Interesting "offer" for RCI traders

[donnaval]

Got this in email today:
*****
New Offer: Last minute exchange vacations - as low as 35,000 Points!
CLUB WYNDHAM® Plus and RCI bring you a great new offer - RCI Express! Now through the end of the year, RCI Express lets you exchange at Quiet season rates for a wide range of select RCI® exchange vacations when you book within 30 days of travel.†* No matter what season it is, you can get away for as few as 35,000 Points for 7 nights!
******
There's a grid that I can't seem to copy into this thread. Basically, studios booked within 30 days require 35K of points versus up to 90k, 1-brs 63k vs up to 126K, 2-brs 77k vs up to 205K and 3-brs 112K vs up to 300k.

RCI is a horrible value for the use of points, but this makes it more palatable if you are able to make the 30-day window work for you. (And, of course, providing you are able to find something lol) I had noted in a couple of surveys I had taken that it was insane to use my Wyndham points on close-date exchanges when I can often book through a fixed-week TPU for 4 or 5 TPUs. This will be of some benefit to me since I do tend to travel at the last minute.

 

[paxsarah]

This is great. I've only used RCI for "high value" exchanges (e.g. DVC, Manhattan Club), and I've always thought that it was a little silly that we still had the full-price points grid for last-minute exchanges whereas TPU exchangers saw vastly reduced TPUs at the last minute.

Edit: Although I don't see yet how to access the last-minute discounted points.

 

[donnaval]

LOL - I don't see how to use it yet either. It took some searching but I found a 1-br exchange for next week at Bonnet Creek, but it's still showing me that it would cost 126k to book the week, not the 63k promised in the email.

 

[famy27]

I've found a few at the discounted price schedule, but I don't know what the original values were, so I can't be sure these are ones where the cost actually dropped. I've also found a bunch in the next month that are at the normal values, so I don't know how one determines what the "wide range of select RCI® exchange vacations" will encompass

 

[Avislo]

RCI said it has to be searched within the 30 window. If there is a special under this program it would show there. There is not a method to see a listing of what is available all in one spot.

Here are a few that are in the ballpark that are showing.

For dates Sun 26-Mar-2017 to Sun 16-Apr-2017 ( -21 Nights )


2 Bedrooms
SELECT UNIT
Sun 26-Mar-2017 to Sun 02-Apr-2017
Max Occup(Privacy)
:
6 (4)
Kitchen
:
Full

Points 77000
2 Bedrooms
SELECT UNIT
Sat 08-Apr-2017 to Sat 15-Apr-2017
Max Occup(Privacy)
:
6 (4)
Kitchen
:
Full

Points 77000
1 Bedroom
SELECT UNIT
Sun 09-Apr-2017 to Sun 16-Apr-2017
Max Occup(Privacy)
:
4 (2)
Kitchen
:
Full

Points 63000
1 Bedroom
SELECT UNIT
Sun 09-Apr-2017 to Sun 16-Apr-2017
Max Occup(Privacy)
:
4 (2)
Kitchen
:
Partial

Points 63000
2 Bedrooms
SELECT UNIT
Sun 09-Apr-2017 to Sun 16-Apr-2017
Max Occup(Privacy)
:
6 (4)
Kitchen
:
Full

Points 77000

 

[bendadin]

I've been poking around and I finally found one for March 26 for Myrtle Beach, originally 127K, discounted to 95,250. This might have to be a new sticky topic over in Sightings as this is going to take tenacity.

 

[paxsarah]

How did you see what it originally was? 127K is a weird amount that wasn't even on the original points grid anyway.

Edit: Oh, I see. The 127K to 95,250 is at OB directly through Wyndham. It was mentioned in another thread that there were some points discounts through Wyndham in MB in March. Otherwise, this topic is about RCI's opaque new "offer," a different thing.

 

[bendadin]

How did you see what it originally was? 127K is a weird amount that wasn't even on the original points grid anyway.

Edit: Oh, I see. The 127K to 95,250 is at OB directly through Wyndham. It was mentioned in another thread that there were some points discounts through Wyndham in MB in March. Otherwise, this topic is about RCI's opaque new "offer," a different thing.

I saw discounts in Williamsburg as well so I think that it just takes time. "Where do I NOT want to go this month?" That is where they are. lol

 

[famy27]

Here's one:

Cliffs at Peace Canyon in Vegas
1 Bedroom checking in on 4/14 is 63,000
1 Bedroom checking in on 4/22 is 105,000

I see a whole bunch at Smugglers' Notch that are discounted as well.

 

[paxsarah]

I saw discounts in Williamsburg as well so I think that it just takes time. "Where do I NOT want to go this month?" That is where they are. lol

My point, though, is that this thread started talking about discounts through the RCI portal, and the MB and Williamsburg discounts you're pointing out are directly in the Wyndham system. Which aren't necessarily uninteresting, but are probably better discussed in the other thread that's specifically talking about Wyndham points discounts.

 

[paxsarah]

Another - Atlantic Palace in Atlantic City, NJ
4/7/17 studio is 35k
4/21/17 studio is 77k

And - Crown Point Condominiums in Ruidoso, NM
4/7/17 3BR is 112k
4/21/17 3BR is 232k (!)

 

[tschwa2]

My guess is it is similar to the discounts offered for RCI points members. Generally the discount will apply to weeks inventory (the $230 exchange fee) within 30 days of check in that is given a tpu value of 11 or less. Anything that RCI deems as a higher value even if it is the day before check in will not be discounted. Points inventory doesn't really have a schedule of value/discounts for when it is reduced and by how much. If RCI decides it is excess inventory and they want to move it they will discount it to whatever extent they decide.

It sounds good but with the exchange fee so high and the sales on last calls/getaways for the same type of inventory, you may end up paying less than the $230 exchange fee just getting it as a rental. Other times the rental price may be $249-279 so you have to decide if it is worth it to use points along with the $230 exchange fee.

 

[bendadin]

Another - Atlantic Palace in Atlantic City, NJ
4/7/17 studio is 35k
4/21/17 studio is 77k

And - Crown Point Condominiums in Ruidoso, NM
4/7/17 3BR is 112k
4/21/17 3BR is 232k (!)

So I am in RCI and I do see Williamsburg for 63,000 over the next couple of weeks and the same unit for 105,000 over 30 days out. The same dates are on last call for $294.