Timeshare Industry Insiders Rant of the Day!

Here is my rant of the day... take it for what its worth. and if you have no idea what I am talking about, then I am most likely not talking to or about you.

We all work so incredibly hard to build and maintain our reputations in this industry. The timeshare industry is a small one, regardless of how vast it appears to the outside world. It is a social network of relationships and deals, pros and cons, guys in white hats and scamsters. We build our circles and we are more likely then most industries to support and help our contacts and buddies.

On the flip side, the competition is fierce. The timeshare industry can be one of the more competitive spirited industries out there. This is actually one of the reasons why we network and build our circles, our families of contacts and business associates. This helps to "protect" us when the competition strikes and also, it helps once we are established to keep our business partners when new competitors are born and trying to climb our ladders.

I believe in the competition and the fair fight... when it's fair. And I am well known for being one to take on a challenge, stand up for what I feel is right, protect my contacts and network, and try to keep a clean professional image in the industry that has supported me since I was a child. I can be just as fierce as my competition... but I play and fight fair. To me, there is no glory in winning if you had to cheat or lie or steal to do so.

I know of a company who got itself started by copying advertising and even logos and graphics from their competitors. The name branding that had been implemented was being turned around and consumers often believe they are with one company, because its name is so similiar and the website appears in the same colors and formats, and even the quotes and stats are repeated and duplicated. This is blatanly lying and misleading the consumer.. and it is stealing from the other company. If you are not able to produce a legitimate, uniique approach to gaining clientele, then just go to work for the people you want to copy for heavens sake. Your peers in the industry know what you are doing, and they will not respect you nor bring you their business because of it. You might steal a few misled consumers, but in the end, they will also fade away because you are not genuine or legitimate.

ARDA released new warning to timeshare owners today

AMERICAN RESORT DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION
CONSUMER ADVISORY ON RESALE COMPANIES

ADVISORY IV
May 14, 2010

As part ARDA’s effort to provide consumers with guidance about the secondary marketplace and useful tips about
the resale process, this advisory is to make consumers aware of two deceptive resale solicitations that target timeshare
owners.
According to an April 2010 release issued by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
(FDACS), the newest scheme is being used in combination with other unethical or fraudulent resale solicitations.
Beware of ‘Reloading’
The practice of ‘reloading’ is when an individual or company contacts a consumer who has already been victimized
by an unethical resale company. The claim is that they can recoup the upfront-fee lost in the original scam. The call
may actually be from the same company that conducted the first scam, only reorganized under a new name. Or the
call may be from a disgruntled former employee of the original company who uses the victims’ contact information
to run a new scam.
The FDACS warns that in either case the chances are minimal that consumers will recover any money. The latest
twist on this particular fraud has someone calling the original victim claiming to be from the first company that
took the upfront fee. This time, the caller will offer to refund the victim’s money, but will ask for a credit card
number “to facilitate the transaction.” If consumers again provide credit card numbers, they will lose money a
second time.
Bogus Rental Offers
Timeshare owners should also be skeptical of rental company solicitations that claim the company can rent owners’
vacation weeks or their “extra/bonus” weeks. While bonus weeks or bonus time is a legitimate benefit offered by
some – but not all – timeshare resorts, owners cannot rent them and may be in violation of their resorts’ rules if
they do. (Bonus weeks or bonus time is generally unused time that can be reserved only by other owners for a low
fee typically 30 days before the time is available.
The alleged rental company entices the consumer by claiming to have interested renters. The company quotes an
unrealistically-high rental rate, asks for an advance fee (upwards of $700) and a credit card number so the company
“can be authorized to represent the consumer in the rental transaction.” The advance fee is taken and the consumer
never hears of rentals again.
ARDA cautions consumers to make sure they understand the disclosures, promises, transfer protocols and recourse
available to them prior to writing a check, giving a credit card number or any other form of payment to a reseller.
And please check with your home owners association to see if a less expensive option is available to you. For more
resales information, please visit www.ARDA.org/resales. Visit ARDA’s consumer web site at
www.VacationBetter.org for more information about timeshares.

Timeshare Sales Practices

I have been thinking alot about the current issues that face the timeshare industry from the front line, to "reload" to resales. Timeshare developers still refuse in large part to work with companies that offer solutions to these problems, and therefore cause problems themselves. Those timeshare solutions companies are then left to their own and struggle to function among the postcard and scam companies.

I still hold to my belief that if a timeshare resort developer wishes to sell a product through a deed, he should offer back end services or connections to those services when the owner decides they no longer wish to own their timeshare. European developers seem to be catching on to this quicker then American developers and I am confused about this. If a timeshare developer would work directly with a solutions company whether for resales or trade ins, then he could help monitor that side of the industry that he is so afraid of.

Just my thought for the day.