We've purchased both direct and through the Timeshare Store, and strongly recommend the Timeshare Store. Although we have had individual agents on various transactions, everyone we've ever contacted at TTS has been eager to help and thoroughly professional.
In addition, prospective buyers should realize that when they purchase resale (from
any broker) they are buying in one of the most tightly controlled, heavily-regulated real estate markets in the United States. The resale brokers operate under exactly the same laws and standards as
DVC. And in many cases, the resale brokers they are dealing with have been in business LONGER than DVC...so they are well-established, successful businesses with excellent reputations.
You're much safer dealing with most resale brokers than you would be buying direct from many timeshare companies, including a small, but growing number of DVC timeshare salesmen. DVC is pretty ethical as a company, but not all of their sales personnel are.
As far as direct vs. resale,
I would have a very difficult time trying to justify a direct purchase from DVC unless a purchaser just
HAD to have ownership in a property where there were no resale contracts available (VGC, and Aulani).
The price differences are simply too great, and there is too much inventory available through resale for me to even consider buying direct. If a prospective buyer can't find what they want immediately in this market, I'm sure they can if they exercise just a little patience.
DVC is a big luxury purchase - and an even bigger financial committment, if you consider the costs of the trips you're planning on taking. It's a great program, but nothing to rush into and nothing to take the easy, convenient path to. Take your time, do your homework, and be a smart consumer.