Explaining Timeshare to Non-Timeshare Owners

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

Is there really a way to explain it to someone that doesn't own, so that the idea makes any sense at all? Not that I really want to, but. . .

After golf at Ledgestone today, my new-found cousins took me to Olive Garden. When we left we used the drive next to The French Quarters. Cousin Connie said, "We've noticed that place. What is it?"

"It's a timeshare resort. You pay $25000 to get the obligation to pay $800 a year so you can stay there one week a year."

Cousin Kenny, "That never has made sense to me."

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

"It's a timeshare resort. You pay $25000 to get the obligation to pay $800 a year so you can stay there one week a year."



You forgot to tell them about the sleepless nights searching for the perfect exchange, the withdrawal when you're not near the internet, etc.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

Now a days , Most people only know what they are told when they are on a tour.

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

Jim, you make it sound SOOOOOO attractive.

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

"It's a timeshare resort. You pay $25000 to get the obligation to pay $800 a year so you can stay there one week a year."

Cousin Kenny, "That never has made sense to me."

Jim

That's a great line!

We should have a contest to come up with the best explanation of timeshare in 25 words or less. You would have a front runner.

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

The normal complaint about me is that I take so long to say so little , but I do know how to just cut to the chase.

Of course, what I didn't explain, because it might make it sound unattractive, is that they will not pamper you or run errands for you and you will have to tote your own luggage, make your own bed, clean your own room, cook your own food, take your own trash to the dumpster, and each time you come to enjoy your vacation, the entire week they will try to get you to give them another $25000, plus $800 a year, so you can do that 2 weeks a year instead of one.

Actually, since I believe that what I posted is what most/many/some buy, that is why it takes 3 days and 2 nights discount lodging, a buffet, about $150 in freebies, and an hour-and-a-half of BS, before they get to the facts as stated above, and, no, it is not said exactly that way is it?

Don't you know those sales weasels are cringing inside when they know they are getting to that point, after spending all that time painting such a beautiful picture, that they are going to have to say the price, and they know that a little voice in the prospect's head is going to say to them, "Holy Moly!!!! Are you fricking out of your mind!!!!" I bet they are really craving a cigarette about then, that they can't wait to get outside and smoke one.

Although millions of people have fallen for it, the natural response from the many-times-those-millions of non-believers is, "I'll just keep my $25000, plus $800 a year, and spend it for the vacations we might want as they come along."

That's tough logic to overcome, especially when some traditional lodging is getting so nice and so inexpensive on the Internet, including many condo rentals. I recently did a Hotwire search for someone for the Orlando area, and there were several resort condos available, for $50-$70-ish.

Just so y'all know I'm not as dumb as I look, the one-line explanation for us is much less distressing, but to state it would violate my lose-what-you-brag-about axiom.

FWIW, we may lose what I don't brag about even though I don't brag about it in specific numbers, but our fall will be much shorter than those who have bought traditionally--anything--Weeks, Points, Fractionals, Full-ownership investment condos, vacation clubs, etc. I'm pretty sure we won't break anything important when we fall, and will likely be able to walk away without assistance.

And when we do fall, we will have to settle for our year-round vacation here, and, who knows, maybe an occassional outing in a travel trailer, say to places like Bahia Honda State Park in the Keys or our beautiful national parks out west or Cape Cod or the Puget Sound, where we can even have our kitties with us.

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

JLB,
I always enjoy your posts.

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

Hey, it won't help to suck up and you know that will just encourage me. I keep track of all the complimentary posts. After 25000 or so from me, pretty soon the complimentary replies will hit double digits!

While I'm at it, let me summarize the full ownership investment condos we have toured here recently.

For $349,900, plus $3000 a year, you can own this condo. Isn't the view beautiful?

But, we don't want you to live in it. We don't even have garages. We want you to put it in our weekly vacation rental program. For the times we rent it, if we can, we will keep 55%. If we never rent it, no skin off our patooties, since you pay us what it costs to maintain it, and pay our salaries.

Ten years from now when you want to sell it, expecting to double your money, but you find you can't even get half what you paid because it has been trashed out, oh well, what do you expect from rental property that you were not here to take care of?

Will one be enough?