Given Starpoint Devaluation, what should new starpoint values be?

[KOR5Star]

Hope you don't mind if I ask....but, why would Customer Relations call you about this?

I wrote a letter outlining my concerns. I ended it by asking that someone contact me about what I wrote. So they called.

We often here people talking about "them" and "they".... "When are "they" going to do something?" "Them" and "they" is "US"!! If we don't take action and make darn well sure management knows how we feel, management will never know. If not us, who do you think is going to do it? How will Starwood know... by guessing? ...by logging onto web forums and searching?

Let's make it real easy for Starwood. Write a letter. Make a call. Ask for a response. Let's all do it. Maybe we can light a fire under Starwood to address the situation.

 

[pointsjunkie]

i contacted them on my star central today,and told them that they have alot of very unhappy VO's. i explained our gripes and signed. i agree with all of you that we are ones that will make this happen, write a letter, make a call, send an e-mail. together as a group we can have this change. we are the future of their timeshare business because we all need more than one.so i hope they want to keep us happy.

 

[KOR5Star]

i contacted them on my star central today,and told them that they have alot of very unhappy VO's. i explained our gripes and signed. i agree with all of you that we are ones that will make this happen, write a letter, make a call, send an e-mail. together as a group we can have this change. we are the future of their timeshare business because we all need more than one.so i hope they want to keep us happy.

The important part is to end your correspondence with a request that they contact you about this problem. They will call if you ask.

Talk to them on the phone. They're human, they understand the issue. Ask them to explain to you what they are doing about it.

A letter is great, but if it's just a comment and they don't have to do anything, it will just be pushed to the side. Sure, they'll acknowledge another letter, but making them call you and actually explain to you what they are doing to address this injustice is the next level of getting them to notice.

 

[pointsjunkie]

i received a response to my e-mail from customer relations department, it is imperative that every TUGGER sends starwood an e-mail, a note or a phone call concerning the revaluation of the starpoints in regard to your ownership. they will respond to us if we are all so unhappy.so go and let your voice be heard

 

[dss]

This is one of the single key reasons for buying resale in my opinion. I am a huge fan of Starpoints, but anyone who is a longtime frequent flyer/mileage junkie will tell you that reward points are ALWAYs a declining currency. I raised this issue during my first (pre-construction) visit to WKORV and during my subsequent visits as a (resale) owner. the first time the sales person, and his sales lead looked at me like I was from Mars as I seriously think this was the first time they had every thought of this as they had just opened up for sale.

I've done the tour now four or five times and every single time I ask them what they are going to do about the fact that 80k points are worth a LOT less now than they were in 2002 and last year was the first time they even addressed it as a legitimate issue since the Maui hotels were all shooting up a category. They always gave me this stock answer that "some hotels go up a category while others go down" which is total crap. I think they really prey on people who either don't care or don't want to know the details of what they are buying. The idea of paying a $20-30k premium for the right to pay another $2k (and rising) in MF to purchase a declining currency is insane to me.

 

[Ken555]

I'll earn my Starpoints from my hotel stays and credit card purchases and use my ownership weeks within SVN.

Exactly why I bought resale. I do feel for all you developer owners, though. You're definitely on the short end of the stick with this conversion issue.

And, for me, I can't spend my starpoints fast enough (which I almost exclusively gain via AmEx)...need more time for vacation...

 

[Henry M.]

Here's the response I got:

"Thank you for your inquiry. The following is the only information that we have at this time.

As an incidental benefit, the Starwood Preferred Guest Program offers a variety of travel benefits which owners such as you are clearly taking advantage of. Please know, Mr. emuyshondt, it is in result of owner feedback such as yours that we continually pursue enhancements for the SVN Program to bring benefit for all owners. The Starwood Preferred Guest Program is no exception.

You may be pleased to know that SVO Management, Inc. is currently reviewing the impact of Starwood Hotel category changes for consideration of interval StarPoint valuation increases.

Should you need further assistance, please contact Owner Services at 800.847.8262 in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico, 0.800.89.5065 in the United Kingdom, 001.800.847.8262 from Mexico and 407.903.4640 for all other areas. Owner Services is available Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Saturday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time."

 

[saluki]

I just wanted to bump this thread as a reminder for everyone to contact SVO regarding the StarPoints conversion devaluation. The only way to bring about a change is by offering up a bunch of squeaky wheels.

I may never use the conversion option. But, if I do, it should be a lot more fair than it currently is.

 

[rocky]

SVO just called. (I had asked them to call.) I explained that I was very displeased with the impact that starpoint devaluation has had on my ability to trade my units.

They explained that:

1. They have a problem tracking system and my concerns will be reported monthly, quarterly, annually to management. (ummm, ok..... that is vaguely interesting corporate appeasement speak but does not address my concern specifically)

2. SVO evaluates the starpoint values annually for its properties, but that the creation of category seven is new in SPG, and SVO's evaluation happened BEFORE the creation of category seven.

***One moment while I cry bullshit here. Everyone and their dog on flyertalk knew the devalation was coming, category seven was coming, and it was implemented during the ANNUAL evaluation of starpoints that all Starwood properties and licensees go through. I would hazard a guess that SVO goes through the same evalution at the same time as the other properties... and the other properties, in fact all of Starwood, managed to make this change at year end...... except somehow poor SVO who was caught flatfooted.

I said as much, more politely to the SVO caller. I asked...... if they evaluate starpoints annually, please tell me, what has changed in the last year so that it is appropriate that my points are worth so much less now??? The rental rates you get on our units are high when we turn in our properties for points, so what exactly has changed???

Or is SVO just too cheap to pay the money to buy the extra points our villas are worth????

Please please everyone stay on them about this. The situation is total garbage and they know it and we know it.......

 

[pointsjunkie]

i got my phone call today. they are taking our complaints and suggestions very seriously. she wrote down all my ideas and concerns and complaints. we were on the phone about an hour. we discussed mandatory vs. voluntary, what they could do to make elites happy without giving back the upgrade of villas,the starpoint deval, and extra perks they can give us that might make us happy. they will have a meeting to discuss all our imput.

so if that phone rings, pick it up and voice your opinions.