Ok, forget yearly costs, the "up front cost" divided over the years. I'm sure I'm wrong, but we travel a lot and have researched time shares many times. We also have several friends who got involved in them. I just don't see the benefit. I know more people trying to get rid of them (many for one dollar) than anyone I know trying to buy one. Besides, if you go online there are thousands of these things for next to nothing or free.
There's an added cost on top of what you've already paid as a member, every time you stay, which makes it not a true timeshare.
Several factors to consider, we bought our membership from a member so we paid a lot less than face value, with the referral credits and the reduced room rate, the savings for us are well worth it. We arent restricted to certain weeks we can go any week we wish.
I'm sure you're right. I have spoken to "members" on what they paid for the week including air and I know what I paid (granted I got reduced air fare for booking together). But, isn't the total cost one vacation what it's all about? If they added the "up front" fee divided over the years I just don't see any benefit.
Sounds more like a vacation club concept, which in my mind is the evolution of pure timeshares, which did get a bad name.
As members we have four referral weeks (contracts do very with referral weeks), when you give your Referrals away and they go to the sales pitch the member (us) gets $250 just for them to sit there for the pitch. If they buy a membership we get $500. Now we get four referral week every year. So after a few years of giving your Referrals away it pays for your up-front cost. This year we are going for ten days as members and we are saving about $600. I understand that memberships aren't for everyone but it's working for us.
Forget about the referral thing. We would never try to stick friends with something like that. Because I would kill any of my friends who did that to me. The original question remains! How much has anyone saved (dollars, not excuses) dividing up your up front costs over the years, adding that, then adding the flight savings you would have gotten by booking together? If it's such a great deal how much exactly did you save?
Steve, I believe that myself and Chuck Norris do not have a membership. And I know how you feel about Chuck Norris, enough said.
