In depth review of Cons of Buying a Timeshare

Reputation of unethical players and scams

Most of the major industry players value their brand's reputation more than the sale, and many have committed to standards of ethics in recent years. An organization to which we belong, ARDA (American Resort Development Association) includes most major timeshare businesses today and members subscribe to a set of consumer-friendly ethics rules. However, timeshare has an unfortunate reputation of being associated with hard sales pitches and sneaky sales techniques similar to the notoriety of used car sales. While these horror stories are few and far between these days, as with any industry, there occasionally still are unethical salespeople trying to do whatever it takes to bring home their commission. That is why it is important to do the homework you are doing right now.


Before walking into a situation where you know there will be a pitch, educate yourself on timeshare and go into it with an understanding of the pros and cons and what makes financial sense for your family's lifestyle. Research the resort and management company to be aware of any outstanding complaints. If you end up changing your mind after the purchase, most states have "rescission period" laws that allow you to cancel the sale within two or three days.