BRAND new freaked out owner--need advice asap

[sunnyday1]

We recently bought an ownership in HGVC and are within our cancellation period for a couple more days. I want to make sure that we made a good decision.

Here are my main questions and concerns:

We purchased in Florida for the price/maintenance fee but we won't be staying there since we own DVC. We will travel summer and (week before) Easter because the kids are HS and it's bad to take them away during school. How difficult will it be to get a reservation on a holiday week (Easter) or summer season at a non-home resort?

I hear that if you don't own at MB, you're not going there. Is this true?

Do you all feel that HGVC has enough resorts in desirable locations (as opposed to Marriott, Starwood, etc.)?

How do I learn about using RCI, last call, etc. in the next couple of days?

My dh is freaked about having this (beyond) lifetime commitment. How hard will it be to dump this if we want out in, say, 10 years?

Any other help is appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

[glypnirsgirl]

GET OUT NOW! Rescind immediately!

Once that is done, you will find that you can buy for much less by buying used rather than "new."

You can try ebay OR (the better option in my opinion) use one of the licensed real estate agents that have been highly recommended: Seth Nock and Judy Kozlowski.

Glad you found TUG in time. Welcome!

elaine

 

[presley]

Based on your post, I would suggest canceling the contract right now. You have a lot of research to do before you make that big of a purchase. Please browse the Marketplace on this site as well as Ebay so that you can see what others are paying for similar ownerships.

Timeshares are very difficult to get rid of. If you cancel your purchase and do your research, you can make sure that you get exactly what it is that you need and for a lot less money than from buying it from the developer.

 

[sunnyday1]

GET OUT NOW! Rescind immediately!

Once that is done, you will find that you can buy for much less by buying used rather than "new."

You can try ebay OR (the better option in my opinion) use one of the licensed real estate agents that have been highly recommended: Seth Nock and Judy Kozlowski.

Glad you found TUG in time. Welcome!

elaine

If we get out, we're not getting back in. And that will be the end it. This may happen. Just curious: with resale, do you get the exact same product?

 

[timeos2]

Rescind while you still can! No timeshare or brand is any type of deal when purchased at developer pricing! You may or may not find Hilton to be a good fit, and value if purchased resale NOT retail, but you need to get out of a bad purchase, take your time to study ehat will be the best option & value to you. No matter what you eventually decide this purchase isn't a good one. Rescind now while it still costs you nothing. Listen to that little voice that made you post. You know deep down this is a mistake to keep.

 

[itradehilton]

Answers are within the quote.

We recently bought an ownership in HGVC and are within our cancellation period for a couple more days. I want to make sure that we made a good decision.

Here are my main questions and concerns:

We purchased in Florida for the price/maintenance fee but we won't be staying there since we own DVC. We will travel summer and (week before) Easter because the kids are HS and it's bad to take them away during school. How difficult will it be to get a reservation on a holiday week (Easter) or summer season at a non-home resort?

Not a problem for most places as long as you book as soon as the booking window opens.

I hear that if you don't own at MB, you're not going there. Is this true?

not true, see above comment.

Do you all feel that HGVC has enough resorts in desirable locations (as opposed to Marriott, Starwood, etc.)?

Not in as many locations but use RCI to expand locations.

How do I learn about using RCI, last call, etc. in the next couple of days?

RCI with HGVC is as easy as searching on any other website, resort availability varies, ongoing searches work well.

My dh is freaked about having this (beyond) lifetime commitment. How hard will it be to dump this if we want out in, say, 10 years?
If you bought direct resend now and scour this site for more info, then buy resale. HGVC resales seem to hold value at resale level.IMHO
Any other help is appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

[linsj]

Just curious: with resale, do you get the exact same product?

Yes. Hilton is probably the most owner friendly timeshare company. The only thing you can't get is elite status with a few perks that most of us say is not worth the price of buying from the developer.

 

[glypnirsgirl]

I find it interesting that something that was so appealing if you paid dearly for it would not be worth anything at all if you could not pay as much?

Is it the lifetime commitment that concerns you?

I have happily owned my purchased from the developer timeshare since 1994. And I am happy. Happy that I bought it. Happy that I use it.

Even retail, I am happy. I would be HAPPIER if I had paid less.

Given the choice between happy and happier, I would choose happier every time.

elaine

 

[sunnyday1]

Yes. Hilton is probably the most owner friendly timeshare company. The only thing you can't get is elite status with a few perks that most of us say is not worth the price of buying from the developer.

If you buy direct are you considered "elite"? What perks does that get you that resale does not?

 

[timeos2]

If you buy direct are you considered "elite"? What perks does that get you that resale does not?

A few discounts and maybe a priority reservation window. No way are the limited perks worth the excessive cost of retail (ot would be even MORE in cost and annual fees than the deal you should rescind now- makes no sense to even consider).

 

[sunnyday1]

I find it interesting that something that was so appealing if you paid dearly for it would not be worth anything at all if you could not pay as much?

Is it the lifetime commitment that concerns you?

I have happily owned my purchased from the developer timeshare since 1994. And I am happy. Happy that I bought it. Happy that I use it.

Even retail, I am happy. I would be HAPPIER if I had paid less.

Given the choice between happy and happier, I would choose happier every time.

elaine

Happy is good. Saving thousands of dollars is great. I found a TS reseller on ebay and I sent her an email asking what resale would cost for what I just purchased.

 

[sunnyday1]

Thanks for answering my questions, ITRADE HILTON. When does the reservation window open up for me at my home and at my non-home resort? How about RCI?

 

[Ridewithme38]

If you buy direct are you considered "elite"? What perks does that get you that resale does not?

I believe this is the most recent member guide http://multimedia.hiltongrandvacations.com/mg/Book_Reader.cfm?BookId=19

I believe the elite info is between pages 146-151

 

[AwayWeGo]

Even When You Buy "New," What You Get Is Used-Used-Used.

Once that is done, you will find that you can buy for much less by buying used rather than "new."

There is no such thing as a new timeshare.

No matter how high the price, by the time that the owner shows up & checks in, other people will already have been staying in that very same unit previously -- i.e., no way it's truly new.

It's used -- used-used-used -- any way you shake it.

Thus it makes no sense whatever to pay new full-freight retail timeshare prices for timeshares that are flat-out not new.

Not only that, nothing that the timeshare companies sell at full freight is worth the money -- and that goes for HGVC along with all the rest.

Get out of it while you can. Then, if you must own a timeshare, buy 1 resale or get 1 el freebo from 1 of the many owners eager to get rid of theirs.

That will save you thousands of dollars on exactly the same thing as full-freight, or the equivalent, or something even better.

Rescinda-sinda-sinda. (Note the reverberating echo.)

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[sunnyday1]

I believe this is the most recent member guide http://multimedia.hiltongrandvacations.com/mg/Book_Reader.cfm?BookId=19

I believe the elite info is between pages 146-151

Oh, look, that's the book I just lugged home with me. Thanks for the page numbers. I guess I should get a-readin'.

So I feel that nearly everyone here is happy with ownership. We love to travel and have a family of 6 so the large accommodations are really a necessity for us. I purchased 4800 points bi-annually so I only have a 1 BR every 2 years. So I guess I only get to reserve a 2 BR every 3 or so years until the kids get older and don't travel with us.

 

[Ridewithme38]

Oh, look, that's the book I just lugged home with me. Thanks for the page numbers. I guess I should get a-readin'.

So I feel that nearly everyone here is happy with ownership. We love to travel and have a family of 6 so the large accommodations are really a necessity for us. I purchased 4800 points bi-annually so I only have a 1 BR every 2 years. So I guess I only get to reserve a 2 BR every 3 or so years until the kids get older and don't travel with us.

I'd rescend if i were you, 4,800 points every other year isn't going to be enough for a family of 6...I just travel with me and my daughter and need a 2br...i can't imagine traveling with 3 kids how much space you might need!

 

[sunnyday1]

I'd rescend if i were you, 4,800 points every other year isn't going to be enough for a family of 6...I just travel with me and my daughter and need a 2br...i can't imagine traveling with 3 kids how much space you might need!

We don't want a "BIG" vacation every year anyway. We have family all over the country, a DVC membership and business travel so we have lots of travel to fill the "off" years. btw-four kids, including 3 teen boys.

 

[whatsburning]

1. Stop being freaked out
2. Call to rescind
3. Since you already have DVC and you know the value of TSing, don't dismiss future opportunities due to one bad experience
4. Check TUG, ebay, and real estate sales for price histories
5. Buy at 50-75% off developer prices by buying resale

 

[siesta]

2. Call to rescind

Definitely DONT call to rescind. Rescind in writing, sent overnight certified mail with return receipt requested, and if you have the rescission instructions follow them exactly.

Then research, and buy resale and enjoy your vacations!

By the way you can by your hgvc timeshare through a licensed realtor like Seth or Judy, many tuggers recommend them.

Vip/elite benefits are marketting tools to encourage developer sales. With the thousands you save resale, you could spend that cash to enhance your vacation if desired and get alot more value.

 

[AwayWeGo]

Rescinding Via Telephone Might Not Work.

Call to rescind

According to TUG people who've actually rescinded full-freight timeshare purchases, rescission typically has to be done in a specific way that's spelled out in the fine print of documents handed over during the original transaction. Usually, the requirement is sending notice of rescission in writing, via USPS, to a particular address.

Doing it some other way may or may not count.

If the rescission doesn't count (because it wasn't done the way the documents require), then the full-freight sale is not undone & the person with buyer regret is stuck with the overpriced timeshare, causing even greater regret.

Rescind now & rescind the right way.

Get out of it while you can.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[artringwald]

Just another vote to rescind now, do it in writing, and read carefully to find out exactly how to do it. We bought our first week from the developer in 2004, and don't regret it, but that was when the resales were relatively expensive. Now they're so cheap, it makes no sense at all to buy from the developer, no matter what they tell you. We bought our second week last month through RedWeek.com and can't wait to use it.

 

[PigsDad]

Definitely DONT call to rescind. Rescind in writing, sent overnight certified mail with return receipt requested, and if you have the rescission instructions follow them exactly.

I agree with Siesta, but no need to send overnight (does USPS even offer overnight?). As long as it is sent certified USPS, that is proof of when you sent it -- that is the date that is important. It does not matter when they receive it when it comes to determining if you are within your rescission period.

Don't email, fax or fedex. Those methods do not provide a legal basis of when you rescinded.

After that is taken care of, hang around here, talk to some resale brokers (Seth N. and Judy K. are well respected here), and TAKE YOUR TIME to decide what product (if any) would be a good match for your needs. Then there will be no more "freaking out".

Kurt

 

[sunnyday1]

OK, regardless of the price I paid and rescinding set aside for now:

1. Are you happy that you have HGVC?

2. Do you get the resorts and dates you want?

3. How far in advance have you had to book to get your choice?

4. Do you think the collection is adequate and RCI is easy to use?

TY!!

 

[Talent312]

1. Stop being freaked out
2. Call to rescind

Call to rescind... That is bad advice. You CANNOT "call" to rescind.
You must do in _writing_ in the manner specified in your contract.
Follow the method in the contract to the letter, even if you think there's a better way.

HGVC is an extremely flexible system. Hence the big-book. But know this:
It's consumer friendly, as long as you understand the basics...

Club Reservations for 3 or more days at affiliated resorts, starting 9 mos out.
Open Season (cash discount) reservations for 2 or more days, starting 30 days out.
As in any system, this is a license to hunt, not guaranteed availability.

RCI -- Search both weeks (up to two years out) and points (up to 10 months out).
Confirm reservations without depositing anything. HGVC simply deducts the points.

You need to buy direct and a minimum of 14K points for elite status.
-- which gets you a few meager discounts and a special room key.

A knock against the system has been its concentration of resorts in Orlando, Vegas and Hawaii. However, it has been expanded with affiliations with Grand Pacific, Club Intrawest, and buying or converting resorts in places such as Myrtle Beach & San Diego.

Resale is definitely the way to go.
Resale buyers get eggsactly the same perks -- except for elite status.

 

[timeos2]

Oh, look, that's the book I just lugged home with me. Thanks for the page numbers. I guess I should get a-readin'.

So I feel that nearly everyone here is happy with ownership. We love to travel and have a family of 6 so the large accommodations are really a necessity for us. I purchased 4800 points bi-annually so I only have a 1 BR every 2 years. So I guess I only get to reserve a 2 BR every 3 or so years until the kids get older and don't travel with us.

This sounds like you might be trying to convince yourself (& your husband) that this IS a purchase worth keeping. Go back & reread all the replies - it is not just to rescind and be done necessarily forever but to step back, figure out what you'll use/want, then get a reasonable price to obtain it. Doing it before you are aware of the way the program works (as in 4,800 every other year points being nearly worthless - you need more & likely every year to have enough to travel comfortably & when you'd like in the system. The cost for that will be likely be LESS- maybe far less - then what you are currently committed to) and what it can be obtained for in a best price/value situation you are setting yourself up for a big decision you'll regret.

We really are trying to help - I hope you take advantage of the great advice you've been given to rescind now. That offer will always be there (regardless of what they may have said) but the right to rescind is gone after the number of days in your contract & you're on the hook forever. Don't waste your chance to get out unscathed.