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Compare Worldmark and Trendwest With Gold Crown and Global Resorts Network
May 5, 2011 | Leave a Comment
Comparing Timeshares To Global Resorts Network
This post is specifically for those of you that have never attended a timeshare presentation and for those that just want to compare the prices of timeshares to the membership sold by Global Resorts Network.
Some time ago, I was invited to attend a timeshare presentation by Worldmark, a seller of timeshares, which also owns Trendwest now. They offered me a $50 American Express Cash Card, a two-night vacation at one of 6 cities, plus a $75 Gift Card to use at either Red Lobster or Olive Garden restaurants. As timeshare incentives go, this was nothing special, but the location was only 15 minutes from my home, so I agreed.
There was a short video presentation, an incredibly loud live speech,
then a sitdown with a sales closer (with absolute pandemonium breaking out from time to time as they announced and introduced the newest owner of their program), followed by a short “confirmation” and final close. The noise was so loud it actually hurt my ears! Naturally, I didn’t buy anything, but I was interested in the way they presented the situation.
They claimed that the average price of a nice hotel stay (according to the AAA) was now $150 per night. This meant that a 10-day stay would run $1,500. After 10 years of 10-day vacations, you will have paid $15,000 and, of course, have nothing tangible to show for it except your memories. Another 10 years, and you’ve spent $30,000 on your hotel stays and you don’t actually own anything.
Next, they showed all the good features of timeshares (great locations, clean facilities, and pride of ownership providing the incentive to actually take vacations every year), followed by all the benefits of using THEIR timeshares program (which is a points-based system). They showed how their basic program would provide enough points to use for a nice one-week vacation in a place like Hawaii, plus a couple of short, weekend, or overnight stays.
They pointed out that their program did not tie you down to any one
location. They said they are building more timeshares each year and you’ll never have to pay more to stay at those locations. Then they told us that if you needed to use more points one year, you could save from the previous year, borrow from the next year, or buy more points.
Finally, they showed me the price for a membership with 12,000 points per year (conveniently failing to mention the maintenance fees of $625+ per year). The price was $22,000 and I could see how that might appeal to some people. But I already had a membership that offers more benefits and cost me a lot less (and which actually allows me to stay at most, if not all, of the Worldmark timeshares without buying a single point!).
Comparing the Worldmark program to the Gold Crown Resort program sold by Global Resorts Network distributors, the biggest difference is the upfront price. Instead of paying $22,000 upfront, the Gold Crown Resort program is only $2,995. Worldmark requires maintenance fees forever, which are currently $625 per year for a 12,000 point membership while Gold Crown Resort has none. Through Gold Crown Resort, our weekly rental fees range from $298 – $799 per week while Worldmark seems to charge a small fee ($100 or so) every time you vacation.
Over 20 years, the average traveler will spend about $30,000+, the
Worldmark timeshares owner’s costs will exceed $36,500, and the Gold Crown Resort Member will pay just $19,000 for roughly the same amount of vacation time (10 days per year), except the Gold Crown Resort Member will have access to a LOT more locations and very few would be considered “average”.
But here’s the biggest kicker: if the timeshares owner wants more vacation days, he has to acquire more points, increase his maintenance obligation, and still pay a small fee when he stays. The Gold Crown Resort owner just books the extra days when he or she wants and pays the weekly fee. Plus, if a friend or relative wants to take a nice trip, you can book a week or two for them, they just pay the rental fee, and that’s it. No big hassle. There is nothing easier or less expensive.
Finally, if you buy the Gold Crown Resort membership through my Global Resorts Network distributorship, I’ll give you a one year, no-questions-asked, full money back guarantee. Try to get THAT from a timeshare seller!
Summertime is almost here; have you made your travel plans for this year? Don’t you want to stay somewhere GREAT, without spending a lot of money? Call me now at (626)215-3750 or send an email. Join the Gold Crown Resort program and enjoy the best the world has to offer.
