Purchasing second-hand prevents status?

[ccomp23]

Hello! We just did an MVC presentation to look into purchasing more points since we only have 1500. We are wanting to become select members so that we can book earlier. We were told by the sales associate that if we bought the points from a third party we would not be eligible for status in MVC— so even if we had 5000 points we would not be Select? Is this true? Thank you!

 

[DanCali]

The points are the same as direct points after you pay the "junk fees" to Marriott ($3/pt).

 

[ccomp23]

The points are the same as direct points after you pay the "junk fees" to Marriott ($3/pt).

But are you getting the status?

 

[VacationForever]

But are you getting the status?

Yes.

 

[DanCali]

But are you getting the status?

That's what I meant when I said the points are the same . The same in every way....

The only reason to buy points direct from Marriott is if they also enroll a bunch of resale weeks in the process. And even then, it's not the most cost effective way due to "hybrid" packages and Europe/Aruba weeks you can buy from Marriott that can also enroll resale weeks at time of purchase. A direct purchase becomes a very expensive enrollment fee, but at least you get something you can't get otherwise.

 

[ccomp23]

Wow good to know the salesperson literally lied haha. Thank you!

 

[billymach4]

Wow good to know the salesperson literally lied haha. Thank you!

Yup. They can actually spin a good tale of lies.

 

[dougp26364]

Wow good to know the salesperson literally lied haha. Thank you!

It’s never surprising when they lie.
It’s always surprising when they tell the truth.

 

[JIMinNC]

Wow good to know the salesperson literally lied haha. Thank you!

Technically, what he said may have been true. In the program governing docs it does say that resale points bought from a third-party do not have full booking privileges or count for status. But then it goes on to say that full privileges/status can be achieved for resale points by paying Marriott Vacation Club their $3/point fee. So, the salesperson may not have explicitly lied, but instead just told you part of the story.

 

[JIMinNC]

Deleted duplicate post

 

[TolmiePeak]

I don't see much benefits in chasing status. Just a bunch of dubious worth benefits. Same dishonest game the airlines and regular hotel chains pull.

 

[rthib]

I don't see much benefits in chasing status. Just a bunch of dubious worth benefits. Same dishonest game the airlines and regular hotel chains pull.

Status actually makes a difference, though I will say just going to Select is not a big jump since it just allows you to book 7 days at 13 months with no premium.
If you stay at Marriott Hotels, it gets you Platinum status which includes lounge and 4pm check out (at non-resorts) which is nice.
I am lifetime Titanium so we have that in my wife's name so she gets Platinum when she travels without me.

For us going to executive was only 1000 points (and bought during COVID so passed ROFR at a low price)
That unlocked 13 month for any number of nights and the 30 day reservation discount (which we use a lot.)

So going to Executive for a few points was an easy choice, not sure I would do it just for status.

For the OP, 1500 is too few points so maybe buying the 3500 resale might be worth it if they plan to travel a lot and don't want the risks of renting points.

 

[Dean]

I don't see much benefits in chasing status. Just a bunch of dubious worth benefits. Same dishonest game the airlines and regular hotel chains pull.

I do think status can have value but the question is at what cost. It likely isn't worth it to purchase unless someone is close to the next level that would add value for them OR they going to buy anyway and can structure to get to

 

[rickandcindy23]

What should a person expect to pay for Abound resale points to start, then adding in the $3 per point for Marriott?

Are we talking $3 per point + $3 per point, $6 per point X 17,660 (what we own with our grandfathered resale) is quite a lot of money. $106,000. I guess we did okay on our OFC Westin resale weeks.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Just answered my own question. Looked at rofr.net and see even $2.77 and $2.75 failed to pass ROFR. $3 is probably possible, but maybe over $3 now?

 

[ccomp23]

Status actually makes a difference, though I will say just going to Select is not a big jump since it just allows you to book 7 days at 13 months with no premium.
If you stay at Marriott Hotels, it gets you Platinum status which includes lounge and 4pm check out (at non-resorts) which is nice.
I am lifetime Titanium so we have that in my wife's name so she gets Platinum when she travels without me.

For us going to executive was only 1000 points (and bought during COVID so passed ROFR at a low price)
That unlocked 13 month for any number of nights and the 30 day reservation discount (which we use a lot.)

So going to Executive for a few points was an easy choice, not sure I would do it just for status.

For the OP, 1500 is too few points so maybe buying the 3500 resale might be worth it if they plan to travel a lot and don't want the risks of renting points.

I think our biggest issue at owner status is that all of the hotels we want to stay at aren’t available when we are looking at 12 months out. We were told at the presentation yesterday that reaching Select also opens more inventory because right now as an owner I only have access to “20%” of the properties. Is this not true?

 

[Pamplemousse]

There

Just answered my own question. Looked at rofr.net and see even $2.77 and $2.75 failed to pass ROFR. $3 is probably possible, but maybe over $3 now?

There are few reports on rofr dot net for this year.
It’s a voluntary reporting site not tied to actual sales so really we don’t know.
I read people saying between $3-$4 dollars passes but I don’t know where they get their figure- I’ve parroted it myself a few times.
But there are over 300 listings of points for sale on redweek so easy to just submit an offer and see if it’s accepted and passes rofr and if not go for another until one works.

 

[Pamplemousse]

Technically, what he said may have been true. In the program governing docs it does say that resale points bought from a third-party do not have full booking privileges or count for status. But then it goes on to say that full privileges/status can be achieved for resale points by paying Marriott Vacation Club their $3/point fee. So, the salesperson may not have explicitly lied, but instead just told you part of the story.

Exactly.
I used to work in the technical department of a company and when we challenged marketing/sales that their claims weren’t true they would say ‘but they’re not false either’.

 

[ccomp23]

There

There are few reports on rofr dot net for this year.
It’s a voluntary reporting site not tied to actual sales so really we don’t know.
I read people saying between $3-$4 dollars passes but I don’t know where they get their figure- I’ve parroted it myself a few times.
But there are over 300 listings of points for sale on redweek so easy to just submit an offer and see if it’s accepted and passes rofr and if not go for another until one works.

Wouldn’t you need a broker to complete closing though?

 

[Pamplemousse]

I think our biggest issue at owner status is that all of the hotels we want to stay at aren’t available when we are looking at 12 months out. We were told at the presentation yesterday that reaching Select also opens more inventory because right now as an owner I only have access to “20%” of the properties. Is this not true?

That is 100% false.

First, only a % of inventory is released at 13 months (I believe it’s up to 1/2?).
Second, any level can book at 13 months, you just have to pay a point premium to do so at owner.

I have no idea where the 20% came from- I can’t even guess on that.

The question now is why are you having so much trouble booking- even at 12 months.
When you say hotels I assume you mean the timeshares?

If you have a look at the when can I reserve calculator at book online right at 9AM (or sometimes a little before) you should be able to get what you want- with maybe a few exceptions for really high season/large units. If you don’t get it then waitlist and also keep looking.

 

[ccomp23]

That is 100% false.

First, only a % of inventory is released at 13 week (I believe it’s up to 1/2?).
Second, any level can book at 13 months, you just have to pay a point premium to do so.

I have no idea where the 20% came from- I can’t even guess on that.

The question now is why are you having so much trouble booking- even at 12 months.
When you say hotels I assume you mean the timeshares?

Oh yes— sorry— timeshares. For example, we wanted to get some of the Westin Vacation Clubs in the Caribbean and they weren’t available at exactly 12 months so we called to get on the waitlist and months later still never got it. The salesperson said that’s because Westin properties are not fully open to “Owners” and are given access to only 20% of the property. However, at Select the entire Westin inventory opens to us.

 

[Pamplemousse]

Wouldn’t you need a broker to complete closing though?

I’m not sure what you are asking?
You don’t close until it passes rofr.

 

[Pamplemousse]

Oh yes— sorry— timeshares. For example, we wanted to get some of the Westin Vacation Clubs in the Caribbean and they weren’t available at exactly 12 months so we called to get on the waitlist and months later still never got it. The salesperson said that’s because Westin properties are not fully open to “Owners” and are given access to only 20% of the property. However, at Select the entire Westin inventory opens to us.

I believe the only carribean Westin that you can book with Abound points is St. John and I am not familiar with special rules for booking Westin properties with Abound points. Maybe someone else can comment.
What I have posted is true for MVC.

 

[claraj]

Oh yes— sorry— timeshares. For example, we wanted to get some of the Westin Vacation Clubs in the Caribbean and they weren’t available at exactly 12 months so we called to get on the waitlist and months later still never got it. The salesperson said that’s because Westin properties are not fully open to “Owners” and are given access to only 20% of the property. However, at Select the entire Westin inventory opens to us.

This is a different issue. Foreign properties are sold as weeks. The inventory available to book with points is if a week owner elects to convert its weeks to points. I've booked a week at Westin Lagunamar with points as soon as it became available. So it's not impossible. I think 20% is a guess and not precise.

USVI properties might be an exception (is this in the trust?)

 

[ccomp23]

You go through rofr before you work with a broker? I am confused at how you test our rofr without one

I’m not sure what you are asking?
You don’t close until it passes rofr.