Borrowing staroptions

[Bill4728]

6) Can I borrow Staroptions from the next year? -
Yes, but you have to pay the maintenance fee for the next year in advance, and the Staroptions can only be used for reservations made 90 days out.

18) Can you summarize the difference between owning a developer unit and owning a resale unit?

c. You can't combine the Staroptions from different resale weeks to make a Staroption exchange.

I know that 18 C. is true, but is 6 true if you buy a "Mandatory" resort resale?

 

[Joshadelic]

I know that 18 C. is true, but is 6 true if you buy a "Mandatory" resort resale?

Actually, they are now letting you combine Staroptions from MANDATORY RESALES ONLY. This is something they have recently allowed. With the folks at SVO changing their rules more often than their underwear, I wouldn't count on this being the case forever.

 

[pointsjunkie]

you can definitely borrow staroptions from the next year. pay MF's and they are yours 90 days out. they will only give you what you need.

 

[SDKath]

So 6 is True and 18 is False! There. Now I hope you are as confused as we are. Katherine

 

[DeniseM]

I know that 18 C. is true, but is 6 true if you buy a "Mandatory" resort resale?

Yes - mandatory resales come with Staroptions and the rules are the same whether it's developer or a resale, when it comes to borrowing Staroptions.

Actually, they are now letting you combine Staroptions from MANDATORY RESALES ONLY. This is something they have recently allowed. With the folks at SVO changing their rules more often than their underwear, I wouldn't count on this being the case forever.

18 C. - Is that true? Is Starwood allowing non-requalified resale Staroptions to be combined with developer Staroptions, now?

 

[Politico]

18 C. - Is that true? Is Starwood allowing non-requalified resale Staroptions to be combined with developer Staroptions, now?

[see updated post below]

Anyone have any other information?

 

[BradC]

There is an earlier TUG thread that discussed the ability to combine StarOptions from mandatory resale units.

 

[DeniseM]

There is an earlier TUG thread that discussed the ability to combine StarOptions from mandatory resale units.

I had forgotten about that thread - is CLSMIT the only Tugger who has put it to the test?

Looks like the FAQ may need a revision.

Who else owns a developer week and a mandatory resale week and can check their Acct. on mystarcentral.com?

 

[oneohana]

All my options are combined into 1 total amount on MSC.

 

[Politico]

Talked to the sales rep. I work with, who happens to be more experienced than the sales rep. I previously spoke to. The more exprenced rep. said that they have checked this question with owner services and that resale Staroptions from Mandatory properties CAN be combined. Voluntary properties continue to no longer have staroptions unless they are requalified.

 

[clsmit]

I had forgotten about that thread - is CLSMIT the only Tugger who has put it to the test?

Looks like the FAQ may need a revision.

Who else owns a developer week and a mandatory resale week and can check their Acct. on mystarcentral.com?

I DID IT THIS MORNING!!!!!! :rofl: Called to get WKORV 2BR LO. The only way I could get that size is to combine developer purchased options from 2 properties and resale options from a mandatory resort that has not been requalified from 1 property. There was no problem using them all.

We'll be in Maui, in our 2BR LO ocean front high floor (we can hope, right!) June 12-19!

 

[Politico]

Let's hope this policy lasts!

 

[DeniseM]

It looks like 18 - c. should be removed from the FAQ - any comments?

18) Can you summarize the difference between owning a developer unit and owning a resale unit?

c. You can't combine the Staroptions from different resale weeks to make a Staroption exchange.

 

[jarta]

"It looks like 18 - c. should be removed from the FAQ - any comments?"

I bought a developer week in January. Then I bought 2 secondary market (non-developer) weeks in March and April.

I have always had one Staroption account and haven't even had to ask to combine the options. Now that I requaled the 2 secondary market purchases with 2 more developer week purchases, I still have one large combined account when I look my "Account Balance" under "What I Own" on mystarcentral.

Starwood might have raised the Five* Elite requirement, but it also certainly has relaxed the position concerning combining Staroptions. However, Denise, both my non-developer purchases were at mandatory resorts and that might count for something. All my purchases have always carried a membership in SVO.

So, I can only tell you my experience. Only Starwood can tell you the parameters of their current policy.

 

[James1975NY]

you can definitely borrow staroptions from the next year. pay MF's and they are yours 90 days out. they will only give you what you need.

Remember, you can only borrow StarOptions into your actual use year. So, if you own a biennial even year ownership, you cannot borrow from 2010 into 2009. You CAN borrow from 2010 into 2008.

 

[Transit]

It looks like 18 - c. should be removed from the FAQ - any comments?

There was a section in the MSC ownership FAQ's That stated clearly that staroptions from resales could NOT be combined.That section seems to have been removed from MSC. I would still like to see in writing that resale staroptions from mandatory resorts can be combined.I was also wondering will it be subject to change again.

 

[SDKath]

There was a section in the MSC ownership FAQ's That stated clearly that staroptions from resales could NOT be combined.That section seems to have been removed from MSC. I would still like to see in writing that resale staroptions from mandatory resorts can be combined.I was also wondering will it be subject to change again.

That would be my worry too. Let's say you go and pick up two SVVs from eBay for peanuts. You count on the 81,000 SO unit combined with 67,100 SO one to get you into 2BR LOs that are usually 148,100 SOs.

Well guess what? The economy picks up and Starwood decides it is no longer convenient for them to combine resale M SOs and they pull the plug on this benefit. You are stuck with separate 1BR and studio units from there on out -- with no guarantees that they will join them together for you (and your little kids). Not good. This is a nice new feature but I would definitely NOT rely on this being available in the long run.

Katherine

 

[James1975NY]

That would be my worry too. Let's say you go and pick up two SVVs from eBay for peanuts. You count on the 81,000 SO unit combined with 67,100 SO one to get you into 2BR LOs that are usually 148,100 SOs.

Well guess what? The economy picks up and Starwood decides it is no longer convenient for them to combine resale M SOs and they pull the plug on this benefit. You are stuck with separate 1BR and studio units from there on out -- with no guarantees that they will join them together for you (and your little kids). Not good. This is a nice new feature but I would definitely NOT rely on this being available in the long run.

Katherine

Something else to consider: Servicing owners through the resale market with options split (not combined) was more trouble to them. In other words, making multiple reservations as an example....

Lets say you owned 81,000 + 67,100 via resale. You wanted a lock-off in platinum season....the reservation agent needs to make two reservations...which means....

1.) Longer talk time = cost (Call centers are meant to be efficient)
2.) Coordinating and handling room assignments for two reservations - unncessary time spent. (more cost)
3.) More steps = more room for error = cost on compensation (potentially)
4.) Owner says they have a party of 8, small children etc and they need to have adjacent rooms (true lock-off). Why go through the hassle to say that the request cannot be guaranteed. Telling an owner that they cannot guarantee a request like to this to ensure the well being of their family WILL mean more time spent handling this situation even if it has to go through management.

This is ultimately one of those situations where it is simply smarter business to accomodate and to allow StarOptions to combine. Would this really motivate buyers to stay away from resale when there are opportunities out there for $0.20 on the dollar? I dont think so.