Just got a cold call for timeshare sales..anyone hear of fivestarstimeshare?

[4ARedOctober Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close 4ARedOctober]

I just got cold called about the Coconut Beach Resort in Ft. Lauderdale FL asking if I was interested in buying a unit. "They had 80 units and now only have 18 units left for purchase". Uh...no thanks.

Where did they get my phone number???...well I used to own one there that I got for almost free ($250 in closing costs) and then I sold it for cheap. But that was years ago. I guess they were given all of the owners/former owners contact points so maybe it was a 'warm' call and not a cold call.

When I said no thanks they asked if I owned a timeshare. I said yes. Then they asked if I was happy where I owned. I said yes. Then they asked if I had any friends that were interested. So I asked for their web site address and if the inventory was on it. He said yes...but no inventory...looks like a new site (boiler room?). I could hear others selling in the background.

Just beware my friends....anyone ever hear of www.fivestarstimeshare.com or Century Management?

[1950bing Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 1950bing]

You mentioned that you used to own a t/s in FL. Well, they sell your phone number and all others that own there or have owned to boiler rooms. Boiler rooms then sell that info. to other boiler rooms. Just one more dirty little thing that comes from being involved in timeshares. There are many.

[VacationPro Member Find all posts View Profile Close VacationPro]

You mentioned that you used to own a t/s in FL. Well, they sell your phone number and all others that own there or have owned to boiler rooms. Boiler rooms then sell that info. to other boiler rooms. Just one more dirty little thing that comes from being involved in timeshares. There are many.

Your shtick is getting very old.

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

Bing, what exact purpose are you here and elsewhere for. If it's to warn people about the pitfalls of timesharing, you are probably too late and too negative for anyone here.

[1950bing Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 1950bing]

My purpose is to inform.
The concept of sharing time for a price seems to be OK.
It is the way it is marketed that has turned the whole indrustry sour. Salesmen making any and all promises to make a sale at all costs is just plain dirty. The use of hooks, free junk to just listen, makes the whole thing sleazy and underhanded. People need to know ALL aspects before entering into a law binding contract for what could be the rest of their lives. They should know all the pitfalls along with the good points. Timeshares are not the salvation of all people who enjoy vacations. Salesmen think they have a plan for everyone and it will be just wonderful, that is just not so. The high pressure enviroment with the idea that you are not going to leave till you sign is just plain cruel. They promote all the good things but fail to get into the " buts or what ifs."
As you know, I am a former owner. I count the purchase of my timeshare as the dumbest thing I have done in my life,I deeply regret that I threw away all that money for 20+ years, feeding some resort and was only able to recover $2,500.00. Now, I own my own rental and am very happy.
There are numerous things I could site as problems but you don't want to hear all of them. So, I'll narrow it down to this one. Owners do not have enough or any say as to what they get for their fees. There should be owner voting on all issues of resort spending and the costs. Resorts are owner driven but owners are viewed only as the biggest source of income. If you have a board that sets the fees, makes all the rules, the owner voice is silent. If you multiply the number of rooms at your resort by the m/f by 50 weeks it is huge! All the while the board keeps increasing fees year after year. Even you have said you feel your fee was high.
I know to buy second hand is the way to go because prices are closer to what the worth of a timeshare really is. But, if someone who knows nothing about the business is setting themselves to purchase one, that is very dangerous. They need to know more than " this is the best thing to ever come along." You know as well as I that there is a large number of helpless people who are stuck with timeshares that they don't want and don't know what to do with them. Stats suggest apx. 1/3 of owners don't want them. That is a lot of unhappy owners. Why? They were misled by quota filling salesmen.
I have seen improvements here concerning t/s and I think they are good things that help owners. One, you stated that where you were that maid service was offered every day. Finally!!! I have said all along what am I getting for my fees if they can't even make a bed each day. Another post stated that one no longer has to join a fee paying exchange club to exchange as has been the way it was in the past. Great, another plus for the owner. That is the way it should be. There are other areas that need to be improved or stopped all together. There are new ideas that need to be explored. How can it be improved should be in the minds of all resorts.
Simply.... Timeshares are not for everyone! Owners should have a much bigger role in how a resort does business. Boards need to learn where the owners fit in. If it wern't for the owners there would be no resort. Owners matter!!!! The whole time I owned mine I felt as if I was only a check in the mail, they had me bigtime. It's all about the owners!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Thank you for your time.......................1950bing

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

bing.....Thank you for clarifying your postion......I don't necessarily agree with you, tho. It is true that there are some downfalls to timesharing, as with most good things in life. However, that does not mean that the entire industry is 'sleazy' and 'underhanded' or that no one should own a timeshare. For example....I am very much aware of the pros & cons of timesharing, yet I still choose to buy, and own timeshares.

Not all timeshares are equal....They do not all cost the same, offer the same amenities, have the same rules, or operate in the same way. Some have HOA's and are much better run than others. Some are much more honest and upright than others. They can vary dramatically, in many ways.

I do not think that it is fair to use a blanket statement, and state that all timeshare salesmen are dishonest and will not let you leave, or severely pressure you into signing a contract. I personally have not had that experience with my Marriott timeshares.....If I choose to purchase an item for thousands of dollars, it is my obligation to know what it is that I am buying......When I bought my home, I used engineers, termite exterminators, etc. I did not take the word of the home owner, or real estate agent.....I would have been foolish, if I had. The same goes for buying a high-priced timeshare.

I have had many great vacations, and do not regret the purchase of my timeshares.....Today, I would look to buy resale, opposed to from the developer, in most cases...but not all.

It may not be for everyone, but it is definitely the right choice for some.

PS......I wish that you would share with us the details on what timeshare you had owned, and how you were mistreated, by them. This way if someone was thinking about purchasing that particular timeshare, they would be forwarned........Thanks!!

[bluka Member Find all posts View Profile Close bluka]

Sounds to me like you should have tried VACATIONING at your ts instead of treating it like a rental.

[SOS8260456 Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close SOS8260456]

If owning a timeshare is bad, then let me be bad, very bad, very very bad. Boy, am I bad............................................


As I enjoy my familiy on our fabulous vacations.

Lisa

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

1950bing, I have a feeling that I know where it is. you wrote about 25 years so it sounds to me like an RTU that runs out unless you renew your contract again. You also mentioned renting. In this country, you can't sell a timeshare as an investment, at least not in CA. Of course, you can rent it and some people do.

I would bet you bought in Mexico. When you bought there, did they mention that you could rent it easily for a rather high amount? They still have the same pitch constantly at some of the resorts but not all of them. Just google for timeshare fraud and you will find the resorts where this is done.

First, I thought you had bought at the Marriott because of another remark you made but the Marriott normally doesn't use high pressure sales tactics so why don't you tell us what happened so then you really warn other newbies where not to go. Posting everywhere that you were taken to the cleaners is not going to help anybody. JMHO.

Also, if you have a rental today, you can post an advertisement here but you have to have posted at least 15 posts, I believe. Most of us want to help you but you have to help yourself too getting over your mistake. We bought in Mexico too from developers.

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

I finally think I have a potentially new screen name. I should change it to "gnib0591." Why? Because I couldn't be any more opposite to our bitter friend bing.

I actually believe that timeshares ARE for everyone. If they don't think so, then they just haven't found the right one for them YET.

Once you get by the timeshare salesman and dig down through one or two layers facts and do an apples to apples comparison of timeshares vs. alternative forms of accomodations, you will see that Timesharing represents the single greatest travel value for families of all sizes.

The time to act is NOW. This IS the golden age of timesharing. 5-10 years from now, the cat will be out of the bag and the deals that you can find now won't exist anymore. People will be saying I wish I bought when I could at those great prices.

I think bnoble said it best: "If you're a moron, it's your own fault when you do something stupid." Sounds like something Yogi Berra would say.

[1950bing Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 1950bing]

I think at least right now that a cruise is the best value for your vacation money. You can get some great low prices just right before sail time.
Timeshares are loosing their impact. People are seeing them for what they are really worth.

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

I think it is important to see timeshares for what they are worth, some are worthless some are worth a lot. People have been saying that the timeshare resale market will boom in the future for almost a decade. It never happens because there are too many sellers and not enough buyers and too few good timeshares. If you look at those that buy resale, you will see that they also often end up selling. I had 9 timeshares at one time and now I have 2. I don't think the resale value of timeshares will increase any more than the cost of living and if RCI continues to wreck the exchanging aspect, values of many will actually be falling.

[1950bing Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 1950bing]

Another vacation mode that I have been using of late is B&B. You can really get some great off season rates and you are not flooded by people to get you to buy something. There are small numbers of guests and you get get to know one another over a great breakfast. All owners are wonderful. When we leave, they don't expect me to help pay for a roof. They usually are small and offer good local advise. Quite,nice.

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

Another vacation mode that I have been using of late is B&B. You can really get some great off season rates and you are not flooded by people to get you to buy something. There are small numbers of guests and you get get to know one another over a great breakfast. All owners are wonderful. When we leave, they don't expect me to help pay for a roof. They usually are small and offer good local advise. Quite,nice.

Might also offer advice!

[1950bing Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 1950bing]

sorry