Buyer's Remorse???

[bradpga]

I am a brand spanking new member (closed the deal this morning). I bought into SSR for 150 points. We are actually going there in 2 weeks (bought in sigh unseen). While I am VERY excited about owning this time share and looking forward to many great trips, what is this sick nagging feeling I have??? Writing that check for $13,500.00 hurt a good bit!!! I keep telling myself that it was an investment ( I know this is not the intent according to Disney). But seriously, if I ever decide to sell out 5-10-20 years from now I WILL get something in return (possibly make $$$). Anyone else get that uneasy feeling at first. I really hope the second I step foot on my Home Away from Home (SSR) I am going to feel relieved and thankful I did it. Looking for reassurance.......thanks
Oh--- I have two small kids so I like to think I did this for them and there future as well but it sure seems like maybe I should have put that money into a retirement or education fund.

 

[Sarnia]

I think it's pretty normal to feel that way when you spend a large amount of money. Especially when you've bought sight unseen.

We originally bought 320 points, then did an add-on to bring us up to 450, all sight unseen, so I have to admit I felt the same way as you do. However, when we went to SSR for the first time I felt completely at ease with it, and have never regretted it for a minute since.

Hopefully you will find that the good times and memories from being able to take your kids to Disney will be far more valuable to both you and your children than investing the money elsewhere.

 

[Daitcher]

It is normal to feel this way after most large purchases. DVC isn't an investment so don't look at it that way. It is really a pre-paid vacation plan. Many feel they "own a piece of the magic". I don't see it that way either, the only thing you get is the right to vacation for (in your case) another 47-48 years. I'm sure these feelings will fade after your first trip home. Now if you depleted your savings with this purchase or decided to not start a college fund with this money, well then you might have some reason to be nervous. Good news is your SSR contract will likely hold value for the next 15 years. Enjoy your membership and all the magical trips.


DAVE

 

[wordzylady]

We had the same feeling after we purchased in 2001. The feeling went away and never came back as soon as we walked in our room to start our first vacation home!! Hope you love it!!

 

[jimmytammy]

Ditto for us...the same feeling. We bought site unseen, and had that feeling for almost a year, since that was our first planned trip. As soon as we saw WL and our room, no more doubts. Look at it like this, you will be getting the anxiety out of the way early on, that way you can enjoy your membership that much sooner.

And SSR is a wonderful resort. We stayed there back in Jan.05 and really enjoyed it. Thats the great thing about being a member, so many places to stay, and so many years to enjoy them! We are looking forward to trying them all.

 

[krystagali]

Oh, I know that feeling all too well. DH used our wedding gift money to buy 250 points @ BCV. We are still paying it off and will be done next year. It killed us to spend that money initially, but when I can call DVC and reserve a room much better than anywhere else on property and I don't have to put out a dime....it is the best feeling in the world

We just traded in our points for 2006 and part of 2007 to go on the 7 day Eastern Carribe cruise. So, we, a family of 4, are going on the 7 day cruise, in a category 8, without paying a dime to the cruise line (just $75 to switch from DVC points to Ressie points)...i think a pretty good deal.

Once you go, you will see that you've made a good choice. (also, we feel it "forces us" to take a vacation every year. and in my book, that's a good thing)

 

[TinkGirl]

We went through the same feelings. We bought DVC January 2005. We had talked about buying a time share for the last few years. Well, after visiting Disney four times in the last five years and Hilton Head nearly every summer, we knew that DVC was perfect for us--lots of flexibility and the right vacation locations. We bought 225 points and still wondered if we had done the right thing for our family. I drive a 1995 Nissan Quest, and could have bought a new vehicle instead. Fast forward to Jan. 2006 when we got our first "welcome home" at SSR. We had the best vacation ever and we know we'll be back to try out BWV in June. BTW we loved SSR--it's a beautiful resort.

 

[offtheice]

I am a brand spanking new member (closed the deal this morning). I bought into SSR for 150 points. We are actually going there in 2 weeks (bought in sigh unseen). While I am VERY excited about owning this time share and looking forward to many great trips, what is this sick nagging feeling I have??? Writing that check for $13,500.00 hurt a good bit!!! I keep telling myself that it was an investment ( I know this is not the intent according to Disney). But seriously, if I ever decide to sell out 5-10-20 years from now I WILL get something in return (possibly make $$$). Anyone else get that uneasy feeling at first. I really hope the second I step foot on my Home Away from Home (SSR) I am going to feel relieved and thankful I did it. Looking for reassurance.......thanks
Oh--- I have two small kids so I like to think I did this for them and there future as well but it sure seems like maybe I should have put that money into a retirement or education fund.

If you bought in for the investment, then you just spent 13,000 for no reason. If you wrote a ck 13,000 for one of the greatest places on the earth to take your kids , grandkids and so on for the next 54 yrs, money was just well spent.. DVC is a vacation club, not a timeshare..

 

[Brer_Mike]

well to be honest i sell cars, and everyday i see people spend over 40,000 dollars on a car thats gonnna do nothing but cost them and lose money....when you consider how much dvc is, and look at resale prices....i hoped right on it. i also looked at what i spend on my average dis vacation....this was by far no comparison....and me personally i dont believe they will sell dvc forever, so i think this is something that will be a big deal in years to come

 

[dvc-NE]

Bradpga: The uneasy feeling you have can be relieved by the fact the DVC offers escape hatches. If the situation ever gets to the point that you wish you did not buy, you can always sell. The Timeshare Store will be glad to help.
Daitcher said it best, it is a pre-paid vacation plan, not an investment. One of the good aspects about DVC is you can easily bail if need be. That should make you feel better. Matt

 

[Zbridget]

We also bought SSR sight, unseen last spring after speaking with a happy family member, and reading all the happy DVCers here, I knew I wanted it for my family. I also had that sick, "I can'tbelievehowmuchIspent" feeling for several months afterward.

We just came back 2 weeks ago and had a wonderful time. We stayed in a 2br villa, we were able to invite my parents to stay with us. We ate breakfast there every day, had a place to wash our clothes, and had a nice "living room" to unwind in at night. At the end of our week, we checked our room charges, and there were none, we owed no money, no charges going to our credit card. It was so worth it, I was suprised at how much our vacation didn't cost.

It was my daughter's 4th birthday, and her first time there. She loved it, and cannot wait to go back to the "pink house" that we stayed at in SSR.

We plan on going back at Christmastime, and maybe invite my brother's family. All we need to pay for is airfare, park tix and fun stuff. Any buyers remorse has vanished. I know we did the right thing!

 

[LUVDSNYLND31]

Just signed up for SSR yesterday. Looking forward to having any doubts erased during our first trip as well!!

BTW-How do I put the SSR logo in my signature?

 

[TreesyB]

I think if you ever had to book a room at the last minute, kicking yourself wishing you had planned earlier, and paid $400 just for one room (and it was the last cheap room they could find you), then I think you would look around and think, wow! I did the right thing!

 

[bigsmooth]

I got burnt once previously buying into another timeshare and had instand buyer's remosre. So going into DVC, I did the over zealous research, checked the resale marked and even scheduled our DVC tour the day we were flying back home so there was no time possible to make a decision that day. I loved the fact thaty our guide did not care we were short on time, gave us the tour anyways and told us to call her when we were ready. I was back two months later for a trade show at the Dolphin when we called her back and bought. No regrets. I like the lack of the hard sale at DVC (at least compared to other timeshare companies).

 

[willy39]

I also just bought in on Saturday. Actually, I am still waiting for the papers to come in the mail for me to officially sign up. I am really excited because I think we will be going back at the end of August. The only thing that worries me is the additional costs for airfare and park tickets....and food. I did the Disney Dining Plan this last time and we ate like kings. I doubt I will be able to afford that every trip. Does anyone know of good and cheap places to eat for DVC members?

 

[sagwanamu]

I also just bought in on Saturday. Actually, I am still waiting for the papers to come in the mail for me to officially sign up. I am really excited because I think we will be going back at the end of August. The only thing that worries me is the additional costs for airfare and park tickets....and food. I did the Disney Dining Plan this last time and we ate like kings. I doubt I will be able to afford that every trip. Does anyone know of good and cheap places to eat for DVC members?

"Home" (actually your villa). You can have groceries delievered to your room and cook it yourself. Having a breakfast in your room saves a bundle and saves time. If you eat dinner in your room saves even more...

that's what we did in our last trip with my familes (12 of us). Having about $100 worth of grocery for breakfast saved hundreds of dollars eating out every breakfast.

 

[doombuggy]

I can understand like the rest of the folks here. I have wanted to buy into DVC for quite some time, but since I moved here in July 2004, I felt it was not worth it for me. My experiences in trying to buy a home last Spring & Summer really soured me (OK, it was probably the worst time in 40 years to try to buy a home!). Now that I have been thinking of moving back to PA, I have spoken to a vaction guide about the DVC, and have very serious interest in purchasing. Since I won't be buying a home in the near future...

My dad & his wife were here last week, and on their last day, they went to the sales center over at the Boardwalk. They got very jazzed about it (something they poopoo'd for years) and want to buy too. This really suprised me, since they already own two timeshares here in the area! They want to sell their interest in Hilton Grand Vactions (which they will probably do at a loss, but dad says tax write off) and buy DVC. They love Saratoga Springs, and would also be interested in HH or Vero to visit.

I just wanted to post this - here you have a couple in their late 50s who are a bit Disney'd out, but are still looking to buy DVC for the benefits it can offer.

PS: Their timeshare in Kissimmee is also with II. They have "flipped" their week several times since they purchased it in 1989 and have never had a problem going to other resorts.

 

[Scotch]

They want to sell their interest in Hilton Grand Vactions (which they will probably do at a loss, but dad says tax write off) and buy DVC.

Unless your folks' usage of their timeshare qualifies under the stringent business useage guidelines, a loss on a timeshare sale is considered a "personal" loss (not like an investment loss) and no tax write off is permitted. See, for example, this TUG article written by long time TUG member who is also a CPA. See, also this recent thread on TUG BBS.

 

[krystagali]

I also just bought in on Saturday. Actually, I am still waiting for the papers to come in the mail for me to officially sign up. I am really excited because I think we will be going back at the end of August. The only thing that worries me is the additional costs for airfare and park tickets....and food. I did the Disney Dining Plan this last time and we ate like kings. I doubt I will be able to afford that every trip. Does anyone know of good and cheap places to eat for DVC members?

DVC members get a discount at certain restaurants but I don't remember which ones. They change from time to time. You can find out what your "Park Perks" are at the dvcmember website.

 

[bdb7607]

To the OP - your buyers remorse will disappear at your first vacation....however, it will re-appear in the realization that you should have bought more points

That's what happened to us....