Bluegreen Vacations will pay Bass Pro more than $40 million to continue operating timeshare sales kiosks in its stores.

Timeshare giant Bluegreen Vacations has settled its dispute with Bass Pro Shops, allowing the company to continue operating its timeshare sales kiosks from inside its stores. Bass Pro Shops had a long-standing agreement with Bluegreen Vacations for the timeshare resort to operate and market it’s kiosks from inside its stores.

However, the retailer became unhappy with the way Bluegreen Vacations had been engaging in high pressure sales tactics at the kiosks and how this had created a negative experience for their customers. Bass Pro Shops, which operates over 170 stores throughout the United States, also claimed that Bluegreen Vacations had not passed on enough commission to the retailer. The two companies entered into an agreement in 2007, the agreement allowed Florida based timeshare giant to operate kiosks in some Bass Pro stores in exchange Bluegreen Vacations were required to pay a commission on the resulting sales. Bass Pro didn’t offer details about Bluegreen’s sales tactics. However, the relationship has soured to the point that Bass Pro Shops in April sued Bluegreen. The retailer said it was owed $10 million in commissions that Bluegreen has refused to pay.

Bluegreen has now confirmed that it will pay Bass Pro Shops more than $40 million. In an announcement, Bluegreen said it will pay Bass Pro Shops $20 million this month. Bluegreen will pay Bass Pro Shops an additional $4 million a year for the next five years.

The new deal calls for Bluegreen to pay Bass Pro Shops a set annual fee of $70,000 at each Bass Pro and Cabela’s store where it operates a sales kiosk. The companies’ contract extends through 2025. Bluegreen said Bass Pro Shops accounted for 14 percent of its $254 million in timeshare sales in 2018. Bass Pro drove 15 percent of Bluegreen’s business in 2017 and 16 percent in 2016.

In a separate lawsuit filed this year, nearly three dozen timeshare buyers from around the country sued Bluegreen and Bass Pro Shops. The consumers said they were lured into high-pressure sales pitches, then sold expensive shares in units that they claimed were overpriced or in poor repair.

“In addition to inducing purchases through fraudulent sales tactics, once Bluegreen convinces owners to purchase a time-share interest, it traps them in a valueless resale market, leaving them with few options but to continue paying their monthly mortgage and maintenance fees,” the suit says.

Bluegreen Vacation club is a points-based, deeded vacation ownership program, which connects over 212,000 owners with 69 Club and Club Associate Resorts and has access to more than 11,000 other hotels and resorts through partnerships and exchange networks.

People who enter into Timeshare agreements often find it difficult to keep up with the mounting maintenance fees and simply cannot afford it any longer. They may also find that the Timeshare no longer suits their needs and simply want to end the contract. There are too many individuals who are willing to take advantage of Timeshare owners and offer fake products, along with Timeshare exit schemes. Before agreeing to any Timeshare termination or exit procedure with an individual or company, seek independent advice and fully research any company you are thinking of working with.

It is also important to remember that purchasing a Timeshare should NEVER be viewed as a financial investment. Timeshare is an investment in lifestyle, in future holidays and family time together. There is almost no resale value to a Timeshare.

The mis-selling of holiday products is, unfortunately, common practice within the holiday industry and these type of crimes often go unreported by the most vulnerable in our society and criminal convictions are few and far between.

If you have purchased a Lifestyle / Concierge Service, a Timeshare or a ‘Holiday Points’ based product from a resort or company and feel unhappy with the service, or feel you have been mis-sold this product, please get in touch with us to discuss how we may be able to help you with a possible Money Back Claim.