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Question about RCI points

K

KnowThySelf

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If a listing has let's say almost 70K RCI points or a fixed week, but isn't rated very high on either TUG, Tripadvisor, etc.-does it matter if I am only really buying it for the points?

I mean if I pay my RCI fee to convert to points every year, can I then use those points those points however I chose, whenever I chose (availability taken into account of course)? Would this not be a good purchase?

P.S. The MFs are fairly low, just around $500 yearly.
 
The risk is future maintenance increases, special assessments, and I suppose that the place may blow away in a hurricane without having paid for appropriate casualty insurance.

Edited to add: I assumed in writing the above that this is a unit that has already been converted to points, and the points in question will transfer to you with the sale.
 
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KnowThySelf said:
If a listing has let's say almost 70K RCI points or a fixed week, but isn't rated very high on either TUG, Tripadvisor, etc.-does it matter if I am only really buying it for the points?

I mean if I pay my RCI fee to convert to points every year, can I then use those points those points however I chose, whenever I chose (availability taken into account of course)? Would this not be a good purchase?

P.S. The MFs are fairly low, just around $500 yearly.
Click to expand...

You need to make sure that the week has been converted to RCI points and that you do not have to pay again to convert. This is because the resort may be in RCI points but the unit may not have been converted. Most resorts charge a outrageous fee of $3000 to convert a unit to points even though it cost them just $200.
 
Points Conversion Is Permanent. Points For Deposit Is Year By Year.

KnowThySelf said:
I mean if I pay my RCI fee to convert to points every year, can I then use those points those points however I chose, whenever I chose (availability taken into account of course)?
Click to expand...
If it's an RCI Points timeshare worth 70,000 points per year -- i.e., if it's already converted to points & stays converted upon transfer to you -- then you get those 70,000 RCI timeshare points each & every year that you (a) keep on paying the resort annual maintenance fees and (b) keep on paying your RCI Points membership dues.

If it's an RCI Weeks timeshare whose points-equivalent value is 70,000 points, then you have to do Points For Deposit with it every year in order to get the points. Points For Deposit is simple & easy, but not automatic. Of course, in order to do Points For Deposit you've got to have an RCI Points membership, which means owning an RCI Points timeshare somewhere.

If the week is at an RCI Points timeshare resort but for some reason the week was not converted to points (e.g., original weeks owner never sprang for conversion, conversion lapsed when owner quit RCI Points, etc.), then it works just like a straight-weeks timeshare in all respects except that it cannot be used for Points For Deposit.

Points are points. So once you've got'm you use'm for points-based timeshare reservations all the same way regardless of where those points came from.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​
 
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AwayWeGo said:
If it's an RCI Points timeshare worth 70,000 points per year -- i.e., if it's already converted to points & stays converted upon transfer to you -- then you get those 70,000 RCI timeshare points each & every year that you (a) keep on paying the resort annual maintenance fees and (b) keep on paying your RCI Points membership dues.

If it's an RCI Weeks timeshare whose points-equivalent value is 70,000 points, then you have to do Points For Deposit with it every year in order to get the points. Points For Deposit is simple & easy, but not automatic. Of course, in order to do Points For Deposit you've got to have an RCI Points membership, which means owning an RCI Points timeshare somewhere.

If the week is at an RCI Points timeshare resort but for some reason the week was not converted to points (e.g., original weeks owner never sprang for conversion, conversion lapsed when owner quit RCI Points, etc.), then it works just like a straight-weeks timeshare in all respects except that it cannot be used for Points For Deposit.

Points are points. So once you've got'm you use'm for points-based timeshare reservations all the same way regardless of where those points came from.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​
Click to expand...

Got it! Now how do I know which situation it is:p
 
First-sory I put this in the wrong place. My apologies:eek:

I just went onto RCI and looked it up. It is an RCI resort. So what questions do I need to ask the seller now?
 
Points-Timeshare Blues.

KnowThySelf said:
Now how do I know which situation it is
Click to expand...
Ask the seller.

Then, to double check, call the resort itself (maybe the business office, not the front desk) & ask if it's RCI Weeks or RCI Points.

All this sort of thing comes under the heading Due Diligence. The more of it you can do, the less you're apt to be stuck with a pig in a poke.

As a practical matter, if you're not really sure what you're getting you might be well advised to let it go & seek out something else whose status & details are fully known. Even then, it's not always a cake walk.

For instance, we thought we had the whole points-timeshare thing all doped out in 2005 when we bought our dinky eBay points timeshare for $152.50 + closing costs & new RCI Points membership (even though we already belonged to RCI Weeks).

We were OK with the dinky points value -- 15,000 points annually -- because we just wanted a toe-hold into RCI Points so we could do Points For Deposit with our straight-weeks timeshares.

So far, so good -- in all respects but 1. We did not foresee that maintenance fees would skyrocket at our out-of-the-way USA heartland points timeshare. It cost us $450 for 2009. I can't even guess how bad it will be when the bill comes for 2010.

If we had it to do over knowing what we know now, I think that instead of buying we would go for 1 of those points-timeshare leases (3 years, RTU, renewable) that work just the same as deeded points-timeshares within the RCI Points system.

Live & learn, eh ?

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​
 
What Kind Of RCI Resort ?

KnowThySelf said:
I just went onto RCI and looked it up. It is an RCI resort.
Click to expand...
RCI Weeks ?

RCI Points ?

It makes a difference.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​
 
AwayWeGo said:
Ask the seller.

Then, to double check, call the resort itself (maybe the business office, not the front desk) & ask if it's RCI Weeks or RCI Points.

All this sort of thing comes under the heading Due Diligence. The more of it you can do, the less you're apt to be stuck with a pig in a poke.

As a practical matter, if you're not really sure what you're getting you might be well advised to let it go & seek out something else whose status & details are fully known. Even then, it's not always a cake walk.

For instance, we thought we had the whole points-timeshare thing all doped out in 2005 when we bought our dinky eBay points timeshare for $152.50 + closing costs & new RCI Points membership (even though we already belonged to RCI Weeks).

We were OK with the dinky points value -- 15,000 points annually -- because we just wanted a toe-hold into RCI Points so we could do Points For Deposit with our straight-weeks timeshares.

So far, so good -- in all respects but 1. We did not foresee that maintenance fees would skyrocket at our out-of-the-way USA heartland points timeshare. It cost us $450 for 2009. I can't even guess how bad it will be when the bill comes for 2010.

If we had it to do over knowing what we know now, I think that instead of buying we would go for 1 of those points-timeshare leases (3 years, RTU, renewable) that work just the same as deeded points-timeshares within the RCI Points system.

Live & learn, eh ?

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​
Click to expand...

I actually was put in contact with Bill through RickandCindy. I haven't heard back form him yet. I think maybe I will send follow-up email. It's interesting that a lot of TS owners suggest this as a starting point for newbies. Is Bill the only person who does this?

AwayWeGo said:
RCI Weeks ?

RCI Points ?

It makes a difference.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​
Click to expand...

LOL-I am finding that out!:rolleyes:

Thank you for your replies. I appreciate the guidance.:)
 
Learning The Ropes 1 Strand At A Time.

KnowThySelf said:
I actually was put in contact with Bill through RickandCindy. I haven't heard back form him yet. I think maybe I will send follow-up email. It's interesting that a lot of TS owners suggest this as a starting point for newbies. Is Bill the only person who does this?
Click to expand...
Far as I know, Bill's Club Trinidad renewable 3-year RTU points-timeshare leases are the only ones out there. Seems like such a good idea that it's semi-surprising other timeshares haven't gone & done likewise.
KnowThySelf said:
Thank you for your replies. I appreciate the guidance.
Click to expand...
You're welcome.

For further guidance, click here for our (more or less) complete timeshare story -- i.e., go & do likewise or go & do the opposite, or go & do a bit of both, whatever suits your own timeshare style & taste.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​
 
AwayWeGo said:
Far as I know, Bill's Club Trinidad renewable 3-year RTU points-timeshare leases are the only ones out there. Seems like such a good idea that it's semi-surprising other timeshares haven't gone & done likewise.
You're welcome.

For further guidance, click here for our (more or less) complete timeshare story -- i.e., go & do likewise or go & do the opposite, or go & do a bit of both, whatever suits your own timeshare style & taste.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​
Click to expand...

Great read-thank you!:clap:
 
I personally believe that the resort/underlying week of the RCI Points is important.

That is a personal opinion of mine. Whether it's a week or RCI Points, it's still a timeshare that in the future you may not want. But unless you can get rid of it in some way, you will be forever paying maintenance fees.

If I am not familiar with the resort, then I research the stability of the resort, the management, whether maintenance fees have remained stable and if there have been special assessments. Just because maintenance fees are low doesn't necessarily mean anything. Perhaps the management has let things go at the resort in order to keep the fees lower than they should be.

Then I make sure that the underlying week is something that can be sold in the future if necessary. I always buy RCI Points with underlying weeks that are during the Prime Season in a high demand area. I recently bought an RCI Points (already converted) timeshare with 69000 annual points. The maintenance fee is $550 and I bought it for $104 plus closing. There are some great deals out there on RCI Points. Not as many folks are familiar with RCI Points as they are regular Weeks timesharing. Therefore, I think many folks shy away from these Points timeshare auctions on eBay, many times even when there is a great underlying week attached to it.

Yes, Points are Points when it comes to exchanging. If you have the Points, then your Points will trade for whatever is available.
 
Easiest Exit Strategy In All Of Timesharing.

Egret1986 said:
But unless you can get rid of it in some way, you will be forever paying maintenance fees.
Click to expand...
That's another positive feature of the 3-year (renewable) points-timeshare lease.

If you like it, you re-up after 3 years.

If you don't like it, you simply do not renew & -- POOF ! -- it's gone.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​
 
I own RCI Points. I own Wyndham Points. I own fixed weeks. I belong to RCI and II and Redweek and SFXand DAE.

Despite all these various systems, points and companies, I have a plan which I try to follow.

My vacation plan works for me. What is your plan for yourself and your family? And in 5 years, will that plan still work? Timesharing can be expensive if you buy into the wrong resort or system or buy too many points. It is expensive because MFs are every year and MFs go up every year.

My plan is to spend the winter in South Florida looking at the ocean and soaking in a heated pool. During the rest of the year, go someplace different every 8-12 weeks for a week ... like New Orleans, Daytona, Las Vegas, NYC, etc. And it should cost me about $400 or less per week.
 
vacationhopeful said:
I own RCI Points. I own Wyndham Points. I own fixed weeks. I belong to RCI and II and Redweek and SFXand DAE.

Despite all these various systems, points and companies, I have a plan which I try to follow.

My vacation plan works for me. What is your plan for yourself and your family? And in 5 years, will that plan still work? Timesharing can be expensive if you buy into the wrong resort or system or buy too many points. It is expensive because MFs are every year and MFs go up every year.

My plan is to spend the winter in South Florida looking at the ocean and soaking in a heated pool. During the rest of the year, go someplace different every 8-12 weeks for a week ... like New Orleans, Daytona, Las Vegas, NYC, etc. And it should cost me about $400 or less per week.
Click to expand...

That is a great plan. I used to try and stay for less than $500 a week on average but now I am pretty happy with a less than $600 per week average because the MF's at my resorts have gone up considerably in the last few years. Timesharing when done correctly is supposed to provide owners with roomy above average accomodations for below average prices. If you are averaging $400 a week you are doing things right and I need to learn some of your secrets. :clap:
 
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Egret1986 said:
I recently bought an RCI Points (already converted) timeshare with 69000 annual points. The maintenance fee is $550 and I bought it for $104 plus closing. There are some great deals out there on RCI Points. Not as many folks are familiar with RCI Points as they are regular Weeks timesharing. Therefore, I think many folks shy away from these Points timeshare auctions on eBay, many times even when there is a great underlying week attached to it.
Click to expand...

That's funny because I was watching a similar auction today. It was a GREAT deal: 69K points, 123K free, $530 or so MFs in the Carribean. Resort was converted already to RCI. Two bidders got in a bidding war though. Last time I checked it was up to $660 or so, which is not bad (I think). I could be wrong, but I think someone got a really good deal-lol. Oh well, I am sure there will be another:rolleyes: :)
 
There is no doubt about that.

KnowThySelf said:
Oh well, I am sure there will be another:rolleyes: :)
Click to expand...

As has been said many times here on TUG....there will be another deal out there tomorrow, so don't buy until you've done enough research and have determined what will best suit your vacation needs. Timeshares are easier to buy than to sell.
 
Egret1986 said:
That is a personal opinion of mine. Whether it's a week or RCI Points, it's still a timeshare that in the future you may not want. But unless you can get rid of it in some way, you will be forever paying maintenance fees.

If I am not familiar with the resort, then I research the stability of the resort, the management, whether maintenance fees have remained stable and if there have been special assessments. Just because maintenance fees are low doesn't necessarily mean anything. Perhaps the management has let things go at the resort in order to keep the fees lower than they should be.

Then I make sure that the underlying week is something that can be sold in the future if necessary. I always buy RCI Points with underlying weeks that are during the Prime Season in a high demand area. I recently bought an RCI Points (already converted) timeshare with 69000 annual points. The maintenance fee is $550 and I bought it for $104 plus closing. There are some great deals out there on RCI Points. Not as many folks are familiar with RCI Points as they are regular Weeks timesharing. Therefore, I think many folks shy away from these Points timeshare auctions on eBay, many times even when there is a great underlying week attached to it.

Yes, Points are Points when it comes to exchanging. If you have the Points, then your Points will trade for whatever is available.
Click to expand...

I was just about to reply but your post clearly explains my views. Points are points but if the underying weeks is in disrepair with no repacement reserve you could be buying a headache with huge special assessments and increased maintenance fees in the future that you will be stuck with.:hi:
 
Larry said:
I was just about to reply but your post clearly explains my views. Points are points but if the underying weeks is in disrepair with no repacement reserve you could be buying a headache with huge special assessments and increased maintenance fees in the future that you will be stuck with.:hi:
Click to expand...

And from the RCI Points web site they tell you that the number of points your week is worth can be increased or reduced in the future due to changes in demand, resort ratings and reviews, and overall condition of the resort (etc). If you lose points you will still own the same underlying week. If you like the underlying week simply use it and don't deposit it with RCI for reduced points. If you don't like the underlying week you will have to settle for whatever points RCI gives you.
 
tombo said:
And from the RCI Points web site they tell you that the number of points your week is worth can be increased or reduced in the future due to changes in demand, resort ratings and reviews, and overall condition of the resort (etc). If you lose points you will still own the same underlying week. If you like the underlying week simply use it and don't deposit it with RCI for reduced points. If you don't like the underlying week you will have to settle for whatever points RCI gives you.
Click to expand...

That's a something I hadn't considered-loss of point value. Here I was thinking that if I buy X amount of points, it would always be X amount of points.:ponder:
 
One of my RCI Points resorts went up on value in the past 2 weeks or so. Special assessment 4 or 5 years ago, major unit upgrades, and better review equal higher point values.

Could just a easily go down at a resort, too.
 
tombo said:
And from the RCI Points web site they tell you that the number of points your week is worth can be increased or reduced in the future due to changes in demand, resort ratings and reviews, and overall condition of the resort (etc). If you lose points you will still own the same underlying week. If you like the underlying week simply use it and don't deposit it with RCI for reduced points. If you don't like the underlying week you will have to settle for whatever points RCI gives you.
Click to expand...

That's why I just purchased a Summer Bay points package on Ebay. Low maintenance fees and it is in the process of becoming a totally brand new resort with all of the renovations going on I figure this has a great chance of being upgraded from a standard resort to Gold Crown with an upgrade in the points package I purchased.

Even in a worst case scenario I recently retired and besides going to my Caribbean weeks I don't mind having to go to Vegas every couple of years !!!!!!:cheer: :hi: :whoopie:
 
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