• The TUGBBS forums are completely free and open to the public and exist as the absolute best place for owners to get help and advice about their timeshares for more than 30 years!

    Join Tens of Thousands of other Owners just like you here to get any and all Timeshare questions answered 24 hours a day!
  • TUG started 30 years ago in October 1993 as a group of regular Timeshare owners just like you!

    Read about our 30th anniversary: Happy 30th Birthday TUG!
  • TUG has a YouTube Channel to produce weekly short informative videos on popular Timeshare topics!

    Free memberships for every 50 subscribers!

    Visit TUG on Youtube!
  • TUG has now saved timeshare owners more than $21,000,000 dollars just by finding us in time to rescind a new Timeshare purchase! A truly incredible milestone!

    Read more here: TUG saves owners more than $21 Million dollars
  • Sign up to get the TUG Newsletter for free!

    60,000+ subscribing owners! A weekly recap of the best Timeshare resort reviews and the most popular topics discussed by owners!
  • Our official "end my sales presentation early" T-shirts are available again! Also come with the option for a free membership extension with purchase to offset the cost!

    All T-shirt options here!
  • A few of the most common links here on the forums for newbies and guests!

Help! I think we made a big mistake - Westin Princeville

Run Fat

TUG Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2011
Messages
8
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Seattle
Hello and thank you for this great site!

My wife and I just bought a 2 BR annual timeshare at the Westin Princeville a few days ago and while we're excited about the property (and the opportunity to use the other villas), I can't help but think we made a big mistake.

The asking price for the Westin Princeville was $60k + HOA fees of about $2500 for the 2 BR lockoff. They threw in a 170k SPG points as a signing bonus. (Looking at some of the ads it seems like we can do WAY better in the resale market ($11k for the same property in one ad!))

I poured over the information on this site, especially the Starwood FAQ, and it seems the best option would be to rescind the purchase and get something in the resale market, probably from a "mandatory" property (like Westin Kaanapali).

We have to rescind by 4/16 so any help would be greatly appreciated!

BTW, our intention for the Princeville property would be to use it once every two or three years and use StarOptions to utilize other properties (for instance, bring our kids to Orland for a week). We don't ever plan on converting to SPG points since that is a bad tradeoff.

Here are my questions...

>Should we rescind?
>Does it make more sense to buy resale at Westin Kaanapali or Princeville?

Thank you so much for your help!

John

P.S. during the pitch we asked why not buy resale and they basically said our opportunity for using StarOptions would be very limited - I take it this was bullshit, right?
 

Ken555

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Jun 7, 2005
Messages
14,522
Reaction score
5,638
Points
898
Location
Los Angeles
Resorts Owned
Westin Kierland
Sheraton Desert Oasis
You are absolutely correct that you should rescind. Don't hesitate, do it immediately. Then come back here and figure out what to buy. Until you know exactly how you intend to use your ownership buying from the developer is simply a waste of money. And, you will always be able to buy again from them in future if you decide that's the best route (it's not, since you'll likely find that buying resale is everything you need at a fraction of the price).


Sent from my iPad
 

DavidnRobin

TUG Member
Joined
Dec 20, 2005
Messages
11,812
Reaction score
2,224
Points
698
Location
San Francisco Bay Area
Resorts Owned
WKORV OFD (Maui)
WPORV (Kauai)
WSJ-VGV (St. John)
WKV (Scottsdale)
Congrats on finding this forum in time.
Rescind, Research, Resale

caveat - we own and enjoy Westin Princeville (WPORV)
 

Karen G

Moderator
Joined
Aug 17, 2004
Messages
9,470
Reaction score
1,983
Points
749
Location
Henderson, NV
Resorts Owned
Once owned these: FirstFairway@Walden X 2; Lawai Beach; ManhattanClub; PuebloBonitoRose; 4 South Africa--now timeshare-free
Congrats on finding this forum in time.
Rescind, Research, Resale
Adding my vote for you to rescind. If you have any question at all as to what you've done, rescind now while you still have the opportunity. Once your rescission period passes, you won't be able to do so. The deal will still be there if, after you've done your research, you still want to go through with it. But, if you let this rescission opportunity pass, you won't have it again.
 

vacationtime1

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Sep 7, 2006
Messages
5,159
Reaction score
2,750
Points
649
Location
San Francisco
Resorts Owned
WKORV-OF (Maui)
WKV x2 (Scottsdale)
Rescind!

We bought Princeville from the developer several years ago, found this forum, rescinded, bought Kierland (resale), and haven't regretted it for a moment.

Spend a few months researching. You will learn that you can buy Kierland resale for about 30% of the cost of buying Princeville from the developer, that Kierland's maintenance fees are about half as much as Princeville, and that Princeville is actually an easy trade using StarOptions (yes, the saleperson was b*llshitting you when he said Princeville is a difficult trade; it is the easiest Starwood or Marriott in Hawaii to trade into).
 

LisaRex

TUG Review Crew
TUG Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2007
Messages
6,792
Reaction score
317
Points
518
Location
'burbs of Cincinnati, OH
Resorts Owned
Used to own: WKORV-N; SVV - Bella
Glad you found TUG before you made a big mistake. 170k SPs are hardly worth $40,000, which is how much you'd be overpaying.
 

csxjohn

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Apr 25, 2012
Messages
6,551
Reaction score
134
Points
348
Location
North East Ohio
Resorts Owned
Tropic Shores Resort, Bluegreen points
Congrats on finding this forum in time.
Rescind, Research, Resale

caveat - we own and enjoy Westin Princeville (WPORV)

I like it, the 3 Rs of Timeshare World

Rescind

Research

Resale

And do it now, not later.
 

PamMo

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Jul 17, 2006
Messages
5,197
Reaction score
3,024
Points
648
Location
Missouri
You will not regret rescinding! Do it now, and then take your time to find something that fits your needs for a LOT less.

I can totally understand you and your wife falling in love with WPORV, though. It's a wonderful resort. We've been very happy trading into it with one of our other (resale) Starwood weeks.
 

Run Fat

TUG Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2011
Messages
8
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Seattle
Thanks for the advice everyone! I am pretty sure we will be rescinding since it definitely appears that many (all?) of you have had good experience buying resale.

Another question that I had was if there is a difference when you call to book a property if you bought direct from the developer or in the resale market. Are resale buyers in any way treated differently? Does the operator even know who you bought the property from?

Sorry, one more question... the salesperson said that not all StarOptions are equal, meaning that if you pay more for you property your StarOptions put you at the top of the queue when booking a property. Is this more BS or is there any truth to this?

Thanks again for all the help! If/when I get a chance, I'd love to buy you all a cocktail :)

John
 

vacationtime1

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Sep 7, 2006
Messages
5,159
Reaction score
2,750
Points
649
Location
San Francisco
Resorts Owned
WKORV-OF (Maui)
WKV x2 (Scottsdale)
Thanks for the advice everyone! I am pretty sure we will be rescinding since it definitely appears that many (all?) of you have had good experience buying resale.

Another question that I had was if there is a difference when you call to book a property if you bought direct from the developer or in the resale market. Are resale buyers in any way treated differently? Does the operator even know who you bought the property from?

Sorry, one more question... the salesperson said that not all StarOptions are equal, meaning that if you pay more for you property your StarOptions put you at the top of the queue when booking a property. Is this more BS or is there any truth to this?

Thanks again for all the help! If/when I get a chance, I'd love to buy you all a cocktail :)

John


All StarOptions are created equal (at least at the eight month mark, whether reserving at your home resort or elsewhere).

Any salesperson who represented to the contrary was lying to you.
 

LisaRex

TUG Review Crew
TUG Member
Joined
Mar 10, 2007
Messages
6,792
Reaction score
317
Points
518
Location
'burbs of Cincinnati, OH
Resorts Owned
Used to own: WKORV-N; SVV - Bella
Another question that I had was if there is a difference when you call to book a property if you bought direct from the developer or in the resale market. Are resale buyers in any way treated differently? Does the operator even know who you bought the property from?

The operator knows, but it doesn't matter. All owners are treated the same when it comes to booking your home resort and exchanging within the network. In fact, unlike Marriott, Starwood does not allow multiple week owners to book a month early. That is one of the things that drew me to Starwood over Marriott.

Run Fat said:
Sorry, one more question... the salesperson said that not all StarOptions are equal, meaning that if you pay more for you property your StarOptions put you at the top of the queue when booking a property. Is this more BS or is there any truth to this?

That is a outright lie.
 

Passepartout

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Feb 10, 2007
Messages
28,462
Reaction score
17,213
Points
1,299
Location
Twin Falls, Eye-Duh-Hoe
When you book a vacation, no one knows whether you bought resale, or at full freight from the developer. Well, except you. Or put another way, Only you know that you bought a lifetime's great vacations for a handfull of dollars, or with a bucket full of thou$and$.

And this isn't just at Starwood.

Buy resale..... Save Thousands.

Oh, I just read TUGBrian's (the TUG owner) latest tally. We've saved TUGgers over $4 MILLION dollars in developer overcharges by those who have told us how much they saved by rescinding and buying resale.

Run Fat, you're next. add to the total.

Jim
 

DavidnRobin

TUG Member
Joined
Dec 20, 2005
Messages
11,812
Reaction score
2,224
Points
698
Location
San Francisco Bay Area
Resorts Owned
WKORV OFD (Maui)
WPORV (Kauai)
WSJ-VGV (St. John)
WKV (Scottsdale)
Oh, I just read TUGBrian's (the TUG owner) latest tally. We've saved TUGgers over $4 MILLION dollars in developer overcharges by those who have told us how much they saved by rescinding and buying resale.

Not to mention all of the advice to rescind via PM that was not discussed via the SVO Forum.
 

Bill4728

Moderator
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
11,038
Reaction score
598
Points
899
Location
Lake Tapps, WA
You now have a choice between buy a mandatory vs voluntary Starwood resort.

If you want princeville (Voluntary) you can buy it much cheaper than a mandatory resort but of course it will be only good for stays at princeville ( with the MF of approx $2800) with reservations available at 12 months. OR you could spend a little more and buy Phoenix ( with MF of approx $1200) and use the mandatory staroptions to go to any starwood resort with reservations available at 8 months.

Good Luck
 

MULTIZ321

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 6, 2005
Messages
31,265
Reaction score
8,993
Points
1,048
Location
FT. LAUDERDALE, FL
Resorts Owned
BLUEWATER BY SPINNAKER HHI
ROYAL HOLIDAY CLUB RHC (POINTS)
Hi Run Fat,

Welcome to Tug.

Another vote for you to rescind.

Follow the instructions in your contract on how to rescind. Send your rescision letter via United States Postal Service with return receipt requested. Make sure your letter is postmarked prior to the recision expiration period.

Follow the 3 R's.

Good luck,

Richard
 

Fredward

TUG Member
Joined
Jul 2, 2010
Messages
180
Reaction score
121
Points
253
Location
Pittsburgh, PA
Resorts Owned
Westin- Lagunamar, Kierland Villas, Marriott- Barony Beach, Aruba Surf Club
One of the best pieces of advice we ever learned from attending Starwood sales presentations was to use options from a resort with lower annual maintenance fees to stay in someone else's high priced villa. StarOptions are like cash you can use to stay in their resorts. 81,000 options from our Cancun resort are equal to 81,000 options from Princeville and our annual maintenance fees are half as much- without even talking about the purchase prices. (We often agree to sales presentations for the opportunity to learn something even if its "What is your favorite hotel/resort/restaurant??") Starwood resorts trade amazingly well through II- we've snagged 2 BRs in Westin Princeville using a 1 BR Kierland (small side, hot summer months) several times.
And if you're thinking about Orlando, there are so many rooms available there that we've never had a problem getting someplace nice with a little pre-planning. There were also some great opportunities to use ACs for the Orlando resorts last fall. Good luck!
 

siesta

TUG Member
Joined
Aug 12, 2010
Messages
3,514
Reaction score
57
Points
283
I like it, the 3 Rs of Timeshare World

Rescind

Research

Resale

And do it now, not later.
It should be the 4 R's. Rescind, Research, Resale, Rejoice!

To the OP, you should rescind immediately. Then ask all the questions you are now doing. Guess what, if you later decide you were happy and prefer the retail purchase that "deal" will still be waiting for you. Stop wasting precious time!
 

lizap

TUG Member
Joined
May 26, 2013
Messages
1,949
Reaction score
240
Points
173
Location
Louisiana
Completely agree. WKV would be the way I'd go..

Rescind!

We bought Princeville from the developer several years ago, found this forum, rescinded, bought Kierland (resale), and haven't regretted it for a moment.

Spend a few months researching. You will learn that you can buy Kierland resale for about 30% of the cost of buying Princeville from the developer, that Kierland's maintenance fees are about half as much as Princeville, and that Princeville is actually an easy trade using StarOptions (yes, the saleperson was b*llshitting you when he said Princeville is a difficult trade; it is the easiest Starwood or Marriott in Hawaii to trade into).
 

Run Fat

TUG Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2011
Messages
8
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Seattle
OK, the cancellation letter is signed and ready to go! Turns out when everyone is unanimous in their view, making a decision is easy!

Our thanks to all of you for your input!!

The post office is likely to be swamped tomorrow. Is there any reason why I can't FedEx the form? I can't imagine that it matters, but I only have one shot to get this right and I don't want to blow it!

Thanks again,

John
 

vacationtime1

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Sep 7, 2006
Messages
5,159
Reaction score
2,750
Points
649
Location
San Francisco
Resorts Owned
WKORV-OF (Maui)
WKV x2 (Scottsdale)
OK, the cancellation letter is signed and ready to go! Turns out when everyone is unanimous in their view, making a decision is easy!

Our thanks to all of you for your input!!

The post office is likely to be swamped tomorrow. Is there any reason why I can't FedEx the form? I can't imagine that it matters, but I only have one shot to get this right and I don't want to blow it!

Thanks again,

John


You must rescind according to the instructions or your rescission is not valid. If the instructions are U.S.Mail, then that is the (only) way to go. No harm in getting a return receipt from the postal service, although it is not necessary except for peace of mind.

If FedEx is not one of the enumerated methods of delivering your rescission, a rescission via FedEx -- even one creating a return receipt -- is not valid.

This is something on which you should not take any chances.
 

siesta

TUG Member
Joined
Aug 12, 2010
Messages
3,514
Reaction score
57
Points
283
You must rescind according to the instructions or your rescission is not valid. If the instructions are U.S.Mail, then that is the (only) way to go. No harm in getting a return receipt from the postal service, although it is not necessary except for peace of mind.

If FedEx is not one of the enumerated methods of delivering your rescission, a rescission via FedEx -- even one creating a return receipt -- is not valid.

This is something on which you should not take any chances.
^exactly. The inconvenience of the post office tomorrow is well worth the 10s of thousands you are about to save. Dont take any chances, follow rescission instructions.
 

mjm1

TUG Review Crew: Expert
TUG Member
Joined
Jul 10, 2008
Messages
3,541
Reaction score
1,292
Points
548
Location
Las Vegas, NV
Resorts Owned
Marriott: Resorts and Destination Club Points;
Westin Kierland Villas;
HGVC Flamingo & Blvd;
Hyatt Pinon Pointe
Arriving to the party late, but another vote for Kierland Villas. it was suggested to us and we have truly enjoyed our ownership. Bought an EOY to test the waters and then an EY unit. Already been to Kaanapali and are headed to Westin St John for the first time this coming weekend.

As others have suggested, do more research and then look for a resale. Good luck.
 

Run Fat

TUG Member
Joined
Mar 19, 2011
Messages
8
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
Seattle
The instructions say "to cancel this transaction, mail or deliver a signed copy of this cancellation notice or any other written notice, or send a telegram..."

No sense taking my chances though so I'll brave the crowds first thing tomorrow morning and get this sent via certified mail.

John
 

siesta

TUG Member
Joined
Aug 12, 2010
Messages
3,514
Reaction score
57
Points
283
The instructions say "to cancel this transaction, mail or deliver a signed copy of this cancellation notice or any other written notice, or send a telegram..."

No sense taking my chances though so I'll brave the crowds first thing tomorrow morning and get this sent via certified mail.

John
That language sounds to me fedex would be ok, but play it safe. Make sure you get return receipt requested.
 

PamMo

TUG Review Crew: Veteran
TUG Member
Joined
Jul 17, 2006
Messages
5,197
Reaction score
3,024
Points
648
Location
Missouri
OK, the cancellation letter is signed and ready to go! Turns out when everyone is unanimous in their view, making a decision is easy!

Excellent!!! :clap: You won't regret it.

I don't know if Tuggers get more excited about their own great purchase/exchange deals or when they save a newbie some serious money! I hope you hang around TUG for awhile - and let us know if/what you decide to buy.

Welcome to TUG!
 
Top