Rescinding a BG sampler contract

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

I posted this in another part of the forum, but I think this would be a better place to post it. I'm sorry for the xpost...

We purchased a 2 yr sampler package through BG Branson after a 4 hour sales pitch (with 6 kids in toe). It was a 2 yr 24000 pts for 3000 contract. We paid in fill via our debit card. We bought it yesterday, but now I feel like we were lied to. I thought we had 5 days to cancel but when reading the contract it says there is no cancelling the contract. period. Is there anything I can do? I guess the 5 days only applies if we bought the actual timeshare since its deeded. Any help?

The salesman told us many misleading statements about how BG works and although we aren't completely against a TM, at this point in our life its just not going to work for us. For example one of the reasons we bought this package we are taking a 10 day vacation in 2 months. He made it sound like we would have no problem booking for that trip. But now from what I understand, booking that soon and that long will be next to impossible. Is there any way out of this?

[kntb Member Find all posts View Profile Close kntb]

Hey, we just bought the same package. Sorry to hear you are unhappy with it. I think you may be stuck with it, but folks way smarter than I will be along and get you a better answer. I would say stick around here and do your homework on how to make the system work for you. You will have a better chance booking earlier definitely, but you may have some luck trying to book your trip.

A very wise woman on this site gave me some good advice, BE FLEXIBLE in all that you do regarding your trip plans and be smart with your points(shout out to Hobbitess!!!!).

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

You might be able to get a reservation as long as you'll be flexible about where you want to go. The question will be when they get your contract "in the system" so that you can actually make the reservation. You'll have to call every few days to find out if you're in the system.

In 2 months it will be low season in a lot of places so there will be more availability, except in snow skiing areas.

Another issue might be getting 10 consecutive nights in the same unit (if you're planning on doing that). If there's availability it won't be a problem, obviously. I've heard of people changing rooms on longer stays.

Even if you can't use the points in 2 months you'll have 2 years to use them.

I'm going to Club 36 on Thanksgiving Day - VEGAS baby!!!

[colin heath Member Find all posts View Profile Close colin heath]

I think you will have to use it. Bluegreen has some great locations.

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

I guess the 5 days only applies if we bought the actual timeshare since its deeded. Any help?

Alas, you are correct; you are stuck with it. The rescission period only applies to a full scale Timeshare ownership; what you have is more like the temporary rental of some points.

On the upside, you have two years to make use of it and should be able to get some good vacations out of it.

Depending on when and where you're going, you may be able to get a reservation for someplace in two months once you're in the system. Ski places and Florida are the ones most likely to have been booked up, although right now there's plenty of availability in Orlando and St. Augustine. The problem you may run into, however, is that Bonus Time is available 48 days out, meaning it's harder to get stuff after that point.

I don't know if Sampler owners get access to the system on the Internet or not; if you do, it's a lot easier to check availability there than on the phone. If you don't, and if you must vacation on certain dates, you can always ask here and someone will likely check for availability. As kntb says, flexibility is the key. If you can't be flexible on the dates, then being flexible on location helps.

If it turns out Timesharing isn't for you, at least you didn't buy points at developer prices, and you should be able to get some good vacations out of the points you have even if they don't get you precisely where you wanted to go. Since Bluegreen only has so many resorts, BG owners usually have some good suggestions on things to do if you visit those locations, even off season.

One of our favorite winter things to do is Wilderness Wildlife Week in Pigeon Forge, which is January 7-14 in 2012 -- a weeks worth of free or cheap stuff to do, ranging from hikes in the Smokey Mountains Parks to goofy guys with zoo animals to bird shows where you can compare the sound of a vulture flying overhead to the sound of an owl (and when a bird show is inside like that, the birds are right overhead -- it's the Dollywood birdshow, but without the Dollywood prices ). There's also music and history lectures and a photo contest and classes and stuff -- one year they even had a rappelling class!

Other people are up on the best restaurants and nightlife locations, although you can tap more of those people on the Yahoo Bluegreen group I think. Point is, don't despair; there are plenty of happy BG owners who'll be happy to help you get the best use of you points. Good luck!

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

I started with a sampler and rolled it into another package without losing equity or the points. You might want to do that if you change your mind about BG. Not sure if that is still the case...

I ve attended countless Timeshare presentations, they are all the same. You have to get educated about the product and make it work for you. Good Luck !

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

You have gotten some really good advice here - most who answered are happy BGVC owners as am I.
The hardest part is how long it will take u to get into the system - once you do you will have full access to point reservations online.
Another Sampler purchaser stated just this week that you can not access bonus time online, you have to call.
Even if it does not work for your vacation in 2 months, you do have 2 years to maximize these points - for a family of 8, TSing is usually a VERY good deal.

[Coltsfan74 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Coltsfan74]

We bought the Sampler on a visit to Big Cedar in May 2011. I was very skeptical and not very excited about it. I started doing research online. What I found out was amazing.... So much information about BG and Timeshares in general. My favorite sites are this one and the Yahoo group. Both will provide all you need to know about BG.

I believe we only had 1 yr to use ours. We took our first trip on it last Oct. back to Big Cedar for a weekend. Bonfire, canoes, and Silver Dollar City were on the agenda. Everyone (wife + 2 kids) loved it.

We were able to get a great deal for almost an entire week in March to Myrtle Beach (Shore Crest). Ocean front room. We are all very excited.

If it goes well, we may end up buying some points resale and trying it out for awhile.

I still wish I would have known about resale and these sites before we were talked into buying the sampler, but at least we can try it out. Don't let the sales staff try to bully you into something on your first trip (you are required to attend an update/sales pitch)