Some resort companies are partnering with other companies and vacation clubs to offer their members
and owners more choices. There are also some resort companies that offer special clubs for military
customers. Some timeshare owners feel cheated out of the options that were promised to them. There
are owners who report not being able to exchange at resorts that they had no problems with in the past.

These days this seems like it could be a frivolous complaint. There are so many timeshares that are
going unused that there is bound to be many open units in many different areas. If you are experiencing
problems with exchanging your timeshare for ones you would like, try an alternative avenue. If the
exchange companies are uncooperative, look into private exchange with other owners. There are many
websites where timeshare owners gather for information, trading, buying, selling etc. Find one and you
are bound to find another owner who is very willing to exchange with you. Even better, you can avoid
the middle man fees exchange companies charge!

Travel agents are all but extinct thanks to the internet. So how does the internet affect the demand for timeshares? It is easy to imagine that many people find the shopper friendly environment for travel and vacations on the internet a much better option. You can shop around for the cheapest rates, various amenities and whatever you heart desires without the pressure of a salesman. Many web sites today even offer reviews from real customers who can vouch for a property. That’s a more reliable opinion than one from a person who just wants to unload their timeshare. Will the internet kill the timeshare industry? Only time will tell.

When you consider that everyday newer technologies become a bigger part of people’s lives every day it is no surprise. Many people can search for, research and even book a travel reservation from their smart phones. This should be a big concern for the timeshare industry when you realize the hoops people who are looking to exchange a timeshare must go through. It is a simple fact that people will choose the easier faster way to do just about anything. The timeshare industry is going to have to take a hard look at the way they deal with consumers if they want to keep attracting new buyers into their market. Many people are already aware of the “free” weekend ploy. Most people do not want to waste a whole day of their vacation being harassed about buying a timeshare. May do not even want to be approached about them period. If the timeshare industry wants to survive they will need to find an even easier, faster way to get consumers to their properties than internet hotel bookings do.

Maintenance
The cost of repairs and upkeep at the resort. Repair expenses are easy to understand, if something is broken it needs to be fixed. Upkeep, refurbishing, updating, or renovation usually represent similar costs.  Every resort needs to be continuously refurbished to keep it “up to date”.  Televisions are replaced with newer LCD models, beds are replaced, bathrooms are refinished, etc.  Most resorts will follow pre-defined upkeep intervals that are defined by the board.

Personnel
Salaries, wages, taxes, and insurance associated with staff. It is common for this to be the largest expense.

Taxes
Taxes can vary greatly depending on the location. At the very least a resort will need to pay property taxes. Maui assesses a special “timeshare resort” tax.

Insurance
Insurance is another item that can vary greatly. It may include hurricane, flooding, fire, liability, or other insurance.

Depreciation
An accounting expense, not a real expense, based on the assumption that real property will depreciate over time.

Bad Debts
Maintenance fees and/or taxes that owners failed to pay and the fees associated with attempting to collect the debt. Eventually the resort will repossess weeks from owners who failed to pay; Those weeks will be sold to new owners.

Deficits
A portion of this years budget may be used to pay off prior year deficits that the prior years budget failed to cover.

Supplies
Expenses commonly associated include cleaning supplies and office supplies.
This list of categories should not be considered comprehensive. Review your resorts budget to understand their operating expenses.

Many times they will get you with the promise of a free vacation if you merely attend one 90 minutes presentation. Seems like a good deal, but really it is a trap! They will ask questions on your vacations that you have taken; Tell them you stay at the cheapest hotels you can find because you are there only to sleep and not for the amenities provided. Tell them spending a lot for a room, or having a kitchen is not for you; On vacation you like to eat out and see the sights. Getting the time down to 90 minutes will be the hardest because they keep switching you from one sales person to another with different sales pitches. Just tell them you have tickets for a play starting at such and such a time and need to leave when your time is up. Just don’t fall for their shady tactics.

They will try make it last for 3 hours, no way around it. These guys are hardcore. They will try to find out how much you spend on vacations annually, so low ball everything. You only go once or twice a year, you stay with family/friends, or you stay in a crap motel for $40 a night, you have an RV, you like tent camping or backpacking, you keep your vacations low-key. You get the idea. It will be easier if you don’t have children, because obviously children drive vacation costs way up. Just grit your teeth, keep saying no to everything, and never ever sign up for another one.

It can be easy to get out quickly, you just have to handle it right. Set an Appointment somewhere else to start 20 min. after the sales presentation supposed to be over. (Doctor, Dentist, show, water park, what ever,) Be cordial, let them do their job, let them know that you are broke and there is no way you can afford anything, bring the document (invitation) that states the time length, 30 minutes before it supposed to be over, let them know of the appointment. Leave. If you have been easily duped by sales men before do not even go! You are setting yourself up for disaster!

Timeshares reclaimed by timeshare resort management (due to missed maintenance fee payments) are typically listed on the resale market or rented and there is typically no effort to collect additional debt and it will most likely not affect your credit.

Lenders will typically auction the property if the timeshare was financed.  Lenders will also attempt to collect the difference between the loan amount and the auction price. Defaulting on a timeshare loan will affect your credit and subject you to the typical practices of a collection agency.

This is a fairly common sales tactic. Offer a free night at a resort in exchange for your time at a timeshare presentation. Most people understand they might be inconvenienced in exchange for a “free” gift. It is easy to underestimate how inconvenienced you will be in these situations.

Typically you can choose not to attend the presentation, if you pay the room rate. Make sure to read, and understand, anything you agree to in exchange for the “free room”.

Leave your checkbook and credit cards in the room, and answer every question with no should you choose to attend. The presentations are typically exercises in high pressure sales for more than an hour. The duration of the presentation is key for the sales process. Everyone says no when they walk in the door. The sales team knows you want to get out and enjoy the resort. Their job is to wear you down until you say yes.

By all means, accept the offer if you want to test your will to resist a high pressure sales pitch.