Saintsfanfl
TUG Member
I own 2 weeks at the Marriott Aruba Ocean Club and have been on a resale wait list for 2 years. I called in January 2015 and I was about #200 (which was the same as when I first added). They said they hadn't opened up for resales at that time.
On April 25, 2015, I received an email from the resale department in Orlando stating they are extending an offer to list my week for $6100. They get their standard 40% commission, and at closing I would receive $3660.
The offer is only valid through 4/29/15. The Open contract is for 12 months. If I find a buyer on my own prior to them, they do not get a commission. I responded that I am interested, and today received an email with contracts attached. I'm am to complete them and return with 14 days.
They had to go through a lot of people before getting to me. I can't imagine they have suddenly had a large influx of buyers. I'm willing to accept the price because there are a lot of current listings for close to that price and it removes all the hassle for me. They find the buyer, and handle the closing and no need for a ROFR. It will be interesting to see how long before they find a buyer.
I was one of those who paid full price at $9700, but it was way back in 1999. I've been to Aruba almost every year since and built a lot of memories there. In this case, I've gotten my money's worth at a top notch resort.
The list was so long because they probably weren't brokering the resales. Even now it is not listed as an option on their site. Not sure what the meaning of the list was if they, as you say, "hadn't opened up for resales". It was a pointless list designed to appease the callers.
Now that they are taking listings for the resales many people on that list already sold, disposed of through other channels, were foreclosed, or cannot be reached. An outdated list of 200 desperate owners can quickly become 10.
Fwiw when they engage you for a listing agreement a sale is usually iminent. I have never had to wait more than a few weeks and all the reports I have heard about are similar.