Abound! The combined Marriott/Vistana integrated exchange program now has a name.

[Mroze]

This is the best I have seen offered by Marriott.

All of the offers made to me entailed spending a minimum of over $30K to enroll anything.
Will be attending a presentation on Tuesday at Mountainside and will ask what are their current offers.

Someone just posted here that they were asked to purchase 2500-DCP for $32K to enroll their deeded week.

UPDATE

At our presentation at Mountainside today we were informed that there is no such offer from Marriott. At least not available to us.

• Purchase 1000-DCP to Enroll 1-Resale-Contract, followed by a purchase of 500-DCP to enroll each additional Resale-Contract.

The only offer we were presented was:

• Purchase 2500-DCP to Enroll 1-Resale-Contract,
• Purchase 3500-DCP to Enroll 2-Resale-Contracts
• Purchase 5000-DCP to Enroll 3+ Contracts. Not sure exactly how much as I wasn't paying attention by this time.

Not very informational other than being told that everything will be formally rolled out in July. Not sure beginning or end.
Discovered that our VSN-Portfolio is worth 35045-DCP/Year. Already accrue +20K-DCP with MVCI.
Received glossy booklets [Westin + Sheraton] depicting the DCP-Points needed to make reservations.

Confirmed what our VSN-Contracts are in equivalent DCP;

• 2BR-EY-WLR-P+ = 4950-DCP [Ratio: 30-SO::1-DCP]
• 2BR-EY-WKV-P+ = 4050-DCP [Ratio: 36.57-SO::1-DCP] BAD-VALUE
• 51700-AVE-Flex = 1725-DCP [Ratio: 30-SO::1-DCP]

Today's DCP-Rate: $16.08/DCP.
They tried to sell us a Hybrid-Package [1-Week-3000-DCP] + 1000-DCP] that we turned down as we don't need to exceed 60K-DCP/Year.
Hybrid-Package purchase would work out to $7.45/DCP.
Low pressure and respectful experience.

Presentation-Incentive: 40K-Bonvoy or $200-Visa or $250-Steakouse-Certificate.

 

[Dean]

UPDATE

At our presentation at Mountainside today we were informed that there is no such offer from Marriott. At least not available to us.

• Purchase 1000-DCP to Enroll 1-Resale-Contract, followed by a purchase of 500-DCP to enroll each additional Resale-Contract.

The only offer we were presented was:

• Purchase 2500-DCP to Enroll 1-Resale-Contract,
• Purchase 3500-DCP to Enroll 2-Resale-Contracts
• Purchase 5000-DCP to Enroll 3+ Contracts. Not sure exactly how much as I wasn't paying attention by this time.

Not very informational other than being told that everything will be formally rolled out in July. Not sure beginning or end.
Discovered that our VSN-Portfolio is worth 35045-DCP/Year. Already accrue +20K-DCP with MVCI.
Received glossy booklets [Westin + Sheraton] depicting the DCP-Points needed to make reservations.
Confirmed what our VSN-Contracts are in equivalent DCP;

• 2BR-EY-WLR-P+ = 4950-DCP [Ratio: ~30]
• 2BR-EY-WKV-P+ = 4050-DCP [Ratio: 36.57] BAD-VALUE
• 51700-Eve-Flex = 1725-DCP [Ratio: ~30]

They tried to sell us a Hybrid-Package [$7.45/DCP] that we turned down as we don't need to exceed 60K-DCP/Year.
Low pressure and respectful experience.

Incentive was 40K-Bonvoy or $200-Visa or $250-Steakouse-Certificate.

I got the sense this was for multiple non MVC weeks. I suspect the salesperson was simply breaking it down in a different way to create confusion and had they simply wanted to enroll 1 week it would have magically been 2500 points instead.

 

[Bodie]

After reading this thread and looking at the Vistana destinations, I think the only benefits to existing DP club members either enrolled or purchased are the resorts in Mexico and Harborside in the Bahamas. Otherwise MVC has resorts in the same or similar locations.

Agree. I'm not impressed with these new additions but for Mexico and the Bahamas.

After reading this thread and looking at the Vistana destinations, I think the only benefits to existing DP club members either enrolled or purchased are the resorts in Mexico and Harborside in the Bahamas. Otherwise MVC has resorts in the same or similar locations.
[/QUOTE

 

[sfcolliejr]

What are they offering for the meeting incentive if you don't mind sharing?

We got $200 Visa gift card for signing up. They were completely booked on Friday the 24th.

 

[sfcolliejr]

We attended an Owner Update at Desert Willows on Friday the 24. The sales person said that they had just been at training, had new Marriott computers. Not really informative. We have approximately 276,000 Vistana options. She showed us a conversion alogrithm on the Marriott site (to be rolled out later). Our options coverted to approximately 9480 Marriott Abound points. This puts us just below the Marriott Vacation club presidential level of 10,000+ points. She wanted us to spend approximately $16K more which would put us way over the 10,000 Presidential points needed. We will not spend additional money and refused. She also showed us all of the Marriott timeshare properties but that information was already available. In summary, our sales person did not have complete information at our meeting. We want to go to the Marriott on the big island, she showed us a points sheet for that property.

 

[kozykritter]

We attended an Owner Update at Desert Willows on Friday the 24. The sales person said that they had just been at training, had new Marriott computers. Not really informative. We have approximately 276,000 Vistana options. She showed us a conversion alogrithm on the Marriott site (to be rolled out later). Our options coverted to approximately 9480 Marriott Abound points. This puts us just below the Marriott Vacation club presidential level of 10,000+ points. She wanted us to spend approximately $16K more which would put us way over the 10,000 Presidential points needed. We will not spend additional money and refused. She also showed us all of the Marriott timeshare properties but that information was already available. In summary, our sales person did not have complete information at our meeting. We want to go to the Marriott on the big island, she showed us a points sheet for that property.

You would be better off spending that same amount of money for 1,000 points from Marriott because being an owner in both systems appears like it's going to have some extra benefits as things continue to integrate. If it makes you feel any better (or worse), the Marriott sales staff really don't know anything about what's happening either other than the general idea behind Abound.

 

[iowaguy09]

Has anyone heard that per Marriott Vacation new policy, as of July 15, Vistana EOY contracts cannot be traded in towards a new annual contract in any developer transactions?

 

[jabberwocky]

Has anyone heard that per Marriott Vacation new policy, as of July 15, Vistana EOY contracts cannot be traded in towards a new annual contract in any developer transactions?

You asked this question in the Vistana forum earlier today. I don’t think Marriott has ever taken Vistana weeks back towards a Marriott developer transaction.

https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/t...t-link-vistana-discussion.332276/post-2804137

 

[iowaguy09]

You asked this question in the Vistana forum earlier today. I don’t think Marriott has ever taken Vistana weeks back towards a Marriott developer transaction.

https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/t...t-link-vistana-discussion.332276/post-2804137

Yes, it am guilty of asking the question in both forums. I only repeated it in the MVC forum because Vistana ownership was brought into the thread.

 

[frank808]

I’m not talking about staying at timeshares…. I’m talking about staying at hotels. 2 of my last 4 hotel stays I was never even thanked and 4 of my last 4 stays, my simple room requests (not upgrade request) were ignored. Speaking of upgrades…. I’ve received one in the last 10 stays and I was upgraded to a room SMALLER than the room I booked. Again, everything I’m mentioning is at the hotels.

I stayed at a Hilton as a regular non elite guest and had impeccable service. I even requested a few things and they were honored no problem. I felt valued as a Hilton guest without status than I do as a titanium bonvoy member. The only great thing about titanium is the 4pm checkout. Honestly, even then, I could just book an extra night when I need a late checkout which I do often

I get about the same from being a lifetime Titanium and Diamond Honors members at both their Hotels. It can be a hit or miss. Been to both hotel brands during pandemic and was not even upgraded from a basic hotel room. At Reidence Inn in Burbank when the hotel was less than 30% occupied, I tried to use SNA. Was denied because there were no rooms available. Checked Marriott website and there were 1br and larger units available. Asked at check in and was told no rooms available for upgrades. Showed clerk my phone with all rooms available. Was told sorry we have none available for upgrades. Even called Marriott customer service line and was told it is up to each individual hotel owner to make upgrades available.

I learned one thing about these hotel loyalty programs(Marriott and hilton), it is to turn you into a loyal guest with dreams of upgrades. But when it comes to fulfilling those promises, there is always a way out. False sense of loyalty is what i get out of it. Now I just play their game and get as many free nights or discounted nights with the annual credit cards.

I just get a night from the free(Hilton aspire) to the $130 (Marriott brilliant) credit card.

Sent from my SM-N975U using Tapatalk

 

[Quilter]

UPDATE

At our presentation at Mountainside today we were informed that there is no such offer from Marriott. At least not available to us.

• Purchase 1000-DCP to Enroll 1-Resale-Contract, followed by a purchase of 500-DCP to enroll each additional Resale-Contract.

The only offer we were presented was:

• Purchase 2500-DCP to Enroll 1-Resale-Contract,
• Purchase 3500-DCP to Enroll 2-Resale-Contracts
• Purchase 5000-DCP to Enroll 3+ Contracts. Not sure exactly how much as I wasn't paying attention by this time.

Not very informational other than being told that everything will be formally rolled out in July. Not sure beginning or end.
Discovered that our VSN-Portfolio is worth 35045-DCP/Year. Already accrue +20K-DCP with MVCI.
Received glossy booklets [Westin + Sheraton] depicting the DCP-Points needed to make reservations.

Confirmed what our VSN-Contracts are in equivalent DCP;

• 2BR-EY-WLR-P+ = 4950-DCP [Ratio: 30-SO::1-DCP]
• 2BR-EY-WKV-P+ = 4050-DCP [Ratio: 36.57-SO::1-DCP] BAD-VALUE
• 51700-AVE-Flex = 1725-DCP [Ratio: 30-SO::1-DCP]

Today's DCP-Rate: $16.08/DCP.
They tried to sell us a Hybrid-Package [1-Week-3000-DCP] + 1000-DCP] that we turned down as we don't need to exceed 60K-DCP/Year.
Hybrid-Package purchase would work out to $7.45/DCP.
Low pressure and respectful experience.

Presentation-Incentive: 40K-Bonvoy or $200-Visa or $250-Steakouse-Certificate.

Can you tell us the resort/season that was presented with the hybrid option?

 

[Quilter]

I've gone through this thread and still find myself wondering how the DC program changes will affect our ownership. We're Chairman level from legacy ownership.

The best I can summarize is the following:

1). Hoping the website will be better by the end of July.

2). Roughly 20 new resorts added for exchange.

3). New VSN members won't have to pay anything to enroll.

4). Destinations Club name will change to Abound.

Is this it?

If new VSN members don't have any fees to enroll their weeks (developer or resale) I want a $1500 refund. We enrolled our 7 weeks (3 were resales) early and have been part of the 60% utilizing the point system. It's disappointing our loyalty will be dismissed as new members come in with no enrollment fees.

 

[kozykritter]

I've gone through this thread and still find myself wondering how the DC program changes will affect our ownership. We're Chairman level from legacy ownership.

The best I can summarize is the following:

1). Hoping the website will be better by the end of July.

2). Roughly 20 new resorts added for exchange.

3). New VSN members won't have to pay anything to enroll.

4). Destinations Club name will change to Abound.

Is this it?

If new VSN members don't have any fees to enroll their weeks (developer or resale) I want a $1500 refund. We enrolled our 7 weeks (3 were resales) early and have been part of the 60% utilizing the point system. It's disappointing our loyalty will be dismissed as new members come in with no enrollment fees.

There has been no announcement on which VSN owners will be eligible to enroll and then which of those can do it for free. While it's been assumed that developer purchases will be able to enroll and do it for free, the fate of resales has been a constant mystery and the topic of many many threads. Hopefully all will be revealed soon.

 

[SueDonJ]

There has been no announcement on which VSN owners will be eligible to enroll and then which of those can do it for free. While it's been assumed that developer purchases will be able to enroll and do it for free, the fate of resales has been a constant mystery and the topic of many many threads. Hopefully all will be revealed soon.

My enrolled Marriott Weeks are all developer purchases and I was required to pay an Enrollment Fee when the Destination Club was introduced. Granted, the initial EF's were tiered and based on whether or not the eligible Weeks were purchased direct or on the external resale market, but at the introduction EVERY previously-sold Week was eligible and EVERY enrollment required payment of the one time Enrollment Fee. It was years before that fee was waive-able with certain sales incentives or webinar viewings.

I understand @Quilter's angst at having to pay an EF as a Marriott Weeks owner if no such animal is going to exist for eligible Vistana owners. I don't think it will make one bit of difference to complain about it, though, because if TUG is any indication Marriott is going to have to go way above and beyond what should be reasonable to convince Vistana people that enrollment can be advantageous and Abound isn't just a program to suck all the dollars it can out of their pockets while cheating them out of their rightful ownership. At this point I'm just hoping that any mention of an EF for eligible Marriott owners disappears as soon as the Vistana ownerships are integrated.

 

[kozykritter]

I agree. Given the general sentiment of Vistana owners towards Marriott, they will have to give Vistana owner some type of strong incentive to pledge their ownership inventory over to Abound or else they may end up with many disappointed Marriott owners who barely have any Vistana inventory to book after it being hyped to them and even used as a sales tool to get them to buy more points. Vistana is already a fully developed system with weeks owners and points owners and an internal exchange system and many owners are perfectly happy with what exists..Not charging an enrollment fee or requiring a points purchase is one option to entice people, though it might not be enough to make a large amount enroll. Another would be to release detailed facts that confirm that the existing Vistana system is not being dissolved or diminished with all the changes. As you've seen on here, fear and distrust of "the evil giant" runs deep among Vistana owners after the SPG integration experience.

 

[SueDonJ]

I agree. Given the general sentiment of Vistana owners towards Marriott, they will have to give Vistana owner some type of strong incentive to pledge their ownership inventory over to Abound or else they may end up with many disappointed Marriott owners who barely have any Vistana inventory to book after it being hyped to them and even used as a sales tool to get them to buy more points. Vistana is already a fully developed system with weeks owners and points owners and an internal exchange system and many owners are perfectly happy with what exists..Not charging an enrollment fee or requiring a points purchase is one option to entice people, though it might not be enough to make a large amount enroll. Another would be to release detailed facts that confirm that the existing Vistana system is not being dissolved or diminished with all the changes. As you've seen on here, fear and distrust of "the evil giant" runs deep among Vistana owners after the SPG integration.

Well, from this side of the house, let me just say that, "given the general sentiment of Vistana owners towards Marriott," enforced by what I'm reading on TUG from Vistana owners, I couldn't care less if Vistana is integrated into the DC/Abound. IMO it's absolutely ridiculous, and the height of entitlement, for Vistana owners to think that Marriott owes them any more from Abound than any Marriott owners have ever gotten from the DC. It's not Marriott that's fostering the "general sentiment" yet it's apparently expected that Marriott must give over and above what they've given Marriott owners to combat it? That's crap.

 

[kozykritter]

Well, from this side of the house, let me just say that, "given the general sentiment of Vistana owners towards Marriott," enforced by what I'm reading on TUG from Vistana owners, I couldn't care less if Vistana is integrated into the DC/Abound. IMO it's absolutely ridiculous, and the height of entitlement, for Vistana owners to think that Marriott owes them any more from Abound than any Marriott owners have ever gotten from the DC. It's not Marriott that's fostering the "general sentiment" yet it's apparently expected that Marriott must give over and above to combat it? That's crap.

I understand. Regardless of whether if it seems appropriate or not, that is the situation that Marriott faces in trying to make its acquisition pay off. You have to remember that Vistana owners didn't ask for any of this. They didn't ask to wake up one morning to find their timeshare system was spun off and sold by another company and they didn't ask to be integrated into another timeshare system. While some owners like me see it as a positive and have jumped on the bandwagon by buying MVC points, I would guess for most Vistana owners the entire experience has seemed like a threat to their ownership and the system that they have enjoyed for years.

 

[SueDonJ]

I understand. Regardless of whether if it seems appropriate or not, that is the situation that Marriott faces in trying to make its acquisition pay off. You have to remember that Vistana owners didn't ask for any of this. They didn't ask to be spun off and acquired by another company and they didn't ask to be integrated into another timeshare system. While some owners like me see it as a positive and have jumped on the bandwagon by buying MVC points, I would guess for most Vistana owners the entire experience has seemed like a threat to their ownership and the system that they have enjoyed for years.

Do you think that Marriott owners had any choice in the development of the Destination Club? That Marriott owners weren't as worried about how it would impact their existing ownerships? That Marriott owners didn't - then and now - resent that it cost them to be included, costs that we're now hearing Vistana members may not be charged? Or that we were spun off from our hotel company shortly after the DC introduction?

Marriott's timeshare business has been forced like every other timeshare business to respond to the changing habits of their customers, and forced like every other floating system to develop something that would overcome the negative reality of sales of low-demand intervals stagnating. The Destination Club/Abound is basically an exchange company. When it was introduced it was obvious that it was designed purposely to be able to integrate non-Marriott timeshares, and none of us knows if eventually the parent company of Sheraton and Westin timeshares - whichever company that might have been at the time - would be invited and would choose to integrate with only the exchange company. Has there ever been this much angst when any timeshare company changed its affiliation from II to RCI or vice-versa?

The last thing I read in the TUG Vistana forum about Abound is that those owners just want a safe space to vent their frustrations and they don't care to know anything about the 12 years of experience that some of us have with the DC, that they're not interested in anything that might alleviate their frustrations/fears. And now you're here saying that Marriott owes them carrots? Like I said, that's crap. Why should Marriott be blamed for, and have to pay for, Starwood betraying its owners?

 

[kozykritter]

Do you think that Marriott owners had any choice in the development of the Destination Club? That Marriott owners weren't as worried about how it would impact their existing ownerships? That Marriott owners didn't - then and now - resent that it cost them to be included, costs that we're now hearing Vistana members may not be charged? Or that we were spun off from our hotel company shortly after the DC introduction?

Marriott's timeshare business has been forced like every other timeshare business to respond to the changing habits of their customers, and forced like every other floating system to develop something that would overcome the negative reality of sales of low-demand intervals stagnating. The Destination Club/Abound is basically an exchange company. When it was introduced it was obvious that it was designed purposely to be able to integrate non-Marriott timeshares, and none of us knows if eventually the parent company of Sheraton and Westin timeshares - whichever company that might have been at the time - would be invited and would choose to integrate with only the exchange company.

The last thing I read in the TUG Starwood forum about Abound is that those owners just want a safe space to vent their frustrations and they don't care to know anything about the 12 years of experience that some of us have with the DC, that they're not interested in anything that might alleviate their frustrations/fears. And now you're here saying that Marriott owes them carrots? Like I said, that's crap. Why should Marriott be blamed for Starwood betraying its owners?

I understand. We have different perspectives and that's what this forum allows. Owners on both sides are powerless to stop Marriott from doing whatever it decides it wants or needs to do. For me I've chosen to accept that and make the best choices I can to protect my timeshare investment and use it to its fullest.

 

[Quilter]

At the moment I just want a decent, high speed website.

 

[SGould]

Do you think that Marriott owners had any choice in the development of the Destination Club? That Marriott owners weren't as worried about how it would impact their existing ownerships? That Marriott owners didn't - then and now - resent that it cost them to be included, costs that we're now hearing Vistana members may not be charged? Or that we were spun off from our hotel company shortly after the DC introduction?

Marriott's timeshare business has been forced like every other timeshare business to respond to the changing habits of their customers, and forced like every other floating system to develop something that would overcome the negative reality of sales of low-demand intervals stagnating. The Destination Club/Abound is basically an exchange company. When it was introduced it was obvious that it was designed purposely to be able to integrate non-Marriott timeshares, and none of us knows if eventually the parent company of Sheraton and Westin timeshares - whichever company that might have been at the time - would be invited and would choose to integrate with only the exchange company. Has there ever been this much angst when any timeshare company changed its affiliation from II to RCI or vice-versa?

The last thing I read in the TUG Vistana forum about Abound is that those owners just want a safe space to vent their frustrations and they don't care to know anything about the 12 years of experience that some of us have with the DC, that they're not interested in anything that might alleviate their frustrations/fears. And now you're here saying that Marriott owes them carrots? Like I said, that's crap. Why should Marriott be blamed for, and have to pay for, Starwood betraying its owners?

Maybe I am one of the only Vistana owners looking forward to having more options for travel
destinations. I foresee myself depositing into Abound. I understand the frustration of Marriott owners that paid a fee! I would be upset too. I am not sure why some owners feel entitled to anything.

 

[Mroze]

Can you tell us the resort/season that was presented with the hybrid option?

Marriot Grande Vista 2BR/EY-PLATINUM [2775-DCP/MF: $1470/Year or $0.53c/DCP]

 

[jabberwocky]

Do you think that Marriott owners had any choice in the development of the Destination Club? That Marriott owners weren't as worried about how it would impact their existing ownerships? That Marriott owners didn't - then and now - resent that it cost them to be included, costs that we're now hearing Vistana members may not be charged? Or that we were spun off from our hotel company shortly after the DC introduction?

In fairness, I don’t think you can really compare the 2010 DP rollout with the Vistana integration. As has already been pointed out, there was no point system for weeks owners in Marriott prior to the rollout. With Vistana they are effectively trying to merge two systems.

On the Vistana side, there is a robust VSN that has been in place for quite some time, and is well-liked. Other than owning mandatory weeks, there are only two ways to participate in the VSN system 1) buy your week from the developer, or 2) requalify your resale by making a minimum purchase from the developer. Forgive me if I’m mistaken, but Marriott does the same thing - if you buy from the developer you can participate or you can requalify your resale week through a developer purchase (you could also pay the junk fee if purchasing resale points).

So being a Vistana owner who has both developer and requalified resale weeks, why should I have to pay additional amounts if they are merging the systems? I’ve already shelled out a bunch of cash to the developer to participate in the point system, just like a post 2010 Marriott purchaser has. I have no trouble excluding resale weeks that are not requalified, but hopefully you can see why some might object to paying additional fees.

I think part of the hesitation with MVC on the part of Vistana owners on this forum is that the Flex programs have gotten a bit of a bad reputation as being too costly and not having enough “good” (ie Westin Riverfront ski weeks) inventory. I believe Flex was originally modeled off of the success of the DP program, so I think Vistana owners can be forgiven when they express fears about moving to a Flex type system. In many ways the same debates occurring now regarding availability, cherry-picking prime weeks etc are the same things we heard back when Flex was rolled out (most of which has proved to be misplaced fears). I trust once we see how things actually work there will be much less doubt.

 

[kozykritter]

In fairness, I don’t think you can really compare the 2010 DP rollout with the Vistana integration. As has already been pointed out, there was no point system for weeks owners in Marriott prior to the rollout. With Vistana they are effectively trying to merge two systems.

On the Vistana side, there is a robust VSN that has been in place for quite some time, and is well-liked. Other than owning mandatory weeks, there are only two ways to participate in the VSN system 1) buy your week from the developer, or 2) requalify your resale by making a minimum purchase from the developer. Forgive me if I’m mistaken, but Marriott does the same thing - if you buy from the developer you can participate or you can requalify your resale week through a developer purchase (you could also pay the junk fee if purchasing resale points).

So being a Vistana owner who has both developer and requalified resale weeks, why should I have to pay additional amounts if they are merging the systems when I’ve already shelled out a bunch of cash to the developer to participate in the point system, just like a post 2010 Marriott purchaser has. I have no trouble excluding resale weeks that are not requalified, but hopefully you can see why some might object to paying additional fees.

I think part of the hesitation with MVC on the part of Vistana owners on this forum is that the Flex programs have gotten a bit of a bad reputation as being too costly and not having enough “good” (ie Westin Riverfront ski weeks). inventory. I believe Flex was originally modeled off of the success of the DP program, so I think Vistana owners can be forgiven when they express fears about moving to a Flex type system. In many ways the same debates occurring now regarding availability, cherry-picking prime weeks etc are the same things we heard back when Flex was rolled out (most of which has proved to be misplaced fears). I trust once we see how things actually work there will be much less doubt.

+1

 

[sharr7]

There's a few snobs on both sides but I think many will come to appreciate the expanded portfolio of resort options.

There's also too much "I had to [do/pay this crappy thing/fee], so it's not fair that others in the future might not have to" in the world today. Let's be happy for the people (full disclosure: me) that may avoid getting nickel and dimed specifically with an enrollment fee. Being here on TUG we all have some things in common:
-we've found value, perhaps even thousands per year, in owning, staying educated on the systems, and vacationing this way; and
-we all constantly are getting nickel and dimed by our corporate overlords MVW

I think the main difference between 2010 and now is that Marriott needs something from Vistana owners this time, and quickly - they need our weeks to populate their combined system with actual, achievable trades into the full portfolio they've been touting. Like others have noted, Vistana has a fully operational, generally liked, internal exchange program. In 2010 there was no such system and maybe they owned more inventory at the outset of the program or were expanding the network - or maybe they knew a new internal exchange built from scratch would be desirable enough for the small-ish EF they charged. Whatever the exact reason you can be sure it was a business decision and they're confident they'll make more money without an EF this time, so we'll eat that cost some other way.