The Herald Tribune recently published a question-and-answer series that touched on the difficulties of escaping timeshare agreements. In the article, they describe how a widow was struggling to find a way to abandon a timeshare left by her late husband.
Over the past few years, we’ve published a lot of content that warns consumers and vacation owners alike of the pitfalls in the timeshare industry. For decades now, many buyers have experienced similar setbacks, disadvantages and unexpected costs. But today, some are considering cancellation for the first time.
Now that timeshare companies are looking to maximize future earnings, the race for the biggest pool of aspiring travelers has begun. Since the beginning of 2021, we’ve already seen Wydham merge with Travel + Leisure and Marriott’s PR to acquire Welk Resorts – even while timeshare owners struggle. This past week, Mark Wang, the President and CEO of Hilton’s Grand Vacations (HGV), made an announcement of his own.
When it comes to getting rid of vacation ownership or managing the financial obligation during rough patches, understanding how to go about handling the matter is key. Aside from the extensive amount of fraud in the exit realm, timeshare companies have been known to leverage an owner’s despair as an upsell opportunity.
We can all admit, the psychological sales practices of timeshares are rather complicated. In fact, every unsuspecting buyer is uniquely targeted with fact finding measures that all stem from a deceitful plot: to close the deal. Last week, we discussed the elements of pandering, misleading trust, enticement, personal jabs and fabricated excitement. Let’s see how this helps them close the deal in part 2.
Despite the obvious travel limitations, it would have been good to see the department go into detail on consumer’s need to “reevaluate personal budgets”. The impact of COVID as a whole has been a setback for millions. While some people are bummed about their vacant vacation, many don’t even know how they’re going to put food on the table – after years of abundance.
When it comes to the purchase of a timeshare, buyers are rarely even in the market for a perpetual travel package. In fact, many are on vacation with relaxed spending habits when the opportunity arises. When they’re caught off guard by an overwhelming amount of hype and free gifts, they can’t help but be intrigued by what’s being presented to them. We call this the sales psychology of timeshares – and it’s horribly effective
Timeshare travel can be one of the most intriguing, yet confusing products in the tourist marketplace. This is because consumers rarely search for them but fall for them rather quickly. The idea of a discounted vacation is just too good to pass up for most. Up until recently..
Consumers that have come to hate a timeshare purchase often initially wonder how timeshare companies remain in business. But they don’t have to think long or hard to realize their disgust is rooted in an unfavorable, oftentimes perpetual contract that doesn’t allow them to easily get out of their obligations.
In 2019, we published an article that covered the BBB’s constant efforts to diminish timeshare exit fraud in Southwest Missouri. Around the same time, the consumer driven platform also issued a warning about a local Springfield operation, Relief Solutions International LLC (RSI). Today, the entity is still a problem..
After covering a few more of our client’s stories, we thought it’d be a good idea to see what other publications are doing about the timeshare crisis today. But after inspecting some of the advice that’s possibly directing thousands of vacation owners, we had to step in. You see, not all online information and bias can be completely trusted today.
Before the nation was completely swept by travel restrictions and mask mandates, The Better Business Bureau (BBB) was already warning timeshare owners about potential scams. Now that a majority of timeshare sales teams have been let go, this threat is even more heightened. So let’s see what they had to say about it all..
Last week, we published the introduction to an amazing story about a young family who was swindled into timeshare ownership during a pandemic. Not only did Edwin and Maria repeatedly reiterate their disinterest, they almost begged sales reps to leave. But instead of enjoying the remainder of their mask mandated vacation in Vegas, the family was met by another unrelenting offer.
Vacation ownership has changed drastically over the past 10 months. Even if you know nothing about the industry, it’s easy to understand the burden of those paying for something they cannot use. At the same time, timeshare travel has been on a steady decline for years now.
Now that the pandemic has run rampant for almost a year, the disadvantages timeshare owners face is beginning to surface. While it’s easy to criticize every action that major resorts are taking (or not taking), it doesn’t provide consumers with much – outside of awareness. So, we decided to start sharing the stories of vacation owners.
