Grand Mayan to Grand Bliss upgrade - NOT

Newbie here, first post. I hope it's the right area in the forum, sorry if not.

Background - my parents purchased MP a long time ago. I upgraded to GM 1BR (1 week + 1 vacation fare). We use both weeks at Riviera Maya (Maintenance fee ~$770, we do have waiver of mandatory maintenance in our contract but always use the weeks, so...)

Today went to member update and got a hard sell by 4-5 people to upgrade to Grand Bliss 2BR. Started with a huge # like 150K... then equity... blah blah blah... all said and done down to $12K and change. It was a confusing offer, 2 weeks + 4 weeks that were to be used as a "marketing incentive"

For the marketing incentive they claim the only way they can get "prospects" to the property since it's not a hotel is for members to give weeks, then they fly golgers all expenses paid and with a 68% conversion rate they get an average of $80K contract purchases... for which they will happily pay me $3000 per week guaranteed or $12000 per year.

BUT my maintenance fee would zoom from $700 to $1700/wk... their answer here is that it gets kept in some kind of "lifestyle dollar account" where I can spend this money 1:1 in their version of amazon.com to buy appliances, etc but NOT to be used on airfaire.

My questions to the group: does anyone ever get paid this guaranteed amount for their weeks? Does this "lifestyle" website for purchasing things really exist?

I declined because I'm buying myself... what? more debt, a higher maintenance fee for a room with nicer furnishings?

I don't own any of the grupo Mayan timeshares, but I think you were right in your instinct to say no. I am sure others will chime in with details, but it doesn't make sense that they would charge you $12k just to pay it back to you again. Stay where you are and enjoy what you already have at a decent MF.

When it sounds too good to be true, it is. Good choice to pass on this - you would not get any cash from them for rentals and who knows how long they will keep whatever program they were describing to you. They change things all the time.

Enjoy your Grand Mayan - they are nice!

No, nobody gets paid the "guaranteed" amount for their weeks. It isn't in writing in the contract, and it won't happen. If they could rent them for that much, why not do it themselves!

The "lifestyle website" - another developer has been trying something like this. The actual process and benefit is unclear, and it seems like mostly smoke and mirrors.

Trust nothing unless it is in clear writing in the actual contract. If they won't give give the contract to take and review, walk away. If they tell you the deal is "only today" walk away. If you decide later that you want the deal, it'll be back.

Sounds like you're not buying it which is the right move. The Mayan will not stop pitching the investment, they can't. They are responsible for selling a certain amount at each resort and they will never hit their targets without the rental/resale pitch, they can repackage it anyway they want but it's never going to work with the returns they need to pitch to appeal peoples greed.

The rental pitch to us is usually a credit on the purchase, lowering the out of pocket expenses. We are given the names of firms to help rent out our weeks, but told not to expect them to rent.

Unusual they told you not expect anything. Semi-honest rep. Not too many of those at the Mayan.

No matter what they tell you about rentals - when you READ the contract - there will be a statement that you are not buying because of promised rental income. There is also a statement that the company will not rent or resell your weeks for you.

saywhat said:

Unusual they told you not expect anything. Semi-honest rep. Not too many of those at the Mayan.

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We've been told that for years. Also, as pittle stated, you sign off that you do not need to rent out the unit to pay for it when signing the contract. I think that some people hear how much rent can be charged and expect it to happen automatically.

pittle said:

No matter what they tell you about rentals - when you READ the contract - there will be a statement that you are not buying because of promised rental income. There is also a statement that the company will not rent or resell your weeks for you.

Click to expand...

Phyllis,
As always, you have the answers for anything Grupo Vidanta.

Virtually all sales contracts I have read, be it Mexico, lower 48, Hawaii, etc. all have a page or two with some 10-15 specific items to initial drafted by Developer Philadelphia lawyers.

They include not an investment, no mention of rentals, don't believe anything sales weasel told you as is commission hungry compulsive liar-tell what victim wants to hear scum bag.

Obviously, not a quote but couched in legalese!