Cheap Silver/White Week for Trading (2008 thread)

[thinze3]

If buying from developer ...

If you bought MLE silver and waited to within six months out of booking a silver week at Ocean Pointe, it would be too late to deposit MLE for points if nothing were available. But, if you happened upon a really good silver week (considered platinum at Oceana Palms) you would have a good trader.

Just a thought.


Terry

 

[Stefa]

If you bought MLE silver and waited to within six months out of booking a silver week at Ocean Pointe, it would be too late to deposit MLE for points if nothing were available. But, if you happened upon a really good silver week (platinum at Oceana Palms) you would have a good trader.

Silver OP would be a better trader than silber MLE, but if you deposite at six months out, some of that trading power would be lost.

 

[applegirl]

out at Desert Villas I or II do! If you book the right week it trades as red and not as yellow. Because there is a full service hotel on the grounds it ranks very high on II's scale (8 out 10)
Good luck!

I didn't know this! But it makes sense. We own silver at Shadow Ridge and I've know some people who have made some very good trades with their silver weeks (Hawaii and Newport coast in summer to name a couple!).

MF's aren't the cheapest, but you pay for what 's good. I'd go with DSV I silver. With the spa privilege and full access to the JW, it's the best value. Oh, and no ROFR.

Janna

 

[thinze3]

There is a full service hotel on site at Marriott's Legends Edge at Bay Point as well. Owners and guests at Legends Edge have full Spa use and get golf discounts.

www.marriottbaypoint.com


Terry

 

[dioxide45]

I've been seeing a number of Manor Club silver weeks on EBay lately that go for under $1K. I have noticed that these tent to be MMC instead of MSE. The only advantage with this would be to be able to lock off. Does anyone know what MSE silver units tend to go for? Any reason these don't come accross EBay as often?

 

[dioxide45]

I think we have decided to not even purchase a cheap week for trading. Looking at the getaways that we are able to purchase that fit our needs, the costs of MF and other fees outwieghs the getaway fees.

We bought a II getaway for $324 for a studio for Orlando MLK week. We recently saw 2BR for the same week for $404 (we are gold members in II). I inquired about upgrading and they did so for a cost of the exchange fee. If I was to buy a cheap Branson week I would have to pay ~$800 for in MF, $75 to lock off and $200 to exchange. This works out to over $500 for each week. Now I am more likely to get a good flexchange in peak months vs a good getaway in the same months, but for now we are finding the getaways to be working to our advantage. I just can't justify the purchase and additional liability. If I choose not to travel now, I just don't buy the getaway. If I buy a week I am tied in to that MF.

 

[dioxide45]

Tell me why I still find myself searching E-Bay for cheap weeks when I thought I had talked myself out of this?

We are seeing getaways for places we travel when we travel for half the maintenance fees that we pay. Why can't I help myself. Thank goodness I never pulled the trigger on an E-Bay auction.

 

[thinze3]

Tell me why I still find myself searching E-Bay for cheap weeks when I thought I had talked myself out of this? ...

It's the same lack of reason that I watch Starwood and Hilton (and Marriott) auctions.

 

[applegirl]

We bought a II getaway for $324 for a studio for Orlando MLK week. We recently saw 2BR for the same week for $404 (we are gold members in II). I inquired about upgrading and they did so for a cost of the exchange fee.

Hi dioxide! We buy getaways several times a year to the Palm Desert Marriotts because we love it out there. Could you please explain what you meant in the above quote about "upgrading for the cost of an exchange fee"?
I've never heard of this or done it but would like to know if I'm understanding you right. Did II let you upgrade your getaway purchase from a studio to a larger unit? What size unit did you upgrade to?

Thanks for the insight!

Janna

 

[dioxide45]

Hi dioxide! We buy getaways several times a year to the Palm Desert Marriotts because we love it out there. Could you please explain what you meant in the above quote about "upgrading for the cost of an exchange fee"?
I've never heard of this or done it but would like to know if I'm understanding you right. Did II let you upgrade your getaway purchase from a studio to a larger unit? What size unit did you upgrade to?

Thanks for the insight!

Janna

We booked a studio getaway at MGV (no 2BR were available at the time) for January 2009. When on vacation at Beach Place in November 2008 we saw a 2BR online for only about $75 more than we originally paid for the studio getaway. I called II about the ability to upgrade. They changed our unit to a 2BR and charged us the domestic exchange fee ($139).

I called back again at one time about changing the check in date by one day and they were not flexible. It worked out great for us anyhow, just checked in a day late. When I called back this second time they indicated that getaways are non changeable or non refundable and that they made the first change as a good will gesture. I must have lucked out on that first call. I would have actually been willing to just outright buy the 2BR getaway.

In our history on the II website the original studio shows as a canceled reservation and the re-booking is under an accommodation certificate.

 

[applegirl]

We booked a studio getaway at MGV (no 2BR were available at the time) for January 2009. When on vacation at Beach Place in November 2008 we saw a 2BR online for only about $75 more than we originally paid for the studio getaway. I called II about the ability to upgrade. They changed our unit to a 2BR and charged us the domestic exchange fee ($139).

I called back again at one time about changing the check in date by one day and they were not flexible. It worked out great for us anyhow, just checked in a day late. When I called back this second time they indicated that getaways are non changeable or non refundable and that they made the first change as a good will gesture. I must have lucked out on that first call. I would have actually been willing to just outright buy the 2BR getaway.

In our history on the II website the original studio shows as a canceled reservation and the re-booking is under an accommodation certificate.

dioxide,

Wow! That is so interesting! I'm glad it worked out for you and it certainly sounds like you got lucky. Guess I shouldn't count on that in the future though. Pretty cool they were able to do that for you.

Thanks so much for explaining

Cheers,
Janna

 

[ldanna]

But, if you happened upon a really good silver week (considered platinum at Oceana Palms) you would have a good trader.

Terry

Does anyone know a link to Oceana Palms Calendar?

 

[dioxide45]

Does anyone know a link to Oceana Palms Calendar?

https://www.my-vacationclub.com/common/respages/pdf/resorts/sn/sn_calendar_20071129.pdf

While there are some weeks at Ocean Pointe that are platinum at Oceana Palms, I don't think this makes those silver weeks more valuable at Ocean Pointe. II uses a far more complex trading value system than the simple seasons Marriott uses. Marriott has consistently made their platinum seasons longer and longer over the years as new resorts came along. They do this to sell more weeks at premium prices. It doesn't make the weeks more valuable in terms of trading or even use.

 

[indyhorizons]

IMHO, forget about Marriott seasons and look at the II seasons. Therefore: The Palm Spring's resorts have cheap summer weeks (silver or blue seasons) but they are red in II. (Granted they are pink not really red) They will likely trade much better than the other weeks talked about, which II lists as yellow or green weeks.

I have been in the market for an additional week that I can use to trade. We originally bought developer (pre-tug ) and with the current market and the current ROFR, I have been keeping my eye out.

Does anyone have any thoughts to Bill's comment above. It makes sense to me, if I am reading it correctly. I have been looking for an EOY Branson plat (low MF's) but haven't seen a good deal of late. So with that in mind, have decided to look at the advice in this thread. According to Bill's comment , Branson gold would be a good trader as well. (II red) Anyone have any experience with this? What about receiving AC's for gold weeks?

 

[m61376]

I have been in the market for an additional week that I can use to trade. We originally bought developer (pre-tug ) and with the current market and the current ROFR, I have been keeping my eye out.

Does anyone have any thoughts to Bill's comment above. It makes sense to me, if I am reading it correctly. I have been looking for an EOY Branson plat (low MF's) but haven't seen a good deal of late. So with that in mind, have decided to look at the advice in this thread. According to Bill's comment , Branson gold would be a good trader as well. (II red) Anyone have any experience with this? What about receiving AC's for gold weeks?

I'd search the forum for "Branson." I know there was a recent post (I think by Grayfal) about her great Branson weeks trades.

 

[Beverley]

My Barony Beach silver is an excellent trader. Been to Hawaii, Aruba, Palm Desert, the Monarch and back into the Barony during July and end of August.

Agree, we have gotten excellent trades also.

 

[dhole]

Silver Branson works for me.

We bought two EOY Silver Branson Weeks to accomplish the following.
1. To give us 13 month booking for our Wiaohai and Grand Chateau weeks in the spring. By locking out the Branson, and sometimes locking out our MGC we can get any week we need at MAW. We trade every other year with another MAW owner so we each get two weeks every other year.
2. We then use the locked off Branson to trade in and out of flex for our supplemental visits. So far we have traded a Branson silver studio for a late January MGV 2 bedroom, a MMC April 2 bdroom, an Ocean Pointe May 1 bedroom and a Memorial Day Branson 2 br and a 2 Bd March Sabal Palms outside of flex. The Branson 1 bedroom traded for a Sept Waiohai 2bdr, August Newport Coast 2 bedroom and a early June Oceanwatch 2 bdroom, all in flex. Granted that you won't getting prime trades outside of flex, but the low cost and proximity (We can actually drive to Branson in about 4 hrs.) it has worked out great for us. Your mileage may vary.

 

[mulch1]

I traded my Shadow Ridge (Palm Desert) lockoff for a 1 bedroom Ko Olina for this past July 4th during Flexchange.

I bought it on E-bay for $950 (Feb 09) the MF is about 950 as well.

Best thing I ever did.

 

[normab]

I agree with the others who touted the silver weeks. Our silver Bransons week just got us a platinum Kauai Beach Club more than 5 months out. This was the first time we tried outside of the flexchange...

 

[dioxide45]

I have been in the market for an additional week that I can use to trade. We originally bought developer (pre-tug ) and with the current market and the current ROFR, I have been keeping my eye out.

Does anyone have any thoughts to Bill's comment above. It makes sense to me, if I am reading it correctly. I have been looking for an EOY Branson plat (low MF's) but haven't seen a good deal of late. So with that in mind, have decided to look at the advice in this thread. According to Bill's comment , Branson gold would be a good trader as well. (II red) Anyone have any experience with this? What about receiving AC's for gold weeks?

The only warning with possibly buying in to Branson and also Horizons Orlando (now Harbour Lake) is that they are now part of the MVCI family of resorts. This means that sometime in the future (possibly on refurbishment cycles) they will be upgrading existing units to the "Marriott Standard". This doesn't mean they are bad buys but don't expect them to retain the low maintenance fees they now enjoy.

 

[indyhorizons]

The only warning with possibly buying in to Branson and also Horizons Orlando (now Harbour Lake) is that they are now part of the MVCI family of resorts. This means that sometime in the future (possibly on refurbishment cycles) they will be upgrading existing units to the "Marriott Standard". This doesn't mean they are bad buys but don't expect them to retain the low maintenance fees they now enjoy.

Another valid point. I already own at Harbour Lake and am holding my breath with that one. In the meantime, I am hoping that an EOY Branson will help soften any blow that may occur as a result of future mf increases.

 

[Dean]

The only warning with possibly buying in to Branson and also Horizons Orlando (now Harbour Lake) is that they are now part of the MVCI family of resorts. This means that sometime in the future (possibly on refurbishment cycles) they will be upgrading existing units to the "Marriott Standard". This doesn't mean they are bad buys but don't expect them to retain the low maintenance fees they now enjoy.

I doubt it'll be that bad, esp for Branson but a SA might be in the cards in the next few years. I think price, yearly fees and lockoff are the main issues but I don't think one should forget about the underlying value of the week in question. That's especially true now when prices are much lower. I would NOT buy a non lockoff FC property with the intent of using the FC lockoff, partly because you'll lose some control and lose potentially 6 months on your exchange life for any such deposits. I still think Branson is the best choice for this situation but likely better Gold or even Platinum at the present time. OTOH, if there's a resort you might use part of the time but otherwise fits fairly well into the other parameters, I'd put it at the head of such a list.

 

[dioxide45]

I doubt it'll be that bad, esp for Branson but a SA might be in the cards in the next few years. I think price, yearly fees and lockoff are the main issues but I don't think one should forget about the underlying value of the week in question.

I am quite surprised at what silver Branson weeks have been going for on E-Bay lately.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=310156618048

I don't know if these still meet the criteria as a cheap week. I wouldn't expect them to go for as much as they do. Some in the past ended with very vew bids for less than $500. Apparently someone wanted this one real bad.

 

[ldanna]

Legends Edge (Silver) - Can book at Ocean Point at 6 months out and lock off. Deposit in to II for trades during flexchange. Couldn't find what the MF are for silver as they don't appear in the MF list.

Dioxide, I know you're a big fan of Legends Edge (I am also a big fan), but consider a platinum week at Legends Edge:

*if you wait a little, I have seen some of those weeks go for $3k, and maybe if you wait for the right time and make the right offer, you may pay less than this.

*MF should be around $900, not a low MF, but a good one, just $200 more than Branson.

*if you book during the 13 month period (you can use your MGV to do that), MLE has 10 weeks with with TDI 150.

*Still not a lockoff, BUT you can use Florida Club to reserve soth Florida lockoffs AND OceanPoint and BeachPlace have their best weeks during the first 3 months of the year, which means you will be able to look for a week in July, not so far away after you make the reservation at MLE (late april).

 

[indyhorizons]

I still think Branson is the best choice for this situation but likely better Gold or even Platinum at the present time. OTOH, if there's a resort you might use part of the time but otherwise fits fairly well into the other parameters, I'd put it at the head of such a list.

I agree, and in fact was looking at a Branson Gold or Plat. The recent thread (resurgence I should say) on the new internal exchange system has me rethinking this for now. I can assure you, I have no desire to go to Branson again, so while I think it is a great buy for trading, I would not want to be stuck with it if for some reason I choose not to join a new internal exchange program (cost-prohibitive to join for resale owners). It is not somewhere I would want to visit every year or eoy for that matter.

Just somethings to consider.