New HGVMax member (sucker)

[foehammer]

A little background, we are very happy Disney Vacation Club members for the last 11 years. We thought we understood how the Timeshare game worked. We even turned down DVC the first time and bought resale and saved a bunch of money.

We decided to look into the Hilton timeshare and went in overconfident. We forgot all about the secondary market and bought 5500 points in HGVMax US collection in odd years. We can book 13 months in advance at home collection, 10 months before in The Club resorts and 6 months at HGV Max resorts. It does say we have access to DEX. After reading in this forum, I didnt think we had access to DEX.

So I want to confirm: this is a bad deal because I should have bought resale.

However, I dont want to be locked into a certain week every year. That will not work for my schedule. Is Max really a bad option?

We are currently drafting the cancellation letter.

I hope this made sense.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

@foehammer Your gut is correct. Cancel now while you can. Those points are worthless.

HGVC is an awesome system but you need to find resale and deeds that trade well. Please come back after you cancel with your travel needs and we can assist.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Hilton points do not lock you into a certain week each year. It's a flexible system.

Hilton is still the only company that hasn't talked me into a presentation. Maybe June I will attempt a presentation. We will be on the Big Island.

 

[WaikikiFirst]

very happy Disney Vacation Club members for the last 11 years. We thought we understood how the Timeshare game worked. We even turned down DVC the first time and bought resale and saved a bunch of money.
We decided to look into the Hilton timeshare and went in overconfident. We forgot all about the secondary market and bought 5500 points in HGVMax US collection in odd years.

How can this stuff possibly happen?

I want to confirm: this is a bad deal

Bad deal all the way around. Do you have some major love for something in Diamond? (which is what you seem to have bought)

hope this made sense

nope. Do you understand the diff between HGVC & HVC & HGV? not as simple as M-O-U-S-E
Did you see a Pts Chart for resorts to see how little 5500 pts EOY will get you?

 

[foehammer]

How can this stuff possibly happen?

Bad deal all the way around. Do you have some major love for something in Diamond? (which is what you seem to have bought)

nope. Do you understand the diff between HGVC & HVC & HGV? not as simple as M-O-U-S-E
Did you see a Pts Chart for resorts to see how little 5500 pts EOY will get you?

Understandable response. The difference in all the companies was not explained to us. We didn't realize all the changes with the Hilton program. Not exactly sure why we signed immediately, again we thought we knew what we were doing because of our good experience with DVC. We messed up. Within 2 hours of leaving I was already planning on how to get out of the deal. Letter was written as of today and will be mailed tomorrow.

Now we are here to learn and figure out what we really want.

 

[foehammer]

@foehammer Your gut is correct. Cancel now while you can. Those points are worthless.

HGVC is an awesome system but you need to find resale and deeds that trade well. Please come back after you cancel with your travel needs and we can assist.

Will do!

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Congrats @foehammer. You escaped a bullet. How much did they want you to pay?

After you rescind, let's talk about your desired travel destinations and we can help you pick the best approach. There is a questionnaire here:

Lastly, please join TU for $15 as this was the a good ROI to save paying a bundle for worthless (former DRI) points that people cannot even give away. There are much better HGVC options. (I make no money from any TUG memberships, but like to see people pay it forward).

cc @TUGBrian

 

[RX8]

Understandable response. The difference in all the companies was not explained to us. We didn't realize all the changes with the Hilton program. Not exactly sure why we signed immediately, again we thought we knew what we were doing because of our good experience with DVC. We messed up. Within 2 hours of leaving I was already planning on how to get out of the deal. Letter was written as of today and will be mailed tomorrow.

Now we are here to learn and figure out what we really want.

Don’t feel bad about being duped. In fact give yourself a pat on the back because you were smart enough to research during your rescission period. These are trained, professional salespeople whose goal is to tell you exactly what you want to hear in order for them to earn a commission. They don’t care if 5500 EOY points don’t work for you. What they likely do is during your next presentation they will tell you that what you purchased is no good and what you REALLY need is the super, duper timeshare with more bells and whistles.

When you came out of the ether, your gut told you to research some more. There are many, many people who don’t bother to question their purchase until months or even years later and for them they are stuck with the timeshare.

Congrats!!!

 

[WaikikiFirst]

here to learn and figure out what we really want

You prob want to read this recent thread

What are the pros and cons of retail vs resale?

I am currently gold with 8,100 points for a 1 bedroom on Oahu on odd years. Gold is worthless with a 9 month advance booking and I have been unable to use it in three years. I want to get 2 bedroom platinum, but HGVC wants an insane amount to upgrade to 11,200 points as platinum, 2 bedroom on...

tugbbs.com

and answer the questionnaire CalGal mentioned, and get your arms around how many pts you WANT or NEED & that HGVC vs HVC vs HGV stuff.
I think a Pts chart for resorts might have been linked in that thread.

btw, what I think is worth knowing is:
Where did you do this sales mtng?
How did you get there? You didn't walk in off the street. You bought a "package"? You rented? You exchanged in? What resort? Name?
When you were sold HVC trust pts (aka Diamond), did you know they were Diamond, not HGVC? What specific resorts did you and the salesperson spend much time discussing? Did you know if those resorts were HGVC or Diamond/HVC?

 

[GT75]

@foehammer, I think that you are way ahead because you have figured out what you originally purchased. I certainly agree with rescinding because that “deal” is totally worthless and is a liability. After you rescind, I suggest that you take your time researching resales. I wouldn’t recommend purchasing resale HVC (except for a very specific reason) but I would recommend resale HGVC. If you want access to DeX then purchasing Scotland Craigendarroch Lodges 2BR platinum deed would be my suggestion.

 

[TUGBrian]

welcome to TUG, glad you found us in time to discover this is a bad use of your vacation dollar and can rescind!

 

[foehammer]

Hilton points do not lock you into a certain week each year. It's a flexible system.

Hilton is still the only company that hasn't talked me into a presentation. Maybe June I will attempt a presentation. We will be on the Big Island.

Thanks

You prob want to read this recent thread

What are the pros and cons of retail vs resale?

I am currently gold with 8,100 points for a 1 bedroom on Oahu on odd years. Gold is worthless with a 9 month advance booking and I have been unable to use it in three years. I want to get 2 bedroom platinum, but HGVC wants an insane amount to upgrade to 11,200 points as platinum, 2 bedroom on...

tugbbs.com

and answer the questionnaire CalGal mentioned, and get your arms around how many pts you WANT or NEED & that HGVC vs HVC vs HGV stuff.
I think a Pts chart for resorts might have been linked in that thread.

btw, what I think is worth knowing is:
Where did you do this sales mtng?
How did you get there? You didn't walk in off the street. You bought a "package"? You rented? You exchanged in? What resort? Name?
When you were sold HVC trust pts (aka Diamond), did you know they were Diamond, not HGVC? What specific resorts did you and the salesperson spend much time discussing? Did you know if those resorts were HGVC or Diamond/HVC?

We did the meeting in Orlando Parc Soleil. We used one of the "free trips" offered in exchange for the sales pitch. We did not know they were Diamond. We were told Hilton bought Diamond and we could use those resorts also. We did not know about HGVC/HVC/HGV. if they did talk about it it was very quick and brushed off. Just kept saying Hilton was a quality company.

 

[foehammer]

Congrats @foehammer. You escaped a bullet. How much did they want you to pay?

After you rescind, let's talk about your desired travel destinations and we can help you pick the best approach. There is a questionnaire here:

Lastly, please join TU for $15 as this was the a good ROI to save paying a bundle for worthless (former DRI) points that people cannot even give away. There are much better HGVC options. (I make no money from any TUG memberships, but like to see people pay it forward).

cc @TUGBrian

$2.65 per point

 

[1txstwstr]

I was checking about HGVC. I am not currently a timeshare owner but I have an interest. If you have any recommendations I would appreciate it.

 

[elaine]

Letter was written as of today and will be mailed tomorrow.

Make sure to send letter to the address in your materials for cancellation. Also, send return receipt--so you have both proof of mailing and that they got it. You need proof of date of mailing within rescission period. If you already put in the mail--go to post office and send it again with proof. We also like HGVC a lot. Good luck. Elaine

 

[yodaDaenerys]

we did not know about HGVC/HVC/HGV. if they did talk about it it was very quick and brushed off. Just kept saying Hilton was a quality company.

this was not an oversight. it is the playbook of hgv sales to keep their customers confused.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

$2.65 per point

So 2.65 x 5500 pts EOY = $14575? If correct - congrats on saving yourself a bundle! You are not a sucker because you are rescinding in time! Many of us were not so fortunate and have a retail deed. (Myself included)

You can buy a lot of resale vacations and cash getaways for that amount of money.

cc @TUGBrian

 

[CalGalTraveler]

@foehammer Once you rescind, here are the questions I mentioned:

Here are some questions you can answer to focus your timeshare wants/needs.

Suggestion - copy the questions below, and start a new thread entitled "My Survey" or "What should I buy?," or something similar, and answer the questions in a NEW thread.

1) Is there a vacation destination you wish to visit most of the time or on a regular basis? if so where?

2) Do you want to visit your home resort at least half the time, or do you want to trade more than half the time?

3) What are your 5 top trade destinations?

4) How many people do you usually travel with - total, including yourself?

5) Can you travel any time, or are you locked into the school schedule?

6) Can you make firm plans 12 or more mos. in advance?

7) Can you vacation for a full week at a time?

8) What level of accommodations do you prefer on a scale of 1 to 5 stars?

9) How much can you afford to spend upfront, without financing?

10) How much can you afford to spend every year for a maintenance fee that will come due right after Christmas, and increase each year?

11) Are you a detail oriented planner?

12) Do you understand that once you buy a timeshare, it may be very difficult to sell or give away, and you are responsible for all fees, until you do?