When you purchase a timeshare direct from the developer you are paying retail prices. When you purchase a unit on the secondary market you can receive substantial discounts over the high developer mark-ups by purchasing from a previous owner.
| VACATION PROPERTY FOR 40 CENTS ON THE DOLLAR
"Too many folks bought timeshares the wrong way and got stuck. Their loss can be your gain. Bargains Galore- because price tags for new timeshares include huge built-in margins for sales and marketing expenses. You can figure that most timeshares are worth only half their original price, and sometimes considerably less."
As reported in Kiplinger Consumer Reports Travel Letter |  |
Many timeshare properties become available for a variety of reasons including: death, divorce, life style change, and debt problems. For this reason the secondary or resale market was created to help unite sellers with buyers.
 | Ask Suze Orman
"Time-shares should not be purchased new. They should be bought via a resale broker who is selling one that someone wants to get out of. If you do it this way, you may recapture your money when you sell."
As reported in The Costco Connection, Q&A with Suze Orman in March 2003.
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On the open market a buyer (like yourself) will purchase the best value or lowest price. In order to compete, the re-sellers price must be lower than the developer's price and lower than every other owner who owns comparable property in the same resort. In addition, many educated buyers purchase the lowest priced unit in the state of Hawaii that fits their sleeping needs for trading purposes. For this reason, buyers who purchase on the secondary market can save substantially over the retail developer's price.
"We look forward to showing you just how much further your dollar goes when purchasing a resale timeshare from us!"