Frustrated... timeshare usage and rising MF

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

Hello: It's been a little while since I"ve been on this site, but recently are very frustrated with our TS in Massanutten, VA and are really wondering if we should continue with ownership or if selling is a better option right now. We've owned it for 3 years now and have gotten some nice vacations out of it, but when I look at the overall price we paid, and MF have risen in the the past two years (when we bought, they said they have the lowest costs and they rarely rise - HA!). Also we've been searching for a summer vacation forever now and we STILL have nothing for this summer. We called RCI and they said it's because lots of people are not releasing their weeks early because last year they had trouble paying the MF and everything is pushed back this summer. We have four weeks (2 deeded and 2 extra vacations) and we NEVER use four weeks a year. We've advertised a little, but no one has taken advantage of renting our weeks either.

I wonder will we enjoy it and see an overall benefit in 10 - 20 - 30 years from now? (I'm 34 with 2 small kids) I'm afraid in 10 years what will the MF be? How will we afford it? I think of the overall price we're spending and think we could use that money better and go where WE want to go, not where THEY give us. I would be interested to sell, but hear all the horror stories and cringe. I feel the only way we can go where we want is to book a last call but then we have to pay MORE money. Some days I just want out! HELP!

Nicki

[philsfan Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close philsfan]

Based on previous posts you own week #43 in late October. I think you are having trade power issues. I have had weeks with low trade power and no matter what you do, the only summer weeks you are going to get are last minute exchanges.

You could start to research the independent exchange companies as an option for your 2011 deposits. HTSE, DAE, Platinum Interchange and Trading Places all offer free access to the lists of their current inventory.

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

Unfortunately you made a poor investment and are in deep trouble. Your week has little trade power and your property is always available even in the prime summer months.

Alternate exchange companies will probably not want your week in their pool system.

You got the best advice by waiting for the last minute to exchange your week.

You will never be able to sell your week for more than a a few hundred dollars if you are lucky.

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

Selling now is probably not a viable option., There are very few buyers and hordes of sellers and many are happy just to give away their week. The resale company predators are omnipresent, telling all kinds of lies to get an upfront fee out of owners desperate to sell.

[philsfan Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close philsfan]

I disagree that the independents would not want your week. It is listed as red time by RCI so HTSE will definitely take it. DAE will take it. Platinum may charge you an upgrade fee depending on where and when you are trading into. I don't think Trading Places will have any problem accepting it. The best part is that you can search first online using all of these companies and if something is there that you want, you can call and talk to them about it. As always, the best weeks probably never make it online but I have seen plenty of acceptable trades on the web sites of these companies.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

I disagree that the independents would not want your week. It is listed as red time by RCI so HTSE will definitely take it. DAE will take it. Platinum may charge you an upgrade fee depending on where and when you are trading into. I don't think Trading Places will have any problem accepting it. The best part is that you can search first online using all of these companies and if something is there that you want, you can call and talk to them about it. As always, the best weeks probably never make it online but I have seen plenty of acceptable trades on the web sites of these companies.

Also, I wonderif you have a home resort priority with RCI???

I agree that trying the independents is the way to go as RCI seems to have a lot of deposits from your resort.

People are having a hard time giving stuff away that is a much better season then yours - u have a young famly and many years of vacationig left - so keep it and learn to use it the best possible way.

Using companies other then RCI is probably your best bet.

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

Based on previous posts you own week #43 in late October. I think you are having trade power issues. I have had weeks with low trade power and no matter what you do, the only summer weeks you are going to get are last minute exchanges.

You could start to research the independent exchange companies as an option for your 2011 deposits. HTSE, DAE, Platinum Interchange and Trading Places all offer free access to the lists of their current inventory.

I've never used any other than RCI and don't really know how to use others. How do I get started with that? Last year, we were told that trading power was an issue too, but then we matched at a great resort in Myrtle Beach Presidential Villas at Plantation. We had a great time! Plus the year before that we matched at New Bern, NC, and Lake George before that. So I can't complain with what we've gotten in the past, it's just that right NOW we don't have anything.

[philsfan Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close philsfan]

Visit their web sites:

DAE - requires no cost sign up

HTSE - username 9999 and pw htse

Platinum Interchange - no cost sign up

Trading Places - direct link to exchange inventory.