If you could start over...what would you do?

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

We got rid of Mr. Sleaze awhile back.

That's why I say I can speak of WasteGate from a rare 20-plus-year persepective of tour prospect then and now, owner, and former owner.

If some did not understand what I have said, even as former owners we still are hounded by the various scammers calling and asking about our WasteGate weeks. They never ask about weeks we own at two other resorts. Who do you think sold them the list?

The only folks I know of who have ever complain about the complainers are WasteGate owners. Take that bias out of the equation, and reasonable people can see the benefit of those who have experienced what we have experienced warning those who are just now considering involving themselves in the same experience.

Someone locally once told me not to let those who try to detract from my doing good deeds keep me from doing them, cuz so few do.

[ROGKAR Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close ROGKAR]

What would I really do?

Not purchase a timeshare! Save your money and go to the areas where and when you want to! I have had a timeshare/s since 1977. They are no longer what they used to be! You are only paying for future vacations ahead of time and with MF they are no bargain! You can get and can plan better vacations online or get great deals at places like RCI and it won't cost you near as much! There are so many great deals out there in these times and so many individuals that can't even unload their timeshares by donating them! They can't afford the MF or the vacation and are only getting themselves in financial problems! I can;t unload my last one now and am finding I can get 2 or three vacations for what I pay in a single year for a MF!

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Not purchase a timeshare! Save your money and go to the areas where and when you want to! I have had a timeshare/s since 1977. They are no longer what they used to be! You are only paying for future vacations ahead of time and with MF they are no bargain! You can get and can plan better vacations online or get great deals at places like RCI and it won't cost you near as much! There are so many great deals out there in these times and so many individuals that can't even unload their timeshares by donating them! They can't afford the MF or the vacation and are only getting themselves in financial problems! I can;t unload my last one now and am finding I can get 2 or three vacations for what I pay in a single year for a MF!

That's what we've been saying.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

I have the insight of what they were doing and saying in the 80's, what they did to us as owners, how we continue to get timeshares sales calls asking about our WasteGates, how we were treated as RCI guests, and what they are doing and saying now.

We have not owned with Westgate for years, yet I just got a telemarketing phone call asking if we want to rent our timeshare.

Which one, I asked.

Westgate.

We own at two other resorts, multiple weeks at each, one since 1992, but the calls are always about Westgate.

So, who's selling names? Who's always trying to make a buck off their victims?

Of course, we are on both the Fed and state No Call list.

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

I get lots of calls too from I guess Vacation Villages sold my name but when they call I tell them that I love VV and would never consider selling my unit as it is the best thing that I own and just love using my TS. It's slowed down the calls when I answer them that way. I guess they cross me off the list. Funny thing is that I truly do love my VV and get great value out of my RCI points so technically I'm not fibbing.

Try it. It might work. Then you'd be less frustrated with the constant reminders of how much you hate Wastegate.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Funny thing is that I truly do love my VV and get great value out of my RCI points so technically I'm not fibbing.

If you mean Wastegate VV, if they knew it is good in RCI points, which is beyond belief, that would really PO them.

[Hobbitess Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hobbitess]

I get lots of calls too from I guess Vacation Villages sold my name but when they call I tell them that I love VV and would never consider selling my unit as it is the best thing that I own and just love using my TS. It's slowed down the calls when I answer them that way. I guess they cross me off the list.

That's been my experience as well. We've gotten exactly one call since purchasing a timeshare (Bluegreen). I don't remember if they were offering to rent or to sell, but I told them "absolutely not, we love it and use it," and haven't heard from them since. I wondered if they got my name from RCI, since it took us a while to get around to getting signed up with RCI (and then took a while for BG to get it done), and it was after that, not after we bought in, that we got the call.

So worth a shot to just tell them you're happy and not interested.

[Tfish Member Find all posts View Profile Close Tfish]

I'm not familiar with the panhandle resorts since I've got so many closer to me but I do know that Oyster Pointe also has boats available when you stay in the resort. I believe they are also free. That's on the Sebastian Inlet on the East coast of FL.

I'm an owner there and the boat deal is terrific.

The charge is $50/week and that includes gas.

Lottsa fish in Seastian Inlet.

I don't often see Oyster Pointe available tho.

Mike

[Nitram Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Nitram]

My Advice is Similar to Others

Here's my advice:

Don't buy directly from a developer (like I did).

Buy a resort that's easy to travel by car within a day.

Buy a resort that is well maintained and you believe will stay that way.

Buy somewhere that you would not mind staying often.

Buy a fixed week, not a floating week.

Buy a unit with a reasonable maintenance fee.

Buy a locked unit if possible, e.g. two locked one bedrooms rather than a two bedroom.

Normally, buy the week you want to use the unit, but if you plan to exchange often, buy during the prime season, e.g. winter for a ski resort, or summer for the beach.

Decide what resort you want to buy, the timeframe, e.g. week 25-30, and the price you're willing to pay. Then contact owners directly who have ads on internet sites, and give offers. Don't passively be an ebay watcher and wait for your dream week unless you are very flexible with resort and week.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

I'm an owner there and the boat deal is terrific.

The charge is $50/week and that includes gas.

Lottsa fish in Seastian Inlet.

I don't often see Oyster Pointe available tho.

Mike

I almost always see it in my daily searches, and have considered it, even with being on the wrong coast.

Oyster Bay (#0211) 28 available units

Oyster Pointe (#0775) 25 available units

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Here's my advice:

Don't buy directly from a developer (like I did).

Buy a resort that's easy to travel by car within a day.

Buy a resort that is well maintained and you believe will stay that way.

Buy somewhere that you would not mind staying often.

Buy a fixed week, not a floating week.

Buy a unit with a reasonable maintenance fee.

Buy a locked unit if possible, e.g. two locked one bedrooms rather than a two bedroom.

Normally, buy the week you want to use the unit, but if you plan to exchange often, buy during the prime season, e.g. winter for a ski resort, or summer for the beach.

Decide what resort you want to buy, the timeframe, e.g. week 25-30, and the price you're willing to pay. Then contact owners directly who have ads on internet sites, and give offers. Don't passively be an ebay watcher and wait for your dream week unless you are very flexible with resort and week.

Then never change your mind.

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

If you mean Wastegate VV, if they knew it is good in RCI points, which is beyond belief, that would really PO them.

Actually Vacation Village at Parkway not Wastegate.

[chriskre Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close chriskre]

I almost always see it in my daily searches, and have considered it, even with being on the wrong coast.

Oyster Bay (#0211) 28 available units

Oyster Pointe (#0775) 25 available units

It's not the wrong coast It's the secret coast.

You should try it sometime.
You might just like it and you'd have an easier time getting an exchange.

[jimmyjames Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close jimmyjames]

Here's my advice:

Don't buy directly from a developer (like I did).

Buy a resort that's easy to travel by car within a day.

Buy a resort that is well maintained and you believe will stay that way.

Buy somewhere that you would not mind staying often.

Buy a fixed week, not a floating week.

Buy a unit with a reasonable maintenance fee.

Buy a locked unit if possible, e.g. two locked one bedrooms rather than a two bedroom.

Normally, buy the week you want to use the unit, but if you plan to exchange often, buy during the prime season, e.g. winter for a ski resort, or summer for the beach.

Decide what resort you want to buy, the timeframe, e.g. week 25-30, and the price you're willing to pay. Then contact owners directly who have ads on internet sites, and give offers. Don't passively be an ebay watcher and wait for your dream week unless you are very flexible with resort and week.

This is really good advice to potential owners. I used this strategy when purchasing. I bought 1.45 hours away on Cape Cod in a well maintained resort.. I was a passive watcher on Ebay though, and Jumped on it when week 26 came up.
I would not buy in an area with a ton of timeshares. Orlando for instance, because you'll never sell it if you do change your mind.
If you can find an area close to home, with high demand and a limited timeshares, where they can't build.. as on 'Cape Code' during a prime week for a reasonable price..then do it. If you can't use it, rent it for double the maint fees.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

Actually Vacation Village at Parkway not Wastegate.

.
Oh, I did not see where you said Parkway.

The original Wastgate is called Wastegate Vacation Village.

BTW, googling OPC I stumbled onto a WasteGate Vegas OPC whistleblower thread OY. Interesting read.