New Members - Please Introduce Yourself!

[firstimer]

Hi!
My name is Deb and I joined this forum just about a week ago I think. I'm very new to timeshares, having never owned before. My story is, I am a travel RN on assignment in Arizona. I wanted to see Sedona and in looking up lodging on Google I found a room at Los Abrigados for a discounted rate if I would listen to a 90 minute presentation. Well, 90 minutes turned into the most painful 3 1/2 hours I've ever endured, including childbirth. I actually gave them a $500 check to "hold" just to get them to leave me alone and give me my letter of verification needed to get my discount off the room. After I was finally freed I vowed never ever to attend a timeshare presentation again.

On my way home, I stopped to look at a brochure and lo and behold...another fast talking guy and the next thing I know....I'm pulling up to The Ridge on the way out. I walked in still upset at myself and told them they could keep my $25 deposit, but I was going home..just couldn't do the pressure presentation again, no way. Well, these people are VERY good at what they do (aside from the fact that they had a very gullible victim). I agreed to "wait for a manager" to "sign off on the deposit" and wouldn't you know, they sent Mr. "I'm the perfect person to calm down this crazy female" in to talk to me. I agreed to stay and just listen and they promised no more than 90 minutes or I could get up and walk away. The sales rep that talked to me was by far the nicest person on the planet (at least that day any way) and by the time the manager came back to 'sweeten the deal', I was hooked and bought 2500 points for $9000+ @ 14% interest with Diamond Resorts.

The morning after I woke up with the worst case of buyer's remorse and started posting like crazy on a travel nurse forum, which led me here. After reading both here and the travel nurse forum, I decided not to recind and to hang out here and learn as much as I can about timeshares, points, etc. There seemed to be enough positive comments to keep me from changing my mind entirely. Because of my attitude going in to the presentation, there was so much that I didn't find out, I just barely got a tour of the place! I have so much to learn. I may have made a huge mistake in keeping this but you live and learn and I am here to learn. Thanks so much for being here as a resource for those like myself.

Looking forward to reading, learning and getting to know you all.

Deb

[peacox3]

Hi my name is Chris...my husband and I just signed papers on a sample plan from Bluegreen. Definately an impulse decision. I found this site & have been reading the posts about timeshares. Not too sure about next steps in regards to timesharing.

[mshatty]

Originally Posted by firstimer

Hi!
My name is Deb and I joined this forum just about a week ago I think. I'm very new to timeshares, having never owned before. My story is, I am a travel RN on assignment in Arizona. I wanted to see Sedona and in looking up lodging on Google I found a room at Los Abrigados for a discounted rate if I would listen to a 90 minute presentation. Well, 90 minutes turned into the most painful 3 1/2 hours I've ever endured, including childbirth. I actually gave them a $500 check to "hold" just to get them to leave me alone and give me my letter of verification needed to get my discount off the room. After I was finally freed I vowed never ever to attend a timeshare presentation again.

On my way home, I stopped to look at a brochure and lo and behold...another fast talking guy and the next thing I know....I'm pulling up to The Ridge on the way out. I walked in still upset at myself and told them they could keep my $25 deposit, but I was going home..just couldn't do the pressure presentation again, no way. Well, these people are VERY good at what they do (aside from the fact that they had a very gullible victim). I agreed to "wait for a manager" to "sign off on the deposit" and wouldn't you know, they sent Mr. "I'm the perfect person to calm down this crazy female" in to talk to me. I agreed to stay and just listen and they promised no more than 90 minutes or I could get up and walk away. The sales rep that talked to me was by far the nicest person on the planet (at least that day any way) and by the time the manager came back to 'sweeten the deal', I was hooked and bought 2500 points for $9000+ @ 14% interest with Diamond Resorts.

The morning after I woke up with the worst case of buyer's remorse and started posting like crazy on a travel nurse forum, which led me here. After reading both here and the travel nurse forum, I decided not to recind and to hang out here and learn as much as I can about timeshares, points, etc. There seemed to be enough positive comments to keep me from changing my mind entirely. Because of my attitude going in to the presentation, there was so much that I didn't find out, I just barely got a tour of the place! I have so much to learn. I may have made a huge mistake in keeping this but you live and learn and I am here to learn. Thanks so much for being here as a resource for those like myself.

Looking forward to reading, learning and getting to know you all.

Deb

Originally Posted by peacox3

Hi my name is Chris...my husband and I just signed papers on a sample plan from Bluegreen. Definately an impulse decision. I found this site & have been reading the posts about timeshares. Not too sure about next steps in regards to timesharing.

Hi Deb and Chris,

Welcome

Both of you should look at your contracts, especially Deb. There should be a rescission period for you to cancel the contract. Find it and follow the instructions exactly. Then, relax, and stay around here for a while.

You will learn about timesharing, saving lots of $$ by buying resale, and how to use a TS to create unbelievable bargins for your vacations.

Again, read your contracts and see if you can rescind. Normally, you have just a very few days to do it.

[Jya-Ning]

Originally Posted by firstimer

I was hooked and bought 2500 points for $9000+ @ 14% interest with Diamond Resorts.

I decided not to recind and to hang out here and learn as much as I can about timeshares, points, etc.

Deb

Deb:

Welcome. You should try to resind since it has been at least 7 days if it is possible. The deal will be there when you want it. And you may find resale is better deal.

Jya-Ning

[Hoosiergal]

Hello all, my name is Bev, my husband Tom & I have 4 boys ages 20-13. We love to travel - need to do it more. We just bought into Bluegreen last year. We are now silver members. It is something my husband has always wanted to do. Looked years ago but the kids were small & couldn't really afford it & didn't have the time. Now with the boys getting older it easier.
I just need to get used to planning these vacations. We are more of a spur of the moment type so planning has been something new to me.
So far this year, we have stayed at Mountainloft in Gatlinburg in April, I stayed at the Fountains in Orlando in June and we just stayed at Long Creek near Branson just last weekend. It is something you need to see to believe. LOVE IT!!
I have been lurking here probably for about 3-4 months before I finally jumped in today. This board has been very informative.

bev

[vacation_family99]

Aloha,

We started experiencing Bluegreen resorts through my wife's sister back in '03. We enjoyed our first experience in Gatlinburg and the people were very friendly. We liked the condo experience because it felt like we were in a home away from home.

We decided to purchase 2 years ago and had a good experience grabbing up what we considered a good deal from e-bay. We just found out that we actually own a conversion UDI from Christmas Mountain which was a big surprise to us.

We're looking forward to many more memorable family vacations through our timeshare ownership.

Amy

[julieab]

Hi, I'm a deeded owner in DRI's Club. Bought a few years ago when it was sunterra and we -thought- we knew enough about timeshares. We had been to several chains' presenations, but never thought to research on the internet. We really liked Sunterra's point system (which was a new concept then) and they actually had resorts in their system we wanted to go to. However, we broke the cardinal rule and bought from the developer. It is one of the few regrets of my life. We promptly fell on hard times and have been up and down financially since. Barely able to pay our dues and maint fees, we haven't actually used but a couple days since we purchased! We did give an awesome honeymoon/wedding present to my sister though!
Anyway, thanks to forums like these, I'm finally learning how to make the most of our purchase and the "system," and will hopefully learn to love it (and get past my regret).

Julie

[revfred]

Greetings all,
I am a newb and havn't purchased yet. I'm getting married in a couple of months and my fiance has an invite to go visit Wyndham in Orlando. I have read enough to know we don't want to bother. However we do want to know how to get started. So someone point me in the right direction so I can understand all this stuff about weeks and points and RCI. Thanks a bunch!

Fred

[tonyg]

Hi Fred:
Just peruse the General Timesharing forum and practice saying no. You might want to look at what Wyndham points are selling for on ebay. Telling the salesman you can buy the same thing for much less than half the price will take the wind out of his/her sails. And remember everything they say will be only partial truths- if even true at all.

[freewheelin01]

Hello all! My name is Julie and my hubby is David. I have been reading and posting here for about 2 months, but never officially introduced myself.

Purchased 3 weeks off Ebay back in April - before I found this site - but didn't pay more than $200 total for all 3 combined, so even if they end up being dogs - I can't complain! Got a Michigan week, a Rhode Island week & european week just for trading. At least I didn't purchase from the developers.

Did pick up one more week/points in Branson after reading/researching - that too was dirt cheap, but I think it will trade better than the others. Now I must STOP looking at Ebay!!

Biggest frustration so far has been closings...why does this take so l-o-n-g!!
Finally got one closed and recognized by the resort last week. Second one is recognized by the resort and they are finishing up the deed transfer. Who knows when the 3rd will be finished...issues with the county deed transfer. And the 4th one is moving along nicely (what a surprise - purchased last and fastest so far!)

Next hurdle is signing up for II and/or RCI. Thanks for all your good advice!