Need suggestions-recently purchased Bluegreen Vacation Club

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

Hello,

We just purchased 20000 points program at Las Vegas for about $27~$28k. We (28 and 32 yrs old) wanted it, but we do not know if we need it...so I asked them how many days that we have to cancel this without penalty, they gave us a vague range of 7~10 days for California resident. Later that night, I found this site right after we were semi-forced to finish signing all the paper works before we can leave (which we missed first 30 minutes of the O show ) After I done some research online, we were so certain that we are returning everything we received and sending a written letter to the corporate. I totally understand this is the type of thing that people either love it or hate it.

The following morning, we were asked to sign credit card receipt that they forgot to have us sign. Just right before that, we met a couple who own the program for over 10 years. They first had only 5800pts, and then 5 years later to 15k pts, and just upgraded again through the developer to 32k pts yesterday. We were chatting and I ask and share our concerns with them and after talking to them made us want to keep the program (about 70%)

Now we are back at home and I have time to read more thread and more discussion about BG and had some (very little) idea about resale market and etc, and I am starting to wonder if we should keep or send rescind letter to FL because I am very uncertain if 20k points at $28K is worth it...so I am here to ask for any comments/suggestion/thoughts on what we had purchased. here are the perks that (I can remember on top of my head) the rep gave us: 1 week cruise of our choice, 2 weeks of vacation on BG for first 3 years anywhere any time (not sure how this work), orally promised for 3 O show tickets when we come back for orientation, and will be able to reach the rep anytime if we have questions even after the 10th day of purchase orally promised that we could use our points anywhere/anytime (is it true? can we really book what we want and where we want when most people wanting the same thing as well?)


Thanks a lot in advance!

Cally

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

Hi Cally and to TS4Ms.

The short answer is yes, you should rescind but not because BG is not a great program....here is why.

You can buy a small package of points thru Bluegreen or their authorize reseller Pinnacle vacations for $1.25 per point. By small I mean 2-4K points. By doing this, you have access to Bonus time at all resorts and will be able to be a member of Travelers Plus for $59/year. Travelers Plus allows you to exchange into RCI Point resorts (Manhattan Club, Crane Resort Barbados) and to get Select Connections - reserving at Shell Vacation Club & soon Grand Pacific Resorts. These 'perks' can only be obtained if you buy directly thru BG.

After this has closed and you are an owner, you will be able to obtain resale points for pennies on the dollar that will blend with your current ownership. If you decide to go this route, there are people we can refer you to for guidance as not every contract blends with every ownership.

Most (not all) of Bluegreen points maint. Fees are as follows.

Every owner pays a $129 yearly program fee.
Most contracts are charged a $330 base fee plus $0.0504 per point
So 4,000 yearly points would be $330 plus $0.0504 x 4,000 - $531
20,000 yearly points $330 plus $0.0504 x 20 -$1,338
30,000 yearly points $330 plus $0.0504 x 30 - $1,842

To go from 4,000 points to 20,00 or 30,000 points would cost you under $1,500. Many people are giving away small and not so small contracts for just the cost of the $450 transfer fee Bluegreen charges. So rather then spending $28,000 for 20,000 points you can spend under $5,000.

Or you can buy ALL resale points and spend $1,000-2,000 if the developer perks of Bonus time at all resorts and Travelers Plus are not something you would. use.

I started out with 44K points then added another 14K resale then 7K and 18K freebies. Total 83K. I use them at Bluegreen resorts and to exchange thru RCI and II for other resorts.
I really love the flexibility of this ownership but I think you should rescind and do a little more research.

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

: 1 week cruise of our choice, 2 weeks of vacation on BG for first 3 years anywhere any time (not sure how this work), orally promised for 3 O show tickets when we come back for orientation, and will be able to reach the rep anytime if we have questions even after the 10th day of purchase orally promised that we could use our points anywhere/anytime (is it true? can we really book what we want and where we want when most people wanting the same thing as well?)


Thanks a lot in advance!

Cally

With the money you save by purchasing resale, you can take a cruise on your own...

The reservations work as follows.
Everyone can reserve exactly at 11 months out.
If you are Bronze 15,000 you can make a wait list request at 12 months
Silver 20,000 wait list at 13 months
Gold 35,000 wait list at 14 months
Platinum 60,000 wait list at 15 months

For some high demand resort (Big Cedar Wilderness Club summer time) you do need to wait list but the vast majority of time you do not. If you are able to plan and reserve 11 months out, you will almost never have a problem. I see lots of availability online even 6 months out.
It is a very flexible program.

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

Thank you so much! I plan to send out the letter on 12/2...we should also return the booklets to the resort we got it from? correct?

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

Thank you so much! I plan to send out the letter on 12/2...we should also return the booklets to the resort we got it from? correct?

Yes, return the books.

As I think I said, I really enjoy my Bluegreen ownership….just do a bit of research before you purchase.
As a young couple, I honestly would recommend that you buy a small amount of qualified points from Bluegreen <4,000 to get all the bells and whistles of the program, and then add on the resale points. You will not be sorry.