Are they now allowing post 6/20 weeks in?

[wvacations]

Headed to Orlando next week and received the call asking if I want to find out more about the points program. Told them I was not interested because I own 3 post 6/20/10 weeks and it would not make sense to enroll only 2 of my 5 weeks. Said okay and left number if I change my mind about a presentation.

She calls back 10 minutes later and says they are making exceptions now for the post 6/20/10 external sales, cost is higher (will not tell me the amount). Offered 15,000 MRD point to attend. I asked to please confirm that they will take post 6/20/10 weeks as I don't want to waste vacation time if it is not possible.

Anyone else ever see a relaxation on the 6/20/10 rule? I would probably consider joining if all 5 weeks could get in just to save the II fees.

 

[scrapngen]

Just went last week and they said my post 6/20 week did not qualify...This is the first I've heard of any potential way to get a post 6/20 week into DC club. Let us know the result!

 

[Kokonut]

This is the first I've heard of any potential way to get a post 6/20 week into DC club. Let us know the result!

Could it be that enrollment of post 6/20/10 weeks is contingent upon the purchase of points?

I acquired a couple of weeks after 6/20 and would be interested in enrolling them. Please let us know if you get any more information.

Thanks!

 

[wvacations]

So had my doubts about being able to enroll all my weeks (3 are post 6/20/10). Went to Online Chat at My-Vacationclub.com. First agent I got says "No the 3 post 6/20/10 weeks cannot be enrolled and ended the chat session immediately, not even asking if I had other questions. So I click chat again. Second agent says same thing that the Orlando Sales person is incorrect about post 6/20/10 weeks being able to be enrolled.

Was about to email the Orlando sales agent to cancel my presentation next week but decided I would try and call Owner Services before I sent the email. Waited 20 minutes on hold (as deadline approaches they seem to be very busy.) The agent looks at my account and says his computer shows all my weeks being eligible to enroll. I ask about 800 points and he replies I can still get them. Asked him if I enrolled right now on the phone, what the cost is. He states it is $1995 and that will include all my weeks (including the 3 post 6/20/10). I didn’t pull the trigger because I still don’t believe they would allow this without advertising it.

My concern now is I enroll over the phone, pay the $1995, and months later when the paper work is finished, I find my post 6/20/10 weeks are not there. Does the contract specifically list which weeks are included and is there a provision in the contract to exclude weeks after I pay the $1995.

I am not really interested in converting to points, but the II fee on 5 lock off ‘s and exchanges are pretty high. I could break even on the $1995 in about 3 years. It’s a shame you can’t just trust that a company representatives states!

I guess I have 2 days to figure this out.

 

[Kokonut]

The agent looks at my account and says his computer shows all my weeks being eligible to enroll.

When you login to my-vacationclub.com and select the option to "Enroll Your Weeks", it should provide you with a list of eligible and ineligible inventory. Do all your weeks show as being eligible there?

 

[wvacations]

Yes all my weeks show up with a point value.

 

[JanT]

We recently closed on another Marriott week (private party resale) outside the 6/20 deadline and are now listed as the owners with Marriott. Out of curiosity I logged into MVC.com and began the enrollment process to see what was listed as eligible to enroll and both of our weeks showed up as eligible to enroll ($1995 for both weeks). However, on the front page it specifically says weeks purchased after the 6/20 deadline cannot join.

Interestingly enough the first purchase (1/1 EOY at Grand Chateau) showed a point value of 2200 points prior to the 2nd week being recognized as us being the owners. The 1/1 EY at Grand Chateau we just purchased also shows 2200 points. But, when I click them both to enroll the points value for both weeks is 3300. Not sure what that is about. Will have to ask Marriott.

I went ahead and did a "chat" with a Marriott rep and asked if the 6/20/2010 deadline had changed. All they did was tell me to call "Owner Services" to speak with a points specialist to clarify. I intend to do that tomorrow and will let everyone here know what they say.

If we could enroll both weeks it might be worth it but we're not really interested in enrolling just the 1/1 EOY Grand Chateau. Doesn't make any sense to do that.

Anyway, will let everyone know what they say. But what they "say" and what they will put in writing are two different things. We'll see.

 

[DanCali]

Waited 20 minutes on hold (as deadline approaches they seem to be very busy.)

What deadline?

 

[JanT]

Dancali,

I believe there is a 12/31/2010 deadline to enroll resale weeks that were not purchased through Marriott.

What deadline?

 

[rsackett]

Dancali,

I believe there is a 12/31/2010 deadline to enroll resale weeks that were not purchased through Marriott.

There is no deadline to enroll, the 12/31/2010 was the possible end of the 800 bonus points and the possible raising of the $1495/1995 DEAL.

Ray

 

[DanCali]

There is no deadline to enroll, the 12/31/2010 was the possible end of the 800 bonus points and the possible raising of the $1495/1995 DEAL.

Ray

Exactly...

How can there be a deadline for anything when probably half the owners dont even know about the program?

The wording on the website appears to refer to the enrollment fee, and even then is ambiguous at best.

And any deadline heard from a salesperson should be taken for what it is...

I really don't understand the desire to act upon fear of getting shut out of a mediocre exchange system. If you like it, and are ok with the costs involved, then enroll. If you don't like because of the costs or other reasons then don't enroll. But enrolling because you may get shut out is something you will likely to regret both because (i) you probably won't get shut out anyway, and (ii) it's the wrong reason to enroll (IMO).

 

[JanT]

Well now see.....a person learns something every day. I haven't been following this too much because we weren't interested in enrolling just the one week. I was still under the impression there was a deadline of 12/31 to enroll. Thanks for clarifying that for me, Ray!

We are certainly not going to join out of "fear" of being shut out of anything. There are plenty of quality timeshares that are not Marriott and we have a pretty diverse portfolio now (well as soon as our SDO weeks are put in our name). No need to panic about the points program. If we can enroll both weeks we would probably do it but looks like we have time to decide.

There is no deadline to enroll, the 12/31/2010 was the possible end of the 800 bonus points and the possible raising of the $1495/1995 DEAL.

Ray

 

[scpoidog]

Resale weeks?

Well now see.....a person learns something every day. I haven't been following this too much because we weren't interested in enrolling just the one week. I was still under the impression there was a deadline of 12/31 to enroll. Thanks for clarifying that for me, Ray!

We are certainly not going to join out of "fear" of being shut out of anything. There are plenty of quality timeshares that are not Marriott and we have a pretty diverse portfolio now (well as soon as our SDO weeks are put in our name). No need to panic about the points program. If we can enroll both weeks we would probably do it but looks like we have time to decide.

The 12/31 deadline might also apply to enrollment of resale TS. This was never clarified and is kinda vague. Unfortunately I don't have the exact verbiage.

 

[siesta]

you all see what is happening here. they are trying to bully you into joining with "deadlines" and "being locked out forever"; even if I owned with marriott and was ok with the price of joining, I would not join because : the skim, the giving up of hoa vote, and most importantly, these horrible tactics. I hope this dc program crashes and burns while all the legacy owners that didn't join enjoy the show.

 

[SueDonJ]

you all see what is happening here. they are trying to bully you into joining with "deadlines" and "being locked out forever"; even if I owned with marriott and was ok with the price of joining, I would not join because : the skim, the giving up of hoa vote, and most importantly, these horrible tactics. I hope this dc program crashes and burns while all the legacy owners that didn't join enjoy the show.

Geeeeeze, thanks.

Bullying?! Really? That's such an extreme choice of wording for how Marriott's implementing its new exchange program. That's all it is - another exchange option - and we've all been given the choice whether to enroll our weeks or not. If you don't like it then just don't join, it's simple. But instead you feel a need to hope that those of who do like it and have enrolled our weeks or purchased points, somehow go down with a sinking ship?! Nice.

As far as "these horrible tactics," Marriott has ALWAYS sent out emails advertising specials or discounts or time-sensitive offers for their hotel and timeshare business. (And yes, sometimes they've even sent mass emailings in error.) For months we've been reading complaints on TUG about the folks who didn't get any email notices, but now that Marriott is sending updated reminders they're bullying?!

I'm afraid to go into the thread where the new extended deadline is being discussed - Marriott's probably being burned at the stake for daring to give folks more time to make their decision.

 

[siesta]

really sue? giving a deadline for people to join, threatening that if they don't join they will be locked out forever, and the company's representatives saying that trading through II will dry up and they better join if they like staying at other marriotts isn't bullying? you either have a vested interest for the program to succeed since you obviously joined, or you are choosing to only smell the roses and ignore the thorns.

 

[wof45]

really sue? giving a deadline for people to join, threatening that if they don't join they will be locked out forever, and the company's representatives saying that trading through II will dry up and they better join if they like staying at other marriotts isn't bullying? you either have a vested interest for the program to succeed since you obviously joined, or you are choosing to only smell the roses and ignore the thorns. enjoy getting less points than your week is worth, you obviously are fine with getting short changed.

I certainly don't know Marriott's plans, but suppose that there is a deadline for enrolling resale weeks? Suppose that you will no longer get 800 bonus points? Personally, I think that would be a mistake by Marriott, but they have their own bean counters helping with decisions.

I make decisions by looking at options, costs and gains -- so I like having options, and I save enough on fees in less than two years to pay for the enrollment. I can decide later if I want to deposit weeks for DC points and if I want to use DC points to make reservations.

If I like the points given and taken, then who cares about the skim? If I want Marriotts to maintain their quality instead of nickel and dime maintenance fees, who cares about the HOA decisions? Do most people actually vote their HOA anyway?

 

[siesta]

..and I save enough on fees in less than two years to pay for the enrollment.

...who cares about the HOA decisions?

"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
-Benjamin Franklin

good luck to you and your purchased safety, we know Ben thinks you don't deserve it.

 

[wof45]

"Those who would give up essential Liberty, to purchase a little temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."
-Benjamin Franklin

good luck to you and your purchased safety, we know Ben thinks you don't deserve it.

actually, Ben Franklin, aka Poor Richard, would think I am smart for taking the option that pay itself back in less than two years with lower fees afterwards.

Ben Franklin also said "Do not anticipate trouble, or worry about what may never happen. Keep in the sunlight."

 

[SueDonJ]

really sue? giving a deadline for people to join, threatening that if they don't join they will be locked out forever, and the company's representatives saying that trading through II will dry up and they better join if they like staying at other marriotts isn't bullying? you either have a vested interest for the program to succeed since you obviously joined, or you are choosing to only smell the roses and ignore the thorns.

I'm "choosing" to take Marriott's words at face value and evaluating what their new program specifically means for Weeks owners, in particular how my ownership might benefit or be hurt by enrollment. The only reason I have a "vested interest" in the success of Marriott's new timeshare model is because it's the one that will be in effect from this point forward, and it doesn't make any sense to me that ANY Marriott timeshare owner wouldn't share that same interest (whether or not enrollment in the DC is of personal benefit.)

Getting mad at Marriott for offering something that doesn't benefit some of us is a waste of time - no amount of negative energy is going to change Marriott's business model. Nitpicking every official communication from Marriott and equating those to "bullying" is, IMO, deflecting from the specifics. For example, prior to today's email extending the deadline, their last official notice was that there was a 12/31/10 deadline to enroll weeks purchased prior to 6/20/10 at the introductory enrollment fees and with an 800 PlusPoints bonus. Marriott DIDN'T release a subsequent official statement saying that any Weeks owners would be "locked out forever" after a certain date or that "II will dry up."

Those unofficial ideas came from some Marriott reps (who we've ALL acknowledged over the years might say anything to make a sale) and from the thousands of conjecture posts by TUGgers who don't have any more or less information to work with than the official documents. TUGgers have combined their knowledge and opinions so that we all should by now have a pretty good idea of whether or not the new program works for us individually. I just don't get why, if it doesn't work for you, it's necessary to hope that Marriott's new business model fails. IMO, its failure will impact ALL of us to a much greater extent than the advent of the DC might.

 

[siesta]

ok wof, I won't anticipate trouble, I'll anticipate facts: enjoy having the value of your weeks decimated, since if you ever decide to sell, the new owners will not be able to enroll in your beloved points program with deadlines. maybe in a year or so ill be able to pick them up for $100 or less like I did with starwood/wyndham

 

[Latravel]

Actually, siesta, my friends that have joined and have USED the new program (versus just talking about it) have enjoyed the flexibility. They have been able to get DC points and spend 3 days in Timberlodge and 7 days in Aruba. All of this outside the season they purchased. They would never have been able to do this before and they love it.

So, you can think of the negatives (which you haven't experienced since you don't own Marriott) or speak from fear (because you haven't even used the program) or open up to the thought of a new use of the program. If you don't like it, don't trade for DC points. Use it as normal.

 

[DanCali]

For example, prior to today's email extending the deadline, their last official notice was that there was a 12/31/10 deadline to enroll weeks purchased prior to 6/20/10 at the introductory enrollment fees and with an 800 PlusPoints bonus.

Are you sure there was a deadline to enroll? Or was the deadline regarding the enrollment price?

Are you sure the enrollment was extended? Or was the price to enroll extended?

The reality is that there was never an official and unambiguous deadline to enroll (if there was, please post it). They always used working like "expected to last" and phrased the sentences so it wasn't clear what the deadline referred to.

"If your external purchase closed prior to June 20, 2010, it is eligible to be enrolled with the Marriott Vacation Club Destinations Exchange Program. The enrollment fee for one externally purchased week will initially be $1,495, and enrolling multiple externally purchased weeks will initially total $1,995. This offer is expected to be available only through December 31, 2010. Once you enroll your week(s), you will gain the annual option to elect Vacation Club Points, and you may also add the option of trading your week(s) for Marriott Rewards points if the week(s) you purchased externally are eligible for Marriott Rewards trade. You also will gain the benefit and convenience of the annual single-use fee (Club Dues)."

Somehow Marriott convinced thousands that there was a deadline by using ambiguous wording and the aforementioned tactics. Apparently, they even managed to fool knowledgeable and informed Tuggers...

 

[SueDonJ]

Are you sure there was a deadline to enroll? Or was the deadline regarding the enrollment price?

Are you sure the enrollment was extended? Or was the price to enroll extended?

The reality is that there was never an official and unambiguous deadline to enroll (if there was, please post it). They always used working like "expected to last" and phrased the sentences so it wasn't clear what the deadline referred to.



Somehow Marriott convinced thousands that there was a deadline by using ambiguous wording and the aforementioned tactics. Apparently, they even managed to fool knowledgeable and informed Tuggers...

There was a 12/31/10 deadline for the offer and now it's been extended to 6/30/11. I don't think anybody was "fooled" because, as you say, the wording was ambiguous. All we knew was that an offer was on the table and would be on the table through 12/31/10, at least. None of us could have said with any certainty what aspects of the offer would or could change come 12/31. And as it stands now, the same ambiguity exists and will extend through 6/30/11.

 

[siesta]

So, you can think of the negatives (which you haven't experienced since you don't own Marriott) or speak from fear (because you haven't even used the program) or open up to the thought of a new use of the program.

for me, not owning marriott currently is a +1, because you guys are getting a raw deal (unless you just plan to use your home resort, because as the marriott folks are saying, II will dry up right?)

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