SDO exchange- WTD?

[dr.debs]

I have been reading on this forum for a couple of weeks now, since winning an SDO EOY 2b/LO on ebay in May. As it is EOY even year, I presumably will be able to use a week this year. I would like to go to Maui in late Oct or first week of November. I emailed the resale company managing the transaction (timeshare freedom) and asked them to reserve a week for me, requesting a high demand week (knowing the likelihood of a reservation at this late date is low). My thought was to deposit both the 1br, and lockoff and see what I could get with II (at most there will be 4 traveling, and more likely just my daughter and I). If I can't get anything at least I can bank them for next year.

Any ideas? I know there are a lot of nice properties on Maui- recommendations for a good strategy?

 

[DeniseM]

You will have to go through Starwood to deposit a week with II, so yes you can reserve a week, but Starwood probably won't let you deposit it and make an exchange independent of Starwood.

On the other hand, since Oct. and early Nov. are low season, you have a good chance of being able to exchange into WKORV or WKORV-N with the Starwood 3 day priority in II. Have you looked at the TUG Sightings board to see what Starwood has deposited in the past? You may even be able to snag it with only one side of the lock-off.

 

[dr.debs]

Denise- I plead ignorance. I don't know what the sighting board is.

 

[DeniseM]

I'm sorry - I honestly didn't notice you were a guest. It's a TUG board where people post what they can see online on the exchange companies' websites for exchange. For instance, yesterday there was a huge deposit of Lagunamar weeks. But you have to be a TUG member to access it.

If you decide to join TUG, it's only $15 - In addition to the Sightings Board, as a member, you also get access to the TUG member's only reviews which is one of the most valuable resources on TUG!

 

[pointsjunkie]

i do not know where or how to access the sighting boards.please help.

 

[dr.debs]

I'm sorry - I honestly didn't notice you were a guest. It's a TUG board where people post what they can see online on the exchange companies' websites for exchange. For instance, yesterday there was a huge deposit of Lagunamar weeks. But you have to be a TUG member to access it.

If you decide to join TUG, it's only $15 - In addition to the Sightings Board, as a member, you also get access to the TUG member's only reviews which is one of the most valuable resources on TUG!

Denise-I am now an official "member" of TUG! I had trouble changing my membership status but thanks to a helpful email from TUG I sorted it out

I still am confused how to access the sighting board but continue to browse...

 

[dr.debs]

i do not know where or how to access the sighting boards.please help.

Ok I found it! scroll down under "forum Jump" and it is the next to last listing "distress/sightings" forum. Very helpful, although I did not see any Maui sightings for the end of Oct/early Nov. I will keep my eye on it, but can't do anything until my TS at SDO, and MCV are recorded.

"I feel the need for speed!"

 

[DeniseM]

When you look at the list of all the TUG boards, it is right under the TUG Lounge and is entitled Sightings/Distressed. To see a list of all the boards, click on TUG BBS HOME at the top of the page.

Hi Deb - there aren't any current posts for your time frame, but I was suggesting that you go back and see what's been posted for Maui in the past, to get an idea of what is available. To find older posts, go the the Sightings board and click on SEARCH THIS FORUM and the search for Westin or Maui.

 

[pointsjunkie]

found it, next, to get a good trade like that do i have to have my unit given to starwood so it is ready to trade ? how long does it take starwood to put a unit in so i can trade? i can look all i want but if it has not been given to starwood to trade am just looking, correct?

 

[DeniseM]

found it, next, to get a good trade like that do i have to have my unit given to starwood so it is ready to trade ? how long does it take starwood to put a unit in so i can trade? i can look all i want but if it has not been given to starwood to trade am just looking, correct?

Yes - you have to have a week deposited to even see everything available. Here is an article from the Owner Resources Sticky about how to exchange with II - http://tug2.net/advice/starwoodexchangeprimer.htm

 

[dr.debs]

Sightings prediction

When you look at the list of all the TUG boards, it is right under the TUG Lounge and is entitled Sightings/Distressed. To see a list of all the boards, click on TUG BBS HOME at the top of the page.

Hi Deb - there aren't any current posts for your time frame, but I was suggesting that you go back and see what's been posted for Maui in the past, to get an idea of what is available. To find older posts, go the the Sightings board and click on SEARCH THIS FORUM and the search for Westin or Maui.

Thanks Denise- Idid just that. the sightings for the end of October/early Nov for Maui last year between July and Oct are very spotty. If fact, I saw nothing for my particular time range this year.

Perhaps I should make a back up plan. Kona seems easier to get according to last years sightings.

On another note, I saw a very large, bulk deposit, for the Westin kaanapali on Oct 1 2007, for date ranges 6mo-12 months in the future. Is this typical?

 

[DeniseM]

On another note, I saw a very large, bulk deposit, for the Westin kaanapali on Oct 1 2007, for date ranges 6mo-12 months in the future. Is this typical?

There isn't much rhyme or reason to bulk deposits, so your best bet is to check II and the Sightings Board every day.

 

[SDKath]

The sightings are really only good for about 2-3 days. Then the Starwood priority ends and everyone has access to these units so they disappear. You have to check the sightings board pretty much daily to get use out of it. I would just wait patiently.... (hard to do!).

Welcome! Katherine

 

[pointsjunkie]

The sightings are really only good for about 2-3 days. Then the Starwood priority ends and everyone has access to these units so they disappear. You have to check the sightings board pretty much daily to get use out of it. I would just wait patiently.... (hard to do!).

Welcome! Katherine

your units have already been given to starwood to trade with II, is this correct?

what if you don't get anything you want can the units go back into the starwood inventory?

 

[DeniseM]

Once you deposit your week with II - it belongs to II, whether or not you get the exchange you want. That is why most of us won't deposit an expensive week with II or any other exchange company.

The upside is that you can use a cheapo resale, like SDO, to exchange into the most popular Starwood resorts.

 

[SDKath]

You also have 2 years from the time you "deposited" your units to exchange. So it gives you a LOT Of time to get something nice, especially with the aide of the Sightings Board here and at TS4Ms.

But if you have a fixed week and place in mind to travel, you might be better off requesting an ongoing search with II, where you specify the resorts and the weeks you are willing to exchange to.... The only downside to this is that if you are looking for a 2BR unit to exchange into, you will need to deposit 2BR to get it. So it's size for size, unlike the "bulk deposits" where even a studio unit can often grab a 2BR somewhere nice like Lagunamar or WKORV!

Katherine

 

[jerseygirl]

Small clarification to the above -- you don't have to have your week actually deposited to see what's available. You just need to have your week registered with II (automatic for developer purchases, paid membership required for resale purchases). You can then search without actually depositing. If you see something you want, then you confirm the exchange and deposit the week.

 

[DeniseM]

Hi Jersey Girl - When I search with my non-deposited WKORV week I can hardly see anything - having a week actually deposited makes a big difference.

GrayFal let me check out her account with deposited weeks and I could see far more availability than I could see with my non-deposited WKORV week, even though, in theory, the WKORV week should have more trading power.

 

[SDKath]

Denise:

I am the same way. With undeposited weeks, I can hardly see anything when I search. But with a deposited week, I can pull just about anything that is out there. I am surprised by this too!

Katherine

 

[jerseygirl]

That's really strange Denise. The vast majority of sightings I've posted over the years are with undeposited weeks, including the recent Lagunamar sighting. I can't imagine why your WKORV isn't seeing everything (at least the full 2-BR and the 1-BR side ... II is notoriously strict with studios). I've lost track of my corporate Harborside account number, but I remember checking it out (searching with an undeposited week) when I first got it and it saw everything one would expect it to see. I should be receiving my new WSJ card soon -- I'll check it out as well. Maybe your account isn't set up correctly. Next time I (or someone else) posts a bulk banking, if you can't see all of it with your 2-BR , and most of it (if not all of it) with your 1-BR side, you should call II right then and there ... something must be wrong.

 

[jerseygirl]

And you too Kath? What are you searching with?

 

[pointsjunkie]

Small clarification to the above -- you don't have to have your week actually deposited to see what's available. You just need to have your week registered with II (automatic for developer purchases, paid membership required for resale purchases). You can then search without actually depositing. If you see something you want, then you confirm the exchange and deposit the week.

i know that you don't have to deposit to see what's available. how do you confirm the exchange if starwood is not definitely depositing the unit you have? how long does it take to deposit a week? will it done at the moment you are on the phone or does it take a while and then can the unit you want be gone?

 

[jerseygirl]

When you see something you want, you can grab the unit right then and there -- you just hit exchange, pay the fee, and it will go into "pending confirmation" status. II holds the trade for roughly 14 days (don't quote me on that timing -- they send a postcard if Starwood doesn't confirm right away but I can't remember the exact timing of the "we're going to cancel on X date if your resort doesn't confirm" message). Then, the tricky part begins -- getting Starwood to deposit something of equivalent trading value. When I do grab a trade, it's with a week I've reserved --- it helps my argument (and, believe me, I've had to argue). I tell them they have to deposit the exact week I've reserved or something equivalent that will qualify for the same trade. I've had to get supervisors involved, but it's worked successfully. Although most of their employees are pretty clueless about II trading, you can get them to understand that you won't get the trade if they deposit a crummy week.

Important note: I don't wait for the postcard -- I start calling Starwood immediately after trading to begin the process of getting them to confirm the week. It's painful -- I had hopes it was getting better after Pat (grayfal) reported successfully depositing reserved weeks. Then, there were a few reports of Starwood denying deposits ... so I don't know what to expect this year as I move into "prime reservation season" for BP. It's extremely frustrating ... I own lots of weeks ... several different mini-systems, and Starwood is the ONLY one that makes the exchange process painful. Although I don't like it that they control deposits for SVN weeks, I understand that they have the right to do so -- it's written into the contract you sign. But -- they have no right to control deposits for non-SVN weeks -- they can't have have their cake (deny membership to SVN) and eat it too (try to enforce SVN's rules).

 

[GrayFal]

That's really strange Denise. The vast majority of sightings I've posted over the years are with undeposited weeks, including the recent Lagunamar sighting. I can't imagine why your WKORV isn't seeing everything (at least the full 2-BR and the 1-BR side ... II is notoriously strict with studios). I've lost track of my corporate Harborside account number, but I remember checking it out (searching with an undeposited week) when I first got it and it saw everything one would expect it to see. I should be receiving my new WSJ card soon -- I'll check it out as well. Maybe your account isn't set up correctly. Next time I (or someone else) posts a bulk banking, if you can't see all of it with your 2-BR , and most of it (if not all of it) with your 1-BR side, you should call II right then and there ... something must be wrong.

The difference Uma is that Denise M's account is the 'dreaded' SVN account - you see MUCH more with your 'regular' II account with your NON-SVN Starwood weeks in it using both undeposited and deposited weeks.

 

[GrayFal]

your units have already been given to starwood to trade with II, is this correct?

what if you don't get anything you want can the units go back into the starwood inventory?

You can do a "Request First" with II - you don't give them your week until they find the exchange u want - guarenteeing you don't lose the use of your week - there are certain restrictions - please see the stickies at the tp of this page....regarding request first - it is also in MyStarCentral under your ownership and how to trade with II.