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So I have been to lots of timeshare presentations and always enjoyed getting my free 100 bucks but now I have to ask a serious question, What's the catch. This person is asking 800 bucks for enough "points" to have a week in vegas for new years. That seems like a good deal considering the mant. fees are 335. Also, they claim you can trade your vacations an I would assume vegas on a holiday would be in demand? Would you please disuade me from my stupidity. What am I missing?

Also, in this auction, it looks like you could rent the presidential suite for 2 weeks for 2500 dollars a year at peak times?
lots of points

DYS?

Thats about earning 100 bucks not actually buying a timeshare off eBay.

Eh. The first link that you gave is for a biennial timeshare, but you pay the maintenance fees every year, so you are really paying almost $750 in maint fees for every week that you can use it. A quick rate search on the Wyndham website shows that the 1 bedroom room rate is about $150/night with advance purchase, or $1050 a week.

So you can pay at least $1378+335 right now at the current bid price for a ~$300 savings (minus the membership and booking fees) every other year on a hotel in Vegas. I'd pass.

PolarDude said:Does anyone have a timeshare and make a profit renting it out on craigslist, or another site?

It's possible -- know your product, buy resale and rent out during extreme high season like holidays.

borednewb said:Thats about earning 100 bucks not actually buying a timeshare off eBay.

If you read further through the thread that TheGMan linked, or even search in that thread on the term eBay, you'll see that the discussion went well beyond one person's experience and/or how to earn 100 bucks or other prizes. In fact, there are a few posts on others' experiences buying a timeshare on eBay or elsewhere, as well as analysis on the costs of buying, costs of ownership (e.g. maintenance) and even some discussion on whether a timeshare is worth it even if it was free initially.

borednewb said:
>SNIP< What's the catch. >SNIP<

No disrespect intended...if you go the timeshare route, YOU are the catch...

My father had a time share at Hilton Head, SC with a week in prime time. He eventually had to pay someone $500 to take it off his hands. You can swap locations for your vacation but must pay specialfees. Mainttenance fee was always going up plus accessments were becoming routine. Timeshare promised to find renter but in reality this was their last priority and never got it rented out. Even if he did he would of still lost plenty of money because of the assessments and high maintenance fees. Getting rid of a time share is in most cases nearly impossible.

Wow.
We've got two units - one in Key West and one in Sedona. If we choose to visit during the week we have at a location it costs $99. If we don't we can exchange to have time elsewhere, like Kuaui last year ($129 for the week in a 3 bedroom unit 1/2 block from a beach) or Maui the one before that ($99 for two bedroom on a golf course). Paid $7500 for KW 10 years ago. Paid $8500 for Sedona two years ago. Pay about $450 per year (not month) for maintance fees at either location. We had another one on Big Island (near Hilo) from about 12 years ago that we sold and used those funds to purchase Sedona and paid fees in advance for five years. After considering exchanges and the fees, those 12 years cost us about 1K. We got a lot of travel and enjoyment out of that 1K.

We don't view as an investment, but rather a way to have enjoyable vacations at nice places without a lot of hassles.

Every TS owner has their own reasons, their own stories and their own experiences. In true FW fashion, if you are thinking TS, then research. If you are thinking of buying, attend the presentations to listen. Ask your questions. And then say no. And as you are standing up to leave, ask if they have any turnback units for sale. If the answer is no, leave. I bet before you are out the door they will 'find' one. That will save you about 40 to 50% off what was presented to you at first. And that is the FW way to purchase a TS!

Anyway, check for yourself and good luck!

As others have stated, nearly every timeshare charges more for maintenance fees than the unit generally rents for. You might find an exception, but chances are high they'll quickly raise maintenance fees to catchup with rental rates in the coming years.

That's the primary drawback to any timeshare, even one you get paid to take. You're stuck with it as the fees increase, and they really are not that easy to transfer.

Maintenance fees always go up. Special assessments just add to that pain.