Considering purchasing my first TS

[Bertgamble2001]

I am looking at a TS that I might want to buy. I am still new at this and would like another opinion. The TS is located at:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ws/eBayISAP...=131088793652&lgeo=1&vectorid=229466#ht_0wt_0

If it isn't against the rules, would you take a look and let me know if you see any "Red Flags".

Thank you
Bert

 

[csxjohn]

Where do I start?

They have this set up as a "private" auction and if you read this board you'll see where many of us think that this leads to shill bidding without being able to check on it.

They will no longer state the closing company name because it's more than likely Pacific Transfer which has a terrible reputation.

They don't accept credit cards which leaves you no recourse to cancel the transaction if and when it goes sour.

This paragraph is very telling.

Any concerns in regards to the ownership such as; property verification, particular details, deed, ownership documents or estoppel, must be addressed before placing a bid. Seller will not provide any additional information at the end of the auction until buyer completes signed purchase agreement and submits full funds in escrow.

You had better get all the info you want before you bid. Why would a reputable seller not give you info during the closing process?

The ad has the exact language as a couple sellers who have been getting very bad feedback here and elsewhere.

Personally I would not bid on this auction and that's without even addressing the issue of buying a timeshare in an over built area such as Vegas that is usually easy to trade into. Others will fill you in on that aspect.

 

[Bertgamble2001]

Where do I start?

They have this set up as a "private" auction and if you read this board you'll see where many of us think that this leads to shill bidding without being able to check on it.

They will no longer state the closing company name because it's more than likely Pacific Transfer which has a terrible reputation.

They don't accept credit cards which leaves you no recourse to cancel the transaction if and when it goes sour.

This paragraph is very telling.



You had better get all the info you want before you bid. Why would a reputable seller not give you info during the closing process?

The ad has the exact language as a couple sellers who have been getting very bad feedback here and elsewhere.

Personally I would not bid on this auction and that's without even addressing the issue of buying a timeshare in an over built area such as Vegas that is usually easy to trade into. Others will fill you in on that aspect.

Thank you for your input.

I was thinking of getting one in Vegas because that is where I would like to vacation at least once a year. Is this the wrong approach to take?

 

[csxjohn]

Read through this thread, These two sellers use the same language in their auctions.

http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=198561&highlight=private+auction

 

[csxjohn]

Thank you for your input.

I was thinking of getting one in Vegas because that is where I would like to vacation at least once a year. Is this the wrong approach to take?

I'm really not qualified in that aspect of your question. I remember seeing a lot of Vegas trades in DAE.

If that's where you plan to vacation I don't see anything wrong with buying there, it will save exchange fees.

You could use the search function in the blue bar above to get answers to other questions, my focus is on that eBay seller.

One thing to keep in mind is that what ever you bid on you should consider using a snipe service such as esnipe. It won't alert others to your interest in an auction and will take the emotion that some get caught up in out of the equation.

 

[Passepartout]

Get one somewhere else you'd like to go. You can rent in Las Vegas cheaper than MFs.

Jim

 

[Rent_Share]

From your home base, I would consider Worldmark

https://www.worldmarktheclub.com/resorts/

Ignore the yellow dots (affiliate)

Your single ownership can be used at one of the three in Las Vegas as well as many locations in the Western US WITHOUT an exchange fee

It also allow for stays as short as 1 night and up to 30 depending on the points purchased

 

[csxjohn]

Get one somewhere else you'd like to go. You can rent in Las Vegas cheaper than MFs.

Jim

From your home base, I would consider Worldmark

https://www.worldmarktheclub.com/resorts/

Ignore the yellow dots (affiliate)

Your single ownership can be used at one of the three in Las Vegas as well as many locations in the Western US WITHOUT an exchange fee

It also allow for stays as short as 1 night and up to 30 depending on the points purchased

The experts have spoken and have very good reasons for not buying in LV. Being able to rent a unit for less than the owners pay in MFs is big problem through out Timeshare World.

 

[Ridewithme38]

What happened to Denise? She used to come in and post 'the list' for people talking about buying a timeshare

 

[presley]

I was thinking of getting one in Vegas because that is where I would like to vacation at least once a year. Is this the wrong approach to take?

If you want to go to Las Vegas truly at least once per year, it makes sense to buy there. If you buy somewhere else, you will pay an exchange fee (and possibly a membership fee) to exchange to Vegas.

I like points systems. Rather than a full week in one location, it gives you points to use in many resorts. Worldmark, Shell and HGVC are the ones I use. There are plenty more to research for your own needs.

You need to read/check out as much as you can before you buy anything. I know nothing about the resort in your post.

 

[Passepartout]

Another 'mini system' worth considering for those of us who live in the West is Vacation Internationale. It's a point system, easy to understand. Book 1 night or more than a week. The rate in points is lower off season, or weeknights (for more nights), higher for prime time- school holidays etc. They are not real common, but can be bought resale on eBay, TUG Marketplace, and the other usual suspects. Internal exchanges have minimal charges and have access to VRI*ety and through that to RCI exchanges.

Here's a map of resort locations: http://vacationinternationale.com/resorts/resortLocations.html

Jim

 

[mlefferts]

The experts have spoken and have very good reasons for not buying in LV. Being able to rent a unit for less than the owners pay in MFs is big problem through out Timeshare World.

True, but you can purchase lots of RCI points at Grandview with low mf and have a nice home resort and lots of points to use elsewhere, and if traded within the Vacation Village network the trade fee is reduced. Wynham definitely has the largest network, but I'd honestly do more research before buying, whether it's a week or points, all the systems have different rules and points are of different worths, and some have membership fees and exchange fees, too.

If you like LV it is always easy to rent, I often see Grandview up there under sale weeks on last call and extra vacations on RCI, I just sent my sister & 3 friends there in a 2br lock off for $199 plus tax (& guest certificate) for the week, not touching my weeks or points, and she went to a presentation and bought a timeshare (which I made her rescind) but that story is for another post

Have you ever been to any of the LV TS resorts? Is there any other place you like to travel?

 

[JulieAnderson]

Another 'mini system' worth considering for those of us who live in the West is Vacation Internationale. It's a point system, easy to understand. Book 1 night or more than a week. The rate in points is lower off season, or weeknights (for more nights), higher for prime time- school holidays etc. They are not real common, but can be bought resale on eBay, TUG Marketplace, and the other usual suspects. Internal exchanges have minimal charges and have access to VRI*ety and through that to RCI exchanges.

Here's a map of resort locations: http://vacationinternationale.com/resorts/resortLocations.html

Jim

Hi Jim, I'd like to purchase VI on the second hand market. The VI representative tells me I can't deposit Worldmark weeks into a VI account unless I purchase the account from the company (instead of a resale account). Do you have any knowledge of this?

Thank you,

Julie

 

[rtbradley1964]

[advertising deleted]

 

[sue1947]

Hi Jim, I'd like to purchase VI on the second hand market. The VI representative tells me I can't deposit Worldmark weeks into a VI account unless I purchase the account from the company (instead of a resale account). Do you have any knowledge of this?

Thank you,

Julie

Julie,
I'm a WM and VI owner and suggest you reconsider. Purchase VI to use VI points and resorts. The ability to deposit other weeks, like WM, in exchange for additional points used to be a good deal. However, changes, mostly at WM, make this now questionable via the guest certificate requirements. Each deposit of a week involves 2 guest certs; one to put VI's name on it and then another for the actual occupant when it is booked. If you don't have extra guest certs to use, that's an addition $200 plus the cost to deposit the week into VI (currently $159). There used to be quite a few WM weeks in VI's instant exchange options, but that is down to just a few. Doable, but not a reason to buy into VI.
There is nothing in any of the terms and conditions for the direct exchanges that states any restriction of resale accounts. Please always remember that a timeshare salesman is trying to get you to buy so he/she can make their commission. Take anything they say with a huge grain of salt.

I like VI a lot and would recommend it, kind of. The new purchase of VI by Westgate would make me think twice about purchasing. Maybe there won't be any changes, but Westgate's reputation is so bad that I would hesitate to get involved.

VI points are good for 4 years and they accumulate. You can exchange via II (where you also get an AC for deposit) and RCI Points. I think it's a good trader, but haven't done it myself. I have traded extensively with WM and trading via VI would eliminate some of the complications found at WM. Bottom line, if VI has resort(s) you want to use, buy enough points for those stays.

 

[JulieAnderson]

Thank you for the advice. So you think I should just buy a VI only the second hand market. It’s still so expensive! The room we need is a 2 bedroom and costs 133 pts. I’d like 2 weeks a year, so 266 pts needed. I had it figured to be much cheaper with a WM week deposit.

 

[JulieAnderson]

Ps what’s an AC?

 

[theo]

<snip> …or have access to VRI*ety and through that to RCI exchanges.

Unless I am mistaken (...always a very distinct possibility), VRI*ety has not actually existed for a number of years now.

I don’t “exchange”, but I believe that Trading Places International is the current exchange company / mechanism within VRI. Both VRI and TPI are now owned by Capital Vacations (my new least favorite timeshare company, matching or even surpassing Wastegate as "top of the dung heap" of bad actors and unsavory industry villains.

 

[Passepartout]

Unless I am mistaken (...always a very distinct possibility), VRI*ety has not actually existed for a number of years now.

Congratulations- You quoted an over-decade-old thread. Yup. there has been quite a succession of exchanges jockeying for position. Capital seems to just be the latest iteration.

 

[theo]

Congratulations- You quoted an over-decade-old thread. Yup. there has been quite a succession of exchanges jockeying for position. Capital seems to just be the latest iteration.

My bad in failing to notice dates. Insufficient caffeine level is my only defense, as weak as that defense might be.

 

[sue1947]

Thank you for the advice. So you think I should just buy a VI only the second hand market. It’s still so expensive! The room we need is a 2 bedroom and costs 133 pts. I’d like 2 weeks a year, so 266 pts needed. I had it figured to be much cheaper with a WM week deposit.

I got mine for free here on tug, so just keep looking. You might find that the deposit option with WM, even with the added fees, might still work for you. To get the 133 points, you would need to deposit a 3BR unit and VI has to approve it; i.e. no low season week (from the rules: "We reserve the right to refuse any resort and/or interval requested for deposit. For example, a low season interval or a resort not up to VI standards")
Or you could exchange into it with your WM. Where do you want to stay? A lot of the VI deposits for exchange are 1 BR's, though I've seen more 2 BR showing up lately.
AC is Accommodation Certificate. II gives these out in various forms. There are free ones that are given to everybody and provide access to mostly leftover stuff but you can find gems on occasion. Then there are the ones when you deposit a week they want and these ones tend to have a stronger trading power.