Groupwise

[e.bram]

Any comments on Groupwise? I was called to arrange a meeting to discuss TS resale.

 

[ronparise]

Any comments on Groupwise? I was called to arrange a meeting to discuss TS resale.

Ive bought from them, and will again

 

[theo]

Any comments on Groupwise? I was called to arrange a meeting to discuss TS resale.

GroupWise is a long-standing "Post Card Company", based somewhere in Pennsylvania if I recall correctly.

If they called you (unsolicited) to "invite" you to a "meeting", know that the "meeting" will essentially consist of being told (with a collected group of others) of the many evils, pitfalls, risks and dangers of the eternal damnation of timeshare ownership. They will next offer to help you to "escape forever" this perilous situation --- if you give them Power of Attorney and a very sizable chunk of (non-refundable) upfront money. If you bite, pay and sign, the timeshare will appear on eBay soon thereafter and can be bought for peanuts plus closing costs. After all, they already have your upfront money permanently in hand before even listing; sale and closing money is just gravy. You receive absolutely nothing from sale proceeds; they keep whatever money they get from selling / closing. You get to have a significantly decreased checkbook balance and no more timeshare ownership --- IF they manage to find a new willing recipient. If they fail to do so, you will remain the lawful owner of record, unless they next attempt to load your timeshare onto the deck of a Viking Ship (I am not stating or implying that they would actually do this; I frankly have no idea at all about that).

People obviously do bite, pay up and sign a PoA --- GroupWise has been around for quite some time and clearly remains alive and well and thriving today.

GW is o.k. to buy from (I did so once, some years ago; we used and later resold that week at a tiny profit). Receiving a call from them is another matter, as per above.
As always, to each their own chosen course of action, but understand clearly in advance exactly what you're going to be "pitched" if you decide to attend the "meeting".

 

[Robert D]

Anyone had recent experience with Groupwise. I'm about to buy a low cost timeshare from them.

 

[theo]

Anyone had recent experience with Groupwise. I'm about to buy a low cost timeshare from them.

Every word stated in post #3 above four months ago remains equally accurate and applicable today.

GW is o.k. to buy from, but as in any timeshare purchase you must exercise due diligence to ensure that the existing owner account is current (ask for estoppel documentation) and that the week being sold to you is precisely the same as the one being advertised --- not just "similar". Also, if advertised as a specific week, make sure that it is indeed a fixed week / unit and not instead a "floating" week ownership (and therefore perhaps with accompanying and unwelcome seasonal or time period reservation restrictions).

I believe that GW mandates use of their own "affiliated" closing entity, so you won't exactly have an independent or objective closer looking out for your interests as the buyer in the transaction, even though you (as the buyer) are likely the one paying the closing costs. This mandatory "arrangement" just further reinforces the need for careful buyer due diligence and attention to detail in every phase of the transaction.

Good luck.

 

[fieroman]

I just bought a T/S advertised here on Tug.Closing is through Groupwise.I sent all the paperwork & check to them & rec'd e-mail that closing could take 60-180 days.