Darn - Resales prices dropped more?

[DVC Mike]

In my opinion here are some reasons people buy from Disney

And of course your opinion won't be biased?

I don't mean to imply that you are misleading anyone, but you do represent a timeshare resales company, so of course you're going to put resales in the best possible light versus buying direct.

1) The way the product is sold. Disney gives a presentation in under 2 hours, throws incentives at you, shows sense of urgency as resorts might sell out and asks you to buy right then. This doesn't give the purchaser a chance to check out other options.

Speaking only for the presentation given by my guide (Maribella), it was low-key without any pressure at all. Compared to other timeshare presentations, it's like they're presenting their product but not saying you're an idiot if you don't buy now.

2) If someone does asks about resales the guide doesn't encourage them to check out resales and typically will tell them that Disney buys most contracts back. I totally understand why they say this as trained to do so

Of course the DVC guide doesn't encourage them to buy resale! What kind of successful sales person would do that?

3) I also think that some people still don't trust buying from someone not Disney even though thousands upon thousands have done so over the years.

I think that many folks would probably not feel comfortable buying a timeshare from other companies that don't have the high brand comfort and trust that Disney has established, so I believe having the Disney name attached to DVC is a selling point.

I believe the #1 reason that most people buy direct from Disney is that they just don't know about the resales market.

I believe the #2 reason is the speed and convenience of buying direct.

 

[nunzia]

For me, who bought in initially at reasale and had to pay closing costs, and now have all my add ons closing cost free, that is a big consideration on if I would go resale or direct through Disney if I decide to add on again. Plus, I have my use year and don't want to jusggle a second. It is hard to find the perfect fit resale.

 

[Lesli54]

We bought both times through Disney. When we were looking to add on the second contract, it was very difficult to find a resale that had the UY and the number of points at the resort that we were looking. It's not always about the pressure from Disney or the lack of knowing about resale. Much of it is about the timing and availability.

If a resale came up that fit our needs, we would definitely look into it further as we would love to add on more.

 

[DVC Mike]

For me, who bought in initially at reasale and had to pay closing costs, and now have all my add ons closing cost free, that is a big consideration on if I would go resale or direct through Disney if I decide to add on again. Plus, I have my use year and don't want to jusggle a second. It is hard to find the perfect fit resale.

We bought both times through Disney. When we were looking to add on the second contract, it was very difficult to find a resale that had the UY and the number of points at the resort that we were looking. It's not always about the pressure from Disney or the lack of knowing about resale. Much of it is about the timing and availability.

Concerning add-ons, many DVC members discover the resale market after their initial buy-in, yet still add-on through DVC instead of the resale market.

They do so because they can get the exact number of points they want in their current UY, and get the points almost immediately.

 

[Tamar]

A few years ago we added on a 100 BVW point contract thru resale, and soon after added another 50 pts direct through Disney. The costs per point were within about 30 cents of each other when you looked at the overall deals...the resale was loaded, as was the direct through Disney purchase, so it is an apples-to-apples comparison.

The price per point was lower through resale, but with closing costs it ended up a wash. Not sure if that has changed with the recent drop in resale prices coupled with increases on points bought direct, but that's worth looking at.

 

[dbs1228]

Bottom line do the math and what works for you personally.

We bought direct BLT 160 points and did not know about resale. After research (and knowing we wanted SSR for the THV) we easily found a resale SSR 160 points all 2009, 2010 and 2011 points MF for 2009 already paid and same UY. I guess we were lucky. We saved 4100.00 by buying resale for this contract. On another note we wanted another 100 points for BLT and found a resale contract for 100.00 per point (way better then DVC) BUT once I ran the numbers with closing fees no 2009 points and having to play the waiting game and different UY we decided the savings of 200.00 was just not worth it! We added on direct and are very happy with all purchases, and hopefully done for a long time!

 

[Anthony1971]

I would say as little as 3 years ago or maybe even less there was not much savings to buy resale. Most people would save 5-10 a point when all fees were factored in, however when you added in DVC direct advantages like deffered maint. fees and current years points and maybe even developer points you woud drop to 0 if not making out better.

 

[hellerjw]

The price per point was lower through resale, but with closing costs it ended up a wash. Not sure if that has changed with the recent drop in resale prices coupled with increases on points bought direct, but that's worth looking at.

I think this is still the case with small add-ons. We recently wanted to do a small add-on at HHI and had trouble finding small contracts on the resale market, particularly with our existing UY. We then decided that having another UY wasn't a big deal and tried looking across several Spring/Summer UYs, but still found little available below 100 pts. The ones we did find were either stripped or the savings were eaten up by closing costs (HHI has some of the highest closing costs of any DVC resort) and maintenance fees on existing ponts. We decided to do a 100 pt add-on direct and chose a UY that hadn't past yet so we would get the 2009 pts. We also split the add-on into two 50 pt. contracts in case we ever wanted to sell them off. So for us going the direct route made the most sense and was extremely fast and painless.

 

[2BoysMom]

HI, I'm back with a couple of more questions:

1) We normally travel every May to WDW and either Oct or Dec. depending upon the year. What would be your recommendations for UY? This is one area that is confusing for me.

2) Also, we had a DVC tour sometime in 2009 or 2008, (before either BLT or AKV were finished, we viewed a model at SSR). We weren't madly in love with our DVC rep. If we went back this year, would we have to go with the same person, or could we get another rep?

Thank you for all of your input so far. You have no idea how much it helps.

 

[bookwormde]

April or Sept UY

boowkormde

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

HI, I'm back with a couple of more questions:

1) We normally travel every May to WDW and either Oct or Dec. depending upon the year. What would be your recommendations for UY? This is one area that is confusing for me.

2) Also, we had a DVC tour sometime in 2009 or 2008, (before either BLT or AKV were finished, we viewed a model at SSR). We weren't madly in love with our DVC rep. If we went back this year, would we have to go with the same person, or could we get another rep?

Thank you for all of your input so far. You have no idea how much it helps.

1) Those are the main times we travel. We started with an Oct UY which was just perfect. Since then we've also picked up an Apr which also works.

2)You can request a different rep should you wish.

 

[2BoysMom]

April or Sept UY

boowkormde

1) Those are the main times we travel. We started with an Oct UY which was just perfect. Since then we've also picked up an Apr which also works.

Could the two of you elaborate on why you chose those months for me? I would like to be able to explain it to DH, as best as I can.

Thanks,
Donna

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Could the two of you elaborate on why you chose those months for me? I would like to be able to explain it to DH, as best as I can.

Thanks,
Donna

UY is most important in the event you ever have to cancel a trip. It is best to travel in the beginning of your UY in case of cancellation. That way, if you used banked or borrowed points you'll have time to rebook before the points would expire at the end of your UY. Or, if they are current points you want to be able to still bank points if you aren't going to be able to travel before the end of your UY.

For an Oct UY the banking deadline is May 31st. So for Oct or Dec trips you'll have 10-11 months to try and use any points or else lots of time to bank if you cancelled. Even for May travel you'd still be able to bank. It's similar for an Apr. UY. If you had to cancel a May trip you'd have 10 or so months to use any points. And the banking deadline is Nov 30th so you're still good for Oct or Dec trips. (Dec b/c you would need to be cancelling in Nov or the points would go into holding). In your case Sept UY would also work and has a Apr 30 banking deadline. There aren't any May UY's but if there were that would have worked as well.

 

[kristenrice]

I think this is still the case with small add-ons. We recently wanted to do a small add-on at HHI and had trouble finding small contracts on the resale market, particularly with our existing UY. We then decided that having another UY wasn't a big deal and tried looking across several Spring/Summer UYs, but still found little available below 100 pts. The ones we did find were either stripped or the savings were eaten up by closing costs (HHI has some of the highest closing costs of any DVC resort) and maintenance fees on existing ponts. We decided to do a 100 pt add-on direct and chose a UY that hadn't past yet so we would get the 2009 pts. We also split the add-on into two 50 pt. contracts in case we ever wanted to sell them off. So for us going the direct route made the most sense and was extremely fast and painless.

This is the same situation we are in. I desperately want to add on at HHI so that we can take a vacation there every third year. We have AKV points to do WDW two out of three so HHI would be the "off" year. Therefore, we'd only need about 50-75 points to add on. With Disney selling them for $80/point, it is much easier to go with them. The closing costs for a resale are about $500 so that amounts to another $6-$10 per point. When it all gets figured in, it would only save us about $600 to buy a resale. It is FAR more convenient to call my guide and tell her to do the add on...actually, it is probably a little TOO convenient. Most of the smaller (<100 points) HHI contracts are snapped up before the sun sets so it would require precise timing to snag one via resale. Then, we'd have to wait for ROFR and such before we could use our points.

However, all of my addonitis has to wait until we actually take a trip to HHI. DH has convinced me that we probably should not buy an add on until we've stayed there and at least know that we'll like it.

 

[bookwormde]

The easy rule is not to pick UY that you travel in the 3 preceeding months, since if you cancel you can not bank.

bookwormde

 

[Jason@dvcstore]

Disney's sales process is a exercise in human psychology. They know exactly what to say, what to do, and even what color to paint the sales center to guarantee the highest close rate possible.

Bill

Sounds like a Vegas casino. The casino knows how to decorate to keep you in there for as long as possible.

Jason

 

[Jason@dvcstore]

I am sure some sellers are not selling by choice.

I would agree. Most sellers are selling because of divorce, death, financial issue or have stopped vacationing to Disney.

Jason

 

[Jason@dvcstore]

Speaking only for the presentation given by my guide (Maribella), it was low-key without any pressure at all. Compared to other timeshare presentations, it's like they're presenting their product but not saying you're an idiot if you don't buy now.
Of course the DVC guide doesn't encourage them to buy resale! What kind of successful sales person would do that?

I guess my point is that this product needs professionally trained sales associates to be successful. They are trained so the process doesn't feel like they are pressuring.

I guess it would be interesting to see what would happen if this product could just be placed on the shelfs at Costco and people could simply pick resort, points and use year right there. They buy it and then Costco gives them 1 year to return if they don't want.

Jason

Jason

 

[brianbyard]

I just got ROFR'd today on a 100 point BCV contract at $80. I was bummed!

 

[DVC Mike]

I guess my point is that this product needs professionally trained sales associates to be successful. They are trained so the process doesn't feel like they are pressuring.

I guess it would be interesting to see what would happen if this product could just be placed on the shelfs at Costco and people could simply pick resort, points and use year right there. They buy it and then Costco gives them 1 year to return if they don't want.

I don't think anybody should buy a timeshare "off the shelf", so to speak. It's an important decision and you need a professionally trained sales guide to explain it and answer the numerous questions that will pop up.