According to industry stats, it is estimated that three million US people sit through a timeshare sales presentation every year. It is also calculated that 250K actually buy their own timeshare each calendar year. But is a timeshare really a fair deal for the average vacationing family? .
In any discourse of timeshares, many folks could be reminded of the South Park episode where the boys ‘ parents went to a timeshare weekend. The thoughts of others may wonder to the episode of Family Guy, where the neighborhood attended a timeshare sales display and Peter took the empty box rather than the valuable awards offered to him.
Let’s face it, the timeshare industry has been the subject of many jokes over the years, and has had more than its equal share of bad P. R. over the years. However are the feedback fair?
Industry Criticisms
When this industry was young, the criticisms were more than fair. During the early times of this industry, underhand firms would sell timeshares on resorts that had yet to be built. After a successful sales season ( yes, this industry is seasonal, closing most sales from June to Aug ), the sales company would abscond with the money and customers would be out their investment.
Recently, the resort industry has been made to clean up its sales practices by both executive and consumers. But even today, some timeshare marketing corporations are still landing in hot water.
In October of 2008, Pennsylvania’s Attorney General filed a lawsuit against a Florida timeshare marketing company for deceptive advertising practices. It must be stressed that this court action was not against the industry, nor its sales offering, but rather against individual promoting corporations for deceptive sales practices.
But Are Timeshares A Good investment For Most Holiday-makers?
Honestly, the solution to that particular question is that it depends on the goals of the purchaser and the categorical details of the individual timeshare transaction.
“Purchasing timeshare may be the best thing a vacationer has ever done, but it can also be a massive mistake,” asserted Lisa Ann Schreier, owner of ( timeshareinsights.com ). As a former timeshare salesperson, she has great insight into this industry. Schreier continued, “With the median cost of a timeshare in the States being roughly $13,000, it’s crucial that people understand exactly what timeshare is and if it is right for them before they make a purchase decision.”
On the one hand, a timeshare is sexy in that you can get access to a half-a-million buck apartment ( $13,000 x 52 weeks ), for a standard purchasing price of $13,000. But the bargain price is not a bargain purchase for each consumer.
What it boils down to is this : if you can take the same week for vacation every year, and you would like to go to the same destination year-after-year then a timeshare could be a great holiday investment package for you.
But, if you can’t be sure that you will have the same week each year, or if you like the destination, but would not wish to be tied to a particular vacation destination, then you shouldn’t get a timeshare.
Of course, there are resorts that offer adaptations on the straight same week, same location offer ( some resorts have multiple locations ), but you will need to make sure that your timeshare plan makes that kind of offer, and get it in writing before putting a signature on the check.
Transfer America has been the top business timeshare owners depend on to help them get rid of their timeshare. If you wish to get rid of your timeshare give them a call.