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Have not posted in a while but...some thoughts

ambrosij

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1) TPU Calculator - I am a points pure RCI member, but I own Orlando
and because of that I do not have access to DVC in Orlando. I have been actively looking for some good weeks properties to pick up (TPU/MF) and I thought I had found one, I had read it would receive about 50TPU, which would have been a good deal,but I took the extra effort to call RCI. Glad I did because both of the weeks I was looking at were going to receive much less than 50 TPU...so of course I didnt buy. I really wish that the calculator was made available to all, it would encourage (at least encourage me) to investigate and purchase more time shares and save me the hassle of calling RCI. Develop a phone app TPU calculator anyone?

2) It seems that there are much less time shares showing up on Ebay, and while Ebay is not the sole provider of resale timeshares, it is a good cross cut. I an finding that many of the good resorts (low m/f, high points ect.) have been pretty picked over. There is a gem from time to time, but lots of stinkers popping up. I have also noticed a difference in developer presentation tactics. I have gone to a couple presentations over the past month (one from diamond, and one from Wyndham) both seem to be very aware of the resale market and while Diamond just kept spouting the whole "developer benefit" line over and over again...without really ever spouting what those benefits would be (btw if those benefits are that important you can always buy into THE CLUB for about 3K), Wyndham was pretty straight forward with what they viewed as their benefits over resale. They did have some pretty good features like giving x amount of points for two of your previously owned units which would propel you to the next level of wyndham membership. She also was straight forward in stating that if you are a resale owner your booking is flagged when you check in and they give you the bottom of the barrel room (of course when most of my stuff is via RCI trades none of that really matters), but she also tossed in a gem that if you buy a cheap developer unit then buy resale the computer can not tell the difference. Bottom line is that Wyndham was not pushy, and provided a 45 minute take it or leave it presentation. Owning 5 resorts, and very happy, I left it of course.

3) Pretty satisfied with what my 2011 points provided me with. In 2011 I traveled to:
o Ochos Rios Jamaica - Sandals Resort
o Williamsburg, VA - The Historic Powhatan Resort
o San Diego, CA - Wyndham Harbour Lights
o Solana Beach, CA- Winner's Circle
o The Manhatten Club - NY, NY
o Received a $400 Gift Card exchanged for points
o Received rountrip airfare for two from VA to CA exchanged for points
o Received two night hotel accommodations exchanged for points

I started with a 2011 balance of 220,000 points and currently have 67,000 points that remain. Based on my maintenance fees I average .0078 per point (looks like rising MF in 2012 will bring that to .008 per point). I believe that the RCI fees for all those places and unconventional exchanges adds up to about $850. The points cost me an estimated $1224 for 2011; so, for 2011 I spent $2074 minus the $400 Visa Card equaling $1674 on travel and lodging. The air fare was $368 per ticket per person on priceline so subtracting that leaves $938 spent on lodging... so to summarize

$938 paid for 32 nights of lodging at no less than a one bedroom unit (with the exception of the hotel lodging). That amounts to about $29 per night. I have 67,000 points to spare...so if anyone needs some points let me know lol.

4) I am always on the look out for resorts that will lower my overall cost per point (although I think I have done pretty well) and as I said before looking for a good weeks only resort. Just FYI I currently own...

Tree Tops - Gaitlinburg - July week
Sheraton Vistana - Orlando - April Week
Barefootn At The Keys - Orlando - April Week
Parkway at Vacation Village - Orlando - April Week
Grandview - LasVegas - Not sure actually

5) I would be interested in taking a look at a Summer unit on the Atlantic

Hope everyone is having a great start to the new year.
 

vckempson

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Wyndham was pretty straight forward with what they viewed as their benefits over resale. They did have some pretty good features like giving x amount of points for two of your previously owned units which would propel you to the next level of wyndham membership. She also was straight forward in stating that if you are a resale owner your booking is flagged when you check in and they give you the bottom of the barrel room [/B.


That's the first I've heard of that one. I don't believe it's true though. We've not experienced bad room assignments and all we have are resale. I'd also think that the practice would be prejudicial and illegal. It's one thing to give perks to original buyers. It's quite another to penalize one who has a UDI deed that's just as valid as any other.
 

timeos2

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2) It seems that there are much less time shares showing up on Ebay, and while Ebay is not the sole provider of resale timeshares, it is a good cross cut. I an finding that many of the good resorts (low m/f, high points ect.) have been pretty picked over. There is a gem from time to time, but lots of stinkers popping up.

You must be looking at a different eBay than most of us. It is awash in cheap to $1 sale offers - many of which go without a single bid. It just seems to get worse & worse.

I have also noticed a difference in developer presentation tactics. I have gone to a couple presentations over the past month (one from diamond, and one from Wyndham) both seem to be very aware of the resale market and while Diamond just kept spouting the whole "developer benefit" line over and over again...without really ever spouting what those benefits would be (btw if those benefits are that important you can always buy into THE CLUB for about 3K), Wyndham was pretty straight forward with what they viewed as their benefits over resale. They did have some pretty good features like giving x amount of points for two of your previously owned units which would propel you to the next level of wyndham membership. She also was straight forward in stating that if you are a resale owner your booking is flagged when you check in and they give you the bottom of the barrel room (of course when most of my stuff is via RCI trades none of that really matters), but she also tossed in a gem that if you buy a cheap developer unit then buy resale the computer can not tell the difference.

Almost 99.9% BS. Listening to any salesweasel - but especially from Wyndham or Wastegate is risking any credibility when accepted as fact. The only part of Wyndham that cares one iota about resale vs retail is sales. And no front desk is going be sure to assign the bottom units to "resale" owners. It is all sales misrepresentations. Be happy you avoided THAT trap. They do have a program to bring up to two non-Wyndham resorts into the program for points BUT, again, it doesn't make economic sense to do that rather than simply take cheap or free points from resales sellers as resale will always be MUCH cheaper overall.

5) I would be interested in taking a look at a Summer unit on the Atlantic

Now THOSE are good traders & renters. But find an independent with owner control for the best value & fees. Thanks for your interesting post.
 

ambrosij

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That's the first I've heard of that one. I don't believe it's true though. We've not experienced bad room assignments and all we have are resale. I'd also think that the practice would be prejudicial and illegal. It's one thing to give perks to original buyers. It's quite another to penalize one who has a UDI deed that's just as valid as any other.

Ya know, I agree and that was my first thought as well. But, I actually think she was being honest, she had nothing to gain or lose she knew from the get go all we were going to have was a conversation. She was younger attractive girl who maybe let something slip that she shouldn't have. I think it is pretty unethical for Wyndham to flag "resale" accounts or basicly accounts that do not have a "preferred" next to them...but again I imagine this can only be possible if you were doing a Wyndham to Wyndham exchange. I dont think it is beyond the reasonable expectations of Wyndham, especially with some of the stories I have heard. And, I wouldnt neccesarily think the units they would give would be dumpy but I think what she was alluding to was that if they had the option of giving you the upgraded unit or the older unit they would give the older unit...or the unit closest to the stairs, or near an elevator ect.

I do think timeshares are headed in two directions. In one direction is your Hilton's, Marriott, Diamond, Wyndham...the big boy companies, who are realizing now that high pressure sales are not working so well. Instead they are turning to more of an incentive based internal exchange program making their inventory in exchange clubs less and less or harder to get without paying into some sort of club...I think Marriott's Vacation Club is a good example of this...in the other direction is resorts that are actually doing very well. These are well managed owner owned smaller resorts with less wow factor but still are clean well kept with enough amentities to keep a family happy. Their maintenance fees stay relatively low compared to the big boys and their inventory of available weeks is significantly less...they dont have to "try" to sell anymore they are 100% resale...Tree Tops, Winner's Circle ect.

The big boys would like to see it more and more difficult to access their property through exchange companies...their words not mine. It is what they view as the "evolution" of vacation ownership. Unfortunately, I think they will inevitably fall into the same problems they did before.
 

vacationhopeful

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Young girl is just repeating the BS your trainer has told her. When she gets more experience, she will have to face lying for dinner or she will find a new career in sales.
 

ambrosij

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your trainer? lol. I thought she was sweet actually, not pushy at all. Now I imagine when you already own a handful of timeshares they dont give you the same presentation as someone who owns none...I mean tough to sell bullshit to the folks that have already swam through it.
 

Jennie

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Almost everyone tells the agent at the beginning of the sales encounter that they have absolutely no intention of buying anything today. But history has proven this wrong and they are hoping that you will be the one who will make their day. They will throw any bull at anyone sitting in the potential victim chair.. If the factual info they spew out doesn't snag you, well, then they will improvise and tell you anything else they can think of that might result in a sale. Does it make sense that all of a sudden they are willing to risk their job by sharing off the record "information" with you, their "new best friend" (translate "victim"). Wanna buy a bridge in New York--real cheap?

In this situation, require the agent to put the "secret" info in writing, or show you exactly where it is written in the sales contract. If--rather when--he or she declines to do so, Bingo-- use it as your"get out of jail" card Tell them you cannot trust them and want to get this over with quickly--so please give me my"freebie" now.

Many Wyndham units are owned as fixed/deeded weeks and, especially in prime seasons, you will not likely get them under any circumstances unless you rent from the owner.

If you have ever experienced the chaos at the check-in desk, you will know that no one is checking to see how you acquired your week. They are scrambling to find any unit for the hordes of over-booked guests. If you are an owner of anything in their system, you will possibly be assigned a better unit than an RCI exchange guest if one exists. The earlier you arrive, the better the chance of getting a nicer unit, especially IF you do some homework and ask for a specific building or floor or unit and you are polite, and/or if you have stayed at the resort previously and took the time to chit chat with a Front Desk staff member during a quiet time and he/she is now behind the counter.
 
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ambrosij

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Eileen,

I think some of the more experienced posters on here will agree, some of the small independent/user owned time shares are the most stable and lowest MF buys out there. There are a number of ways to check before you buy though, if you understand how to interpret financials and how to valuate at corporation (of course if it is not public, then they dont have to provide these...but I know the board of at least one of my TS provides this information publicly voluntarily) it is very easy to determine how a business is doing and if they have the cash flow to avoid bankruptcy...but that is a little on the complex end of things. Most of the independents are 100% owned and only available for re-sale purchases. You could very easily determine how many units are available...does it seem like the market is flooded with them? You could always ask the occupancy rating or even if the place does go bankrupt in five or ten years...if you only paid a couple hundred bucks for the place and got five or ten years of good vacations out of low MF, does it matter?
 
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