Considering a timeshare at Bonnet Creek

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

Hi everyone,

I listened to the sales pitch for the Bonnet Creek resort and refused to fall for their "one-time" offer. I loved the resort was very interested in the proposal - I just needed more time to consider it. Instead, I opted for the $2k trial package with the option to cancel within 10 days. Since then, I've seen the discounts to be had in the resale market and am now thinking about that.

I understand that if you buy through the resale market, you lose the ability to gain VIP status. What are the advantages you get as a VIP member?

Also, I like vacationing in Orlando and wanted to buy my home resort there. How are the competing companies there, like Sheraton and Marriot? Also, I would like to travel to Las Vegas, LA, DC, NYC, Boston, New Orleans, Hawaii, Miami, Houston, San Francisco, etc. I travel about once a week a year. What programs do you think would be best for me?

[urple2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close urple2]

I'd pass on the trial pkg and get my money back.

There are alot of timeshares in orlando, so you might not need to own there.

I think picking which timeshare family to buy-in is a personal choice based on numerous factors. You might want to spend some time reading on this site and learning about the different ins and outs before purchase.

Good luck!

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

FF resale the way to go dispite the lack of VIP

Wyndham Fairshare Plus, the points system, is a great one and can be purchased very (as in <.02 vs $.15) cheaply resale rather than retail. Yes you most likely give up VIP status but ask yourself if a potential early check in and a free newspaper at your door (you can always pick it up for free) is worth paying $ 25,000 for a week in a 3 bedroom or does $5000 or less for the same number of points sound better (minus the "free" paper and the sometimes early check in).

There may not be too many Bonnet Creek resales yet (although I have seen some and they where in the $.02/point range) but points are points so unless you absolutely want the extra priority (13 months window vs 10 months for non-home resort requests) you don't have to buy your points with a home base at BC to be able to stay there. In fact we have never had a problem getting the resort/date/unit size we wanted at the 8-10 month mark and have gotten some memorable units at the 2-3 month mark using FSP. No VIP or ownership at even the most demanded resorts needed.

We found FSP to be so flexible that it is both confusing and daunting at first to a new owner. But once you learn the system it is a great and low cost way (again using resale - not retail) to travel to well over 100 Wyndham resorts and to gain access to RCI with a "request first" process that most RCI don't get. We highly recommend Wyndham Points as a great multi-resort, points based system that at resale may just be one of the great bargains in all of timesahring. Conversely purchase at retail comes as close to a ripoff as you'll find in legitimate sales. You are guaranteed to lose 70% or more of your retail purchase price the minute the rescind period ends. No way we can recommend Wyndham at retail prices until they do something to raise the value of resale points rather than their current program of purposely devaluing them.

If you can still get out of your preview purchase I would - if not use it but do not buy retail even of you discover you love the system as much as we do. It cannot be repeated enough - buy resale only.

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

Wyndham Fairshare Plus, the points system, is a great one and can be purchased very (as in <.02 vs $.15) cheaply resale rather than retail. Yes you most likely give up VIP status but ask yourself if a potential early check in and a free newspaper at your door (you can always pick it up for free) is worth paying $ 25,000 for a week in a 3 bedroom or does $5000 or less for the same number of points sound better (minus the "free" paper and the sometimes early check in).

There may not be too many Bonnet Creek resales yet (although I have seen some and they where in the $.02/point range) but points are points so unless you absolutely want the extra priority (13 months window vs 10 months for non-home resort requests) you don't have to buy your points with a home base at BC to be able to stay there. In fact we have never had a problem getting the resort/date/unit size we wanted at the 8-10 month mark and have gotten some memorable units at the 2-3 month mark using FSP. No VIP or ownership at even the most demanded resorts needed.

We found FSP to be so flexible that it is both confusing and daunting at first to a new owner. But once you learn the system it is a great and low cost way (again using resale - not retail) to travel to well over 100 Wyndham resorts and to gain access to RCI with a "request first" process that most RCI don't get. We highly recommend Wyndham Points as a great multi-resort, points based system that at resale may just be one of the great bargains in all of timesahring. Conversely purchase at retail comes as close to a ripoff as you'll find in legitimate sales. You are guaranteed to lose 70% or more of your retail purchase price the minute the rescind period ends. No way we can recommend Wyndham at retail prices until they do something to raise the value of resale points rather than their current program of purposely devaluing them.

If you can still get out of your preview purchase I would - if not use it but do not buy retail even of you discover you love the system as much as we do. It cannot be repeated enough - buy resale only.

I have a few questions about your post:

1. Aside from an early check-in and "free newspaper" what other benefits does a VIP member receive?

2. Also, what is Wyndham doing that purposely devalues resale points?

I would like Bonnet Creek to be my home resort since I want to make early reservations close to Disney World. With that being said, I will buy resale. Can you point to the best place to begin my search?

Are there any other considerations I need to make before I buy resale into Wyndham. I've read about making sure all maintenance, tax, etc are current, hiring a broker, and getting title insurance. Should I expect maintenance fees to skyrocket since it is a new resort? Because I own resale points, will Wyndham prevent me from exchanging into their other resorts?

Thanks for all your help!

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

I have a few questions about your post:

1. Aside from an early check-in and "free newspaper" what other benefits does a VIP member receive?

There are some potential housekeeping fees waived, some discounts on points in the 3 months and less reservation period, some resorts have a special check in line for VIP. Some of it nice to have but none of it worth thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars to get.

2. Also, what is Wyndham doing that purposely devalues resale points?

The relatively new policy of not allowing resale purchases to be VIP (they used to be), the negativity you'll hear from sales weasels about resales, the hints (and sometimes outright lies) about how resales are different and won't get this or that or how you'll be penalized as a resale owner. It is classic FUD and nothing more. Except for the VIP baloney, which has little value and isn't really tied to ownership, they can't actually devalue the points bought resale as that is the product they sell. They have to file with the various states and meet all types of regulatory rules so the base value cannot be treated differently no matter how it is obtained. They HATE that so they do their best to discourage resales and thus push prices down. Great for you as a buyer - terrible for those who got sucked into paying them big retail $$ only to have what they paid for devalued by the very company that sold it.

Hopefully someday they will wake up and hit themselves on the head like a V8 ad and say - "What have we done? We are killing our own buyers! We should have a resale program in place like Marriott and others to enhance the resale value and make our retail points a good deal rather than a ripoff!". But, since they are mere dim witted weasels, so far no light bulbs among them and as retail buyers get hosed resale buyers get to clean up. I do think it will end someday but not anytime soon. Take advantage while you can. If they ever wise up the points we're buying today at $.02 or less may be much closer to the $.15 retail - but I sure wouldn't hold my breath for that day. Meanwhile pity the poor folks that actually pay the $.10-.15 on day 8 of their ownership. They can kiss at least 70% of that goodbye as the smiling weasel cashes their check. Ca-Khing! Weasel juice.

I would like Bonnet Creek to be my home resort since I want to make early reservations close to Disney World. With that being said, I will buy resale. Can you point to the best place to begin my search?

There is eBay but there may not be too many BC there yet. You can try Angel Bittle's Yahoo Group - she is a respected reseller that focuses on Wyndham and often can get great deals or find specific resorts for you. Check Red Week and other resale sites and remember to make an offer not believe whatever the asking price is. It is a buyers market second to none.

Are there any other considerations I need to make before I buy resale into Wyndham. I've read about making sure all maintenance, tax, etc are current, hiring a broker, and getting title insurance. Should I expect maintenance fees to skyrocket since it is a new resort? Because I own resale points, will Wyndham prevent me from exchanging into their other resorts?

Thanks for all your help!

If you buy through a broker like Angel she will take care of that type of background work for you. If you buy on eBay or other private seller you should follow up with verification of fee status, clear deed, etc. If you use a good closing service and invest in title insurance you'd be covered.

Good luck. Enjoy your resale points. We sure have liked ours.

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

There are some potential housekeeping fees waived, some discounts on points in the 3 months and less reservation period, some resorts have a special check in line for VIP. Some of it nice to have but none of it worth thousands or even tens of thousands of dollars to get.

Thanks for the clarification. I'm still a bit confused, though.

As a resale points owner, I won't be a part of the FairShare Plus Program (by the way, is that the same thing as the Partners Plus program?).

At the presentation, they showed me all of the other Wyndham properties that would accept my points. I liked the ones in New Orleans, San Diego, Las Vegas, DC, etc. If I purchase resale, will I not be able to stay at these resorts? What additional resorts can I stay at as a FairShare Plus owner?

How does my status as a resale owner affect my ability to book with RCI?

Thanks a lot for the information. I really like the idea of a timeshare with Wyndham but want to know the full picture before purchasing.

Thanks again!

[Arkansas Winger Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Arkansas Winger]

Thanks for the clarification. I'm still a bit confused, though.

As a resale points owner, I won't be a part of the FairShare Plus Program (by the way, is that the same thing as the Partners Plus program?).

At the presentation, they showed me all of the other Wyndham properties that would accept my points. I liked the ones in New Orleans, San Diego, Las Vegas, DC, etc. If I purchase resale, will I not be able to stay at these resorts? What additional resorts can I stay at as a FairShare Plus owner?

How does my status as a resale owner affect my ability to book with RCI?

Thanks a lot for the information. I really like the idea of a timeshare with Wyndham but want to know the full picture before purchasing.

Thanks again!

All of the above is Sales Pitch JUNK.....

1. Buying resale you will be a part of the FairShare Plus program.

2. You will be able to stay at any Wyndham property in the FairShare plus system which you have enough points for and that has vacancy when you want to go. (Not enough points you can alway rent them).

3. You will have an RCI weeks account which will allow you to exchange for available properties in the RCI weeks system.

DON'T BELIEVE ANYTHING THE SALES WEASELS TELL YOU

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

WEASEL ALERT! Lock your doors!

Thanks for the clarification. I'm still a bit confused, though.

As a resale points owner, I won't be a part of the FairShare Plus Program (by the way, is that the same thing as the Partners Plus program?).

Arkansas has it right but just to reinforce his on the mark comments as you seem unsure (thats EXACTLY what the weasels hope will happen) as it does seem unbelievable that the same points can be SO much less resale - but, unlike most things too good to be true, they really are. The exact same points.

Your purchase of a Wyndham property in the points system - retail or resale - makes you a member of Fairshare Plus. Same program, same use rights, same everything except at a much, much lower cost.

Plus Partners is another virtually worthless add-on - even less value than the VIP if that was possible - that is an extra cost and optional above and beyond your Fairshare Plus ownership. And, as is so typical with the sniveling weasel cries of protest otherwise, it is available to resale & retail buyers. What they are "giving" you is a one (or two or at the most three) year prepaid membership. After that you will pay the same rate as a resale buyer would. But it isn't worth it no matter how you get it and certainly not worth thousands of dollars more than resale points. (Do you see a pattern here?)

At the presentation, they showed me all of the other Wyndham properties that would accept my points. I liked the ones in New Orleans, San Diego, Las Vegas, DC, etc. If I purchase resale, will I not be able to stay at these resorts? What additional resorts can I stay at as a FairShare Plus owner?

Get out the Fairshare Plus directory. Every one. Same choices retail or resale. EXACTLY the same choices. Thats the way the system works - the weasels cannot undo that (oh, if they could it would happen in a nano second). Buying retail gets you no more chance of reserving than resale - the points are the same. But, and most weasels forget this part for some reason, you will feel WORSE when your reservation costs you more not because of the points - those will be the same number resale or retail, you pay the same annual fees retail or resale - but because the unit next to you was reserved with points that cost that resale buyer $.01 each and yours, if you got suckered into retail, would have cost $.10 or more Wonder why they forget to tell you that?

How does my status as a resale owner affect my ability to book with RCI?

Not at all. Zero. See the pattern yet?

As Arkansas said "pay no attention to the weasel behind the curtain". Anything they try to say is different about the use rights, ownership rights, choices, options - anything except the silly and ever changing VIP they dreamed up simply to have SOMETHING, anything, to say you can't get at resale, simply isn't true. And heaven help you you actually pay the big dollars to get into VIP - then they start the push to sell you MORE overpriced retail points for the ever higher "values" of VIP - "regular", Gold, Platnum , "Super Sucker" (they haven't unveiled that one yet except in-house to describe those who fall for the VIP nonsense). They raise the point valyues needed and lower the so-called benefits when ever they please. Don't fall for that never ending merry-go-round of expense.

It is really amazing that Wyndham can continue to operate selling this way. As more potential buyers like you discover that there is no difference in resale or retail except the outrageous cost of retail hopefully it will force them to change. But for now you are in the golden age of Wyndham depressed resale prices so take advantage. And sleep well knowing you have outsmarted the weasels. I know it's not tough to do - weasels do not have large brains - but these are weasels specially trained to get your eggs, er, money and they are very good at it. You have the upper hand when you become informed and pay no attention to the weasels whines.

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

It is really amazing that Wyndham can continue to operate selling this way. As more potential buyers like you discover that there is no difference in resale or retail except the outrageous cost of retail hopefully it will force them to change. But for now you are in the golden age of Wyndham depressed resale prices so take advantage.

Thats one thing I don't understand. How can Wyndham keep this up? Won't this hurt us in the long run? If Wyndham can't find people who buy retail, they won't construct any new resorts. On the other hand, they are the largest timeshare company in the country and are posting solid profits.....

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

Thats one thing I don't understand. How can Wyndham keep this up? Won't this hurt us in the long run? If Wyndham can't find people who buy retail, they won't construct any new resorts. On the other hand, they are the largest timeshare company in the country and are posting solid profits.....

If even 10% of the potential buyers knew what was going on with resale - not just with Wyndham but all timeshares - the market for the full priced units would start to dry up. But, so far, the developers hold the information edge and can continue to sell at inflated prices even as the exact same units sit offered for sale on various venues - often for $.25 or less on the dollar - and find no buyers.

You would think the pool of uninformed would have started to dry up by now. But here we see Wyndham, DVC and Marriott in the quality names (just picking a few - I know there are many others) with record sales and profits. Even Wastegate (or Westgate as they prefer to be called) who has owners so dissatisified they are willing to literally GIVE the units away continues not only to sell but to raise the incredibly overpriced (as based on what a free market is willing to pay for the time) retail numbers and they keep selling!

Yes, it hurts in the long run but only if you paid the full fare. if you bought on the resale side you either get a great deal as more and more resorts continue to go up in a system like Wyndham - which has been the case - or, at worst, the building stops and we have to put up with the 100+ we have now. Either way at a few thousand dollars risked plus annual fees the resale buyer has a bargain. Not so with retail.

I really hope they come to their senses and start some sort of plan to raise the resale value of Fairshare Points. If they don't they really do risk the house of cards imploding on retail sales and all they'll have left is the management of the resorts and the annual fees. Maye thats enough - who knows. But right now they are riding high and doing it while selling high and immediately devaluing the buyers purchase. Doesn't seem like a plan to have happy retail buyers long term does it?

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

I have a unit at Bonnet Creek that I need to sell off asap. Its quite a bit of money but still less than buying directly from Fairfield.

If you are interested, drop me a note back.

Thanks!!

[Guest Close Quarterbore]

I have a unit at Bonnet Creek that I need to sell off asap. Its quite a bit of money but still less than buying directly from Fairfield.

If you are interested, drop me a note back.

Thanks!!

You are welcomed to list your unit in the classifieds with more info...

http://www.timeshareforums.com/forums/vbclassified.php

Good Luck!

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

Keep checking ebay. True there are few BC points compared to other locations. In the past 30 days:
154,000 went for 3.3 cents
118,000 at 2.6 cents, ending in 20 minutes
They seem to be going for a little more in the past few months.
Just keep checking. Don't rush, more will come...
Happy hunting!
Marge