Buying a timeshare…,

[raffal]

I wonder what is the future of time sharing in the US and globally??,… it is 2023- does ppl still keep buying a timeshare in Airbnb era?,…. ‘ how timeshares are being pitched ??— I heard in the past ppl were buying bc were told by a sales person it is a ‘ good rental investment’…. now o hear they try to avoid word : ‘ timeshare’- which is replaced with ‘ vacation home ‘- what are your thoughts?,….is it still worth it to buy timeshare?…. Thanks in advance… raf -)

 

[Patri]

If you joined TUG in 2005, the answers are in all the threads. The value/waste of ts ownership is reflected in every post. You have to decide what fits your travel plans. Start reading.

 

[raffal]

Not sure if you read the post to the end— the date was said :2023, not 2005,…..

 

[claraj]

...is it still worth it to buy timeshare?…. Thanks in advance… raf -)

In my opinion, it can be worth it for different reasons. For instance, it could be worth it for someone who has disposable income, likes to take multiple vacations and stay at above average properties. However, to really make it worth it, you would also have to learn the intricacies of all the ways you can trade your ownership, rent additional weeks on II/RCI, rent points from owners, etc. This is just one example.

One example of where a TS won't be worth it is a family that takes one vacation a year and stays at the lowest cost property available.

As suggested above, start studying the forum and decide if TS is worth it for you.

 

[bnoble]

Not sure if you read the post to the end— the date was said :2023, not 2005,…..

I think her point was that you appear to have been a member since 2005, so presumably you know the answers to some of your questions.

 

[sue1947]

I think her point was that you appear to have been a member since 2005, so presumably you know the answers to some of your questions.

raffal​

TUG Member
JoinedJun 6, 2005

 

[stmartinfan]

I think there's merit in asking this question because it reflects the state of timesharing today—not what it's been in the past. I don't trade my timeshare via RCI or II so don't have personal experience but my perception is that trading has become more difficult and expensive, reducing the value of ownership for many people. I’ve also benefited from the advent of VRBO, which means we can find accommodations with the features like multiple bedrooms and kitchens easily now, compared to when we bought our unit.

 

[bnoble]

But the answer is "nothing has changed."

VRBO has been around for about 25 years now. In fact, it was the experience of trying to find Orlando/Disney-area rentals on VRBO that convinced me to buy a timeshare, because finding a great rental at a good price was so much work. AirBnB has been around for close to 15 years--newer, but hardly revolutionary at this point.

And people do keep buying timeshares. Wyndham's most recent quarterly results show tour flow and gross sales up, though the sales-per-guest is down slightly. They are being sold the same way they've always been sold: as an aspirational way to commit to regular vacations with your family at an "affordable" price.

Now, that price isn't really affordable, but that's not exactly new either. Folks around here have known that developer sales prices rarely make sense compared to most any alternative other than "Show up and pay whatever they ask to rent something." The change in nomenclature ("vacation home") is just marketing. The word "timeshare" has all kinds of bad connotations. You can fight that impression on the sale floor, or use a different word or phrase for exactly the same thing. Even the Baltimore dope slingers understand this. (NSFW).

"The Internet will kill the timeshare industry" is something I've been reading about since I joined TUG. It hasn't happened yet.

 

[barto]

People keep buying timeshares? Definitely. But it may depend on HOW you buy the timeshare - developer ('retail') or secondary market ('used'). Costs to purchase on the used market can be extremely low - my last 4 timeshares had a combined purchase price of $3 (no closing fee, including free usage), so the entry cost can be almost nil. Then you have maintenance fees to contend with, of course, but there's no initial $15000+ outlay (or paying off a loan) to factor in.

My first 3 timeshares were purchased off Yahoo auctions (yes, there was such a thing) for $75 total - still have 1 of them since the maintenance fees are so low - use it as a trader. Friends bought into a resort for $15000, let us stay there on cheap owner rental rates, we got hooked and found one for $600. Now we own 8 weeks at that resort!

I guess the low barrier to entry ($) also means it's easier to end up with lots of timeshares... hmmm.... did I just call myself out?

 

[raffal]

I think there's merit in asking this question because it reflects the state of timesharing today—not what it's been in the past. I don't trade my timeshare via RCI or II so don't have personal experience but my perception is that trading has become more difficult and expensive, reducing the value of ownership for many people. I’ve also benefited from the advent of VRBO, which means we can find accommodations with the features like multiple bedrooms and kitchens easily now, compared to when we bought our unit.

Exactly- many ppl , don’t even read the question, don’t understand the question- yet attempt to answer it — is like me talking about solar system and not being astrophysicist anyway - I appreciate your answer,- , don’t care what was in the past - care what’s now and the future ,- of the product ., timesharing as whole,m- it’s been around since the 60s- so I’m curious if is going strong or becoming slowly obsolete…- ppl 2023!- and forward

 

[raffal]

I think her point was that you appear to have been a member since 2005, so presumably you know the answers to some of your questions.

I think you need to maybe “ get the question “- then write replay -, I’m looking for answers to the merit of the question- not to answer just to answer …- not looking for mumbo jumbo-)

 

[bnoble]

Keep reading, and enjoy your time on my ignore list.

 

[raffal]

But the answer is "nothing has changed."

VRBO has been around for about 25 years now. In fact, it was the experience of trying to find Orlando/Disney-area rentals on VRBO that convinced me to buy a timeshare, because finding a great rental at a good price was so much work. AirBnB has been around for close to 15 years--newer, but hardly revolutionary at this point.

And people do keep buying timeshares. Wyndham's most recent quarterly results show tour flow and gross sales up, though the sales-per-guest is down slightly. They are being sold the same way they've always been sold: as an aspirational way to commit to regular vacations with your family at an "affordable" price.

Now, that price isn't really affordable, but that's not exactly new either. Folks around here have known that developer sales prices rarely make sense compared to most any alternative other than "Show up and pay whatever they ask to rent something." The change in nomenclature ("vacation home") is just marketing. The word "timeshare" has all kinds of bad connotations. You can fight that impression on the sale floor, or use a different word or phrase for exactly the same thing. Even the Baltimore dope slingers understand this. (NSFW).

"The Internet will kill the timeshare industry" is something I've been reading about since I joined TUG. It hasn't happened yet.

That’s what I was looking for,-)

 

[Patri]

We all understood the question. Any answer is pure speculation. The past does set the course for the future.

 

[legalfee]

We purchased both our timeshares on Ebay more than 12 years ago. A friend had one unit on a different week. Before we purchased the other week we checked out the resort while on vacation. One is a fixed week and the other is a float. We use both almost every year and when we don't have no problems renting or trading them. We tried using RCI to trade into Hawaii but could not find anything suitable for what they gave me for my STT timeshare so we ended up using VBRO.

 

[e.bram]

Ebay timeshares have virtually disappeared.
If you can you buy a OCEANFRONT fixed unit fixed week.

 

[barto]

I still see 500+ ebay listings when searching for 'timeshare', but you're never sure if there's the one you want on there at any given moment. It's a good indicator to look at how many bidders to show how 'good' the timeshare is, depending on how long it's been listed for. I guess that's a 'duh' thing - zero bids means no interest from buyers, many bids means lots of interest.

 

[Jeddy]

People keep buying timeshares because they are being sold; there is product to be sold and money to be made.
People are also still buying summer cottages/winter ski chalets, just like a hundred years ago. There is product to be sold and money to be made.
As a much earlier poster stated, the "timeshare world" has changed (since 1960) with exchange networks, AirBnB, VRBO, and the internet.

There are folks that make the present timeshare system (in all its tanglements) work for them, and there will be folks who decide it's not their cup of tea.

I will admit: for someone who is new to the 2023 timeshare concept, there is a steep learning curve and a lot of fitting needs to be done into the specific wants/needs of that individual/family
It doesn't always work. In particular, exiting a timeshare (or VOI) ownership is harder than it should be.

Places like TUG are superb resources for facts (and, almost as valued, opinions).
Creating an index of that resource, however, is challenging....

 

[raffal]

Keep reading, and enjoy your time on my ignore list.

I’m crying Lool - are you a ‘ brand ‘ ??-))$)

 

[chapjim]

I’m crying Lool - are you a ‘ brand ‘ ??-))$)

Do you post on TUG to annoy and alienate people? Is it intentional or is that just the way you are?

 

[raffal]

Do you post on TUG to annoy and alienate people? Is it intentional or is that just the way you are?

Annoy stupid ppl with stupid responses- there is a saying if one has nothing to say- don’t say it,- we got 2 ears and 1 mouth for reason -)

 

[chapjim]

Annoy stupid ppl with stupid responses- there is a saying if one has nothing to say- don’t say it,- we got 2 ears and 1 mouth for reason -)

You came on here with a question. You've been a member for eighteen years and if you had spent a minimal amount of time, you would know the answer to your question and many more like it. Instead, you chose to berate people who tried to help you.

And you have the gall to talk about stupid people with stupid responses.

You're on one more ignore list.