[2011] SellTimeshare.org

[massvacationer]

I'm going to give them a try

I'm going to buy from them...I'll report back

 

[bjones9942]

I just 'won' an eBay auction from this company and it's Matt Shell that I'm having problems with. First sent two emails during the auction asking for an estoppel letter - finally get a response that they don't have one (so pick up the phone and call the resort, what's the problem?). Then emails go unanswered asking for any kind of identifying information so I could confirm things with the resort myself. I bit the bullet and bid on/won the auction, after which I asked Matt for the assessors parcel number. His reply was not until I signed the contract. Then I read the contract. If I found something they had misrepresented during the process and cancelled, a provision in the contract says I would have to pay them $1,000 plus any future maintenance costs they might be out!

So, won't give me info about the unit. Will give me info if I sign the contract. Contract states I will pay $1k+ if they misrepresented or failed to mention something of significance that leads me to change my mind.

Don't get me wrong - I want the unit I think they were selling. After two previous sellers who misrepresented the sale (one was a totally different vacation club with properties I'd never use, the other had severe restrictions on the availability [not wks 1-50 as stated]), call me crazy for wanting to see proof of what I'll be owning/paying for for the rest of my days.

So I emailed them and said no deal until/unless I get a copy of the current deed. Am I being unreasonable?

 

[gnorth16]

Contract states I will pay $1k+ if they misrepresented or failed to mention something of significance that leads me to change my mind.

Really? That would be a red flag for me.

So i order a steak at a restaurant and they bring out fish. (I am allergic) Not only do I not get what I want and have it sent back, I have to pay for the food that I did not eat...

If they were a restaurant, they would be out of business.... Just sayin'!

 

[rrlongwell]

Really? That would be a red flag for me.

So i order a steak at a restaurant and they bring out fish. (I am allergic) Not only do I not get what I want and have it sent back, I have to pay for the food that I did not eat...

If they were a restaurant, they would be out of business.... Just sayin'!

You might want to consider checking with the state the resort is in and see if there are any licensing requirements, and if so get his license numer and report the situation to proper licensing group. You might also want to report the matter to Consumer protection group in your state. If you want the timeshare they may be able to help get it on the terms offered and not after the fact significant changes to the terms. Also, filing with the BBB in the state in which he operates would not be a bad idea.

 

[Robert D]

The most effective thing you can do that will get results is to leave negative feedback on Ebay. Most people don't read those contracts and realize this type of stuff is in there. I'd ask him for a copy of the existing deed filed when the current owner bought the timeshare. It will have info on it that you can use to do a title search and could also verify what you're getting. Regarding the contract, I'd just change it striking out that clause and putting in language that you don't have to pay until furnished with a clean estoppel. If he won't do this and refuses to move forward, I'd leave negative feedback. That will get his attention because it will impact his ability to sell on Ebay.

 

[Saintsfanfl]

The reason you can't choose your own closing company when dealing with this one and other similar sellers on eBay is because they are the closing company. We mutually canceled a purchase recently because they did not include important info in the listing.

This is a quote from an email I received from an employee at Pacific Transfer Inc.;

"I will go ahead and send you a mutual cancellation request through eBay, in order for us to cancel the transaction."

The listing was done by Selltimeshare.org (luky987).

I have bought two other timeshares from different listers where both used a closing company with an address adjacent so it's not like most of them hide this fact. This is how they can sell so cheap. They charge up front and do all the closing work in-house. You think the purchase money is being escrowed? From Selltimeshare.org listings:

"All Closing and escrow will be handled by a third party title company "Pacific Transfer"

Third party in legal sense only otherwise Pacific would not have said "I" and "us" in reference to canceling the eBay listing by luky987.

It doesn't bother me enough to avoid the cheap resales.

 

[massvacationer]

purchase is going okay

I wanted to report back:

I Purchased (Wyndham Points) from these guys back in June. I just called Wyndham and they do have the paperwork - and are processing it. So, sounds like the purchase will be fine. My impression is that they are disorganized at Pacific Transfers (probably due to staff turnover and inexperienced staff)....but my purchase does look like it will finalize - and the Wyndham points will be added to my account. IMHO: I personally wouldn't risk big bucks with these guys yet (until there is more of a positive track record) , but IMHO small dollar purchases are probably worth trying.

 

[SkyBlueWaters]

Follow up on your transaction

I am in the process of an SDO purchase. So far no issues. The seller was good with communication and provided the estoppel quickly. The closing company (Pacific Transfer) uses Docusign for the documents - no issues there. I've emailed them about the free 2012 usage and they have offered to reserve a week for us. Since then I have received three automated emails letting me know the deed was sent for recording, followed by an email stating that the deed was recorded, then another email indicating that the information has been sent to Starwood. So far total elapsed time is about three weeks. We'll see soon if everything has been done accurately.

Since my total out of pocket was $50, I was willing to give them a chance despite the negative reviews on TUG. I will be following up on the details myself (double checking the deed and the transfer information). I will be sure to update here if anything goes wrong.

Currently bidding on an SDO. Did you get free closing cost. This particular unit is asking for closing cost and MF. THANKS!

 

[ctice]

Beware of False Advertising from SellTimeshare.org

I just 'won' an eBay auction from this company and it's Matt Shell that I'm having problems with. First sent two emails during the auction asking for an estoppel letter - finally get a response that they don't have one (so pick up the phone and call the resort, what's the problem?). Then emails go unanswered asking for any kind of identifying information so I could confirm things with the resort myself. I bit the bullet and bid on/won the auction, after which I asked Matt for the assessors parcel number. His reply was not until I signed the contract. Then I read the contract. If I found something they had misrepresented during the process and cancelled, a provision in the contract says I would have to pay them $1,000 plus any future maintenance costs they might be out!

So, won't give me info about the unit. Will give me info if I sign the contract. Contract states I will pay $1k+ if they misrepresented or failed to mention something of significance that leads me to change my mind.

Don't get me wrong - I want the unit I think they were selling. After two previous sellers who misrepresented the sale (one was a totally different vacation club with properties I'd never use, the other had severe restrictions on the availability [not wks 1-50 as stated]), call me crazy for wanting to see proof of what I'll be owning/paying for for the rest of my days.

So I emailed them and said no deal until/unless I get a copy of the current deed. Am I being unreasonable?

I did not buy a timeshare from SellTimeshare.org, but I can tell you my experience with their false advertising. On no less than 3 occasions, I noticed ads for Harborside units that had the wrong floorplans and interior photos and wrote to them to alert them to the error. Typically they were the 1-bedroom "Deluxe" units, which are about 505 sq, have a kitchenette, and don't have a balcony. However, they repeatedly posted a floorplan for the 1-bedroom "Premium" unit which has approx. 862 sf, a full kitchen and a balcony.

The first couple of times I got a courteous response from Luky987. But the third time I contacted them, Matt Shell, Director of Sales and Customer Relations, wrote a rather nasty email to me and suggested I read their listing closely.

In the listing, it suggests that the pictures are not necessary ones of the complex or units. It also tells the buyer to do their own investigation. In short, "let the buyer beware" the responsibility is YOURS to catch THEIR false advertising. Don't expect their posted floorplans and photos to reflect the unit type and size being sold. I informed Matt that it was false and misleading advertising and a buyer could back out of the sale as a result. I also sent them a link for the Starwood website which had all their floorplans available so they could cut and past the correct one. There was absolutely no reason to post the wrong one.

So what did Matt Shell do? Did he appreciate me pointing out their false and misleading advertising? Did he commit to correcting the errors? Nope.

Far from it. Instead, he barred me from bidding on their timeshares or getting their newsletter. Great move, Matt.

I guess he didn't want to be repeatedly informed that he was misleading and falsly advertising Harborside timeshares. Better to shoot the messenger.

Now that I've read other reviews of disgrunted buyers reporting false advertising, problems with the Pacific closing company and lack of communication, I'd be very leery of buying any timeshare from them. And if you do decide to bid...do your homework first and verify EVERYTHING!

I saved all the emails back and forth with Luky987 and SellTimeshare.org so if you want proof of my communications with them, feel free to contact me directly. I can also prove that they blocked me from bidding on their timeshares. Is that good customer relations, Matt?

 

[Saintsfanfl]

Selltimeshare.org does not "choose" to use Pacific Transfer as their closing company. Pacific Transfer is Selltimeshare.org. This is not speculation, it is a fact.

If they are overwhelmed it's because they choose volume over accuracy. I use them, so don't get me wrong. They are not scammers and they do not fraudulently put out false info in their ads. If you tracked the mistakes in the listings to the total number of listings it would be a very low percentage. If you end up on the short end of their mistake, they will eventually make it right. Sure it is a pain but that is the cost of doing business on a cheap timeshare. It's not my favorite but if I see something I want with free closing and free usage I won't hesitate to do business with them again.

 

[Saintsfanfl]

Personally I think you are ridiculous. Almost all the sellers post generic pics of units with a disclaimer that the floor plan might not be reflective of the actual unit. Heck, even Marriott does this on their own web site when booking nightly units! It is not your responsibility to police someone elses ads and disclosures.

I did not buy a timeshare from SellTimeshare.org, but I can tell you my experience with their false advertising. On no less than 3 occasions, I noticed ads for Harborside units that had the wrong floorplans and interior photos and wrote to them to alert them to the error. Typically they were the 1-bedroom "Deluxe" units, which are about 505 sq, have a kitchenette, and don't have a balcony. However, they repeatedly posted a floorplan for the 1-bedroom "Premium" unit which has approx. 862 sf, a full kitchen and a balcony.

The first couple of times I got a courteous response from Luky987. But the third time I contacted them, Matt Shell, Director of Sales and Customer Relations, wrote a rather nasty email to me and suggested I read their listing closely.

In the listing, it suggests that the pictures are not necessary ones of the complex or units. It also tells the buyer to do their own investigation. In short, "let the buyer beware" the responsibility is YOURS to catch THEIR false advertising. Don't expect their posted floorplans and photos to reflect the unit type and size being sold. I informed Matt that it was false and misleading advertising and a buyer could back out of the sale as a result. I also sent them a link for the Starwood website which had all their floorplans available so they could cut and past the correct one. There was absolutely no reason to post the wrong one.

So what did Matt Shell do? Did he appreciate me pointing out their false and misleading advertising? Did he commit to correcting the errors? Nope.

Far from it. Instead, he barred me from bidding on their timeshares or getting their newsletter. Great move, Matt.

I guess he didn't want to be repeatedly informed that he was misleading and falsly advertising Harborside timeshares. Better to shoot the messenger.

Now that I've read other reviews of disgrunted buyers reporting false advertising, problems with the Pacific closing company and lack of communication, I'd be very leery of buying any timeshare from them. And if you do decide to bid...do your homework first and verify EVERYTHING!

I saved all the emails back and forth with Luky987 and SellTimeshare.org so if you want proof of my communications with them, feel free to contact me directly. I can also prove that they blocked me from bidding on their timeshares. Is that good customer relations, Matt?

 

[klpca]

Currently bidding on an SDO. Did you get free closing cost. This particular unit is asking for closing cost and MF. THANKS!

I feel bad that I missed this. But here is what happened.

This transaction was completed but it was like pulling teeth the whole way through. It was a slow closing, about 2 months to get the original deed recorded. Once they electronically recorded the deed, there was no more contact from them, including notification from them that they had recorded the deed.

There was a titling error on the deed - essentially a typo. That caused issues with Starwood and interval. When I called Pacific Transfer to ask them to fix it, they hung up on me. The woman who I spoke with actually said "Your deed is already recorded? We only do closings." and hung up. I decided that it would be easier to fix it myself than to involve Pacific Transfer any further. The county recorders office in AZ was very helpful and I had the deed correction done in about 30 days.

I've bought all of our timeshares on eBay and this is the only seller that I wouldn't work with again.

 

[Saintsfanfl]

I feel bad that I missed this. But here is what happened.

This transaction was completed but it was like pulling teeth the whole way through. It was a slow closing, about 2 months to get the original deed recorded. Once they electronically recorded the deed, there was no more contact from them, including notification from them that they had recorded the deed.

There was a titling error on the deed - essentially a typo. That caused issues with Starwood and interval. When I called Pacific Transfer to ask them to fix it, they hung up on me. The woman who I spoke with actually said "Your deed is already recorded? We only do closings." and hung up. I decided that it would be easier to fix it myself than to involve Pacific Transfer any further. The county recorders office in AZ was very helpful and I had the deed correction done in about 30 days.

I've bought all of our timeshares on eBay and this is the only seller that I wouldn't work with again.

You are always assigned a Pacific Transfer closing agent. What is the name of the person you were assigned? The thing that annoys me the most about them is they do not want the buyer to review the title before it is sent for recording. As far as taking two months to record the deed that has nothing to do with Pacific Transfer. Some counties actually take that long or longer. I had a deed with them that was recorded within 24 hours but I have another that is now at 1.5 months and still not recorded. Some counties are extremely slow and inefficient.

 

[klpca]

You are always assigned a Pacific Transfer closing agent. What is the name of the person you were assigned? The thing that annoys me the most about them is they do not want the buyer to review the title before it is sent for recording. As far as taking two months to record the deed that has nothing to do with Pacific Transfer. Some counties actually take that long or longer. I had a deed with them that was recorded within 24 hours but I have another that is now at 1.5 months and still not recorded. Some counties are extremely slow and inefficient.

I worked with two different people. They were fine initially. I was not happy with the follow up later in the transaction. It just wasn't a smooth transaction.

 

[nazclk]

Good luck to anyone that uses them

I don't think these people have the brain of a 3 year old.