We get this question almost daily from new owners who have just purchased while attending a timeshare presentation on vacation and are now doing the research to determine exactly what they bought! If this describes your situation, then we have a definitive answer for you right now. RESCIND IMMEDIATELY!
I just bought this Timeshare, why are you telling me its a mistake?
Stop what you’re doing and find your sales contract right now. No distractions. No delays. If you recently purchased a timeshare, you may have a very short window—often just a few days—to legally cancel the contract. If you are still within that rescission period, this is your one opportunity to walk away. Miss it, and you are likely locked into the contract.
The fact that you’re researching this purchase now suggests something important: you may not fully understand what you bought, how it works, or the long-term financial obligations attached to it. That’s not a personal failure—it’s how timeshares are sold. But no decision involving thousands of dollars (and decades of fees) should be made without careful research, especially when it comes to price.
When buying a timeshare directly from a developer, owners typically pay anywhere from 50% to 99% more than the exact same ownership sells for on the resale market. The product is the same. The difference is the price.
Don’t take our word for it. Look at real resale listings on
eBay,
the TUG Timeshare Marketplace, or other legitimate owner-to-owner resale sites. You’ll see firsthand how dramatically prices differ from what developers charge. In fact, resale prices today are lower than ever. A large number of owners want out, while relatively few buyers even realize they can purchase directly from another owner instead of a resort. That imbalance of supply and demand is the reason so many timeshares are offered up completely free when an owner wants out!
It’s not uncommon to find timeshares still being sold new by developers for tens of thousands of dollars that are given away on TUG for free! That’s not an exaggeration—it’s market reality. Even if you don’t find your exact ownership listed, there is rarely a reason to commit to a long-term contract after a high-pressure sales presentation without fully understanding what you’re buying.
Most people spend more time comparing prices on electronics or appliances—sometimes just to save a few dollars—than they do researching a timeshare purchase that can cost thousands upfront and tens of thousands more over time. Doing the research now can save you a substantial amount of money. Skipping it only benefits the seller—not you.
But they told me this was a one time offer?
Despite the fact that the salesman told you that this offer was "only available if you sign now" or whatever similar line to pressure you into thinking you are getting the deal of a lifetime, We can promise you that should you cancel now, you can call that same resort back next month and they will jump through the phone to offer you the same deal if you are willing. Also note to read your contract exactly to determine the detailed process for cancelling your contract within the allowed time, you must follow these instructions to the LETTER to ensure the resort honors your cancellation request!
You have nothing to lose by your own hard earned money by not rescinding and investigating the resale market to find exactly what you bought for a fraction of the price! Believe me, you will thank yourself later for doing so, and will not have to utter the phrase so common amongst TUGGERS who find us after their rescission period has expired:
"I wish I found TUG before I bought my first Timeshare"!
Also feel free to come check out our running count of owners who have found TUG (many thru this article) in time to rescind their new purchase and save thousands of dollars! As of the last update on this page we have more than 600 owners saving more than $24 million dollars all just from learning the information in this article in time! Hundreds of Timeshare owners find TUG in time to rescind and save millions buying resale!
What if my rescission deadline has already passed?
This puts you in a tough spot as there is no legal requirement for the resort or developer to cancel your contract once this period expires (usually 7 to 10 days on average), we still urge EVERYONE to at least follow thru with sending the letter to cancel as you never know and it only costs you a few minutes of your time plus a stamp!
Other than this, your only real options are to learn to use what you just bought to take the vacations that got you to buy in the first place, or convince them to let you out by becoming a squeaky wheel!
TUG Can help with both options depending on which way you want to go!
You can start to learn the details of your ownership on the TUG Owner Forums where you will find a dedicated forum for any and all major Timeshare systems full of hundreds if not thousands of other owners just like you (many of which probably share your story!)
Lastly if you were lied to or misled in your sales presentation, we urge you to read this article immediately and decide if you want to try to fight back
Access to Ratings & Reviews of more than 5000 Timeshare resorts all over the world!
The TUGBBS online community forums consists of tens of thousands other timeshare owners and is the first, largest and most informative online Timeshare Forum on the internet!
The TUG Timeshare Marketplace is one of the largest and most visited timeshare classified ad sites on the internet with Millions of dollars in completed listings and thousands of current ads posted by owners!
TUG Advice is probably the most helpful section of the site for new buyers/sellers just getting into timesharing.