Aren't time shares just scams?

I sat through this sales pitch for a timeshare because they told me I had won a prize and I could go get it by going to this hotel conference center. I was duped along with about a hundred other suckers who sat mindlessly watching films of some...

beautiful tropical country and then they tried to sell me a time share in Tahoe. They had three different salesmen they put me through like some retarded speed dating thing. It was a scam. Is all Time Shares scams?

ok there are a couple of things. first, go to ebay or that other one reddoor or whatever its called and look at all the ads for people trying to unload their timeshares. that is where you get a deal. but to pay upfront to rent something and yet pay for maintenance it makes no sense to me. if i had 60 grand to put in the bank id be farther ahead collecting interest even low interest, paying to vacation somewhere and id be ahead and still have my 60 grand. i dont get what pushes people to say yes to this idea. well yes i do but im very disappointed. a fool and his money are easily separated. xo

S T O P D A N G E R . Now that I have your attention. I owned a timeshare for 8 years. only went there once in all that time. Tried to rent it and they said they had it rented for a Wednesday but hadn't found anyone to rent the other 6 days, dah. I finally paid a company 3200.oo to take it off my hands. Best thing is that I can clame all of the expenses incurred as loss on my income tax. Good luck.

This system makes vacation home ownership possible for many people who cannot afford a second home or who otherwise would not be able to enjoy such resort facilities. It is important to remember that purchasing timeshare should never be viewed as a financial investment with the expectation of gaining a profit in either reselling it or renting it to someone else. Timeshare is an investment in lifestyle, in future holidays, in family time together, and when viewed that way it can be a good investment indeed.

Before you buy, you should be able to answer YES to all these questions:

* Are you POSITIVE you want to spend ALL your vacations there?
*Have you visited the facility? Are you satisfied with its quality, with the stability of the management, and with the terms of the contract? Have you checked out this time-share development with the Better Business Bureau, the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Office or your Legal Assistance Office?

*Have you talked to some long-time owners in this time-share facility?

*Can you afford both the facility and the round trip travel costs each year?

DO NOT BUY IF:

* You want to rent out the facility.

* You plan on reselling it.

* You plan on exchanging vacation sites frequently.

BUYING TIPS

BEWARE OF ANY PROMOTIONS THAT:

* Will not physically take you to the facility. (Some promoters claim the place is built when it is really only a hole in the ground.)
* Offer you a special price for that day only.

* Subject you to a long and harrassing sales pitch.

* Will not let you take the contract home to study.

DO NOT SIGN A CONTRACT ON THE SAME DAY AS THE SALES PITCH.

If the price is fair, it will still be in effect the next day. Many people readily admit they became much smarter the day after they signed a time-share contract.