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Non-Buyers Remorse

Cathy Rosen

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Because Interval generally requires depositing a full week. What you'll own with Westgate isn't a full week, it's just four nights. Westgate may have verbally told you that you can deposit into Interval, but Westgate sales agents have quite a reputation for lying.

I believe vacationhopeful addressed that in post #67:

"Westgate (when they deposit a unit representing YOUR SHORT STAY OWNERSHIP) is most likely depositing a FULL WEEK to II for trading. And you are getting a FULL WEEK trade, because THAT is due to the contract relationship Westgate has with II .. full week deposits and trades to its partial week members."

Also, II has more Westgate weeks than they can find occupants for. In Orlando, the Westgates tend to be among the last timeshares to fill up. So, it’s not as if Interval is begging for more Westgate deposits.

They have the most timeshares in Orlando, and there seems to always be something available there. The Casino one bedroom is an elite suite, however. Furthermore, although the Orlando suites are readily available, other locations are not that easy to get. Miami is rarely available, Myrtle Beach is elite only in the summer months and Utah is elite during snow season. I can get 2 studio suites at the casino through my vacation club, but not the luxury one bedroom suite that I was going to buy.

I think you encountered some problems on this thread because you asked for advice, and then argued against the advice people were giving you.

Up until this point, I don't believe I have been arguing at all. I would have to argue that I have not argued. LOL. My impression is that the mere mention of Westgate sets some posters off. My guess is that their hatred of Westgate is personal. I think thats where I encountered some problems because most people wouldn't dare say a positive word about Westgate on this forum. As dominidude pointed out in post #94:

"You are the very first person who I've read has anything positive to say about Westgate. In my view, Westgate timeshares are way overpriced for what you get, even if you buy resale. You bought at sticker price directly from the developer and seem to like the product, like I said, that's a first."

Some of the folks here “live and breathe” timeshares (I own about 30, myself) so they get upset when a new member acts as if TUG members don’t know much about timeshares. If a new member here just asks, “Is timeshare for me? And if, so, which one would suit me best?” then they generally get a friendly reception and good advice

Really?! 30? Wow! Perhaps being a timeshare owner is more like a lifestyle, comparable to owning a boat. You must pay a fortune in maintenance fees! Do you own them to rent out? Is that profitable?

In my defense, I have been asking questions throughout this thread. If anyone doesn't know much about timeshares, its me, and I'll be the first to admit it.
 

VacationForever

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People's hatred of Westgate is not personal. One of the main reasons that make all of us shun from Westgate is that once you own it, you really cannot sell it because no one wants it. Westgate limits the resale owner to be able to book at the resort within 60 (or maybe it is 30... I don't remember the exact number) days of stay. A resale buyer will only be able to book at undesirable time of the year for that resort. No other resort management company is that vicious.

I have bought and sold Starwood (Vistana) and Worldmark timeshares with ease (My Worldmark has 6 buyers within a week). Try selling a Westgate...
 
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Cathy Rosen

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People's hatred of Westgate is not personal. One of the main reasons that make all of us shun from Westgate is that once you own it, you really cannot sell it because no one wants it. Westgate limits the resale owner to be able to book at the resort within 60 (or maybe it is 30... I don't remember the exact number) days of stay. A resale buyer will only be able to book at undesirable time of the year for that resort. No other resort management company is that vicious.

I have bought and sold Starwood (Vistana) and Worldmark timeshare with ease (My Worldmark has 6 buyers within a week). Try selling a Westgate...

I'm not sure I understand. Are you saying that people who buy Westgate resale run into problems? That owners who buy from the developer are treated differently? Are you saying that resale owners have shorter time frames to book resorts?
 

Passepartout

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I'm not sure I understand. Are you saying that people who buy Westgate resale run into problems? That owners who buy from the developer are treated differently? Are you saying that resale owners have shorter time frames to book resorts?
That's EXACTLY what we are saying. Wastegate strips every perk from resale purchases.
 

VacationForever

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I'm not sure I understand. Are you saying that people who buy Westgate resale run into problems? That owners who buy from the developer are treated differently? Are you saying that resale owners have shorter time frames to book resorts?

Yes, resale owners are limited to booking 30/60 days out from the date of stay. No other system treats resale owners so poorly. That is why if you buy it you will be stuck with it for life, unless Westgate is willing to take it back from you. Hence one of the posters above said to get it in writing that Westgate will take it back from you, because essentially you will not be able to find a buyer to take it off your hands, even for free or if you pay them to take it.
 

Passepartout

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Cathy, it's not for nothing that we call them 'Wastegate' and try every type of persuasion to get people who want a timeshare to get into ANY system BUT Wastegate. If you want to see what kind of people the owners of Wastegate are, look non Netflix or Amazon Prime for 'The Queen of Versailles' It tells the story of the owner and his wife building America's largest house. A REAL eye opener.
 

Cathy Rosen

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Cathy, it's not for nothing that we call them 'Wastegate' and try every type of persuasion to get people who want a timeshare to get into ANY system BUT Wastegate. If you want to see what kind of people the owners of Wastegate are, look non Netflix or Amazon Prime for 'The Queen of Versailles' It tells the story of the owner and his wife building America's largest house. A REAL eye opener.

I'm kind of afraid to. LOL. I figured there were reasons behind the Westgate loathing, but I don't understand enough about timeshares to fully comprehend what their practices are and why they are bad. All the more reason not to buy one.
 

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Renting can be cheaper than owning when doing it inside the 45/60 days before checkin. Follow the Last Minute Rentals thread here; request areas via the Last Minute Wanted thread...both have a $100 per day cap on rent asked for. Look at eBay for TS rentals.

Hi, I just joined here and this caught my eye, does this matter if what you are looking at is in high season? I'm looking at a rental in mid-Jan. in Aruba at the marriott Ocean Club on Redweek, is Redweek verified and a good price. Are you saying that better deals can be had if you opt for the Last Minute Rentals? Does it still aloow for enough time to vet the owner?

Much appreciated!
 

theo

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Hi, I just joined here and this caught my eye, does this matter if what you are looking at is in high season? I'm looking at a rental in mid-Jan. in Aruba at the marriott Ocean Club on Redweek, is Redweek verified and a good price. Are you saying that better deals can be had if you opt for the Last Minute Rentals? Does it still aloow for enough time to vet the owner?

Much appreciated!

On TUG, last minute rentals cannot be listed any "further out" than 45 days and the rental amount cannot exceed $700. I doubt that many Aruba rentals would be found or offered that would actually meet those criteria. I'm guessing air fare costs to Aruba purchased at 45 days or less might sting a bit too.

By the way, "RedWeek verified" really means nothing more than that RedWeek has independently confirmed that the person posting the ad is indeed the actual owner of whatever is being advertised for rent (or sale). That confirmation is of some value, but no assurance that a rental (or sale) won't "go south or sideways" for some reason over which RedWeek has absolutely no influence or control. After all, RedWeek is basically just a web site --- not a real estate office.
 
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BulldogzRus

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On TUG, last minute rentals cannot be listed any "further out" than 45 days and the rental amount cannot exceed $700. I doubt that many Aruba rentals would be found or offered that would actually meet those criteria. I'm guessing air fare costs to Aruba purchased at 45 days or less would sting a bit too. :ponder:

By the way, "RedWeek verified" really means nothing more than that RedWeek has independently confirmed that the person posting the ad is the actual owner of what is being advertised. That's certainly of some value, but no assurance that the rental won't "go south or sideways" for some reason over which RedWeek has absolutely no influence or control. After all, RedWeek is just a web site --- not a real estate office or other real estate entity of any kind.

Thank you! I've read the FAQs here and was dismayed that most people that rent their TS's frown upon the escrow option as that seems to be my best security IMHO beyond using a cc or PayPal and don't want to have to deal with cancelling flights if things go awry. Is Redweek the largest/most popular TS rental/selling site? I ask because I didn't see any listing for the hotel in question here.
 

theo

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Thank you! I've read the FAQs here and was dismayed that most people that rent their TS's frown upon the escrow option as that seems to be my best security IMHO beyond using a cc or PayPal and don't want to have to deal with cancelling flights if things go awry. Is Redweek the largest/most popular TS rental/selling site? I ask because I didn't see any listing for the hotel in question here.

Owners have to pay their (often hefty) maintenance fees long in advance of the usage period, so many (quite understandably, IMnsHO) don't want to wait until after a rental has been completed to (hopefully) receive payment (which is how it works when escrow is utilized). I very rarely rent out any weeks, but I too would never entertain escrow, even if the prospective tenant was paying the escrow fee. Cancellations are every bit as much an issue of concern for an owner as for a traveler / tenant; maintenance fees must be paid, even for a unit that ends up sitting empty if / when a tenant backs out at the last minute, for whatever reason. In short, there is obviously some risk involved on both sides of any rental.

I can't / won't state that RedWeek is the "largest / most popular" site, but it's certainly a major player as a timeshare sale / rental advertising site. TUG may have more timeshare users than advertisers, but those TUG members advertising here on TUG are likely reliable, knowledgeable and trustworthy folks. TUG may simply not be the primary advertising venue of choice (for those TUG members who ever actually offer or advertise rentals at all).

Fwiw, the fact that RedWeek requires a paid membership to advertise or respond to ads there helps to repel spammers, scammers and insincere "tire kickers", none of whom will "pay to play". In the final analysis, some measure of mutual trust is required in any rental, irrespective of the advertising site involved.
 
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icydog

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vacationhopeful said:
Renting can be cheaper than owning when doing it inside the 45/60 days before checkin. Follow the Last Minute Rentals thread here; request areas via the Last Minute Wanted thread...both have a $100 per day cap on rent asked for. Look at eBay for TS rentals.
------------------------

Hi, I just joined here and this caught my eye, does this matter if what you are looking at is in high season? I'm looking at a rental in mid-Jan. in Aruba at the marriott Ocean Club on Redweek, is Redweek verified and a good price. Are you saying that better deals can be had if you opt for the Last Minute Rentals? Does it still aloow for enough time to vet the owner?

Much appreciated!

-------------------------

What VacationHopeful meant was an RCI.com Last Minute Rental which many times can be exceptionally inexpensive.
The Marriotts in Aruba are traded through Intervalworld.com and there is very little chance of finding one on Extra Vacations (a place for non owners to purchase timeshare intervals) for anything but a high price tag. Redweek.com is a fine way to find an owner who will rent to you for your January vacation.
 
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