My email response from Vacation Solutions reseller

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

Why are you not upset? We are all timeshare lovers to the nth degree, yet we think it is okay that these companies are telling people that timeshares are not even worth $1 on ebay. Yes, I know some are not even worth $1.00.

We all spend money in one way or another to rid ourselves of a timeshare when we are done with it. Sometimes we list it on redweeks (I have done this). And sometimes we list it on ebay. I just shelled out $105.00 to do a well designed ebay add, and the winning bidder, who came in at the last minute and was poorly informed, backed out. (Actually said might be interested in making the purchase later in the year, like I am supposed to sit on my hands waiting?).

So one way or another we spend money as an means to an end.

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

The OP's Jiminey Cricket is out of whack. She said she wouldn't be bringing this up again. She said she'd never buy from them again.

If her Jiminey Cricket had more pull then her wallet, then she would refuse to follow through as afforded by eBay real estate rules and/or she would do more due diligence before bidding.

There's nothing wrong with these companies' business model.... the problem is their lies and half truths in their presentations.

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

Spence, I am guilty!

I saw it was a new reseller and chose not to ask. I asked after and didn't have to follow through with the purchase, but then I would not be honorable by not honoring my bid. Seems I am darned if I do and darned if I don't.

I know what you are saying, Spence and agree that you are right. I could have asked ahead of time. This is my second careless bid. I should have at least asked the source of the week.

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

Something like the ''blood diamonds'' from Africa's civil wars?

Is free will that is induced by fraud still free will?

Think of it as a non-personal thing. You bought an article and are not responsible for how that article got there. If you can't do that, you will someday have trouble eating bread, meat and other foods. You are not responsible for someone else's stupidity in paying these people to take their timeshare. It was done of their own free will and most of them will never know how much they lost.

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

Something like the ''blood diamonds'' from Africa's civil wars?

Is free will that is induced by fraud still free will?

Somhow or another, I just can't quite equate buying a timeshare from a reseller who might not be any more ethical than the developers themselves and diamonds that people died over.

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

Like Steve Nelson said, it is about degrees. What is the difference, when you are equating this with buying a timeshare cheap from an owner being the same as buying a timeshare that some poor senior paid TR and all the other companies to get rid of? If it is all about degrees, sure we should go that extra mile and compare it to blood diamonds.

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

I know I have repeated this elsewhere...

The moment one steps into resales, they are taking advantage of someone. Go down this slippery slope and you get to Vacation Solutions. Sales people tell lies and people often lose over $10,000 immediately on their timeshare. Vacation Solutions tells lies and people lose another $3500 plus maybe a couple thousand more. Many of VS timeshares on ebay sell for less than $500. The salespeople are much worse than Vacation Solutions in terms of how much money we are talking about.

Many people go into timeshares ignorantly and don't know they could save money by buying resale. Others take advantage of these people when the timeshares are put on the market at a 50% or more loss. Many people go out of timeshares ignorantly and pay an extra $5000 or so ($3500 plus the sale price on ebay) and others take advantage of these people when the timeshare shows up on ebay. Either way you toss it, the resale buyer is taking advantage of someone's ignorance.

It's all about perspective.