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We bought the bluegreen sampler last Friday Aug. 7th at Big Cedar Branson. We will not be able to book any dates till we are in the system in 3 to 6 weeks. Since the sampler excludes use in June July August the only times we will be eligible to book will be Sept 09 to May 2010. We will want to book a wed/thurs mid October (14th-16th), a weekend in December (4th&5th or 11th&12th) and a Mon-Thurs around mid-March/spring break (Mar 14th - 19th) at Big Cedar. If we are not picky about the size of condo should we anticipate having problems getting these dates. If so should I cancel the contract? I didn't see any mention of legal cancellation time. We paid in full with Discover. The sales rep said we should have no problem with availability but I have read some people did. By the time we get in the system it will be to late to legally get out of the contract. We are in Oklahoma. Any input would be appreciated. If someone currently has a sampler maybe they could check availability?
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If I were you I would cancel and take some time to learn about timesharing and Bluegreen. Hang around here, and many folks will chime in to help. For what you have paid for the sampler you can probably buy a good many points.
There's a gentleman here that is an authorized reseller for Pinnacle Vacations and he can either rent those dates to you or sell you points...he'll also help you learn about the system. His site is Bluegreen - Home.
Good luck you. -
Welcome to TS4Ms!!!
A 'sampler' is a rental and I don't believe that BG will extend the cold feet rescission period guaranteed by law for a timeshare purchase to your rental. You can try, they can't take away your birthday.Originally posted by disneyeyes View Post... not enough time for all the timeshares ®Comment
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I would rescind if possible.
Rescind if you can. If not, no worries - it isn't a huge investment and in all likelihood you'll be able to use the points happily and go on to buy resale later.
I bought the sampler myself two years ago. If it is the same deal as I got, you get 9000 pts for $900 which is .10 a point. The current rental rate ranges from .05-.08 a point and that is for any season, any time -- ie, you could rent peak summer for less than the sampler.
You could rent from any number of people who are current BG owners and you'd get nearly everything EXCEPT for the experience of booking for yourself.
There is a lot of good information on this board and the Bluegreen Yahoo group about being an owner which will help you.
Other questions? Just ask.
AnitaComment
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Current Availability at Big Cedar
I just looked at those dates for you, fyi, and here is availability:
Oct 14-15 - studio (checking out the 16)
Dec 4-5, Dec 11-12 - nothing available
Mar 14-18, studio, 1 bed, and 2 bed lodges all available
AnitaComment
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I don't know if there's a rescission period with Samplers but I kind of doubt it - as Spence says, it's a short-term rental, not a long-term commitment.
We bought a Sampler last year right after Labor Day and were very happy with it. We didn't have any problems making reservations - we used it for reservations in Boyne Mountain, MI; Gatlinburg, TN; Hershey, PA and Myrtle Beach, SC. And for all of those but Michigan we needed to sleep seven or eight and wanted one unit, so our choices were limited. If you hope to get all your reservations at Big Cedar, however, that might be a challenge. I just checked availability, and with the October week you want only studios are still available at Big Cedar (however, any other October week you've got a better selection there), only studios again on the 4th and 5th of December, and a good choice of units in March.
Should there be no availability in December when your points clear, you might consider shifting the December weekend to January (where there's lots of weekend availability). And of course if you're willing and able to go somewhere not Big Cedar, there's plenty of availability. I just got the impression you were wanting to stay at Big Cedar for all three visits, which on your present schedule might be a trick. Only time will tell.
You also might give Big Cedar's "sister" resort a shot - The Falls Village, in Branson, has tons of availability in those time frames, and would be roughly the same distance from you. It doesn't have the whole Big Cedar ambiance, but it's a nice resort from all I hear. Some people like it better, since it can be less crowded and is closer to all the stuff to do in Branson. Worth a try if you can't get the reservations at Big Cedar, I'd think.
Even though it costs more than renting, I think the experience you get making reservations and learning the system and essentially getting a list of the resorts where it's pretty easy to get a reservation if you call early is worth it. The only units in my Sampler book that look to be a serious challenge to reserve for your average Bluegreen owner (i.e., someone who doesn't have a Premeire ownership) are the 3-BR cabins at Big Cedar. Probably more units on holiday weekends, but so far everything I've checked for my use I could get when I wanted it.
Edit:
Bother. I went back to double-check after seeing Anita's post, and I'm still showing studios available the first December weekend - then I realized I was checking you in on Saturday, not Friday (which is when we'd check in, y'see). Someday I'll tune in...Comment
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I was able to book a week after signing up for the sampler...
I think the 3-6 week thing is for when you actually purchase. Since the sampler doesn't include any title or anything, you don't have to wait for all the paperwork to go through.
Did you call & try to make a reservation yet?Comment
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Thank you all for the comments and checking dates. No I have not checked to see if we are in the system, but it has not even been a week yet. I will check at one week. I really appreciate yor help. We will try to book as soon as possible.Comment
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We are in the same boat! I bought the same day from Gatlinburgh. I keep calling cause I'm veryy impatient... And excited to book. I have been told anywhere from 5-10 days from the BG reservation crew to 30 days by a random salesman in TN.
Also you're right people on here are great!
SeanComment
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If I were you I would cancel and take some time to learn about timesharing. Have a break around here, and many folks will chime in to help. For what you have paid for the sampler you can probably buy a good many points.Comment
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If I remember right,you can not cancel your Sampler package. It has been awhile since we purchased,and things might have changed since then.Comment
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Sampler packages aren't a bad deal. You are basically renting points for off season usage for $.10 point. The best part of the sampler package is that you get to see how the Bluegreen system works. It's a good trial of the system which is what you need to make you feel comfortable about making a purchase.
A rental doesn't really do that. But, rental rates can get you a great deal. I have saved points that I often times rent out for $.035/point. Those points are only good for Red, White and Blue season. So, that is the right comparison for how much the equivalent rental rate is.
Annual points for high red season usually go for between $.06-.08/point (in this market, more in normal markets) depending on how motivated an owner is to rent their points. It's usually more if what you are seeking is a hot week like July 4th at Big Cedar.Comment
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