'Grading' exchange value

[Passepartout]

OK, I'm sure this has been covered ad nauseum since time(share) immemorial- couldn't resist that one- I keep seeing in timeshare resale ads, and resort comments like 'good trader' and similar. I think I've only seen once, 'You better enjoy going to that one, 'cause it'll never trade for anything'. Has anyone developed a 'grading' system, perhaps on a scale of 1-100 or even A-B-C-D-F.

I could envision this grade being included in resort ratings- though the 1-10 scale works if one wants to check out individual resorts one might be interested in. I guess I envision something like a Robert Parker rating influenced by such things as location, amenities, cleanliness, condition, time of year- for fixed weeks- intangibles like friendliness or helpfulness of staff or aggression of on-site sales people.

Just a thought that something like this might give some guidance to people shopping for a(nother) TS.

Jim Ricks

 

[janapur]

I think you would have to address other variables such as when deposited and when search began. If you used a constant such as deposited at 12 months in advance, I'd love to adopt this rating system.

 

[Mel]

I think you would have to address other variables such as when deposited and when search began. If you used a constant such as deposited at 12 months in advance, I'd love to adopt this rating system.

You would also need to have grades for different times of year. A Cape Cod summer week is going to be an excellent trader, but forget tryng to trade a February week. You'll get something, but nothing to brag about except at the last minute.

Even without seasonal differences, you might need a chart for each resort - high trade power isn't everything, depending what trades you want. If you want to trade into that Cape Cod week, even in February, if it's an older resort, you better have something of similar (NOT BETTER) quality to trade in. All the trade power in the world won't do the trick if it's a trade too far down in quality.

 

[Janie]

I think there are so many variables at work that devising such a system would be impossible.

For one thing, you'd need different systems for RCI and II, not to mention the other exchange companies.

As Mel and Janapur mentioned, you'd need to factor in quality, deposit time, and season.

You'd also need to account for year-to-year calendar shifts: For example, some years, week 35 is the week leading up to Labor Day: a high-demand week for some destinations. Other years, week 35 is the week after Labor Day: much less demanded. (for example, check rental and hotel rates on Cape Cod for the week before and the week after Labor Day: the difference is quite dramatic).

Cleanliness, so far as I can tell, does not factor into trading power at all, nor do amenities.

For RCI, trading power is all about location, location, location, and what season of the year you own.

For II, it's more about resort quality and the size of your unit. Location and season are still important, but less so.

 

[timeos2]

No need - it's done

There is at least one system that establishes value - RCI Points. You can look up the value you'll get and what it takes to get what you want. It's one of the beauties of a points based system. Most others do a similar thing within their systems. RCI is one of the few that accepts any resort not just those in a specific group or developer.

 

[happymum]

The other factor that would seem to make this impossible is the lack of predictability. One of my resorts was a strong trader with the '07 deposit and a dog with the '08.

 

[BocaBum99]

It exists. You just can't have it. People don't want to share it with you. As soon as they do, it will change to something else because that will unduly influence the supply and demand of those resorts. People who have the list know this and have no desire to give it to you for that reason.

 

[Passepartout]

This'll have to do for now

[There is at least one system that establishes value - RCI Points. You can look up the value you'll get and what it takes to get what you want. It's one of the beauties of a points based system. Most others do a similar thing within their systems. RCI is one of the few that accepts any resort not just those in a specific group or developer.]

I guess that's one of the things that attracted me to RCI points as far as it goes. I guess I was starting to get a case of 'can't have just one-itis', and since there aren't many TS within reasonable distance that we'd want to return to year after year. Following that train of thought was getting a 'good trader' that we could use some years and deposit for RCI points in years we or the kids didn't want to use it.

Anyway, thanks everyone for your input. I keep learning....

Jim Ricks