Any one heard of Seabreeze Advertising Corp.

[jenerusgirl]

I have been scammed in the past by Resorts International Unlimited, they took 700 bucks and still (3 years later) have heard nothing. I am considering using Seabreeze to sell my timeshare, infact I already gave them my credit card number. I now am wondering if that was a mistake because of everything I have read about up front fees. I did think they were different than other companies because they only wanted part of the money up front, and the rest at closing. Any one with any info. on this company please let me know! I only have 6 days to change my mind!

 

[Dave M]

You have been scammed again. Demand (politely at first) that they credit your card back - NOW!

There is no difference (repeat: NO DIFFERENCE) in the upfront fee companies. They all take your money and that's the last you hear from them.

If you really want to sell your timeshare without getting scammed again, read and follow the guidance in the "how to sell" article located at the top of the list of topics for this Buying, Selling, Renting forum.

....and a hearty welcome to TUG!! Better that you found us late than not at all!

 

[KenK]

Six days to change your mind? Change it from what? IMO- you need to call your credit card company now and stop all charges from this company or any of its divisions....it is probably already too late.

Seabreeze was discussed heavily on the redweek forums. Unfortunately, its pretty negative there, too.

Stop this deal now. Do not pay anyone an upfront fee to sell your timeshare...or anything like that (includes a holiday club).


What do they need to do, now that they have already been paid? Right, nothing, but list your place, on a website with weeks that are so overpriced that they will never be sold.


Others will post to help you more. I will try to find the Seabreeze thread on Redweeks antiquated (no disrespect Marty) forums. While I look, you follow the rules to rescind this ASAP. Anyone who tells me their company sold 156,000 Wyndham points for over 12 cents per point can't be trusted (IMO).

( They now sell for less than 1/2 cent to about 3 cents each. (I have to thak Redweek for not deleted that post on their forums.......

Look for link in a post below.

 

[KenK]

See if this links:

http://www.redweek.com/forums/messages?thread_id=12205;page=1;query=

 

[jenerusgirl]

seabreeze...

well I have read numerous bad posts about the different companies that charge upfront fees but the reason I went with Seabreeze is because they were the only place that told me that they actually give away free stuff to vacationers and pressure them with their own timeshare schpeel...I don't know but it sounded more convincing than just having an add on a website that no one ever looks at. Not to mention, do people actually even buy timeshares without a schpeel? Crap, I don't know what to do, I really need to sell this timeshare!

 

[Dave M]

If you really need to sell it, please, please, PLEASE follow the advice in my above post. That will give you your best chance at selling it without getting scammed ... again.

If you believe the lies of those who make great promises and ask for upfront fees, you will be have a lot less money and will own your timeshare for a long, long time....

 

[myip]

The problem it doesn't sell , it is most likely the price. Instead of giving money to the dealer, sell the timeshare yourself at a realistic price.

 

[Steamboat Bill]

Get an eBay account.

 

[KenK]

Jen:

You asked kristenc35 on Redweek how they helped her (?). Did you read just below her post that she is considered an shill (?) .... a person who works for the company and posts as a happy camper?

Note she did not respond to the call out. Another did, and all info that person left had to be removed. (I don't volunteer there, so I can't see if Marty had IPs listed on either to show where the posts came from.

Have you notified your CC to stop payment to them?

Would you buy a T/S from them for $18,000 if you could buy the same one somewhere else for $500 ?

kristenc35 was who I was talking about, read her post carefully about selling those Wyndham FF points. Remember what they resale for ( see above).

Please don't get robbed again. If they promised you a period of time to get out of the contract, and they refuse to honor that contract, please ask here about the contact to the Florida AGs office. Some might say you lose, because it wasn't in writing....but still complain to the AG.


In Florida, a company that says it is a realtor is not supposed to ask for a upfront fee. ON Redweek, they responded they were mortgage brokers.....
so they may be allowed to skirt the intentions of the laws....a great company to do business with ?

 

[johnmfaeth]

Hi Jenerusgirl,

For the benefit of other readers, I will state that I pm'd you for the unit info and you responded. To describe the unit in the public forums could be construed as attempting to sell it here which is against the board rules.

I looked at units for sale at your resort and there were a good number on redweek. They start at about $3,000 and go up. The more expensive ones are at fantasy prices. Many owners think that their resale value is a function of the purchase price, if only that were true, but it's not.

Most timeshares in that area sell for 10% to 30% of the original purchase price. A few top names may fetch 60% of what they cost. Disney aside.

The scam and draw of the upfront listing fee companies is that they let sellers post their ads (and some encourage) rediculous prices that will never happen.

Dave and Ken gave you wonderful advice. Read the "how to sell" section. Then research the ads for similar units at your resort on the major websites like redweek.com and tug2.com

If you really want to sell, come up with a realistic price which is comparable to the lower priced units (again throwing out those with unrealistic prices) and you have a shot at selling it.

AND you will drop less that $100 advertizing it all over.

John

 

[jenerusgirl]

OK so I am officially a sucker I guess. I just called to get my money back and was talked out of it. I give up. I guess I will just hope for the best. Thanks for all of your advice everyone!

 

[TUGBrian]

just dispute the charge on your credit card through them if you are unable to get the company to refund your money properly.

 

[Dave M]

I guess I will just hope for the best.

Of the hundreds and hundreds of posts here over the years by people who have paid upfront fees such as you have, there has never been a single confirmed report of anyone successfully selling a timeshare as a result of making such a payment. I think we can accurately predict that will also be your result.

Thus, if as you stated, you "really need to sell this timeshare", you should immediately embark on a low-cost action plan to try to sell it. It's really very easy to do and there is no prohibition against starting your own efforts to sell your timeshare at the same time you hope that Seabreeze will do something positive.

So, for the last time, please read the "how to sell" timeshare article referenced above. If you don't read it and embark on a plan based on what you read, we can only conclude that you are not serious about selling.

 

[timeos2]

Not something to simply hope for

OK so I am officially a sucker I guess. I just called to get my money back and was talked out of it. I give up. I guess I will just hope for the best. Thanks for all of your advice everyone!

Perhaps not a sucker but too easily swayed? What could they possibly say that made you leave hundreds of dollars in their hands? You would be far better off lowering your asking price by at least what you paid them and advertise the heck out of your week. What you paid is 99.9% sure NOT to produce a sale but leave you with another bill to pay beside the annual fee you are trying to be rid of.

Get angry and call back one last time & CANCEL this "deal".

 

[Phill12]

Jen:

You asked kristenc35 on Redweek how they helped her (?). Did you read just below her post that she is considered an shill (?) .... a person who works for the company and posts as a happy camper?

Note she did not respond to the call out. Another did, and all info that person left had to be removed. (I don't volunteer there, so I can't see if Marty had IPs listed on either to show where the posts came from.


{SOFTBALLDAD3}
Ken, I was one of the people that posted against the person deleted!

My problem was this guy talked about being a business man and dealing with the company and having been very happy with their services. He then went in to a cussing act against anyone who disagreed and I felt this did not belong on Redweek site.. Also can not see a business man as he put it using this kind of smash mouth on a site .


{ KenK}
Please don't get robbed again.

[SOFTBALLDAD3}

I can not understand someone being scammed once and after all of us on these sites try and warn everyone not to pay up front there are those that will do it again! They think just because its not the same company it will work. Many of these companies change names when they get a bad rap so someone might be giving more money to the same people.

Talk about never learning! Some people just deserve to lose money I guess.

PHIL

 

[jenerusgirl]

you probably are all right but I did what I did and so we'll see. This company had a completely different approach to selling timeshares than the many others that I have dealt with. I will definately keep you posted.

 

[DaveNV]

This is why postcard companies continue to exist!

Others here have questioned how and why postcard companies can exist when alternative timeshare sales options are easily found. Jenerusgirl's posts are the reason why. She knows they're ripping her off, it's happened to her before, she knows they did it again, yet she allows them to talk her into allowing them to take advantage of her. If her posts are to be taken seriously, then I simply don't understand that kind of thinking.

But it sure explains how postcard companies can continue to flourish!

Dave

 

[CatLovers]

Yikes! I guess advice is only useful to those who will heed it.

you probably are all right but I did what I did and so we'll see. This company had a completely different approach to selling timeshares than the many others that I have dealt with. I will definately keep you posted.

Are you nuts? All the advice on this board (and these guys know what they are talking about, I've watched them help hundreds of people who've been scammed/almost scammed like you) has repeatedly told you to get out of this deal while you can. There is only a very small window during which you can back out; even the credit card companies won't allow you to dispute a charge after a certain period of time. And yet you're just going to wait and see! Yeesh! You must have a lot of money to burn!

In my professional life (when I am not lurking on this board) I teach managers how to become leaders. Yet even when a CEO of a company calls me because s/he wants me to coach a manager, I state up front that all the information in the world cannot help a person who is not willing to open their minds and truly listen and act on what I have to share. The people on this board are giving you great UNBIASED advice, but yet, you will listen to someone who has everything to gain and nothing to lose by making false promises.

Good luck, and I truly hope, for your sake, that Seabreeze magically will sell your timeshare for you, you will not lose your shirt, and all the experienced people on this board will be proven wrong.

 

[KenK]

Nearly everyone here has made some kind of errors... not just financial related to timeshare or holiday clubs.

But the smooth talk of a Scratch ( a name from New Hampshire) taught salesperson has hit us all. Half truths and half lies or intentional omissions. They need to separate us from our $$$. And they are not supposed to be teachers, or on our side....the teachers are here on tug....and the more unbiased the better. Most of use here have been tricked a few times....but we hope to learn from previous errors. ( Yes, trust also disappears with this learning experience -hopefully the curve is a fast one.)

As Dave said, we haven't seen a happy customer from a high $$ rate upfront sales T/S operation. ( At least not a seller....I do remember someone posting here that they BOUGHT a Marriott Cypress Harbor week from Stroman - {a high priced upfront fee REALTOR - not illegal in Texas} for $1000.00.

What we need to determine if we can afford the price of these 'losses'. Many don't mind paying full price (for anything- here T/Ss) for exactly what they want, as they probably don't need to worry to much about the difference related to a developer price or a resale price. BUT most not needing to worry have taught themselves that the value is worth it to them.

I think the money spent for nothing because of a smooth operator talks well is telling my family that they need the money less than the smooth operator. That is....it might be easier for them to just take my families money...my kids don't need it...and I don't want to rock the boat ( or fight) to get it back...my family isn't important enough.

That 'smooth operator' is not a charity....you expect something in return for a promise they made......

Softball Dad- didn't see you on Redweek. I post as my e mail here is addressed...wrong I know..but didn't know that name would come up on Redweek when I posted on the forums.

I still think we should not give up.....I would like to see if Jen does get her $$ back on her CC from this co before the promised cooling off time is up. (I doubt it )


Finally....I easily found the redweek post when I searched google with the name Seabreeze Advertising. It was the first hit on google, tug wasn't, in this case, redweek was.

 

[calgarygary]

you probably are all right but I did what I did and so we'll see. This company had a completely different approach to selling timeshares than the many others that I have dealt with. I will definately keep you posted.

jenerusgirl, you have received some great advice from very well informed tuggers yet you do not heed the advice. If you look at your original post, you start by saying that you are considering using Seabreeze but then you go on to say that you have already given them partial payment and your credit card info. In this last post, being a somewhat jaded person, I can't help that think that it will be a shill that keeps us posted.

 

[Dave M]

I hadn't thought of that, Gary, but you might be right. Anyone who receives such strong one-sided advice not to pay and goes ahead and pays anyway, with no independent advice that she should pay, may very well be a shill for the company. In that case, we should expect that she will come back and claim that they sold her timeshare for her.

I hope we are wrong....

 

[brucecz]

Ken , Dave, John, ect all gave you good advice.

I have in the past 7 years :whoopie: sold about 20 of my timeshares basically doing what they told you to do.

There are a lot of free websites. All you have to do is make up one basic ad and then paste that same ad on all of those free websites. It will take you about and hour or so to do so

Check ebays completed auctions to try and find what is the bottom of the market and then price with in 10% or 20% on those free sites if you really want to dump it.


Bruce

OK so I am officially a sucker I guess. I just called to get my money back and was talked out of it. I give up. I guess I will just hope for the best. Thanks for all of your advice everyone!

 

[T_R_Oglodyte]

I hadn't thought of that, Gary, but you might be right. Anyone who receives such strong one-sided advice not to pay and goes ahead and pays anyway, with no independent advice that she should pay, may very well be a shill for the company. In that case, we should expect that she will come back and claim that they sold her timeshare for her.

I hope we are wrong....

Yeah - I remember a similar set of posts about six or seven years ago from that outfit in the Bahamas that was supposedly buying timeshares to put into a REIT or some other type of investment vehicle. The scam there was that you had to get the unit "appraised", and the appraisal had to be done by one of their approved appraisal companies. The perps on that one were eventually sent to jail

Someone came around with an almost identical post then - against all advice they said they were going to go ahead and use them and report back. IIRC, that was only several weeks before the ring was busted, so it's not surprising that we never heard back.

 

[CatLovers]

jenerusgirl, you have received some great advice from very well informed tuggers yet you do not heed the advice. If you look at your original post, you start by saying that you are considering using Seabreeze but then you go on to say that you have already given them partial payment and your credit card info. In this last post, being a somewhat jaded person, I can't help that think that it will be a shill that keeps us posted.

You know, Gary and Dave, I was thinking exactly the same thing as I was writing my tirade to j-girl in Post #18. Well, if she's a shill, she's been "outed" before she even got started. And if she is genuinely misguided, then she has no one to blame but herself when her "deal" with Seabreeze goes south! It certainly wasn't for lack of trying by the folks on this board.

 

[Dave M]

I'm now going to back up and do a 180 on this. I don't think she is a shill. Reading more carefully, it's clear that she had already given them her credit card info when she wrote the first post. Her question was whether she should change her mind and try to get out of it.

Also, we can all envision a person, who despite strong statements from people she has never met (TUGgers), desperately wants to believe that an outfit making wonderful-sounding promises will come through for her. Her statement that she "was talked out of" trying to get her money back is consistent with that mindset.

Some people have been scammed by upfront fee companies, become regular TUGgers and still ask, many months later, whether they should pay an upfront fee to another company that has contacted them.

So I can visualize how she might be taken in.

When she finds out that this company has taken her for a ride, I sincerely hope that she will come back and seek our advice again.