up. We wanted to make sure we are offering fantastic value to all our members and so underpinning all our points is a portfolio of carefully selected timeshare weeks from various, well-managed resorts around the world. We’ve built the portfolio using our knowledge of the resale market to ensure that every timeshare in the portfolio yields a high level of points for every £ / $ or € paid in annual management fees. 

It’s surprising just how dramatically the value of different timeshare products can vary and so there is some fairly strict criteria regarding what timeshare weeks can be introduced to the portfolio meaning not all existing owners will be able to convert their timeshare into eXpectations. For example, the points value of a low season week in a 2 bedroom apartment is likely to be relatively low which, in itself is OK, but, the annual fee is likely to mean that there just isn’t the required value in order to introduce that week into the portfolio. The owner of a peak week in the same 2 bedroom apartment will have a much higher likelihood of being able to convert their week into eXpectations points on the assumption they pay the same annual fee as the low season owner since the peak week will be worth maybe 3 times the points value of the low season week. 

I hope all that makes sense!! We actually have another video you can watch which explains this with a lot more ease! here’s the YouTube link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uX7-EKgM6xw

Lisa:  How long is membership for?

Roy:  The club is set up to run until 2042 and we’ve built in a guaranteed exit to allow any members to simply walk away after the first three years if they so wish. As you probably know very well, some resorts and clubs can tie their members in indefinitely until ownership is transferred to another party. Because of our business model there’s simply no need to try and retain members who’s holiday habits have changed. 

Lisa:  Is there anything that can't be done with these points that you can do with RCI points?

Roy:  OK, so I think the only real difference is that unlike many other points programs there is no “home resort” for you to book into meaning that you’ll…. I think instead your readers will want to know that they can also bolt on access to hundreds of hotels across Europe where provided they book 6 weeks or less before check in they only pay for Breakfast and Dinner and get the accommodation free! Details on our website!

Lisa:  What are the costs involved?

Roy:  So, after the initial purchase, members pay an annual management fee relative to each point they own along with a membership fee which includes access to RCI. It’s great value. For example, after the initial purchase price of 80,000 points, if you just took the cost associated with using those 80,000 points on a yearly basis the accommodation on the round-the-world journey worked out less than $20 per person per night (based on two people sharing).

 

I think this is a terrific way to illustrate that if you really want to see the world, or just a portion of it, timeshare gives you the opportunity to do so.  Think outside the box.  Orlando is nice, but there are so many other places in Florida.  Sure, Paris is a wonderful city, but France has much to offer.  

 

Make 2014 the year you really use your timeshare and the benefits it provides.  I may be headed to Azure Resort in Malta this year for International Timeshare Appreciation Day.  Get out and see the world.

 

Thanks to eXpectations Holidays (http://www.expectationsholidays.co.uk) and Worldwide Timeshare Hypermarket, Ltd.  (http://www.timeshare-hypermarket.com) Shining examples of honest, caring, intelligent people in timeshare.  My hat is off to both Roy and Phil! 

 

 

 

 

It's Time For A Timeshare Restocking Fee

Six things we know for sure:

1)  Consumers simply don’t understand the mountains of timeshare paperwork generated with a sale

2)  Frustrated timeshare owners are being taken advantage of by an army of scammers that ultimately do great damage to consumers and resorts alike

3)  Less than scrupulous sellers have been known to “sneak in” paperwork into the aforementioned mountains of paperwork

4)  The one thing that all of the “good guys” can agree on is that the “bad guys” need to be brought to light and thrown out

5)  Consumers sometime need a way out

6)  Timeshare simply has to adopt policies that other industries have been using successfully for years

It’s with this in mind that I unveil my solution:

THE TIMESHARE RESTOCKING FEE

Just as you can return a computer for a refund less a restocking fee if the computer is not what you wanted, you find out you wanted a Mac when you purchased a PC, you come to the conclusion you are a technophobe or you thought that the Internet “came with the computer”, you should be able to return a timeshare for a full refund less a restocking fee if:

·        You thought you could move into your timeshare full time

·        You have no idea how exchanging works

·        You lose your job six months after purchase

·        You didn’t quite remember the bit about the annual maintenance fee

·        Your attorney does a thorough review of the paperwork and discovers that the “upgrade” you thought you purchased isn’t “quite” what you thought it was

This restocking fee should be a sliding scale fee.  I propose 5% of purchase price for purchases up to $7,500, 7% for purchases of $7,501-$20,000 and 10% for purchases over $20,000.

Furthermore, there is a time limit of 6 months or until the first maintenance fee is due, whichever is less for consumers to take advantage of this return policy.

Who benefits from this?  EVERYONE.

Consumers benefit from having time to fully review the paperwork and fully understand the benefits and responsibilities of timeshare ownership, which you and I both know cannot (and should not be attempted) be accomplished in the space of a 120 minute sales pitch and a 20 minute closing

Resorts, developers and resellers (the good ones at least, who have nothing to hide) benefit from having the good PR benefit of doing the right thing for consumers.

The industry as a whole benefits from having a much better understanding of who the bad guys really are.

Furthermore, everyone benefits by only having people who are confident in their purchase move forward with it, leading to happy owners, higher owner satisfaction, an increase in owner referrals and far less likelihood of non-payment issues down the road.

This “re-stocking fee” should be implemented for both primary and secondary market sales as it is obvious that there is too much room for “misunderstanding” in a timeshare sale.

This additional time to truly understand all the implications of a major purchase such as a timeshare should be in addition to the legal rescission period in each jurisdiction.  Ten plus years in and around the timeshare industry has taught me that it would be a foolish endeavor to try and get the legal rescission periods extended.

Having said that I feel that any company, especially timeshare companies need to go the extra mile and take the moral high ground in addition to adhering to the legal rules and regulations. 

Legally, Nordstroms does not have to accept returns without a receipt.  They do and they consistently receive exemplary customer service scores.  Legally, Apple did not have to provide me with any assistance when I encountered a “glitch” in my most recent software update since my iPhone was long out of warranty.  They did and my opinion of the company stays at an extremely high level.

I think this “restocking fee” will ultimately result in more sales with less rescission.  Customers buy more when there’s less pressure.  Buying a $20,000 timeshare in the middle of a 7 day vacation when you only have a 10 day cooling off period is pressure.  No one reads the paperwork or even fully understands what they purchased in many cases.  This leads to fear…fear leads to rescission.

The “extra time” that the customer has also means that the resort and the exchange company have that extra time to really communicate and educate the customer.  More time, more communication and more education leads to more confident owners.  Owners who are less likely to cancel.

Who Says Timeshare Isn't A Sought After Product?

The timeshare industry has been gifting/bribing consumers with non-timeshare related stuff for 40 years now based on the assumption that timeshare is not a sought after product, so people have to be SOLD rather than letting them BUY.

This is the basis for most of my gripes with the industry.  I've been very vocal about it and I'm pleased to see that I'm not alone.  Here is a MUST READ  article by my good friend "Scoop" at Inside The Gate.

-by Scoop

May 30, 2014 — I received a few e-mails about last week’s piece and a couple of folks challenged my position and pretty much told me that I was all wet behind the ears. That “You don’t know what you are talking about…”, etc.; and with those and other comments in mind I did some more research on the vacation home market – and man oh man did I ever blow it with my assertions last week in“It’s a Vacation Home Pilgrim”.

So Here’s the Scoop: Upon further research I discovered — based on reports from the National Association of Realtors® (NAR) — that people have actually been getting out of their beds in the morning for decades and thought, as I wrote last week, “Golly Gee Whiz, this would be a gosh darn good day to buy that dang vacation home we’ve always dreamed about.”

I learned that during previous years as many as 1/3 of all homes purchased just in the USA were on the secondary market, and those buyers went looking of their own free will, with no gifts being dangled by sellers, etc. and purchased their second home for mostly — now brace yourself Bubba — “recreational use”. You know, for VACATIONING!

For the rest of the story, click here:

http://insidethegate.com/2014/05/scoop-du-jour-part-of-the-dream/

 

Interesting, isn't it?

And while we're at it, think of all the other vacation related products and services that people buy each and everyday, starting with vacations themselves.  This doesn't even begin to give space to the vibrant secondary timeshare market, where thousands of people seek out timeshare without the need for an OPC, a gift, coffee and stale bagels and seeing three or four salespeople each with a different price.

Who says timeshare isn't a sought after product?  Not me!

An Insightful Guest Blog From Wes Kogelman

To Pay Or Not To Pay – That Is The Question?

Over the years, probably the most contentious issue I have heard regarding the timeshare resale sector involves paying for fee-based resale services and whether an owner should consider paying for marketing costs in advance or just have any associated costs come from commissions after a sale has been concluded.

While this is an understandable debate, considering the abuses that have taken place over the years from rogue companies, I continue to be amazed at the lack of understanding about the process – especially in the transparent world of the Internet in which we now reside.

I manage separate companies which cater to both sides of the debate, having started my advertising business, BuyaTimeshare.com, 14 years ago and also obtaining a real estate license for my brokerage business, CashOutATimeshare.com, so I have a unique perspective. While we keep our businesses completely separate, I see the industry in a more holistic capacity than most operators.     

The Advertising Model – What To Look For

On the advertising side, when I describe our business as more of a technology company similar to AutoTrader.com or Monster.com, operating very similar but just with a different product to sell, most people grasp how we operate. But over the years, the timeshare product has been depicted in a different light than other products and timeshare online advertising outlets have received very different scrutiny than these other aforementioned businesses, simply because of the product, not necessarily because of the method of advertising.

Because online advertising can be effective, anyone thinking of using an online advertiser should consider objective evaluation touchpoints such as:

·         Never do business with someone who cold calls you – this is a leading characteristic of a rogue company.

·         Beware the “buyer in waiting” pitch – since buyers do not line up to purchase unadvertised products.

·         Marketing visibility – how does a company intend to market themselves to attract buyers. In this Google age, a simple search for terms such as “timeshares for sale” or “buy a Marriott timeshare” should reveal legitimate operators. If you can’t find an operator through a simple search, then how will a buyer?

·         Business processes – is the company registered to do business? Do they even post their address and contact details? Do they offer a written contract? Do they protect consumer data? These are basic principles of business today and are a starting point when considering a business relationship.

·         Do they get results – any reasonable operators should be able to document their successes.

Are Licensed Brokers The Answer?

This leads me to the other side of the conversation, the no up-front fee, commission-based licensed brokerage option. Because there are no guarantees that a timeshare will sell, many people decide on this option because they are more comfortable with the process. This can be a very effective means of selling a timeshare. However, keep in mind that most brokers will only want to handle timeshares they know they can sell quickly, whether they are certain name brand timeshares or in specific high demand geographical locations, because their livelihood depends on it. So a vast number of timeshare owners go unserviced with limited options because they don’t happen to fall into these categories.

Do We Need To Choose?

Hence, the tease in the title – why even ask the question in the first place? These are not mutually exclusive options, as there are more opportunities available today to sell than ever before and a combination of outlets may work best. Many times it just takes creative thinking to establish a marketing plan that gives an owner the best possible avenue to sell. According to the American Resort Development Association, nearly one in three timeshare buyers are doing so through resale outlets, so consumers are identifying the resale market as genuine in an industry that, overall, sold nearly $7billion in timeshares last year. 

We have even come up with a hybrid subscription service that essentially blends the idea of online marketing for the cost of a couple of cups of Starbucks coffee to give owners access to online buyers. This is a program we have offered as a benefit of membership of the National Timeshare Owners Association, so owners would need to contact the NTOA about this option.

The point is that consumers are taking more control of the process than ever before and, contrary to popular opinion, consumers are looking online to buy timeshares. Google estimates that about 129,000 searches per month are entered for buyer-related terms such as “timeshares for sale” or “buy timeshare”. So fear not, for there is a market for the product and options are available.   

New Timeshare Fee or Something Else?

One of my readers brought something to my attention last week and I thought it best to ask everyone else if they've ever heard of/paid this new timeshare fee.

It's called a "Trustee Registry Fee For Points Certification".  Huh?

$395 was charged for the initial purchase and another $395 for the upgrade.

I've never heard of this fee...has anyone else?

I've asked my reader to get a written explanation of this fee and will report back.

Yet another example of the need to take your time when buying a timeshare and carefully review all the paperwork.

Welcome Our Newest Timeshare Guest Blogger, Desiree French

Desiree French is a writer in Washington DC  Today she reviews Club Ocean Villas in Ocean City, Maryland.

I needed a vacation and wanted a place close to home that’s child friendly. I spoke those words to a co-worker more than 10 years ago. Without hesitation, she recommended Club Ocean Villas II in Ocean City, Maryland. I’ve been going there with my son during the summer, and sometimes the spring, ever since. The amenities are to die for. The proximity to the beach is priceless. And the units, each with yellow patio umbrellas, are cozy and equipped with everything you need.

Fond of low-rise buildings, I took to Ocean Villas immediately. Especially appealing: our unit overlooking the canal and tiny pier with boat slips. And the units are airy, bright, and feel like home away from home. Need an extra pillow or blanket? Look in the closet. Spilled ice cream on your shorts? Dump them in the washing machine and dryer behind the sliding glass door.  There’s no maid service—and therefore no interruptions—while there, but there’s a broom and vacuum cleaner in every “apartment,” which the one- and two-bedroom units feel like.

The two-bedroom apartments have a living room—which my son likes to dominate playing his video games—master bedroom, a well-stocked kitchen, dining area, three televisions, and two bathrooms, one with a Jacuzzi. One of my favorite pastimes is sitting on the balcony watching the occasional boat pass within a few feet of our living quarters. The outdoor hot tub that’s available in private space at each unit is a real treat, particularly at night after a long, lazy day at the beach and boardwalk.

Ah, the beach. It’s only a block away. But it’s far from the hustle and bustle of the boardwalk and other main attractions, such as the amusement parks, about five or six miles away. This means Ocean Villas is located in a quiet area. No rowdy teenagers, wild parties, or intoxicated vacationers.

When my son was younger, he and his friends spent most of their days at the resort’s outdoor and indoor pools. I still prefer the indoor pool house and sauna but can’t deny enjoying lounging on the beach chairs at the outdoor pool. And although I used to play racquetball and my son played tennis, we have yet to take advantage of the racquetball or tennis courts. But we both like going to Gold’s gym, which accepts temporary passes from guests staying at Ocean Villas.

About two or three years after visiting Ocean Villas, I purchased a canal side unit that we have come to love. We continue to visit the timeshare every June, although we have the option to trade our one-week stay for an excursion to other RCI locations. But Ocean Villas II has become our special, family vacation spot, and we have no plans to switch. We have many treasured memories of our stay there over the years—from watching videos on the sofa and spying rabbits in the bushes to chilling in the hot tub and playing in the pools.  Good times, indeed.