WorldMark is one of the most recognizable names in the timeshare industry. With locations found at many of the top tourist destinations around the globe, it’s hard to travel without at least encountering the WorldMark name. And, along the way, you might find yourself in a sales presentation with WorldMark as a member of their team tries to sell you on the benefits of ownership.
To be sure, everything you’ll hear in one of these presentations sounds pretty good. You’ll be told about the great facilities that are available to owners, the relaxing times you’ll have with family and friends, and much more. At the same time, there are plenty of negative reviews floating around the web regarding WorldMark timeshares – so, who should you believe? Let’s take a closer look in the content below.
If you have landed on this page in the process of trying to get rid of a timeshare, we’d be happy to help. Many current timeshare owners across all different brands are trying to get out of their contracts, so we have built a page that features the best timeshare exit companies to help individuals in this position. Check out that page as a starting point and feel free to reach out to us directly for more information.
WorldMark Timeshare Pros and Cons
It’s common to have some trouble deciding whether or not to buy a timeshare. As you sit in the sales presentation, things sound great and you get excited over the possibilities. Yet, as mentioned above, lots of people have bad things to say about becoming a WorldMark owner, making the decision much harder. To help you navigate this choice, the pros and cons below are a useful starting point.
Pros
Like the other clubs within the Wyndham portfolio, one of the big selling points for WorldMark timeshares is the variety of properties that are available. From family-friendly destinations to spots that make for a great couples weekend away and more, you’ll see a rather impressive portfolio when being presented with this opportunity. If your image of a timeshare involves going to the same unit time after time in a specific location, the freedom that WorldMark seems to present can be quite intriguing.
Cons
While a glance at the portfolio of WorldMark properties will impress on first look, it’s when you dig deeper that you start to see some problems come up with this approach to travel. There are plenty of downsides to mention, but we highlighted three of the biggest issues below.
Lack of Flexibility
One of the things that are likely to be promoted during a WorldMark sales presentation is the versatility that comes with being an owner. You can travel to any of these beautiful destinations! That sounds great, but can you really get spots at those locations when you want them? Often, the answer is no. When trying to book a vacation that will work with your family’s calendar, it might be hard to get a spot where you really want to go. Additionally, when you are able to get a desirable week, you will likely need to book it a year in advance, making personal planning a challenge.
Rising Costs
As a timeshare owner, you not only have to make the upfront purchase, but you also need to pay the ongoing maintenance fees that are included in your agreement. Those might not seem too bad at first, but they just keep coming year after year – and they are sure to increase over time. So, the costs that started out reasonable may soon become more than you want to spend and your WorldMark timeshare will feel like more of a drag on your budget than anything else.
Quality Concerns
Despite the title of “owner”, you won’t have much – or any – say in how your timeshare properties are cared for over the years. You’ll have to pay the maintenance fees, of course, but you won’t be able to ensure that those fees wind up leading to properties that are well cared for and enjoyable to use when you arrive for a vacation. It’s common for complaints to come up from owners who feel like the facilities are not in the condition they expect given the money they have spent.
WorldMark Timeshare Complaints
Complaints are common in the timeshare industry, and WorldMark by Wyndham has racked up more than its share. When viewing the Better Business Bureau page for WorldMark by Wyndham, there are more than 400 complaints that have been closed in the last year alone.
Unfortunately, reviewing the comments from those who have left reviews with the BBB reflects issues that are seen for nearly every brand in the timeshare business. Many of the issues come back to what people feel are deceptive sales practices that make big promises without following through on those promises later on. The screenshots below demonstrate some of the issues people have had with this company recently.
Similar reviews go on and on, with variations on the same few themes. It’s a good idea to read some of these comments prior to buying a timeshare from WorldMark, or even before agreeing to attend a sales presentation. Learning from the issues that others have had previously is a good way to guide your own decision-making.
Is WorldMark Timeshare a Good Investment?
Rarely will a timeshare of any kind prove to be a good investment, and that story is the same for those sold by WorldMark. If you decide to make a purchase after a WorldMark sales pitch, don’t expect to see a positive return on this investment over the long run.
The problems with viewing a timeshare as an investment are many. As a starting point, there is the nebulous nature of timeshare pricing to consider. When you buy a timeshare, you can’t be sure that you really paid fair market value, whatever that might be. There are no firm values attached to what you purchase, unlike when buying a piece of traditional real estate. As a result, the price you pay might be far more than what anyone would be willing to pay on the open market, meaning you are “upside down” on this purchase right from the start.
Additionally, there is no reason to think that your timeshare will accumulate value over time, as is often what happens with standard real estate. A quick look at the market for timeshares that are being offered up by existing owners shows just how undesirable these purchases have proven to be. With so many owners trying to give their ownership rights away for virtually nothing, making the case that buying a timeshare is a shrewd financial move is difficult if not impossible.
Is WorldMark Timeshare Worth It?
Given what we have learned so far on this page, you can probably see where this section is heading. No, a WorldMark timeshare is not going to be worth it for most people. While there are a number of desirable locations included in the WorldMark portfolio, the many downsides that come along with timeshare ownership are just too much to overcome.
It’s the overall value that you will be getting – or not getting – from your WorldMark timeshare that makes it a hard purchase to justify in the end. If you do some math on how much it will cost to take individual vacations to the various destinations you’d like to visit over the years, you are almost certain to find that paying for each trip as it comes along will be a far more affordable option. Additionally, the restrictions and limitations of when you can use your timeshare and where you can go will make it even harder to use. Just booking a trip when you have a chance to take a vacation is more convenient, affordable, and practical for almost everyone.
WorldMark Timeshare Lawsuits
Another concerning sign regarding WorldMark timeshares is the number of lawsuits that seem to be taking place at any one time. While it’s common for large businesses to face legal action, the frequency of the legal issues faced by WorldMark and other timeshare companies should make you think twice about a possible purchase. If there are so many unhappy timeshare owners within this system, what reason do you have to believe that your experience will be any different? If you already own a WorldMark timeshare and think you might have a case against the company, it’s advisable to talk with an attorney about the matter.
Start Your Escape Today
For any current timeshare owners who aren’t happy with their experience, there is no time like the present to start working on getting out. Don’t try to do it alone, however, as you’ll be up against a formidable opponent. Go into this process with an ally on your side by calling 833-416-8796, filling out our form, or using our live chat feature. The sooner you get started, the sooner you can look forward to a future that is free from ongoing maintenance fees and other unwanted expenses. We look forward to serving you!