[2012] "Should My Week(s) Be Enrolled?"

[m61376]

Great Thread!

I don't know what to do... I am not currently enrolled but am considering it.
Does the DC cover II trade fees?

Here is my situation:


- Resale: Desert Springs Villas II, 2 bedroom, lock off
- DC points:2150
- II Membership: I own another property, non-Marriott so I have to pay II membership anyways
-Usage: always trade with II, lock off annually.
- 1 Lock Off Fee annually
- 2 II Trade Fees annually

It doesn't look like using the DC points will benefit me at all.
I usually trade my lock off for something high end, Maui, Kauai, NCV, etc.

I am not familiar with MR since I am resale, but joining DC now would give me access to MR. Is it worth it to join for MR and saving on lock off and trade fees?

Thank you for any suggestions.

Since you bought resale it will cost you $1495 to join. If you trade to other Marriotts it will cover the trading fee, so between 2 trade fees a year and the lock-off fee, you'll break even in about 7 years, taking into account the $165 annual club dues. If you can utilize the 800 bonus points and/or if you will take advantage of owner discounts at Marriott.com or renting points from others those benefits may help offset the up front cost. Otherwise it's a big up front cost that will take a long time to recoup.

 

[brigechols]

Check out the April 2012 MVCI Insider online newsletter. There is a link to a video of happy Marriott multiple week owners explaining why they enrolled in the DC.

 

[NJDave]

Another benefit for some owners who join is that there is a good market to buy and sell (i.e. one time rental use) destination points. I have found it easy to unload a week, that we didn't need, for more than the annual maintenace fees. I could not do this if I was going to rent the week in Orlando where we own. I have also rented points to secure a trade that was otherwise diificult to obtain.

My point is that even if don't plan to exchange using destination points, it is still good to have the option to buy and sell the points as an enrolled owner.

 

[pebbles7302]

Great summary

Thanks for a great summary as I've been avoiding the whole subject. After review I don't think that enrolling would be worth it for me as I currently own both Marriott and Westgate (yes, bought before finding this forum) and I trade through II, so I would have to pay for 2 accounts. Work and family concerns have kept me from traveling much recently, so I tend to store and extend weeks. My trading priority has been places that are close by that I can get to quickly and relax. I have been relatively happy with II. My only concern is that in the future availability will decrease and I will lose trading potential. Still don't think that I would proceed at this time. Would appreciate opinions. Thanks

 

[abg1688]

I went to a presentation at Manor Club (I picked up 1 week as Getaway from II for $402) this morning, and I'm very confused now. I own 1 week of 3 br Aruba surf club gold season resale. The sales person basically told me I should not considering DC enrollment. Instead, I should purchase 1500 trust points for ~$16000 (annual Maintance fee~$600), so that my Aruba unit can be considered as if it is purchased from Marriott. He also commented that there will be no more II getaways of Marriott units. All marriot inventory will go to the trust.

I'd greatly if I can get some clarification from this forum. Thanks!

 

[brigechols]

I went to a presentation at Manor Club (I picked up 1 week as Getaway from II for $402) this morning, and I'm very confused now. I own 1 week of 3 br Aruba surf club gold season resale. The sales person basically told me I should not considering DC enrollment. Instead, I should purchase 1500 trust points for ~$16000 (annual Maintance fee~$600), so that my Aruba unit can be considered as if it is purchased from Marriott. He also commented that there will be no more II getaways of Marriott units. All marriot inventory will go to the trust.

I'd greatly if I can get some clarification from this forum. Thanks!

You do not need to purchase 1500 trust points so that your Aruba unit can be considered as if it was purchased from Marriott. Owners of weeks purchased on the resale market (i.e., not through Marriott) can (1) enroll those weeks and (2) gain the privilege of trading the use of their week(s) for Marriott Rewards points if they enroll, but only if their purchase closed and the deed was recorded by June 20, 2010. Such owners receive the same Trade for Points privileges (some resorts do not offer the MR points option) as developer-purchase owners of the same resort and season.

 

[m61376]

I went to a presentation at Manor Club (I picked up 1 week as Getaway from II for $402) this morning, and I'm very confused now. I own 1 week of 3 br Aruba surf club gold season resale. The sales person basically told me I should not considering DC enrollment. Instead, I should purchase 1500 trust points for ~$16000 (annual Maintance fee~$600), so that my Aruba unit can be considered as if it is purchased from Marriott. He also commented that there will be no more II getaways of Marriott units. All marriot inventory will go to the trust.

I'd greatly if I can get some clarification from this forum. Thanks!

As posted above, you can enroll your unit for $1495 and it will be on equal footing with other legacy weeks.

As for the Getaway weeks- it is a way for Marriott to get rid of some excess inventory. The trust is a legal entity, and Marriott simply can't put weeks in and out of the trust at whim.

Sounds like the sales people at Manor Club (based on another post of similar ilk) need a lesson in ethics.

 

[SueDonJ]

-- bump to first page --

(I hope folks don't consider this to be shameless hawking, but a few new posts that can be answered by this thread have surfaced. It can't help anybody if it's way down on Page 3.)

 

[dioxide45]

I went to a presentation at Manor Club (I picked up 1 week as Getaway from II for $402) this morning, and I'm very confused now. I own 1 week of 3 br Aruba surf club gold season resale. The sales person basically told me I should not considering DC enrollment. Instead, I should purchase 1500 trust points for ~$16000 (annual Maintance fee~$600), so that my Aruba unit can be considered as if it is purchased from Marriott. He also commented that there will be no more II getaways of Marriott units. All marriot inventory will go to the trust.

I'd greatly if I can get some clarification from this forum. Thanks!

The sales person is wrong about no getaway weeks. They are using scare tactics to get people to buy. I guess it works or they wouldn't use it.

I would however potentially consider purchasing a week in Aruba. It is a way to possibly get points on the cheap (well, cheaper compared to the current per point price of trust points). Aruba still sells weeks. These weeks since they are direct purchases can be enrolled in DC. They would be legacy points though.

The sales person you spoke to was there to sell you trust points and nothing else. Of course he would say there is no sense just enrolling. He doesn't get a penny for getting you to enroll, he gets paid when you buy trust points.

 

[SueDonJ]

--- bumpety bump bump ---

There are questions floating around out there and in PM's, and this fell off the first page, so ...

*****
A couple of things -

First, a technical thing - if you're enrolling, you should probably not wait until the last moment before the deadline to do it. There have been several deadlines for various things since the DC inception and at every one of them there were IT issues that caused long wait times on the phone and/or a glitchy website. Spare yourself the headache if you can - I'd do it a week before.

Second, a somewhat personal thing - thank you for the compliments on the first post in this thread. I appreciate them, but I feel awkward accepting them because without all the thousands of threads on TUG in which we've all contributed our DC-related experience and knowledge, I never would have been able to learn it all or write it out. This thing has been a group effort all the way. The credit belongs to all of us.

 

[TheTimeTraveler]

--- bumpety bump bump ---

There are questions floating around out there and in PM's, and this fell off the first page, so ...

*****
A couple of things -

First, a technical thing - if you're enrolling, you should probably not wait until the last moment before the deadline to do it. There have been several deadlines for various things since the DC inception and at every one of them there were IT issues that caused long wait times on the phone and/or a glitchy website. Spare yourself the headache if you can - I'd do it a week before.

Second, a somewhat personal thing - thank you for the compliments on the first post in this thread. I appreciate them, but I feel awkward accepting them because without all the thousands of threads on TUG in which we've all contributed our DC-related experience and knowledge, I never would have been able to learn it all or write it out. This thing has been a group effort all the way. The credit belongs to all of us.

Sue; Excellent point you make in advising folks not to wait until the last minute in case there are some IT glitches.




.

 

[SDMiller]

Eoy Weeks Owners

We are legacy owners - a total of five weeks - Ko'Olina week #5 is an EOY - when looking on the Marriott website to see what point value we have it totals over 17,000 DC points - will our points be totaled on all our weeks or just the annual and then one of the EOY properties = 13,000 DC points?

Also - so because we own so many weeks=points we pay more for the annual fee?

Still deciding.......

SD

 

[jimf41]

We are legacy owners - a total of five weeks - Ko'Olina week #5 is an EOY - when looking on the Marriott website to see what point value we have it totals over 17,000 DC points - will our points be totaled on all our weeks or just the annual and then one of the EOY properties = 13,000 DC points?
Also - so because we own so many weeks=points we pay more for the amnnual fee?

Still deciding.......

SD

They totaled both my EOY weeks to get the final total that they use to figure my Premiere plus level. I would have made it anyway if they only used one years worth of points but when I signed up they said that's the way it was figured.

You'll pay $199 currently with your portfolio.

 

[NCVillas]

We are multi-week NCV owners who have not enrolled, and don't plan to unless the II inventory goes way down. We have had no issues the times we have requested an exchange.
I have been wondering if anyone has seen a decrease in II availability for Marriott>Marriott exchanges. I don't check on a regular basis as we only exchange every even year.

 

[TheTimeTraveler]

We are multi-week NCV owners who have not enrolled, and don't plan to unless the II inventory goes way down. We have had no issues the times we have requested an exchange.
I have been wondering if anyone has seen a decrease in II availability for Marriott>Marriott exchanges. I don't check on a regular basis as we only exchange every even year.

A good reason to enroll now before the price goes up! Remember, enrolling doesn't force you to abandon II, but it does give you the option if the II inventory does dry up.




.

 

[SDMiller]

Value of MR points versus DC points

I am trying to figure out the value of the DC vs MR points. We are thinking about joining just to get the MR points every year on all our properties. What is the exchange value? Is there a reference on the VC site?

Searched this thread but couldn't find any conversation.


SD

 

[SueDonJ]

I am trying to figure out the value of the DC vs MR points. We are thinking about joining just to get the MR points every year on all our properties. What is the exchange value? Is there a reference on the VC site?

Searched this thread but couldn't find any conversation.


SD

TUGger GregT has compiled a spreadsheet with various DC-related info including the MRP exchange values. Click on the "Points Values" PDF link on Greg's site here to search for your Weeks. If yours are not included then you can call the DC-related Marriott phone line, 800-845-4226, and they'll be able to help you.

 

[SDMiller]

This is just what I needed! Thanks so much Sue

SD

 

[SueDonJ]

I am trying to figure out the value of the DC vs MR points. We are thinking about joining just to get the MR points every year on all our properties. What is the exchange value? Is there a reference on the VC site?

Searched this thread but couldn't find any conversation.


SD

SD, in re-reading your post and assuming what you own was purchased on the external market, I have a word of caution -

The MRP-exchange benefit for enrolled external resales is not an annual benefit. If a direct-purchased Week is offered an annual MRP-exchange benefit, a similar external resale Week when enrolled will gain the same amount of MRP as the direct-purchase but on an every-other-year basis. If a direct-purchase Week is offered an every-other-year MRP-exchange benefit, there is some confusion about whether a similar external resale Week when enrolled will gain the same amount of MRP on the same EOY basis or on an every-fourth-year basis. It's been explained both ways by various Marriott reps and as yet there hasn't been a report on TUG about actual practice.

You can refer to Section 6 in the first post on this thread, as well as Posts 10, 11 and 12.

 

[SDMiller]

Thanks Susan - we are legacy owners - bought from Marriott direct.

SD

 

[SueDonJ]

Thanks Susan - we are legacy owners - bought from Marriott direct.

SD

In that case you just keep the same MRP exchange benefit that came with your Weeks - no difference at all.

 

[dioxide45]

One other reason to consider enrollment before the June 14th increase, and this is a long shot and a bit of a hope and gamble. I touched on this in another thread, but want to explain it here.

At some point there will be a flood of resale points out on the open market. Sure MVCI has a ROFR, but they had that on weeks also and seldom used it. There is also the $200 initiation fee per BI and $300 buyers education fee, but you may be able to pick up resale DC points 10+ years down the road fairly cheap, even when you include those pesky fees from MVCI. If you bought them down the road, your legacy weeks would be on the outside looking in while you would have resale points in the trust. You could enroll them if the option is still on the table for the then enrollment fee. My guess is that it would still be at least $2395 at any points going forward.

Like I said, it is a long shot and a gamble, but if you think you ever may be interested in buying resale DC points in the future it may be better to enroll now to save the $1800 on the enrollment fee. For resale owners today, I doubt this would be something that tips the scales in favor of enrollment.

 

[pwrshift]

I still think Marriott is in a losing battle if they don't, at some time, set up a program to let resale buyers who purchased their weeks after the deadline into the plan. I read somewhere on literature from Marriott that 136,000 weeks have joined...that means some 260,000 weeks are 'outside'. They wont get them all. Adding to that is the fact at some time all DC member weeks will probably be sold and new owners automatically put on the outside. Marriott can't win this IMO with their existing stance.

Even so, I've surprised myself and just joined but still skeptical about it all, even at my PP level. So far I haven't seen any PP deal I'd gift Marriott that many DC points for. Time will tell. When I asked my rep if the PP qualification level will increase she said I'd be 'grandfathered' with the PP level forever...I asked her to check that and she came back to say her super told her the levels will go up in January for everyone, but no increase in fees.. They still don't know their own product.

Brian

 

[Cmore]

Brian,
Welcome to the "darkside". Seriously, I have both enjoyed and learned from your posts over the years. ( I was around a few years ago, went away and came back - mostly busy raising kids )

Kudos Sue, what a terrific summary and similarly I have learned from your posts as well - Thx.

I have really grown to like the DC concept, although agree with others that they could have done away with "skim" and done a more equitable job with point allocations at various resorts and seasons. That said, it works well for us. We have been making great use of short stays with the Sun - Thurs point allocations. I see us likely using a mix of weeks and DC points in the future.

 

[Quilter]

Even so, I've surprised myself and just joined . . .
Brian

You joined!!! I had you as a true hold out. What changed your mind?

Suzzanne