A friend of my recently came across a company called IBD Marketing and was in contact with them regarding selling an RCI affiliated timeshare unit in Orlando, Florida. After offering them a sum about 3k higher than what they had assumed they would be able to sell their timeshare for, they called me for assistance. I was unfamiliar with their organization and decided to do some investigating before giving my friend the go ahead to try to list and sell with them. My first search was a simple Google query for “IBD Marketing”, and I have to say I was mildly shocked when I realized that the first 10 listings were all negative commentary on the company, and not one of the links was to the actual company website itself! That was only the beginning of the bad omens…
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Timeshare has come a long way since the slick, fast talking time-share salesman. While he may no longer wear a plaid leisure suit, he remains focused on the sale, and will do everything in his power to convert your interest into a hearty commission. Some salespeople talk, talk and talk, and never listen to the client – this way they can give their pitch without getting too close.  While others prefer to stick to the guilt highway, posing questions including, “Don’t you think your children deserve better?”, or involving family, work, and your personal life. To avoid falling for a trick, pay close attention, never let a salesperson tell you what you want, and beware of the “puke price”.
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The breakdown of penalties for canceling RCI Points timeshare vacations is based on how close to the departure date the reservation is canceled.  The breakdown is as follows:

• Grace Period (1 day after making transaction) 100% restoration of points and no loss of transaction fee for reservations made 21 days or greater in advance.

• 120 days or greater – 100% restoration of points and full loss of transaction fee.

• 119 days to 61 days – 75% restoration of points and full loss of transaction fee.

• 60 days to 30 days – 50% restoration of points and full loss of transaction fee.

• 29 days or less – 25% restoration of points and full loss of transaction fee.

Built within the RCI exchange program is the option for timeshare owners to purchase cancellation insurance in the event that the owner needs to cancel the reservation prior to the stay or the vacation reservation is canceled by RCI prior to the stay (i.e. natural disaster, construction, etc.). RCI’s term for this insurance is Vacation Protection. Vacation Protection is different for points and weeks members, and the differences are discussed below.
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One way to get the most out of your timeshare is to take advantage of the many special offers your time share exchange company makes available to owners. A great way to get the most for your money is to utilize your exchange group’s available last-minute trip deals. The downside to these deals is that travel can not usually be booked more than a month or two in advance, but the upside is that you will stay in gold star resorts, in amazing locations, for a fraction of the regular cost. Interested in making your timeshare work for you? See the checklist below for more information on booking RCI Escapes.
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