How important is timing when selling on eBay or with other ads?

We have placed ads for our week on TUG, Redweek and myresortnetwork. Before we add other types of advertising or before we consider eBay, I have some questions about timing.

Timing seems as though it might be especially important if we decide to do an auction on eBay.

Based on previous advice, we probably would do a 10-day auction with no reserve.

If we have only 10 days of exposure without the protection of a reserve, then I want to be sure that I pick the best 10 days when serious buyers are most likely to be looking for what we have to offer.

Following advice and good examples from TUG members, we are working on putting together the best ad we can, but I don't want to put it out there until the timing is right. I would hate to have our ad go unnoticed by serious buyers just because we picked the wrong time of year for an auction or short-term ad.

In anticipation of selling, we did not deposit our 2006 week. When we initially posted ads on the three sites above, there was still time for someone to deposit/rent the fixed-May week, or they could have converted it to a more flexible vacation club. By now, however, it is too late for someone to do much with the 2006 week, so we probably will deposit it with Dial An Exchage for our own use. Someone could negotiate with us for the use of the 2006 week, but most likely their first usage would be in 2007.

We have already paid the 2006 MF and won't have to do so again for several months, so from our perspective there is no rush. From a buyer's perspective, however, when is someone most likely to be looking for a May week in an area that has popular ski and summer tourist seasons. I assume they might need longer lead-time if they choose to convert the fixed week to a vacation club membership with floating usage.

Are we likely to catch the eye of a serious buyer at one time of the year more than another? Does timing really matter that much?

We have been inching our way through the sale process. Over the past few months, we have appreciated advice from TUG members about whether to keep or sell, how to think about price, how to prepare effective ads, how to approach eBay auctions, etc.

Any advice you can offer about timing will help us take the next step. Thank you.

Bonnie

Since you won't offer use of the 2006 week, I think it's too early to advertise. People looking now would probably like to use sometime this year.

I would suggest listing late summer to early fall. That is when people have takin vacations, and the vacation memories are fresh, and they're ready to think about next year.

I concur with Steve. It's too early. Ideally you would time such that transfer of ownership would be completed 4-6 months prior to use.

Post now & use a 30 day auction. Many already have plans for this year & don't want to be burdened with 2006 fees/use. This is a good time of year to post, but it gets better in late spring & early summer. Don't end your auction over a holiday week end. I have found auctions that end Friday nighr the best, some say auctions that end on Sat. or Sunday are best.....

ttt said:

Post now & use a 30 day auction. Many already have plans for this year & don't want to be burdened with 2006 fees/use. This is a good time of year to post, but it gets better in late spring & early summer. Don't end your auction over a holiday week end. I have found auctions that end Friday nighr the best, some say auctions that end on Sat. or Sunday are best.....

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I haven't done enough auctioning to be able to make side-by-side comparisons of auction length.

My hit counters, though, clearly show more traffic on Sat and Sun than other days of the week. From that I conclude that more people are looking around on eBay on the weekend than during the week. That means that weekend listing time is more valuable than weekday listing time, particularly when you have an item that can get lost in a large number of other listings.

So I use a 10-day auction, timed to give me exposure over two weekends.

caribbeansun said:

I concur with Steve. It's too early. Ideally you would time such that transfer of ownership would be completed 4-6 months prior to use.

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How much lead time do I need to allow for the transfer of ownership to be completed?

I would prefer to wait until late summer/early fall to advertise as suggested, but is the transfer likely to be completed by December (4-6 months prior to use)?

We plan to use the legal department of the resort to handle closing--a bit more expensive but I assume they will have all of the right documents to make the transfer go smoothly. I just don't know how long it typically takes.

Use a reserve

Although many tuggers like to sell without a reserve, I use a reasonable reserve on my auctions. Especially as a relatively new ebayer you would do well to have a safety net of the reserve so that any mistake that you make does not require you to "give away" your timeshare.
A lot of the bidders on ebay timeshare site are inexperienced bidders and even if you get a great bid they may not follow through. However, they are your target market as much as the experienced bidders and many of the timeshares that I have sold have been to those new to timesharing.
Also, remember that ebay prices are lower than at redweek or bidshares so it should be a last resort. I often tell the buyer that the 2006 week is theirs if they want it, all they have to do is reimburse the maintenance fees. Most people appreciate the offer but want to save the money but you are giving them the choice.

Although not having the 2006 week available is a consideration, for many serious buyers this would be huge plus for the following reasons;
1. Don't have to include MF's in the purchase.
2. Gives the new buyer more time to make 2007 reservations.

A couple a times when I or friends bought timeshares after the middle of the year, there were available weeks that were difficult to use or lost by the time everything was closed and available for use.

Marty

california-bighorn said:

Although not having the 2006 week available is a consideration, for many serious buyers this would be huge plus for the following reasons;
1. Don't have to include MF's in the purchase.
2. Gives the new buyer more time to make 2007 reservations.

A couple a times when I or friends bought timeshares after the middle of the year, there were available weeks that were difficult to use or lost by the time everything was closed and available for use.

Marty

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As a 3 time buyer of timeshares on ebay I have to agree with Marty that the absence of M/F and near term usage can be advantage to a buyer who is planning to use the timeshare rather than trade. I've had to mentally include the first year's maintenance fee as a cost with near zero benefit for the two Hawaiian timeshares that we bought on ebay in the last 16 months. We submit our timeshare reservations more than one year in advance and only go to Hawaii once a year. While we will get some residual benefit from the spacebank deposit or potential rental from the first year's ownerships, our reason for buying is to use rather than trade or do business.
Jack

Ive bought all my timeshares (except the first one) from Ebay. I have to pick my vacation times before the end of the previous year, so my vacations for this year are planned out. (I just bought a timeshare EOY in Hawaii. I am glad its an odd year.) There are two advantages of a timeshare not being available this year 1. I already have my vacations planned out so I wouldnt feel crunched or have to deposit it into II or RCI 2. The cost of a timeshare can be a strain on your budget - even if its under $2000. With closing costs and transfer fees that could be as much as $2500 so adding an extra $600 and then not being able to use it this year. Makes it a little harder. Its different for everyone and every income. Thats just my opinion.

I bought a every year timeshare last year in Hawaii and the seller just threw in the usage of last year without making me pay the maintenance fees. I couldnt use the week last year but it was nice because I deposited into SFX and now Im going to Hawaii for 2 weeks this year and next year I will be going again for 2 weeks. My ultimate goal is to go to Hawaii for 3 weeks every other year (I retire in a couple of years). Good luck......

If you are using the resort then they should be able to give you a very good idea of how fast that will happen.

tartanwood said:

How much lead time do I need to allow for the transfer of ownership to be completed?

I would prefer to wait until late summer/early fall to advertise as suggested, but is the transfer likely to be completed by December (4-6 months prior to use)?

We plan to use the legal department of the resort to handle closing--a bit more expensive but I assume they will have all of the right documents to make the transfer go smoothly. I just don't know how long it typically takes.

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