posted 04-07-2005 11:16               

A friend is thinking of attempting to sell his week ownership.
A company by the name of Timeshare Now - Rent to Own www.info.RTOtimeshare.com has contacted him saying for an upfront fee of $700 they can sell his timeshare for (thousands more than I believe that ever can) and if they don't do it for this price within 90 days, they'll refund him the $700 plus another $700. They also have claimed to be able to sell his Fairfield points for about 20K more paid for them from the developer. While I'd like to see him get as much as possible for his holdings, my experience has told me that the prices references by this company are vastly and wildly inflated.

Has anyone had dealing with or know anything about
TimeshareNow based at 4700 140th Avenue, Suite 208, Clearwater, FL. (We will be in touch with the attorney general so that base is covered for anyone wishing to suggest that.)

All comments and information will be passed along and greatly appreciated.

Moderator, please feel free to reword this if you feel necessary. Readers - please do NOT contact me about purchasing these TS holdings. This is NOT a veiled ad, just information seeking about this company.

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posted 04-07-2005 11:25               

eBay and a zillion other sites require just a few bucks to list and sell.

Spend no more than $15 - $70 and list in the right places and you will be flooded with offers.

Well, if you are asking for a realistic price.

posted 04-07-2005 11:41               

It's all about supply and demand. If they really had throngs of buyers who were willing to pay 20K more than your unit is worth, they would charge the buyer a fee for finding you, not the other way around. In fact, they might even pay you for listing with them.

posted 04-07-2005 13:09               

Bottom line: If your friend pays an upfront fee after listening to your expert TUG-sourced advice, he deserves the fraudulent loss of his money that will result!

posted 04-07-2005 15:03               

I'm wondering if anyone has ever had any dealings with THIS particular compnay - buying, renting, TS tours, selling - and your experience.

Thanks so much. Hopefully my friend will listen to YOU!!

posted 04-07-2005 15:18               

The fact that none of us has dealt with this one by no way diminishes our advice.

As stated earlier, the unwavering rule of NEVER, EVER paying and upfront fee applies as a universal rule, period.

Anyone that knowingly ignores our sage advice deserves to be parted from their $700.

fwiw, Greg

quote:

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Originally posted by skylerlee:
Thanks to those who have already responded.
I don't mean to sound ungrateful for your thoughts or advice,
but let me say that "I" would never pay upfront fees for sellig, etc. and I'm fully aware of ebay/other 'do it yourself' rental sites, etc.

I'm wondering if anyone has ever had any dealings with THIS particular compnay - buying, renting, TS tours, selling - and your experience.

Thanks so much. Hopefully my friend will listen to YOU!!

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posted 04-07-2005 15:24               

A Note of Warning: once we post your telephone number and/or email address on RAVC's web site, or any other public site, you risk getting calls from timeshare salesmen or other resale companies who will want to sell your membership for you. Beware if their promises are too good to be true and if they ask for an upfront fee. For further information regarding timeshare resale, you may want to visit the Interval Resale Guidelines published by the American Resort Development Association.

From the Lawai Beach Resorts site:

*Watch Out for Resale Scams*

Companies Take Advantage of Owners Wanting to Sell
We're hearing more and more stories of owners who have been taken advantage of by unscrupulous con artists calling themselves timeshare resale agents. Here's the skinny: an owner is convinced by phone or mail that the "resale company" can sell their timeshare quickly, but it costs $500 up-front to list the property, or they require an "appraisal fee." When an owner tries to contact the company to find out the status of their supposed listing, they find the phone is constantly busy, they can't talk to a live body, or the line has been disconnected.

A real estate agent must be licensed in the State of Hawaii and must be specifically licensed to sell timeshares. Legitimate companies will not require any upfront fees--you don't pay anything until your unit is sold!

What can you do if this has happened to you? Notify the Attorney General and the Better Business Bureau in the state in which that office does business.

fwiw, Greg

posted 04-07-2005 20:46               

Deal: list for $495, $700, $3100 (in one case) and if not sold within 90 days, he'll keep marketing your property (rigth!)and if you sell or anyone else sells it - supposedly at ANY price - he'll refund double your upfront fee. Now, to me, that simply make no common sense. I could make a fast grand by 'selling' it after 90 days to my brother for a dollar - right. (I 'know' the answer, just want the take of others on it. Oh yes, and if not sold within 90 days at price he establishes, he'll give you a 5 day cruise. One option for sale is that he takes your timeshare,
rents it to prospective customers, and that's what gets them wrapped up into the 'emotional' buy. Talking to him.....I called and asked about selling one of my timeshares.....but got really reprimanded about two years ago for a very similiar post as this.....and when the dust settled......months later....the TS seller who STRONLY defended himself here and TUG members/moderators who chastized me........were totally wrong.
He never did produce a buyer. Anyhow, I'm not here to promote arguments/debates, etc. Just wanted to report what I found out when I called asking how the procedure to sell one of my timeshares via this company. I supposedly talked to the 'inventory manager'....and wondered if it was a one man/home office/laptop operation, although the web site looks sort of ah......impressive? Or it that just?

BTW, any person who says 'OK' after every sentence is automatically a red flag to me. LOL.......ok?

I'd like to give the principal's name and web address of the company here, but not sure if that's kosher or permitted.
Moderators?

Thanks for all of our comments. I just don't want to see my friend make a mistake and put good money out for naught, but
don't want him to rely on my opinion alone.

Ruth

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Ruth

posted 04-07-2005 21:12               

quote:

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Originally posted by skylerlee:
…
Thanks for all of our comments. I just don't want to see my friend make a mistake and put good money out for naught, but
don't want him to rely on my opinion alone.

Ruth

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Ruth -

All you can do is give your friend information and a warning. You're a friend, not a mother. You can't prevent him from doing something dumb and you can't force him to take your advice.

Pass on the information you've gotten here. Give him the warning to never pay an upfront fee. Tell him clearly that it's a scam. And then love him enough to let him make hiso wn decision.

My wife and I one area where we come into conflict occasionally. She loves the kids too much to see them hurt. I love them enough to let them hurt. I guess it balances out.

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Steve Nelson

posted 04-07-2005 21:13               

All he/she needs to know is this. I just did a search on their web site for a Florida 2 bedroom, 2 bath timeshare. It came back with four Westgate Lakes units, along with 32 others, ranging from "only" $9K to $37,500 (that is NOT a typo!) Now since there are 2 of those units on eBay right now - one at $2000 and another at $10K and neither has a single bid - why would anyone buy the ones offered on the Timeshare Now site? It would be throwing $700 more down the sewer to list with this group. If they do so anyway you can feel good that you did the best you could to protect them from a sure loss of their money.

posted 04-07-2005 21:31               

And I'm not trying to function as his 'mother'.
I just want
1) For my friend - 'friend' and hence why I am posting here - to see that this is not merely MY opinion, but the wise advise of the MANY SEASONED and completely knowledgeable TS owners/moderators here......the best of the best for information!!
2) Was hoping someone who had personal experience with this company might give their experience.......but then I guess that would be like asking who gave their life savings to that nice man who was peddling stocks that would give a 500% return in 6 months, eh?

And yet, amidst all of this nonsense and craziness and fraud, I have found a MULTITUDE of folks (renters and sellers alike) whose word is STILL their BOND....even in this day and age.
And that's a most heartening thing.

(Tonight I lost my cell phone at the mall. I was sure it was 'gone'. Two men who had found it in the parking lot had come into the store and were actively looking to find it's owner. THEY were so happy to find me and identified me becaue I was strolling along looking at only the floor. The one guy said he knew it had to be me!! Ain't life's small blessings great!)