Always like to go with the "original"

[JimMIA]

This is all such great info. Thank you everyone for the replies. I think there is a comfort level in buying direct, and knowing that all my questions are answered and such. Is this same in buying resale?

Well...there's answered -- and then there is answered fully, objectively, and truthfully by someone who has no vested interest in the outcome. All answers are NOT created equal.

And not only that, but answered fully, objectively, and truthfully by a variety of posters who have different points of view. Very often here on the DIS, you will find points of view that are relevant to your situation, and others that are not. Also, very often here posters will bring up aspects of a question that you have never even thought of -- that is very valuable.

A DVC timeshare salesperson's point of view is always going to be limited to telling you what you want to hear in order to get the sale, and even when they tell you the truth what they're making a big deal about may not apply to your family.

From any timeshare salesperson, you are only going to get answers which either minimize any concerns you have or put their product in the best possible light (and I'm being very generous here). You are never going to get an objective - "Here are the real pro's and con's" - answer from any timeshare salesperson...and DVC folks are no different in that regard. Giving you an objective point of view is not their job; their job is to sell you a timeshare.

DVC sales personnel are better about avoiding blatant lies than other timeshare salespeople, but it is a matter of degree, not kind. Any time you speak to someone selling timeshares, you have to really be on your toes.

We all have our biases here on the DIS too, but in these discussions you will find a LOT more accurate information than you could ever hope to get from a timeshare salesman.

 

[JimMIA]

After re-reading my post above, I realize my answer could easily be misunderstood. I was contrasting the information you might receive from a DVC Guide trying to sell you a timeshare to the info you will receive from posters here on the DIS.

Comparing DVC direct information to resale agents information, I have only limited experience -- but my personal experience has been strongly favorable to the resellers.

I have had two purchasing experiences with my DVC guide and four with The Timeshare Store -- the sponsor of this forum. (I have not dealt with any other resellers, so I can't offer any opinions on them.)

All four of my experiences with The Timeshare Store - including one problematic transaction which we withdrew from - have been excellent. Every single person I have spoken to was candid, honest, knowledgeable, and competent.

Many DIS members have had wonderful experiences with their guide, and some of them have established good friendships. My experiences with my guide have not been like that.

In my first experience with my DVC guide, she told me a blatant lie. That's not why I bought resale originally (I bought resale to save $4,000+), but it did give me a more realistic outlook toward her.

In my second experience with my guide, I knew more about the promotion I was using (from here on the DIS) than she did. She messed up the transaction and we had to spend several days getting it straightened out. I haven't spoken to her since, nor will I.

 

[LisaS]

This is all such great info. Thank you everyone for the replies. I think there is a comfort level in buying direct, and knowing that all my questions are answered and such. Is this same in buying resale?

In my first conversation with a DVC guide I was told not to even think about buying on the resale market because Disney buys up every contract via ROFR. Having spent time here reading hundreds of posts, I knew that wasn't even remotely the case. At that point the DVC guide lost all credibility. Several posters here have reported being told the same thing. You will get more complete and accurate information here on the DIS. The same questions come up multiple times a week so just read, read, read! Review threads going back a few weeks or months and you will find just about every question you can think of has been asked and answered multiple times.

Also, once your purchase resale, what happen? I mean, how long before you become a DVC member and you are in the system?

It does take longer to purchase via resale, 6-8 weeks from making an offer to being able to make your first reservation.

 

[dudelydude]

Buying through Disney and buying resale is not the same.

If you buy through Disney at the Preview Center, you get some lemonade, a cookie, maybe some Fast Passes, extra paperwork and a ice cream cone. They used to give you a DVC tote bag, but we didn't get one with our last direct purchase, so I don't know if they still give them out.

Bill

I think the O.P. was asking if the end result was the same. I don't think that anybody would say that the end result isn't the same.

 

[3girlsfun]

I am definitely reading, reading, reading, and as you can tell, asking, asking, asking!

I use to have a roommate that sold timeshares. He was "rich" omg, he had money running out of his ears. That is always what I think of when I think timeshare! (Which I am totally aware is not always the case.) I feel like my guide is being honest, but, I am also realistic, my DH is a salesman! LOL!

I just want to make sure that if we do go the resale route, we are truly getting the exact same thing, and all of my questions will be answered. I am an information fiend, and I am sure I have already driven my guide nutty!

 

[Dean]

I am definitely reading, reading, reading, and as you can tell, asking, asking, asking!

I use to have a roommate that sold timeshares. He was "rich" omg, he had money running out of his ears. That is always what I think of when I think timeshare! (Which I am totally aware is not always the case.) I feel like my guide is being honest, but, I am also realistic, my DH is a salesman! LOL!

I just want to make sure that if we do go the resale route, we are truly getting the exact same thing, and all of my questions will be answered. I am an information fiend, and I am sure I have already driven my guide nutty!

Historically a good timeshare salesperson could easily make $250-300K or more from what I'm told. I doubt even the top DVC sales people make anywhere near that but they get to have a better conscious and they have a more stable and likely less stressful job environment.

 

[JimMIA]

I am definitely reading, reading, reading, and as you can tell, asking, asking, asking!

I use to have a roommate that sold timeshares. He was "rich" omg, he had money running out of his ears. That is always what I think of when I think timeshare! (Which I am totally aware is not always the case.) I feel like my guide is being honest, but, I am also realistic, my DH is a salesman! LOL!

I just want to make sure that if we do go the resale route, we are truly getting the exact same thing, and all of my questions will be answered. I am an information fiend, and I am sure I have already driven my guide nutty!

I think the best way to look at the difference between DVC salespersons and a resale broker is that their positions in the transaction are completely different. An apt comparison would be a mutual fund salesman who works for a fund company and a stockbroker who provides a market for both sellers and buyers.

A DVC salesperson's sole job is to sell you a timeshare directly from Disney. Nothing more, nothing less.

A resale broker's legal and ethical interests are totally different. All of the resale brokers I know of are what is legally called "transaction brokers." Their job is to put buyers and sellers together, represent the interests of both, and facilitate the transaction. Unlike the salesman, a resale broker has legal and ethical obligations to both parties in the transaction.

 

[kristenrice]

I just want to make sure that if we do go the resale route, we are truly getting the exact same thing, and all of my questions will be answered. I am an information fiend, and I am sure I have already driven my guide nutty!

As others have already touched on, your main difference will lie in the details of the particular resale contract.

For example, this resale contract....

Bay Lake Tower-$102/pt. September 50 $5,100.00
Notes: 50 points coming on 9/1/11 and 50 points coming on 9/1/12. Priced at $102 per point.

This is what is called a "stripped" contract. The first UY of points that you would receive would be 2011. You could borrow points for any trip between September 1, 2010 and August 31, 2011, but you are still not getting CURRENT UY points.

Now, if you buy a 50-point contract with a September UY direct from Disney, you would receive 50 points from the current (2009) UY, and 50 points every year after that. Compare that to the resale contract and you are essentially receiving an "additional" 100 points. DVC likes to make it sound like you are getting "bonus" points, but you really aren't. You are getting current points that you can use right away. Disney *should* allow you to bank the 2009 points (even though you are WAY past the banking deadline) which would then expire August 31, 2011.

After September 1, 2011, these two contracts would be identical.

On the flip side, there are the "loaded" resale contracts like this one...

Old Key West-$65/pt. April 220 $14,300.00 220
Notes: 440 points currently available (220 + 220 banked points from 2009 which need to be used by 4/1/11) and 220 points coming on 4/1/11. Priced at $65 per point.

This would be BETTER than buying from Disney. If you buy an April UY from Disney, you are in the 2010 UY. So, you would not get any points from 2009. This contract has ALL of the 2009 points banked already. Whether or not you will need to pay dues on them is completely negotiable.

Bottom line is if you are looking to purchase resale, make sure that you completely understand the contract you are buying. With Disney, it is straightforward. With resale, there can be a lot of differences. The brokers are very helpful and they can explain the details of any contract to you so you can do an "apples to apples" comparison. After you are a card-carrying DVC member, there is NO DIFFERENCE between a resale purchaser and a direct purchaser. You are a DVC Member...period.

FWIW, I did a LOT of research here on the DIS. I had also taken the tour back in 2001 but I thought about taking it again in 2008 when we were in a better position to purchase. I talked to one of the "kiosk" guys and told him that we were seriously thinking about buying, but we were probably going to buy resale since we didn't want the 160-point minimum. He told me not to waste my time looking into resale because "DVC wouldn't consider me a member until I had at least 160 points". I smiled and walked away, knowing full well that I knew more than he did. I didn't take another tour and we bought our 100-point resale contract at AKV 8 months later.