How successful have you been getting a better unit using II EPlus ?

[sun starved Gayle]

Me, only so-so.

My history on II tells me only which times EPlus was successful, not on how many exchanges I had purchased EPlus for.

If my memory serves me correctly, I have purchased Eplus on my exchanges 5 times, all for Hawaii trades, and only been able to utilize EPlus twice, both times on Kauai. Once in early December of 2018, (which is not a hard time to trade for Hawaii) when I was able to upgrade from a studio to a one bedroom at WPOR. This retrade was the very next day after I made the original exchange. And once in 2017 when I was able to trade Cliffs Club to Pono Kai to Waiohoi for late January 2018. (That was a good one. Thanks Taterhed!) Those 3 trades and exchanges were less than 2 months out from check-in date, the last one less than a month.

I realize I was trying to re-trade at one of the most difficult times of the year for Hawaii, in January or February. And I am pretty diligent about checking II for availability. I leave the web page open on my desk and refresh literally, dozens of times a day. I even get up in the middle of the night and check. Yes, I get kind of obsessed.

But hope springs eternal and I am probably going to continue buying EPlus on my trades. I am curious about other Tugger's success with EPlus and the timeline of how it happened.

 

[melissy123]

I buy Eplus more times than not, but mainly as a built-in travel insurance for when our plans have to change. Or for example, if I'm not sure the ski area I'm heading to won't have had any good snow yet. I have been successful twice into exchanging into a larger unit, but felt that was a fluke more than anything. Lately though, I've noticed that the exchanges that have Eplus seem to have less trading power than the original deposit, so not sure how useful it is now for when I'm hoping to get a larger unit.
Seems like II is shooting itself in the foot though, if more and more people figure out Eplus is useless for trade-ups.

 

[mdurette]

My last 7 exchanges - I purchased E-Plus and used it on 5 of them. Like Melissy123, I figure it is cheap insurance.

Mainly I use it to obtain larger units in the same area/resort.

But, I have used it twice for completely different vacations when something better comes up that I prefer than my original.
(once was ski trip that was replaced by Frenchmans in St Thomas 4 days before it started). Sun and fun instead of snow....easy choice!

 

[jackio]

I only purchased E-plus once and used it. I had used a 2BR to exchange for a 1BR, then re-traded for a 2BR in another area. I then re-traded again for a 3BR in the same resort, but had to pay the upcharge.

 

[klpca]

Me, only so-so.

My history on II tells me only which times EPlus was successful, not on how many exchanges I had purchased EPlus for.

If my memory serves me correctly, I have purchased Eplus on my exchanges 5 times, all for Hawaii trades, and only been able to utilize EPlus twice, both times on Kauai. Once in early December of 2018, (which is not a hard time to trade for Hawaii) when I was able to upgrade from a studio to a one bedroom at WPOR. This retrade was the very next day after I made the original exchange. And once in 2017 when I was able to trade Cliffs Club to Pono Kai to Waiohoi for late January 2018. (That was a good one. Thanks Taterhed!) Those 3 trades and exchanges were less than 2 months out from check-in date, the last one less than a month.

I realize I was trying to re-trade at one of the most difficult times of the year for Hawaii, in January or February. And I am pretty diligent about checking II for availability. I leave the web page open on my desk and refresh literally, dozens of times a day. I even get up in the middle of the night and check. Yes, I get kind of obsessed.

But hope springs eternal and I am probably going to continue buying EPlus on my trades. I am curious about other Tugger's success with EPlus and the timeline of how it happened.

I purchase eplus with every exchange and almost always use all three retrades. I rarely use it to get a larger unit - if I know that I need a 2 bedroom I try to upsize on the original exchange even if I have to pay more (I am platinum so it isn't as bad). I use it as others have said as cheap insurance, to extend the life of my deposits, but mostly I like the option of changing my mind. For example when Embarc had their bulk deposit I booked a two bedroom unit (figured that someone would join us) in Whistler for next summer - got the exact week I wanted in July - and two days later a good friend told me that her daughter was getting married the same week. Unfortunately I couldn't get another two bedroom unit (cost of friendship, lol) but I was able to book the week before my original week. But I still have retrades left, so I may change my mind again and go somewhere else. I love the flexibility of eplus. It is one of my favorite things about II.

 

[Lydlady]

I recently used it. I had requested a week in May of 2020 for Hilton Head. I was offered Surf Watch and took it. I would have settled for that but wanted Grande Ocean plus a different week. I thought it was a long shot but I was able to get Grande Ocean plus the exact week I wanted. Excited because I was able to schedule two back-to-back weeks (different resort the first week).

 

[KarenP]

I always purchase it and use it to get a bigger unit. Works great!

 

[Gordgeous]

What is the cost of a non-eplus change vs the $59 eplus charge?

 

[SteelerGal]

The original trade fee. I believe $239.

 

[HudsHut]

II is $209.

 

[melissy123]

But the re-trade can only be done up to one week prior to check-in. E-plus can be done up to the date of check-in.

 

[SteelerGal]

II is $209.

That’s RCI that is $239. I unfortunately have to use both.

 

[Gordgeous]

Ok great that is helpful, thanks!

I just matched on my first II exchange, the date works but is not ideal (fri to fri check in). Sat to sat being ideal.

I realize that is fairly picky so I'm not that fussy but curious on cost if I happen to see the preferred option.

This was a Vistana (SDO) to Mariott (Barony Beach Resort in Hilton Head) exchange, which was originally 154 so from the comments I would anticipate that to then be the cost without ePlus to retrade.

I also entered my OGS only a week ago for an early Oct exchange, so guessing that is a fairly easy exchange to fulfill and the preferred option may actually surface in the next 8 months.

Ryan