Eric M.
A long-term Wyndham timeshare owner
As a long-term Wyndham timeshare owner, I will detail my frustrating 20-year journey, beginning with Fairfield Resorts in 2003 and continuing through Wyndham's acquisition. The review reveals a pattern of misleading sales tactics and unfulfilled promises. Initial sales pitches promised property ownership, investment appreciation, easy resale options, and flexible vacation booking. However, these claims proved false over time. The owner discovered they merely had the "right to use" privileges rather than actual property ownership, and booking desired locations and dates became increasingly difficult. They use aggressive sales practices, including mandatory "brief" presentations that routinely extended to 3-4 hours. Sales representatives consistently pushed for additional point purchases, often using deceptive tactics like fictional "special deals" and false urgency to pressure buyers. Maintenance fees, initially presented as stable, increased significantly over the years. The promised flexibility in vacation booking proved illusory, with better accommodation consistently restricted to higher-tier members, creating pressure to purchase more points. A particularly concerning revelation was the misrepresentation regarding inheritance - children are obligated to accept the timeshare and its associated maintenance fees, contrary to the initial presentation of it being optional. In 2024 at Star Island in Orlando, the pattern of extended sales presentations and delayed "gifts" continued, demonstrating that these practices remain unchanged despite decades of customer complaints. Overall, Wyndham practices systematic misrepresentation and aggressive sales tactics that have persisted throughout the ownership experience.
