The COVID epidemic brought with it all sorts of new concepts we never really heard before.  
 
Like shrinkflation.
 
Shrinkflation is when companies try to charge you the old price – or even more – for a box or a bottle that may look the same but contains less food or individual items inside.
 
Turns out, Capital Vacations was getting in on the shrinkflation act even before the pandemic, according to the complaint Louis and Josephine filed with the Arizona Attorney General earlier this year.
 
“I am writing to file a complaint regarding a Capital Vacations timeshare presentation we attended which has led to considerable distress and financial strain on my family.”
 
“Our original intention was to downgrade our timeshare from a four-bedroom unit to a two-bedroom unit.”
 
Downsizing from four bedrooms to two. Seems like Louis and Josephine should only have to pay half of what they were paying before, right? 
 
Not with the economic model Capital Vacations goes by to make its profits.
 
“However, we were informed that a downgrade was not possible unless we upgraded our ownership level, which we later discovered came with hidden costs embedded in credit cards issued to us. This additional expense was not clearly disclosed at the time.”
 
Capital Vacations actually made them PAY MORE to get a timeshare that was HALF THE SIZE! 
 
Their cost per bedroom more than doubled.
 
That’s just about the worst case of shrinkflation we’ve ever heard!
 
What’s worse, Louis and Josephine couldn’t even enjoy their smaller digs.
 
“My wife has had numerous medical challenges, including a hip replacement and sciatic nerve issues, while I have endured a series of medical emergencies.”
 
“In 2020 alone, I had a total shoulder replacement, a severe bout of pancreatitis that led to gallbladder removal, multiple heart attacks requiring a double bypass surgery, and a torn meniscus resulting in surgery. On top of these crises, I contracted COVID-19, further complicating our situation.
 
Wow, that’s a lot of stress.
 
“Due to our ongoing health problems, we have been unable to use our timeshare since 2019.”
 
“The physical and mental toll of these health challenges, coupled with COVID-19 lockdowns, has eroded our desire to travel.”
 
We hear you, Louis.
 
It’s one thing to have to pay more for less – but to pay more for something you can’t even use is downright distressing – yet Capital Vacations seems unwilling to help.
 
It’s time for Travis Bary, the co-president of Capital Vacations, to reconsider his company’s shrinkflation economics. Let’s email him at tbary@capitalvactions.com to let him know.
 
And let’s see what Jason Gamel, the President and CEO of the American Resort Development Association (ARDA), thinks of Capital Vacations’ shrinkflation pricing. ARDA represents timeshare companies in Washington, DC, and we’re sure the policymakers there would be very interested in Jason’s thoughts. His email is jgamel@arda.org.
 
Paying more but getting less from your timeshare package? Use this list of ARDA VIPs to ask your timeshare company’s leaders to stop the shrinkflation.
 
Is your timeshare a cause of economic and mental distress? Let us know at info@timesharefacts.com. 
 
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