What should I know before purchasing resale?

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

Hi,

I recently found this site after attending the KBC timeshare presentation in Maui. Currently, there is a listing on ebay for 4500 pts. at KBC with only 1 bid at $1 and MFs of $671.

Do these sorts of resales include all the benefits you get from going direct?

I looked at another posting listing the types of memberships, but none of them sounded quite like what we were offered. DRI was going to sell us a starter package. It was not even enough for a week EOY at KBC, but they said we should be able to use our points in other locations and take advantage of last minute deals, which is a good option for our lifestyle. The package was 3000 pts for $8900. It included a lifetime Club membership, MF's paid through 2010, and membership with II. They said we would own HI, CA, AZ, and there may have been a few others. If I buy into a resale, are there going to be restrictions as to the flexibility of the usuage? We would like HI for visits every 2-3 years but would also like local trips in CA as well as eventually adding an annual trip to WI.

I have to stress they were trying to sell the idea that with not a lot of points, even as little as my 3000, we should be able to take advantage of a fair amount of time and get our $ worth. We were showed actual bookings online where a short stay, (I think through II...so much info thrown at us at once) up to 6 nights in Tahoe was only 777pts. If it was II the exchange fee was $79 (reduced fee for the short weeks). I assume if it sounds too good, it is, but would also like to hear what other people think about being able to maximize time with points via DRI.

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

Welcome to TS4ms!!!

You need to read every post in this DRI forum, take two 'happy' pills and call us in the morning. Of course it is too good to be true. If everyone could get all the half price bookings they wanted then there's a weird problem with inventory andf points. It doesn't work that way, but you could get lucky. If you're buying a KBC resale, you're buying a deed that would be worth 4500 in THE Club (which you do not get) and you can only book at KBC or you're buying 4500 points in the hawaii Trust where, without being in THE Club you can only book at those few resorts in that Trust. Read the threads about conversion to THE Club.

Hi,

I recently found this site after attending the KBC timeshare presentation in Maui. Currently, there is a listing on ebay for 4500 pts. at KBC with only 1 bid at $1 and MFs of $671.

Do these sorts of resales include all the benefits you get from going direct?

I looked at another posting listing the types of memberships, but none of them sounded quite like what we were offered. DRI was going to sell us a starter package. It was not even enough for a week EOY at KBC, but they said we should be able to use our points in other locations and take advantage of last minute deals, which is a good option for our lifestyle. The package was 3000 pts for $8900. It included a lifetime Club membership, MF's paid through 2010, and membership with II. They said we would own HI, CA, AZ, and there may have been a few others. If I buy into a resale, are there going to be restrictions as to the flexibility of the usuage? We would like HI for visits every 2-3 years but would also like local trips in CA as well as eventually adding an annual trip to WI.

I have to stress they were trying to sell the idea that with not a lot of points, even as little as my 3000, we should be able to take advantage of a fair amount of time and get our $ worth. We were showed actual bookings online where a short stay, (I think through II...so much info thrown at us at once) up to 6 nights in Tahoe was only 777pts. If it was II the exchange fee was $79 (reduced fee for the short weeks). I assume if it sounds too good, it is, but would also like to hear what other people think about being able to maximize time with points via DRI.

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

If you are buying a deeded property, then you could also use independent exchange companies to make exchanges, such as Hawaii Timeshare Exchange Untitled Document ). Dial an Exchange ( Timeshares & Time Share Exchange Service-DAELive.com ), Trading Places ( Trading Places International - Timeshare Rentals, Exchange, Resales, and Travel Services ) or possibly San Francisco Exchange Company ( SFX Preferred Resorts the San Francisco exchange company ). Most of the independents have free membership, which is a plus if you are only trading one week every couple of years.

[JoeMid Banned Find all posts View Profile Close JoeMid]

If you are buying a deeded property, then you could also use independent exchange companies to make exchanges, such as Hawaii Timeshare Exchange Untitled Document ). Dial an Exchange ( Timeshares & Time Share Exchange Service-DAELive.com ), Trading Places ( Trading Places International - Timeshare Rentals, Exchange, Resales, and Travel Services ) or possibly San Francisco Exchange Company ( SFX Preferred Resorts the San Francisco exchange company ). Most of the independents have free membership, which is a plus if you are only trading one week every couple of years.

Seeing as how the total of 4500 points was discussed, he is probably looking at a Trust membership as the lowest week at KBC is 6500 so a deeded week would be worth a little more than that when averaged with the more expensive holiday weeks. Also the maintenance for a deeded week is around $1K, making his quote a trust week with MFs/pt and the base Trust fee about $700 (no Club fee), just my guess with incomplete info. So, they would not be able to even get a whole week each year and would have to save and/or borrow points unless the wanted to stay only weeknights or got lucky with a last minute half price stay, I've seen them in the April and October timeframes. Anyway, any discussion of alternate exchange companies with this Trust membership is probably mute, as DRI would not confirm a points reservation to an independent from my experience.

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

Thanks for the information

I will continue to read on. Thanks for the explination of how resales work. It sounds like the deeded is a better bargain for single resort interests. If for example I had went with the DRI pitch, it sounds like we would pay $1400 for a 7 night stay every 2 years, not to mention the loan costs which add appx. $400 every year over 25 years w/ interest. (We would likely use it longer but by then the pts will have eroded in value.) I can't say it sounds like a good deal at all!

I wonder if anyone knows or could direct me to a link in this sea of postings of what timeshare clubs give you the most time for your money? We wouldn't want to be spending over $100/night.

[xymox9 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close xymox9]

Hawaii Re-purchase

I will continue to read on. Thanks for the explination of how resales work. It sounds like the deeded is a better bargain for single resort interests. If for example I had went with the DRI pitch, it sounds like we would pay $1400 for a 7 night stay every 2 years, not to mention the loan costs which add appx. $400 every year over 25 years w/ interest. (We would likely use it longer but by then the pts will have eroded in value.) I can't say it sounds like a good deal at all!

I wonder if anyone knows or could direct me to a link in this sea of postings of what timeshare clubs give you the most time for your money? We wouldn't want to be spending over $100/night.

You are correct in that you would only be able to stay in Hawaii every 2 years. So if you purchased the 4,500 points online, you could still do the exact same thing without paying any more. You just have to pay the maintenance fees each year and as long as you're okay with that amount to get 1 week every 2 years then you're "good". Trust me, it's a MUCH better deal than buying the points from DRI as long as you're okay with that amount of points and with the properties included in that Trust. You can always upgrade to the Club later and go to other properties, but you'd probably want a lot more than 4,500 points to do this...so you may want to look for auctions selling around 8,500 points or higher. We bought 6,500 last year and I wish I had purchased at least 8,500 since I usually need a second bedroom in most hotels.

If you really like DRI, buying points "second hand" and converting them to the Club later is the way to go. Just don't buy the "California Trust" as there is only 2 hotels in that group. Either buy the Florida Trust or the Hawaii Trust (Florida has 19 hotels in the continential US and Hawaii has 5 I think).

Good luck!

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

Thanks again!

Well I talked to some resale agents who told me DRI is no longer allowing you to purchase points for conversion. I told her I have seen them and she just said to be careful. She was very nice, I don't think she was lying, but perhaps misinformed? Anyway, DRI is very nice, but I think it is going to have to be the type of place we work up to. After much research, Worldmark seems to give you a very good value for your money... though we are not talking 5 star. Still, 20K points are about 50 cents a piece and that will easily get 2 weeks most anywhere, double that if you work it right, and all for only 1000 in MF. It is certainly more in my budget, I will have to revisit DRI again in the future. Thanks for all the information!

[xymox9 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close xymox9]

Well I talked to some resale agents who told me DRI is no longer allowing you to purchase points for conversion. I told her I have seen them and she just said to be careful. She was very nice, I don't think she was lying, but perhaps misinformed? Anyway, DRI is very nice, but I think it is going to have to be the type of place we work up to. After much research, Worldmark seems to give you a very good value for your money... though we are not talking 5 star. Still, 20K points are about 50 cents a piece and that will easily get 2 weeks most anywhere, double that if you work it right, and all for only 1000 in MF. It is certainly more in my budget, I will have to revisit DRI again in the future. Thanks for all the information!

I don't think that's entirely true. In fact, DRI just sold me 2,000 points to convert my resale points to "The Club" last week! However, they failed to tell me that I would be paying an additional $200 per year because I would have points in two different Trusts. Because of this I'm cancelling my purchase. However, I'm pretty sure if I go to a resort in my "home Trust" and purchase points this won't happen. So...I still think you can buy resale and convert later based on my own experience, but you never know I guess...