Westgate. What is bad? Why? What is good? Why?

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

Ok, we took a Westgate tour yesterday. Liked what we saw. I know several people here call it Wastegate, why, can you give me specifics of your problems with them?

Does anyone own with them and enjoy the program? Is so why.

Thanks for furthering our education.
G

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

In short, Westgate cares more about the owners money than they do about the owner. What they really care about is seperating the owners money from the owners pocket book without acutally delivering what they promise.

Did you notice all the ego shots of King David and all the celebrities he's glad handed around the resort? Westgate is the only timeshare resort I know where the CEO/President's ego is so big that he has his pic over every resort he controls.

And that's the biggest problem. King David NEVER gives up control. Owners are just cash cows waiting to be milked. HOA/BOD's are under the strict control of Westgate and will never be under control of those that actually pay for the resort (the owners).

[mishugana Member Find all posts View Profile Close mishugana]

Ok, we took a Westgate tour yesterday. Liked what we saw. I know several people here call it Wastegate, why, can you give me specifics of your problems with them?

Does anyone own with them and enjoy the program? Is so why.

Thanks for furthering our education.
G

How pushy was the weasel?

[mishugana Member Find all posts View Profile Close mishugana]

In short, Westgate cares more about the owners money than they do about the owner. What they really care about is seperating the owners money from the owners pocket book without acutally delivering what they promise.

Did you notice all the ego shots of King David and all the celebrities he's glad handed around the resort? Westgate is the only timeshare resort I know where the CEO/President's ego is so big that he has his pic over every resort he controls.

And that's the biggest problem. King David NEVER gives up control. Owners are just cash cows waiting to be milked. HOA/BOD's are under the strict control of Westgate and will never be under control of those that actually pay for the resort (the owners).

David Seagull a legend in his own mind

[timeos2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close timeos2]

Calling them Wastegate is being too kind

Does anyone own with them and enjoy the program?
G

No

Ok, we took a Westgate tour yesterday. Liked what we saw. I know several people here call it Wastegate, why, can you give me specifics of your problems with them?

While they build a nice looking resort (thats how we got hooked) after you are an owner you find out that all they care about is sales. Not the resorts, not the owners, sales is all there is. They change rules, they don't listen to owners, they don't turn control over to owners as required by law (laws apparently don't apply to Wastegate operations). They claim rights they don't have (such as ROFR on resales), They let the older areas of a resort go to pot as that makes selling the "upgraded, Phase 64" so much easier. They never, ever stop pushing sales even on existing owners.

They are, quite simply, the worst timeshare organization/operation in all of the already sleazy timeshare world. Sooner or later they manage to tick off even the most dedicated owners. It's almost like they want to be known as the Mafia operation of Timeshares. Look to their multiply convicted head to know where it all comes from. Sleaze builds sleaze and the gaudy, faux Italian, tenement like resorts are a mirror of one of the slimiest of them all. Stay away if you want to enjoy timeshare ownership to its fullest.

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

John, be careful- you have insulted the Mafia - who compared to Wastegate are just a bunch of good fellas.

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

To be honest, I believe that most of the big timeshare developers are out to get your money any way they can and sales are more important to them than keeping their current customers or members happy.

This is very different from a little resort where the association is owned by the owners only so they do their best to keep the resort running at decent maintenance fees and keep most members happy too. There will always be some complaints which is normal. We own two of these little independent resorts and wouldn't trade them for a name brand resort ever where they nickel and dime you to death and change policies non-stop and always with less benefit to the owner. I can't believe what I am reading of what is going on at Wyndham and some of the other big developer resorts.

There is a conflict of interest when the developer is part of the board but you can use their brand name so that is what you pay for but have to contend with all their mistreatments. JMHO, of course.

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

Pros Unit size and decore. Not cheaply decorated.
Activity Program, plenty to do at most properties.

Neg, Just like John said.

Up until recently fees were higher than most companies now must have caught up with Westgate

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

I love reading this stuff !

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

Ba Da Bing

I love reading this stuff !

Happy New Year Bing, we do it just for you!

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

Ok, we took a Westgate tour yesterday. Liked what we saw. I know several people here call it Wastegate, why, can you give me specifics of your problems with them?

Does anyone own with them and enjoy the program? Is so why.

Thanks for furthering our education.
G

We exchanged into Westgate Vacation Villas and were put in the newer section. It was a very nice resort and we did enjoy our stay.

I spent a lot of time in the hot tub area every evening and had a lot of discussions with owners. This a the only resort that I have stayed in that the owners seemed to have nothing good to say about the management. It did seem to my that the owners were not a happy group. I always try to feel owners out when I exchange into a resort and the owner feedback I received here was totally negative and that has never been my experience with any other exchange.

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

If I had a dollar for every time I have said the following, I could buy a place at the lake . . . as a former owner of three weeks for more than ten years, I believe they are the sleaziest, slimiest in one of the sleaziest, slimiest industry going.

Mr. Sleaze has been confirmed of being that in a court of law. If people wish to give their money to support people like that, knowing they are like that, well . . .