Grand Mayan exchange questions

[Portmoody911]

Has anyone had experience banking weeks or using the concierge to book in Hawaii or Europe? What is the availability like? What have people experienced? I was told you can exchange for places like the ritz Carleton residences or the four seasons? Has anyone done this?

Danny

 

[kenie]

Did you just purchase your week?
If you did, and can still do it, you should rescind and spend some time researching before you buy.
The salesmen with this company are notorious for saying anything to make a sale.
It is highly unlikely that you can exchange into the Ritz or the Four Seasons.

 

[siesta]

step 1) RESCIND, if you bought .. Your "deal" is horrible regardless

step 2) forget every bit of information you "learned" at this presentation, it was all lies and misinformation. If his lips were moving he was lying

Step 3) stay on tug and really learn about timeshares, then pick one up for pennies on the dollar on resale market, tug, redweek, ebay.

Your time is running out if you bought, Danny. You ony have a few days to cancel this purchase or your stuck with it.

 

[pittle]

Has anyone had experience banking weeks or using the concierge to book in Hawaii or Europe? What is the availability like? What have people experienced? I was told you can exchange for places like the ritz Carleton residences or the four seasons? Has anyone done this?

Danny

Are you talking about a Grand Mayan Concierge booking your travel experience? That does not sound correct to me as a Grand Mayan owner. But could be something new that they are "promising". Make sure it is in writing.

We use RCI and or the Registry Collection which does have upscale resorts to exchange into. Registry is part of RCI. But, in order to make an exchange, we have to call the Grupo Mayan number to have an week deposited with the correct exchange company. Years ago, there was Direct Exchange that you could use when calling the Grupo Mayan number and could make an exchange. We never had success with this. I do not know if they still have this or not - it was in our original 1999 countract, but have not recieved a list in years or heard of anyone using it.

 

[Portmoody911]

Thanks everyone, I'm just purchased 2 days ago! I bought a 2 bedroom, I was given two residence weeks, two vida weeks, one registered and 12 additional breakaway weeks,

My deal includes no mandatory MFs ever unless I use the weeks, I also do not have any 5 year fees for Rennos to the resort, I have an existing timeshare that I traded in that costs me about 1200 per year, whether I use the week or not.

I currently have always exchanged my current week with rci and find it difficult to get a resort I am happy with.

I want to stay in the best, most luxurious resort if possible. The grand Mayan in cabo is sufficient for spring break and Mexico has grown on me a bit. I usually do Hawaii but could not pass up the deal to stay at the grand Mayan as I exchanged it through rci.

I'd like to be able to get a Westin, four seasons, ritz etc through this new one.

Do you guys think this is possible?

I've only got one more day here and then I am locked in!

danny

 

[Portmoody911]

Concierge is the term the sales guy used, it is booking through HSI, which does the booking for you either through sfx or rci.

I also received two years free membership with rci

How much cheaper is the secondary market?

 

[siesta]

The very fact that you are asking questions from strangers on a forum should be a gigantic red flag. You obviously have doubts. If you wait, you will be locked in. If you rescind immediately, you can still get out of this deal. Then you can ask all the questions you want, and not be pressured to make your decision under a deadline, BELIEVE me when I say that the "deal" you received can be purchased from them again for the same price if you still want to down the road.. Dont let them get your hard earned money without you doing your due diligence first.

The secondary market is PENNIES on the dollar. Timeshares that were sold for thousands or tens of thousands are available on resale market, some free, some for a few hundred, some still have a value but at a 10th of the price they were originally sold for. Dont be another sucker Danny!

Btw, a common theme we hear from people "trading" in their timeshares in mexico, is months after they purchased their new timeshare and have strapped themselves with another financial burden, they find out they STILL own the other timeshare! To you and future readers of this thread, Make sure you have this in writing! Nothing verbal matters, if it is not in writing it does not exist.

 

[ilene13]

I would rescind. We were at the Grand Luxxe in Feb. You can read about our horrible sales experience on another thread. The majority of Grand Luxxe owners who we met told us that they rarely if ever get the weeks or exchanges thatbthey want. They also said that although they were promised that their unused units could be rented by the Grand Luxxe they never are. Rescind.

 

[pittle]

Rescind

Go back and rescind!!! HSI is not work as promised. I have tried it before and cancelled my membership. We love Mexico but have only been able to get a Hawaii exchange once since 1999 and it was not to a primo resort that you are looking for.

The MAIN RULE FOR TIMESHARING IS................BUY WHERE YOU WANT TO GO!!!!!

You will not get a great exchange every year!

If you do not rescind before the 5 day time period, you will ony have yourself to blame. I LOVE the Grand Mayan and Mayan Palace Resorts, but that is where we WANT to go every year. We do not exchange these as we do not get good exchanges with RCI, nor did we with HSI.

 

[Portmoody911]

Thankyou, that's what I needed to here. I specifically asked for high end resort exchanges. They assured me the ritz, four seasons etc. I challenged him today to book Hawaii for me, for November. He was supposed to he me the reservation today. Of course, nothing happened! Tomorrow I march in there and recind.

Any advice on how to do it what I need to have before I can be sure it's rescinded?

 

[siesta]

Thankyou, that's what I needed to here. I specifically asked for high end resort exchanges. They assured me the ritz, four seasons etc. I challenged him today to book Hawaii for me, for November. He was supposed to he me the reservation today. Of course, nothing happened! Tomorrow I march in there and recind.

Any advice on how to do it what I need to have before I can be sure it's rescinded?

i strongly suggest you DONT rescind in perso , follow the rescission instructions exactly, and use mail with return receipt request.

 

[Portmoody911]

Why not, won't work?

 

[Karen G]

Why not, won't work?

They will try every trick in the book to get you to change your mind. It won't be pretty. Follow the rescission instructions exactly as written in your contract.

 

[Portmoody911]

My contract says that I have the right within 5 days of signing to a) "returning all documentation to Member Service representative at the Resort and obtaining a signed receipt or b) sending written notice....

I'm still at the resort and don't see why I should not try to get it done in person! I will not be bullied!

I'll keep you posted thanks for all the to everybody!

Danny

 

[mikenk]

My contract says that I have the right within 5 days of signing to a) "returning all documentation to Member Service representative at the Resort and obtaining a signed receipt or b) sending written notice....

I'm still at the resort and don't see why I should not try to get it done in person! I will not be bullied!

I'll keep you posted thanks for all the to everybody!

Danny

I would definitely rescind in person; make sure you go directly to the Member Services (contracts) people - not to the sales people. If in Cabo, their offices are on the bottom level (used to be anyway) of the sales building.

I have done it before and had no problem.

Mike

 

[Portmoody911]

Thanks mike, I'm going in about 30 min. When they open, yes I am in cabo

 

[Karen G]

Thanks mike, I'm going in about 30 min. When they open, yes I am in cabo

Let us know what happens.

 

[Portmoody911]

What paperwork do I get he in cabo? A letter? Did you keep all your contracts that you signed ?

 

[Karen G]

What paperwork do I get he in cabo?

Keep a copy of the rescission letter you write and get some kind of receipt with the date and name of the person who receives your rescission letter. If you can keep a copy of the contract, especially the rescission instructions, that might be helpful.

Your rescission letter can be just a statement that you are rescinding your contract with the date on it.

 

[Portmoody911]

I am happy to report that the Grand Mayan did rescind my contract without any problems. I went directly to member services, they were pleasant, offered three additional pitches in total, very low key no pressure, and finally an exit interview!

I walked out with all the original paperwork I signed contracts etc, plus a copy of the rescission document. I was impressed by their professionalism

Thank you everyone for saving me a bundle!

Danny

 

[Karen G]

I am happy to report that the Grand Mayan did rescind my contract without any problems. I went directly to member services, they were pleasant, offered three additional pitches in total, very low key no pressure, and finally an exit interview!

I walked out with all the original paperwork I signed contracts etc, plus a copy of the rescission document. I was impressed by their professionalism

Thank you everyone for saving me a bundle!

Danny

That's great news! Congratulations, and thanks for letting us know.

 

[mikenk]

I am happy to report that the Grand Mayan did rescind my contract without any problems. I went directly to member services, they were pleasant, offered three additional pitches in total, very low key no pressure, and finally an exit interview!

I walked out with all the original paperwork I signed contracts etc, plus a copy of the rescission document. I was impressed by their professionalism

Thank you everyone for saving me a bundle!

Danny

Great, I am glad it worked out.

My experience with Grupo Mayan has always been very positive working with Member Services folks versus the contracted sales sharks.

I hope the overall experience doesn't totally sour you on the GM system. We ended up buying resale and upgrading through negotiations with Member Services. We generally go twice a year to the various locations and always have a great time.

Mike

 

[Portmoody911]

Actually, I quite liked the resort, I would consider coming back. Our family loves variety though, and am not sure I could be tied down. If I buy I will take the advice of " buy where you wanna go "

By the way, how much cheaper are the resales? I looked at red week, very confusing

 

[Karen G]

By the way, how much cheaper are the resales? I looked at red week, very confusing

Keep in mind that advertised prices may not be actual resale prices if they even sell. Check Ebay for completed listings to see what they actually sold for--if they sold at all. Check the Bargain Deals forum here on TUG for timeshares people are giving away. But, take your time and do more research before jumping in.

 

[pittle]

Karen is right - do your homework. There is no rush. You might consider doing a saved search on ebay for Grand Mayan. Whenever one is available, you will get an email from ebay.

Always pay attention to closing costs and transfer fees - those can run the price up since transfer fees for many Grand Mayan contracts are the equal to 5 maintenances fees (about $5000). Some contracts have transfer fees that are 10% of the original purchase price. I have seen some 2-bedroom units sell for around $6000, including transfer fees and closing costs in the past year.

The no pay unless you go generally does not transfer and in some contracts, the Vacation Fair week does not transfer.

Congratulations on rescinding!!! You are right, the Grand Mayan in Cabo San Jose is a great place. Also, if you own Grand Mayan, you can go to any of the Grand Mayans - own at one, own at all. We rotate around.