An American newspaper has reported that “State of the Vacation Timeshare Industry: United States Study 2015 Edition,” has revealed that timeshare sales in America have in fact risen since 2010. The report states that;
– Timeshare sales hit $7.9 billion in 2014;
– That is an increase of 25% since 2010;
– Approximately 7.9% of U.S families own a timeshare of some sort.
What we wonder is how? Timeshare as we all know, has gained a lot of bad press and rightly so. The industry is polluted with rogue salesmen and scammers. Not to mention the fact that most people are locked into a lifetime of rising maintenance fees and pushy presentations.
The general consensus (we thought) was that timeshare will never progress/grow until it is cleansed of its demons.
It seems we may be wrong.
The Americans love a re-sale bargain!
One american newspaper claims that the consensus in America is that the market can be successful “but only when you buy a resale, never a share sold by the initial developer”.
These buyers aren’t purchasing from the resort direct, they are waiting in the background, biding their time. When that property hits the internet for a fraction of the price compared to the original sale, they snap it up.
The “holiday hype” is very different in America than in Europe. Here we can on average 20 days paid holiday leave a year. In America they get 10 and that is if they are really lucky. Their holiday time is taken over the public holidays. And usually they spend it with their families. The timeshare concept is perfect for them.
A property that they can visit each year, that their children know and are comfortable with. They will usually visit in the public holidays meaning that buy purchasing a timeshare, you will know your neighbors who also visit each year and can share the holidays.
If we could rid the industry of the fakers, the scammers and the bully tactics, this could work.
For more information regarding this article or assistance in any other timeshare related issues please contact the TCA on 01908 881058 or email: info@TimeshareConsumerAssociation.org.uk