No wonder the MF are so high!!!

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

So if your house needs a new roof do you hire the first guy you called and say yes without even asking how much it is going to cost? Same thing !

First of all, we don't know that the Four Seasons did not shop prices on this mirror. Or, anything else, for that matter. I am in the design industry, and can spend upward of $500.00 on the same type of mirror. In fact, we have.....Different strokes, for different folks. The owners of The Four Seasons are not that interested in keeping the prices down. If they were, they wouldn't own there to begin with. They want top notch quality.

Most people do not look at vacationing the same way as you. They spend a number of weeks a year vacationing, and they want to splurge, and enjoy themselves. You may not realize it, but a $200.00 version of the same mirror, just wouldn't cut it, for the owners of The Four Seasons. And yes, they would notice the difference. I know that I would.

[1950bing Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 1950bing]

" The owners of the Four Seasons are not that interested in keeping the prices down. "
EXACTLY !!!!!!! But you should be!
I know that owners leave money on the table that they could be spending on vacation. Why not pay $300 for the same $500 mirror? I love the nice things too but are not willing to pay inflated prices just because the resort knows I have to by contract.

4lowmfs

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

" The owners of the Four Seasons are not that interested in keeping the prices down. "
EXACTLY !!!!!!! But you should be!
I know that owners leave money on the table that they could be spending on vacation. Why not pay $300 for the same $500 mirror? I love the nice things too but are not willing to pay inflated prices just because the resort knows I have to by contract.

4lowmfs

Again, you are assuming that they paid an inflated price. Personally, I don't think what they paid is unreasonable, for what they got.....But, that's just me.

[barndweller Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close barndweller]

Just trying to find ways to keep costs down. Whats wrong with that?

What the heck do you care what the costs are at Four Seasons? Do you own there? Or at any timeshare for that matter? I thought you advocated renting, not owning. So all you need to do is find a cheapo rental at FSA. Good luck.

[1950bing Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 1950bing]

When I was an owner I was very concerned with my t/s fees. I looked into replacements of various items and with a few phone calls I proved to them
( the resort) that they had paid to much for items which caused my fees to increase. Now, as non-owner I am still interested in what owners are required to pay from a savings viewpoint because costs are overlooked throughout the timeshare indrustry. I feel resorts treat owners as cash cows. If costs can be reduced which will reduce m/f, why is it that owners here are not concerned with cost savings?
It keeps more money in your pocket not theirs. Where would you rather it be ?

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

First of all, we don't know that the Four Seasons did not shop prices on this mirror. Or, anything else, for that matter. I am in the design industry, and can spend upward of $500.00 on the same type of mirror. In fact, we have.....Different strokes, for different folks. The owners of The Four Seasons are not that interested in keeping the prices down. If they were, they wouldn't own there to begin with. They want top notch quality.

... You may not realize it, but a $200.00 version of the same mirror, just wouldn't cut it, for the owners of The Four Seasons. And yes, they would notice the difference. I know that I would.

In terms of managing costs, a $300 mirror, especially if it's bought in quantity at a good discount, could well be a better investment than an $80 version of the same mirror.

Hotels and timeshares and any place with a lot of guest turnover put serious wear-and-tear on these items. If the $80 mirror breaks every five guests and has to be replaced over and over again, it's not too long before the resort has shelled out more than $300 and still has a hunk of junk.

This is clearly a case where it makes sense to pay more for quality.

[Jya-Ning Silver Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close Jya-Ning]

Bing:

Go to the HOA meeting if your house has one, and listen to what they say, watch how they make decision.

The pool, the mirror, the design style, the golf course, the flat screen TV, the cost of the room was there before anyone buys. So once you buy, if you want to maintain to the same level, the fee will be set.

There are all kinds of TS, so you can buy from highest to lowest standard. The question should not be after you buy into the style and say should we lower our standard or should we up our standard.

Most HOA just try to keep the current standard.

Of course, if you are the sole owner, with different live stage, you will have different standard you want to enjoy, to use, or to spend. ANd if owner think it is nessary, he(she) should go attend the HOA meeting for that.

The HOA my home has is up 11%. And I attend their meeting. I look at their process to find a contractor. With the cost of energy, the garbage collection, insurance, unless they want to abandon the public lawn care, I could not see anyway for them to reduce the cost. Of course, if it is my home, I can easily either reduce the plant, or plant nothing, or plant cheap stuff, or try to learn and plant myself but it is common area.

The question should be asked at the time you make decision to buy. Most of the HOA activities can be easily compared to that region. And although quite a few do not know how to running it in the most econmical way, most of them are trying their best to running the resort.

Jya-Ning

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

Ooohh ... a magnified, lighted mirror that would be my worst nightmare.

I would much prefer to be kept in the dark . A mirror with soft focus (like those fuzzy romantic photos) and preferably with an automatic air brush feature to hide the wrinkles, dark circles and all the other things I'm not ready to see yet - now that would be worth at least $300.

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

Ooohh ... a magnified, lighted mirror that would be my worst nightmare.

I would much prefer to be kept in the dark . A mirror with soft focus (like those fuzzy romantic photos) and preferably with an automatic air brush feature to hide the wrinkles, dark circles and all the other things I'm not ready to see yet - now that would be worth at least $300.

Just send me your eyeglasses. I'll sandblast them with a fine grit - just enough to create a slight blurring. Presto - never again will you see those wrinkles, age spots, circles, and sags. If you're married, I bet your hubby will suddenly look better, too. But then, so will the guy sitting at the end of the bar.

Hell, even Frank might look good, then.

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

CarolF

Ooohh ... a magnified, lighted mirror that would be my worst nightmare.

Throw in fluorescent lighting, and we'd all want to kill ourselves.

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

Well, I know I spent a lot of time in front of that FSA mirror. Would I pay 300.00 for it...probably not....did I enjoy it while I was there? Absolutely!

I'll let someone else pay the MF's and I'll just keep exchanging in and enjoying that mirror...and the robes.....and the daily maid service....and the pool service.....it's almost criminal

[Sydney Contributor - Bronze Find all posts View Profile Close Sydney]

Just send me your eyeglasses. I'll sandblast them with a fine grit - just enough to create a slight blurring. Presto - never again will you see those wrinkles, age spots, circles, and sags. If you're married, I bet your hubby will suddenly look better, too. But then, so will the guy sitting at the end.

Hell, even Frank might look good, then.

You can sandblast mine. DH will appreciate it.

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

Ooohh ... a magnified, lighted mirror that would be my worst nightmare.

I would much prefer to be kept in the dark . A mirror with soft focus (like those fuzzy romantic photos) and preferably with an automatic air brush feature to hide the wrinkles, dark circles and all the other things I'm not ready to see yet - now that would be worth at least $300.

And don't forget the slight rosy tint!

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

Just send me your eyeglasses. I'll sandblast them with a fine grit - just enough to create a slight blurring. Presto - never again will you see those wrinkles, age spots, circles, and sags.

A potential new business venture.
Blurred vision: the aging baby boomers best friend