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BUYER BEWARE! of Pueblo Bonito timeshare presentation

Dallas, Texas
11 posts
44 helpful votes
BUYER BEWARE! of Pueblo Bonito timeshare presentation

Don't even bother to sit through and listen to their timeshare or membership presentation. We though we were well informed, asked questions and yet, we were (still) duped into this farce of what they call a timeshare. First, you are not buy into a deeded property, it is (as they admit) a membership - and a very expensive membership it is. Bottom line, they throw every obstacle that limits or prohibits your use of the unit/property. There is never an availability: they need more notice or you need more points, or their computer is down, or you're on hold for 45-minutes and when you do get the timeframe you want, it is at a greater price (more than the open market pricing) and points.

Further, you don't receive membership package that will enable you to verify what you bought until 4-months after you return to your country only to find out the contract form in itself is non compliant with the Mexican Profeco ( governmental agency oversees timeshares and contracts). Our first clue that we were duped was the difference in the percentage rate on the contract and the billing statement. The contract is written English and the money is collected in the US (Arizona to be exact) and yet they gave us the excuse about their Mexican percentage system and the conversion difference. Second, we were never able to make a reservation on the dates we wanted. Then, when we did find an availability, they gave us pricing for an additional $900, and that is on top of what we pay monthly. It was our understanding, the maintenance fee of $465 per week was the only fee. You're better off buying hotel rooms through other travel websites.

There is a cancellation clause in the agreement, and when we opted to cancel, they sent us to collection and illegally posted derogative credit reports to the agencies. Who does that? Criminals and scam artists that's who.

98 replies to this topic
St James, New York
Destination Expert
for Cabo San Lucas
24,926 posts
149 helpful votes
1. Re: BUYER BEWARE! of Pueblo Bonito timeshare presentation

Auntlala.........We continually post about Not buying timeshares, & how its so easy to rent the same units at very good prices thru redweek.com and many other sites.

Timeshare units are given away Free on this Forum, Even from Pueblo Bonito properties. It does not make sense to buy them for thousands when they can be had for Free or just the Transfer Costs.

Many of us really enjoy the timeshare units we have. Sorry your experience was so awful. It pays to research and ask questions on this forum before you make decisions.

In all fairness People who have bought timeshare units, Do get the weeks they want by planning ahead.

Good Luck, and thank you for posting about your experience.

Fresno, California
3,916 posts
123 helpful votes
2. Re: BUYER BEWARE! of Pueblo Bonito timeshare presentation

It should read beware of making large dollar purchases with out researching and while on vacation. Timeshares are probably the worst then there is Grey's taxidermy for your marlin you just caught and continue to pay for months later along with the best deal you ever got on a piece of real fake jewelry. Instead of 15 minutes on Geico you should have spent 5 minutes on google. Hopefully your post will help save the next person. I have my doubts if there are even any limits on how many floating weeks they sale making it hard to find availability and yes they are scum.

San Diego...
2,396 posts
29 helpful votes
3. Re: BUYER BEWARE! of Pueblo Bonito timeshare presentation

There are the occasional people that will swear up and down how they were ripped off (or scammed), or anything else they want to claim. But the bottom line is that you are the one that decided to attend the presentation, and you are the one who decided to make the financial decision and you are the one who signed the contract. At some point - there has to be some personal accountability and not just blame. There are many, many people who successfully attend timeshare presentations every year. Some buy, but most do not. Buyers remorse while common, is not absolute, and many people are happy with their experience at a timeshare presentation including their decision to purchase. But buying a timeshare (especially in a foreign country) is not like wading into the kiddie pool. It is a large financial purchase and if you don't know what you are doing, then stay out of the water.

Are there less than honest salespeople - absolutely. They are all over the world (including Texas). But there are also honest salespeople who do their upmost to provide you with all the information for making an informed and rational decision. The problem is that people will sometimes make irrational (and uninformed/uneducated) decisions and then insist it was someone else's fault. But the inescapable fact is you made the financial decision and you signed the contract.

We have been owners at PB Sunset Beach since 2004 and have been happily enjoying our timeshare (right-to use) every year since then. We will back there again in about 5 weeks for another blissful 7 days. We have NEVER had a problem getting the week we want. We normally make our reservations 7-12 months in advance.

While this may seem harsh to some, it really comes down to personal accountability. YOU absolutely must be educated and rational when making large financial commitments. While it may seem easy to always blame "the other party", YOU are the one who must ultimately live with your decisions (both good and bad). It's really no different than people who complain about their crushing student loan debt, yet at the same time, they pay $150 or more for a monthly cell phone service, spend $8 or more DAILY at Starbucks, do all their shopping at Whole Foods Market, HAVE TO HAVE the latest $800 or more Iphone (every year) and buy a new $30,000 car every 2-4 years. Personal Accountability.

Oregon Coast, Oregon
3,408 posts
150 helpful votes
4. Re: BUYER BEWARE! of Pueblo Bonito timeshare presentation

Making intelligent informed decisions on purchases or other transactions is one thing. When salespersons simply lie to you repeatedly, it is hard to say that you have acted irresponsibly when you simply believe them. Hard to accept accountability when you are dealing with a team of crooks. Best to simply avoid timeshares completely. It is easy to prove you can do much better with other vacation arrangements.

Turda, Romania
1,470 posts
42 helpful votes
5. Re: BUYER BEWARE! of Pueblo Bonito timeshare presentation

SDPadrefan,

Hats off!

More sour grapes on the forum. Funny how this is a scam yet 10s of thousands of people stay at PB properties every year and love, or at least like it.

I flagged this post. Not travel related.

Puyallup, Washington
Destination Expert
for Cabo San Lucas
9,941 posts
21 helpful votes
6. Re: BUYER BEWARE! of Pueblo Bonito timeshare presentation

I also don't understand how people can make a major purchase without some research. Not sure how much the OP paid but we researched for months before paying a whopping $1000 for our first timeshare. Our next 3 were less or free.

A quick google search before you bought would have let you know that the same thing is available for free or close to free on the resale market.

Yes they lie but still some responsibility falls on the purchaser who just blindly hands over his credit card.

I hope you can make the best of your purchase, we own 2 weeks at PB and love them as well as our other 2 at a different resort.

We will be there next month and can't wait!

Fresno, California
3,916 posts
123 helpful votes
7. Re: BUYER BEWARE! of Pueblo Bonito timeshare presentation

I agree with SDPadreFan. I can remember almost 25 years ago laying by the pool with my eyes closed when some lady came up to me asking if I was Craig. She asked what I did for a living and then went into wanting to show me properties. I basically laughed at her as I found it totally ridiculous coming to the pool to ask me this. Within 30 seconds I knew she was after as much money as she could get from me and I never even heard the word timeshare before. So yeah the buyer is responsible for not doing their do diligence but it still does not make it ok for the seller to lie to the buyer.

Candid,

Sorry that some of your posts have been taken down, don't take it so hard as most of us are just a bunch of quacks anyways. There's just the gang that does not want to see any bad opinions posted about Cabo. I was under the impression that an open forum was for all opinions to be heard but obviously not here. Maybe I don't agree with everything you post but it's your opinion and you should be entitled to it.

Lodi, California
1 post
8. Re: BUYER BEWARE! of Pueblo Bonito timeshare presentation

Had similar experience with PB Sunset Beach. The salesperson Hugo Sotomayor lied to our face. We went over and over with him what we were getting.only to find out later that the $3000 savings credit only offers measley discounts on hotel stays, cruises, and air fare. He said we could use the credit to pay room fees, all inclusive, massages and many other things. Liar, liar liar!

Denver, Colorado
8,483 posts
77 helpful votes
9. Re: BUYER BEWARE! of Pueblo Bonito timeshare presentation

I wonder if the OP actually purchased a timeshare week at PB, or if the OP purchased one of those "club" or "memberships" that they sell you if they cannot convince you to pay $20k+ for an actual week at the resort. Most of the timeshare presentations will push something like that if you don't buy an actual week from the resort. They sell those memberships for $1k-$3k and they are literally worth nothing at all.

@Auntlala - Sorry you experienced the worst of the worst version of the timeshare presentation. You're not the only one. And if you weren't prepared, it is easy to get sucked in by the lies. If they put a line on your credit report, then go to the credit report agency and you can add a comment of your own. You can say it was a "timeshare scam" or something like that. I doubt that many real creditors will hold it against you.

10. Re: BUYER BEWARE! of Pueblo Bonito timeshare presentation

I’ve found the best way to go is to spacebank into RCI. They will upgrade you to a larger unit for no additional cost and it’s hassle free.

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