Potential for Re-selling in the Future

I have been an owner at NY Hilton Club since 2005. That "ownership" is only for a total of 28 years -- so it is now valid for 24 more year. We paid $34,000 at the time of the purchase. We recently "up-graded" to Hilton's new West 57th Street and paid an additional $18,000.

Turns out that they gave us some misinformation in the sales presentation about the fee structure and we have been told by the Quality Assurance representative that we will be able to "go back" to our old deal with the Hilton Club. I was very happy with the Hilton Club and not so happy with the structure of West 57th so this sounds like what I want to do. (You can read details about this in the Hilton section of TUG.)

BUT... Here's what I wonder. I knew I would never see the $34,000 again. I planned to continue to use the Hilton Club for the duration of the ownership and I didn't have any delusion that I would get that money back. I wonder, however, if I would make out better financially if I kept the life-long ownership of West 57th with the potential to sell it later and give up the $18,000 now.

Any thoughts are appreciated.

If I understand you right, you are asking if paying $18K more will enhance the resale value of your resort by $18K or more. Since the difference between retail and resale is 60% or more right now, I don't think that will happen.

On today's resale market, the top resorts are going for 40% of retail, the mid-level resorts are going for 1-20% of retail, and you can't even give away the bottom level resorts, these days.

I would not spend the $18K unless it will enhance your own personal vacation experience by that much AND you've considered all other options.

It's not a good financial investment.

I agree with Denise. Keep your old Hilton Club and use it for several more years.


If after 4-5 years, you still want to buy West 57th, sell your Hilton Club and buy West 57th resale.

DeniseM said:

If I understand you right, you are asking if paying $18K more will enhance the resale value of your resort by $18K or more. Since the difference between retail and resale is 60% or more right now, I don't think that will happen.

On today's resale market, the top resorts are going for 40% of retail, the mid-level resorts are going for 1-20% of retail, and you can't give away the bottom level resorts these days.

I would not spend the $18K unless it will enhance your own personal vacation experience by that much AND you've considered all other options.

It's not a good financial investment.

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Actually... the question is more if I would get the $18 back from an initial total investment of $52,00. I know I won't see the $34,000 again since nobody would buy a timeshare that would only last a few more years. By adding the $18, I switch it to the everlasting timeshare.

At the moment, I am happier with how the old Club worked so I"m inclined to reverse the purchase of the new one.

Piper said:

Actually... the question is more if I would get the $18 back from an initial total investment of $52,00. I know I won't see the $34,000 again since nobody would buy a timeshare that would only last a few more years. By adding the $18, I switch it to the everlasting timeshare.

At the moment, I am happier with how the old Club worked so I"m inclined to reverse the purchase of the new one.

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Now I see....maybe, but is that a good reason for doing it?

I think Bill posted a better plan.

DeniseM said:

Now I see....maybe, but is that a good reason for doing it?

I think Bill posted a better plan.

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Thanks for your help. It is SO great to get TUG advice!

If you sell the Hilton Club with ~20 years left on the RTU, you'll get a significant amount of money for it.

If in 4-5 years, you try and buy West 57th, you should be able to buy it resale for approx 1/2 the current price Hilton is asking today ( and maybe 40% of the asking price 5 years from now)

That is why I'd suggest keeping the Hilton Club for now and in 5 years, if you do want West 57th, do it then.

CAn you elaborate on the fee structure differences. I am an owner at the HIlton Club as was given an upgrade offer also,

Carlsbadguy said:

CAn you elaborate on the fee structure differences. I am an owner at the HIlton Club as was given an upgrade offer also,

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The saleswoman made a big deal about the fact that our annual dues would be less with West 57th. We have been paying about $2,000 each year. They would change to $1,200. She said that otherwise, it would work be just like are Hilton Club.

What she didn't say was that our $2,000 included the fee for bookings and the cost of daily housekeeping. The reduced fees at W57th are supplemented by a separate expense for bookings (total cost of $102 for the year), and a housekeeping fee of $85 for any stays of 3 days or less. We always stay one or two days so we would incur this expense every time we stayed. The supposed savings are spent in these separate expenses. Additionally, the parking does not have in and out privileges. On our recent stay, we parked when we arrived, took the car out the next morning. Had we returned to the valet parking that evening, we would have been charged an extra $48 (the daily parking rate) for having taken the car out. We would have paid $144 fin parking fees or our two nights at W57th. (We re-parked at the old HIlton and avoided this.)

We were totally happy at the HIlton Club and only made the change because we thought that financially it would be a wash within the life our our limited-lifespan Hilton Club membership. Given that the savings was not really a savings, we have changed our mind about our choice.

On a non-financial front, I am also not happy that they moved the concierge service to the lobby and have moved the staff members out of the lounge. I enjoy chatting with the staff while having breakfast or a snack. I found W 57th beautiful, chic ... but a bit cold. I like the personal touch of the Hilton Club.

I started this thread in August. My issue has been resolved so I thought I'd post the end of the story.

I complained to Hilton about the misrepresentation of the deal for West 57th. They offered us a couple of potential deals that meant that they kept the extra money we had paid and gave us more points at the old Hilton Club. I countered that we were not looking for more points and we really just wanted to return to what we had before our West 57th purchase. They agreed to do exactly that. This week, they issued a credit to the credit card account that we used for the purchase and they refunded 100% of what we paid for the "upgrade." We are back to being (original) Hilton Club owners. YEAH!

congrats on getting closure on this issue.

You are one lucky piper. Congratulations.

I say that you keep it for about five more years then if you still want to buy West 57th, sell your Hilton Club and buy West 57th resale