What DON'T you get by buying resale?

We have 1 EY and 1 EOY at the same property purchased from SVO which makes us a 3* Elite.

If we were to consider buying additional units resale, what would I not get by not purchasing from SVO

or, in other words

Besides a higher price, what privileges or perks do you get from buying from the developer that you can't get through resale?

Would I have to treat the use/trade/renting of the resale purchase differently than the developer property or is it just added to my "what I own" account?

I own a developer week and a resale week and there aren't many differences.

1) Resales can't be converted to Starpoints (usually a poor exchange anyway - I would never do it.)

2) Resales at a Staroption Voluntary Resort can't be exchanged within the SVN - but Resales from Mandatory Resorts can. (See the list in the FAQ.)

3) You can't combine the Staroptions from different resale weeks to make a Staroption exchange.

4) You should have an edge when you exchange a resale with II, because it is believed that you have the legal right to reserve and deposit a week of your choice (since you are not an SVN member, SVN rules regarding deposits should not apply to you). However, Starwood does attempt to choose the week for you (people have reported different results when challenging this policy, i.e., some are successful in depositing the week of their choice and some are not). You would have a separate II Acct. for resale weeks - and resale weeks still have the II priority.

5) You would have a separate mystarcentral.com Acct. for any resale weeks, but besides that, the Acct. would be identical.

I think that's about it. Reserving, exchanging, and renting are the same, except for the points noted above.

Unless you intend to become 5 Star Elite, there is virtually no reason to buy from the developer.

*One more, you wouldn't receive a Starpoint incentive to buy when you buy resale, but you might find a savings of $20K a better incentive.

Edited to include info. provided by others in this thread and then added to FAQ - Thanks!

DeniseM said:

4) You actually have an edge when you exchange a resale with II, because you get to choose the week to deposit, not Starwood. You would have a separate II Acct. for resale weeks - and resale weeks still have the II priority.

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Are you sure about this? If so, it would make me very happy and I'll be sure to deposit a July week at WKORV.

LisaRex said:

Are you sure about this? If so, it would make me very happy and I'll be sure to deposit a July week at WKORV.

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What DeniseM was referring to works only in voluntary resorts; it will not work in mandatory resorts like WKORV.

In fact as a WKORV owner that has gone the past four years on July 4th week-ends, I am glad I don't have to compete with all the owners that want to reserve the July 4th week and deposit it in II for just trading power.

LisaRex said:

Are you sure about this? If so, it would make me very happy and I'll be sure to deposit a July week at WKORV.

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I believe this would only apply to non-mandatory resale weeks. Starwood still controls deposits on resale mandatory units.

Glorian

Thanks - I will edit the bit about Voluntary II deposits!

LisaRex said:

Are you sure about this? If so, it would make me very happy and I'll be sure to deposit a July week at WKORV.

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Each resorts 'rules' are different in regards to II - if you wanted to use one of the independents, then you do deposit the week you reserve...the independents know how to arrange this without difficulty.

With II, it has been reported here that owners at SBP, PGA, SDO have had success depositing their reserved weeks, especially if it is also their deeded week.

skim118 said:

I am glad I don't have to compete with all the owners that want to reserve the July 4th week and deposit it in II for just trading power.

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Frankly, I can't imagine depositing any WKORV week with II - you get far more value out of renting it, especially a holiday week!

Pat - you're the II/Starwood expert. Help me word this correctly:

4) You actually have an edge when you exchange a resale with II, because you get to choose the week to deposit, not Starwood. You would have a separate II Acct. for resale weeks - and resale weeks still have the II priority.

DeniseM said:

4) You actually have an edge when you exchange a resale with II, because you get to choose the week to deposit, not Starwood. You would have a separate II Acct. for resale weeks - and resale weeks still have the II priority.

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If this is true how does this work? I did not purchase resale. I bought a floating week from the developer in 1998 at Sheraton Vistana Resort. When Starwood entered an agreement with Vistana I did not convert to points or options of any kind. I have traded through RCI weeks for 10 years and now that the trades do not do very well with RCI I joined II and placed my first ongoing search. First I reserved the week that I wanted...a holiday of course, I called II to deposit and they said they could not accept this week...Starwood would have to deposit a week for me. Sure enough I called and they said I would have to relinquish my reserved week and take the week they deposited for me. It was not even from my resort. If you are correct I wish someone would tell me how to pull this off since this is the timeshare agreement I originally purchased "at top dollar" before I found Tug.
If it matters I bought my own II membership.

Iwant2gonow said:

If this is true how does this work? I did not purchase resale. I bought a floating week from the developer in 1998 at Sheraton Vistana Resort.

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I am only speculating, but because you bought from the original developer you must be being treated like someone who bought from Starwood.

However, since you bought from the original developer, you may have rights that are being violated?

GrayFal said:

Each resorts 'rules' are different in regards to II - if you wanted to use one of the independents, then you do deposit the week you reserve...the independents know how to arrange this without difficulty.

With II, it has been reported here that owners at SBP, PGA, SDO have had success depositing their reserved weeks, especially if it is also their deeded week.

Click to expand...

Pat is correct here. However, Starwood continues to try to control the deposits to II for resale SBP and PGA weeks (and probably SDO, although I have no personal experience with this one). I have been successful in insisting they deposit the week I've reserved, but they do not make it easy. It takes multiple phone calls, emails, asking to speak to the legal department, etc. I'm trying to "push the envelope" to obtain a legal opinion (my attorney is prepared to get involved this year) to stop the nonsense once and for all. I'll let everyone know the outcome, but it won't be for many months (after I make my summer 2009 SBP reservations).

Denise -- I think the best wording would be something like:

4) You should have an edge when you exchange a resale with II, because it is believed that you have the legal right to reserve and deposit a week of your choice (since you are not an SVN member, SVN rules regarding deposits should not apply to you). However, Starwood does attempt to choose the week for you (people have reported different results when challenging this policy, i.e., some are successful in depositing the week of their choice and some are not). You would have a separate II Acct. for resale weeks - and resale weeks still have the II priority.

jerseygirl said:

Pat is correct here. However, Starwood continues to try to control the deposits to II for resale SBP and PGA weeks (and probably SDO, although I have no personal experience with this one). I have been successful in insisting they deposit the week I've reserved, but they do not make it easy. It takes multiple phone calls, emails, asking to speak to the legal department, etc. I'm trying to "push the envelope" to obtain a legal opinion (my attorney is prepared to get involved this year) to stop the nonsense once and for all. I'll let everyone know the outcome, but it won't be for many months (after I make my summer 2009 SBP reservations).

Denise -- I think the best wording would be something like:

4) You should have an edge when you exchange a resale with II, because it is believed that you have the legal right to reserve and deposit a week of your choice (since you are not an SVN member, SVN rules regarding deposits should not apply to you). However, Starwood does attempt to choose the week for you (people have reported different results when challenging this policy, i.e., some are successful in depositing the week of their choice and some are not). You would have a separate II Acct. for resale weeks - and resale weeks still have the II priority.

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J-girls description is excellent! I agree with her statement.

DeniseM said:

I am only speculating, but because you bought from the original developer you must be being treated like someone who bought from Starwood.

However, since you bought from the original developer, you may have rights that are being violated?

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And I agree with Denise part two - especially as a 'Vistana' owner, they were also the developer (after Embassy) of PGA where I own.
Go to my star central and read you owner info...got to RUN!

DeniseM said:

Pat - you're the II/Starwood expert.
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I am always learning thanks to the generosity of others on this board

And other TS Resort Systems?

I only ask this here because I see that many of you own multiple company's properties.....I will probably post a similar question on their boards......

Now that I've determined that I don't add anything to my SVO portfolio (higher status, more combinable staroption points, etc.) except more weeks at the same choice of resorts, wouldn't it be more beneficial to purchase resale at Marriott, Hyatt, or other?

Do any of you know the answer to my question ("What don't you get by buying resale?) in respect to the other major companies?

Mindy - Since this is the Starwood board, it would be better to post that question on the boards for other systems. There are some very knowledgable owners on the other boards, that would never see the question here.

mindy35 said:

Now that I've determined that I don't add anything to my SVO portfolio (higher status, more combinable staroption points, etc.) except more weeks at the same choice of resorts, wouldn't it be more beneficial to purchase resale at Marriott, Hyatt, or other?

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I think the "Buy where you want to go" rule holds true. If I purchased a second timeshare, it would probably be with Marriott because they have a large presence at the places I want to visit within driving distance of my home.

However, given that I'm now a member of II, I'm going to try and see if I can't maximize its potential with villas that are available to rent for a fraction of what they rent for on the open market.

I've also discovered great rental sites such as Redweek, Tug, etc. which holds a lot of promise without the hassle and commitment of actually owning.

Thanks everybody, I used the info. in this thread to update the FAQ. Thanks especially to those of you who helped with the II info.!