Call to Starwood about new system

[jerseygirl]

I am now limited to searching 3 destinations at a time. (ie ?I can't search the entire Carribbean). That is a very stupid change. Is everyone else experiencing the same?

Yes. I'm hoping that it's related to server overload due to the $1 getaway promotion and that the restriction will be removed when the promotion is over. It's really annoying -- stops me from searching, hence no purchases.

 

[DeniseM]

I tested with my already deposited 1 BR SDO and I see it. But, I also noticed that when I map search in II, I cannot search an entire region anymore. I am now limited to searching 3 destinations at a time. (ie ?I can't search the entire Carribbean). That is a very stupid change. Is everyone else experiencing the same?

It's not a glitch, it was reported over on the Exchanging Board a few days ago. It appears to be a new "feature."

 

[Politico]

Can't wait to find out about all of the other "new features."

I mean honestly, these guys know how to ruin a good product.

 

[Joshadelic]

I tested with my already deposited 1 BR SDO and I see it. But, I also noticed that when I map search in II, I cannot search an entire region anymore. I am now limited to searching 3 destinations at a time. (ie ?I can't search the entire Carribbean). That is a very stupid change. Is everyone else experiencing the same?

I've emailed them a few times about that. It's absolutely stupid. The only function it serves, as far as I can tell, is to cost their customers more time to do a broad search. The first time I emailed them, they fixed it within a couple of days. It stayed fixed for a couple weeks and now it's back to the 3 destination limit. I-holes!

 

[Politico]

I-holes!

Lol :hysterical:

 

[sml2181]

Can't deposit fixed

Update - I double checked and SW did deposit her fixed week 52!

Our friends had to cancel due to an an operation after which he will not be allowed to fly for a few months.
So I called II to ask about depositing my fixed event week - not in the system.

They "can't" do it. (Depositing my fixed week.)
They don't know WHAT would happen with it, because according to them, it will not go in the system, they will not rent it...it would just stay empty...?
Otoh, if I were to do a request first, I would not be able to get this specific week back if I would reconsider, because it's an event week....

I am not depositing this week - will look for other friends to join us.

 

[DeniseM]

Did you notice that the other Tugger deposited their fixed week 52 online - Right now they seem to be totally lost at II, as demonstrated by the ridiculous answer they gave you.

When & where is your fixed week? If it is an event week/holiday week at a popular resort, you may still be able to rent it.

If you don't think it's a strong rental, then depositing it may still be possible.

Is it already registered (not deposited, but registered) with your II Acct.?

If your fixed week is in the next 60 days you would get a flex-change deposit that can only be used for reservations at 60 days out. However, within 60 days, it will still be a good exchanger. I got a 2 bdm. WPORV exchange for my Bro & SIL with a fixed SVR week that I deposited during flex-change.

Can you see your fixed week in your Acct. on the II website? If it's registered, you should be able to see it as an undeposited week. If you prefer/need to to deposit it, you could go online right now, and try to deposit it online. The worst that can happen is that they won't let you deposit it. If they do let you deposit it, you will know immediately.

As long as you get a deposit you can exchange with, you shouldn't worry about what happens to the week after you deposit it. At that point, it's II's problem.

 

[Robert D]

Late Deposits under New System

I thought I understood that you are not penalized for depositing a floating week close to year end but was told by and II rep today that if Starwood deposits a week with a check in date within the next 60 days that you are restricted to doing a flexchange and your trading power is dimished. This is just the opposite of what another II rep told me a few weeks ago, i.e. that you can deposit your 2009 week right up till year end and you have no restrictions on use and your trading power would be the same as if it was deposited on Jan 1. Which is correct?

 

[DeniseM]

II is as confused as we are - supposedly, under the new rules, Starwood isn't depositing weeks at all - they just assign your week a trading value and nothing is deposited until you actually make an exchange.

 

[Bucky]

II is as confused as we are - supposedly, under the new rules, Starwood isn't depositing weeks at all - they just assign your week a trading value and nothing is deposited until you actually make an exchange.

This is what I received back from Starwood yesterday when I questioned them about the new system:

"Thank you for contacting Sheraton Vacation Ownership. We welcome the opportunity to assist you.

Starwood Vacation Ownership (SVO) consistently monitors the benefits provided by our third party affiliate partners to ensure you obtain the best possible value when taking advantage of this alternate use option. Upon review of the services provided by Interval International (II), we see that many owners were not getting the true trading power for their ownership weeks, as well as other discrepancies that led us to believe that a change was necessary.

The changes made to our exchange procedure will ensure that you will always receive the true trading power for your ownership week, as well as the flexibility to cancel your external exchange request as long as the use year that was assigned for exchange with II has not passed. This flexibility was not present in our old exchange method as it was a final transaction. Additional changes to the II exchange procedure include a set expiration date of June 30 two years after the use year that was assigned for exchange.

Please note that the changes made to our II external exchange methods have not been posted in writing since SVO does not anticipate these changes to affect the use of your exchange week. The changes apply to all owners that use II as an external exchange company; this includes owners that are not enrolled in the Starwood Vacation Network (SVN).

** Our records indicate that your 2009 and 2010 weeks were deposited before the changes to the exchange method went into effect; therefore your 2009 and 2010 weeks reflect as an actual deposit as did your previous weeks. As a result the expiration dates issued at the time of deposit still apply. Your 2009 week expires July 4, 2011 and your 2010 week expires July 3, 2012. **

We hope this information was helpful. Should you need further assistance, please contact Owner Services at:

Sheraton 888-SV-OWNER (786-9637)
407- 903-4649

The hours of operation for Owner Services are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Time. Have a pleasant day.

Sincerely,
Lisa Bythwood
E-Communications Specialist
Owner Services

 

[Transit]

I confused with the new system. If you depost a week(whatever week they pick for your season). It's placed in you II account as a deposit. Can you then make an instant online exchange?

 

[rickandcindy23]

Upon review of the services provided by Interval International (II), we see that many owners were not getting the true trading power for their ownership weeks, as well as other discrepancies that led us to believe that a change was necessary.

In other words, some people were getting better exchanges than they should have been getting.

Please note that the changes made to our II external exchange methods have not been posted in writing since SVO does not anticipate these changes to affect the use of your exchange week.

In other words, you will have no idea HOW these changes will affect your week because you won't know what you're missing, since you won't be able to see anything, anyway.

 

[sml2181]

Did you notice that the other Tugger deposited their fixed week 52 online - Right now they seem to be totally lost at II, as demonstrated by the ridiculous answer they gave you.

When & where is your fixed week? If it is an event week/holiday week at a popular resort, you may still be able to rent it.

If you don't think it's a strong rental, then depositing it may still be possible.

Is it already registered (not deposited, but registered) with your II Acct.?

If your fixed week is in the next 60 days you would get a flex-change deposit that can only be used for reservations at 60 days out. However, within 60 days, it will still be a good exchanger. I got a 2 bdm. WPORV exchange for my Bro & SIL with a fixed SVR week that I deposited during flex-change.

Can you see your fixed week in your Acct. on the II website? If it's registered, you should be able to see it as an undeposited week. If you prefer/need to to deposit it, you could go online right now, and try to deposit it online. The worst that can happen is that they won't let you deposit it. If they do let you deposit it, you will know immediately.

As long as you get a deposit you can exchange with, you shouldn't worry about what happens to the week after you deposit it. At that point, it's II's problem.

They told me that I could deposit it online, but I can't since it doesn't show in my account. (It did, but it was removed when they were working on the changes.) I can only see the 2008 deposit.

I did notice a year ago though, that they changed the fixed week number in "float" - that was after I deposited the same week last year. (My 2008 week shows week number, 2009/2010 were changed in "float".) It took me a full week and a lot of headache last year to get the right week in II and the person who arranged the deposit told me the change into "float" was "standard" and it shouldn't have been a fixed week in my II account in the first place - although I own that fixed week.

It's not a big deal right now as we are taking other people with us, it's just the whole process which bothers me.

And I wanted to give an update regarding depositing fixed week - obviously it doesn't work all the time. The person who managed to get it done should consider his/herself lucky and I think that week was still as a fixed week 52 in II.

I purchased this week for our own use so we will be ok. However, bottom line - don't purchase fixed weeks for higher amounts unless you want to use it.

Last: the rep was indeed very confused: he had to search for information all the time, and I heard huge sighs after almost every sentence. He didn't ask me to answer the service questions afterwards though.

 

[Transit]

I confused with the new system. If you depost a week(whatever week they pick for your season). It's placed in you II account as a deposit. Can you then make an instant online exchange?

bump..........................

 

[DeniseM]

I confused with the new system. If you depost a week(whatever week they pick for your season). It's placed in you II account as a deposit. Can you then make an instant online exchange?

Yes - you can.

But you don't really get an actual week deposited until the exchange goes through - instead, your week is assigned an Avg. trading value, based on the season, and that is what you trade with.

 

[Bucky]

Upon review of the services provided by Interval International (II), we see that many owners were not getting the true trading power for their ownership weeks, as well as other discrepancies that led us to believe that a change was necessary.

In other words, some people were getting better exchanges than they should have been getting.

Please note that the changes made to our II external exchange methods have not been posted in writing since SVO does not anticipate these changes to affect the use of your exchange week.

In other words, you will have no idea HOW these changes will affect your week because you won't know what you're missing, since you won't be able to see anything, anyway.

Since I am of the understanding that my Platinum weeks is to be given an average trading value, based on the season I don't see what's wrong with that. As long as it applies to everyone I can live with it.

As far as some people getting better exchanges than they should have been getting maybe if they had kept their mouths shut and not come on the internet and bragged about how they had manipulated the system, things wouldn't have been changed!!! I have said for years, "loose lips sink ships". If you are naive enough to think that exchange companies don't get complaints from members who don't manipulate the system, I've got some property for sale.

 

[Transit]

Since I am of the understanding that my Platinum weeks is to be given an average trading value, based on the season I don't see what's wrong with that. As long as it applies to everyone I can live with it.

As far as some people getting better exchanges than they should have been getting maybe if they had kept their mouths shut and not come on the internet and bragged about how they had manipulated the system, things wouldn't have been changed!!! I have said for years, "loose lips sink ships". If you are naive enough to think that exchange companies don't get complaints from members who don't manipulate the system, I've got some property for sale.

I don't think they care a bit about what exchanges people are getting .The changes were made so they can make more money by controlling the best weeks and renting them out.

 

[DeniseM]

As far as some people getting better exchanges than they should have been getting maybe if they had kept their mouths shut and not come on the internet and bragged about how they had manipulated the system, things wouldn't have been changed!!! I have said for years, "loose lips sink ships". If you are naive enough to think that exchange companies don't get complaints from members who don't manipulate the system, I've got some property for sale.

Wow - that was kind of harsh!

Manipulating - to manage or influence skillfully, esp. in an unfair manner.

No one was "manipulating the system" - we were follow the rules that Starwood and II had mandated. There is nothing manipulative or unfair about that. Is it unfair that some owners educate themselves about how to get the most out of their TS ownership, and others don't bother? I don't think so.

As far as keeping our mouths shut, how do you share info. with other TS owners if you keep all the best info. to yourself? That's not what TUG is all about.....

 

[James1975NY]

I don't think they care a bit about what exchanges people are getting .The changes were made so they can make more money by controlling the best weeks and renting them out.

Starwood is not able to "rent" them out unless the un-reserved inventory is 60-days out or less. Inventory that has any demand at all will be reserved in advance by owners for their use so it is not likely Starwood will be able to get any high demand "60-day" inventory.

 

[Transit]

Starwood is not able to "rent" them out unless the un-reserved inventory is 60-days out or less. Inventory that has any demand at all will be reserved in advance by owners for their use so it is not likely Starwood will be able to get any high demand "60-day" inventory.

It would be nice to know that Starwood is holding the best weeks for owners because what I see in II is dismal.

 

[Bucky]

Wow - that was kind of harsh!

Manipulating - to manage or influence skillfully, esp. in an unfair manner.

No one was "manipulating the system" - we were follow the rules that Starwood and II had mandated. There is nothing manipulative or unfair about that. Is it unfair that some owners educate themselves about how to get the most out of their TS ownership, and others don't bother? I don't think so.

As far as keeping our mouths shut, how do you share info. with other TS owners if you keep all the best info. to yourself? That's not what TUG is all about.....

First of all I don't think my post was harsh at all. Truthful yes, harsh no. Has anyone here actually experienced a trade using the new system? Probably not. Just a whole lot of whining going on. Get over it.

Oh come on now. "We were following......................." Read the post on TUG. There are several and I mean several individuals who try to figure out any way around what the intent of the trading companies policies are. As far as keeping your mouths shut, I really don't care. But people need to get off their high horses when they are left hanging by a change in trading companies policies. Just like all the people that bailed out of II when Disney took their business to RCI. They all started depositing their weeks into RCI and bragging how they were able to get easy trades into all the Disney resorts. Guess what? All of a sudden their trade power was adjusted and they were caught hanging and now complaining about how bad RCI is treating them. You don't think Disney owners complained about this?? They are some of the most demanding owners out there, and for good reason. Give it a break. JMHO.

 

[gmarine]

First of all I don't think my post was harsh at all. Truthful yes, harsh no. Has anyone here actually experienced a trade using the new system? Probably not. Just a whole lot of whining going on. Get over it.

Oh come on now. "We were following......................." Read the post on TUG. There are several and I mean several individuals who try to figure out any way around what the intent of the trading companies policies are. As far as keeping your mouths shut, I really don't care. But people need to get off their high horses when they are left hanging by a change in trading companies policies. Just like all the people that bailed out of II when Disney took their business to RCI. They all started depositing their weeks into RCI and bragging how they were able to get easy trades into all the Disney resorts. Guess what? All of a sudden their trade power was adjusted and they were caught hanging and now complaining about how bad RCI is treating them. You don't think Disney owners complained about this?? They are some of the most demanding owners out there, and for good reason. Give it a break. JMHO.

This quite possibly could be the most uninformed opinion I've ever seen on TUG.

 

[Bucky]

This quite possibly could be the most uninformed opinion I've ever seen on TUG.

You're probably right. Then again, I don't have enough time to devote over 3000 post to this forum. Unlike some, I've got a life. I'm outta here.

 

[pacman]

You're probably right. Then again, I don't have enough time to devote over 3000 post to this forum. Unlike some, I've got a life. I'm outta here.

Yes, I think most of us here also have a life, since we are the ones interested in traveling. Don't let the door hit you on the way out!

Its sad to see how some people go through life with such a chip on their shoulder.

pacman

 

[DeniseM]

Since I am of the understanding that my Platinum weeks is to be given an average trading value, based on the season I don't see what's wrong with that. As long as it applies to everyone I can live with it.

Do you realize that now, when you put in a "request first" request with II, you will lose your reservation for your "platinum week," and if you don't get the exchange you want, you can't get your platinum week back, and they can give you any old off-season week? - you're OK with that?