HGVC - Retail vs resale

[tkoden]

We have a fairly flexible lifestyle, I work remote and we home school so last minute discount vacations are appealing. It is my understanding that open season is only available to retail purchases. Is this correct?

Also, if we buy a "cheap" EOY silver studio to get access to open season and then buy retail to get points will those two purchases be combined? Only down side i can see is paying 2X maint fees.

Am I missing something here?

 

[dioxide45]

This is what I have in my notes;

With Resale

• No HGVC VIP benefits
• No HGV Max
• Pay an Activation Fee $695 for each deed purchased
• Pay individual transaction fees. Points deposit, reservation transaction
• You still get access to Open Season
• You can still convert your timeshare to Hilton Honors points
• RCI membership is still included in your annual Club Dues
• You are paying a lot less buying resale

 

[dioxide45]

Oh, and don't just go out and buy something because it is cheap or free. Those silver weeks are free because they aren't good weeks to own.

 

[GT75]

It is my understanding that open season is only available to retail purchases. Is this correct?

That is incorrect, but I wouldn't suggest purchasing just for OS. The salesperson probably made it sound how wonderful that is during the presentation. It has always been better to use points than OS rates for me. I also wouldn't buy a silver week.

 

[4TimeAway]

Only down side i can see is paying 2X maint fees.

Am I missing something here?

It will be harder to get rid of. Buy a Platinum Week with reasonable MFs.

If it was $0.09/pt bs $0.14/pt probably not huge budget issue for you, but getting more points per year means more vacations at the same annual cost!

You will be happier.

 

[jp10558]

And if you want it easy, IMHO purchase in Scotland at Craig Lodges. They have a reasonably priced resale listing on their site much (all?) of the time. You can pick platinum, closing is supposed to be cheaper and easier as it's a RTU and UK law, and MFs are good (at least as long as exchange rates stay in the recent historical band). Plus you get the option to buy II and use the week there, or in DEX if you decide to not use in HGVC.

 

[geist1223]

Also as I understand it Maintenance Fees are determined by size of Unit not Season. So a Platinum Week might cost you a bit more resell the Maintenance Fees for a 2 Bedroom Platinum are the same for a 2 Bedroom Silver.

 

[brp]

Also as I understand it Maintenance Fees are determined by size of Unit not Season. So a Platinum Week might cost you a bit more resell the Maintenance Fees for a 2 Bedroom Platinum are the same for a 2 Bedroom Silver.

This is correct. So, if one holds for a while, the MF/point difference can overcome the initial higher cost. And that doesn't even factor in the possibility of making something back at sale time.

Cheers.

 

[GT75]

Also, if we buy a "cheap" EOY silver studio to get access to open season and then buy retail to get points will those two purchases be combined?

Am I missing something here?

HGV has made this very confusing to NOOB and even us old-timers. Currently (BG purchase will add another club) but there are about 5 different clubs (depending on how they are counted)

• HGVC - Hilton Grand Vacations Club
• HVC - Hilton Vacations Club (formerly Diamond)
• Former Embarc club (I don't know what the current name is) {many of these former resorts have been rebranded as HGVC but they are completely separate from Legacy HGVC}
• by Hilton Club
• Hilton Club NY (completely separate club - one property)

I need to give you all of that background to answer your question. If you purchased HGVC resale and then purchased HGVC retail, the points would combine. If you purchased resale HGVC and retail/resale HVC, the points won't combine. HGVC and bHC, the points are in the same account but are in separate buckets.


You also need to know that a silver season resale purchase will be easy to get but very difficult (maybe impossible) to unload.


I will also say that salespeople don't explain this to the victims they are trying to sell. The nomenclature that I see being used is HGV Max for both HGVC and HVC. It is very important to know what club you are being sold because they are all very different.

 

[Heron]

We have a fairly flexible lifestyle, I work remote and we home school so last minute discount vacations are appealing. It is my understanding that open season is only available to retail purchases. Is this correct?

Also, if we buy a "cheap" EOY silver studio to get access to open season and then buy retail to get points will those two purchases be combined? Only down side i can see is paying 2X maint fees.

Am I missing something here?

All the points being made above are valid. However, I would add that it depends on how you like to travel. I own timeshares other than hilton that I acquired for Less than initial Hilton costs and some free. These are much cheaper way of trading in RCI and II. Even after all the fees, it is still the cheapest way for me to book a full week somewhere. If I plan 9 to 12 months out with flexible dates, I almost always get what I want. Having said that, I also own 3 Hilton deeds. The biggest reason I wanted Hilton deeds is for short 3, 4 and 5 night stays in very nice accommodations. I use them for short trips or combine two locations in a week. For instance, 2 different Hawaiian islands in same trip. As someone stated above, open season is nice, but if you get a platinum vegas or Scotland, your point cost is typically less than the open season price. If Hilton is what you want, I'd start with 11000+ annual contract. That gets you about 12 nights in a 1 bedroom or a week in a two bedroom unless you hit sales. MFs are around 1000 per year. Up front purchase price depends on your patience. I've seen anywhere from 2600 to 8k. Hope that helps.

 

[Mjasp]

All the points being made above are valid. However, I would add that it depends on how you like to travel. I own timeshares other than hilton that I acquired for Less than initial Hilton costs and some free. These are much cheaper way of trading in RCI and II. Even after all the fees, it is still the cheapest way for me to book a full week somewhere. If I plan 9 to 12 months out with flexible dates, I almost always get what I want. Having said that, I also own 3 Hilton deeds. The biggest reason I wanted Hilton deeds is for short 3, 4 and 5 night stays in very nice accommodations. I use them for short trips or combine two locations in a week. For instance, 2 different Hawaiian islands in same trip. As someone stated above, open season is nice, but if you get a platinum vegas or Scotland, your point cost is typically less than the open season price. If Hilton is what you want, I'd start with 11000+ annual contract. That gets you about 12 nights in a 1 bedroom or a week in a two bedroom unless you hit sales. MFs are around 1000 per year. Up front purchase price depends on your patience. I've seen anywhere from 2600 to 8k. Hope that helps.

I've been looking to see how many points you need for a week in a 2BR and a 1BR and you answered my question. Thank You.
I have a great trader but looking for a points unit for the same reason as you, to do shorter stays.
Does anyone know the price per point HGVC is charging for retail points?
I only buy resale, but very curious if it's worth it, because doesn't Hilton charge you to trade if you bought resale?
I really would like to go to a presentation to learn the system and buy a sampler (anyone know the price of samplers) I have no problem saying NO and sticking with it.

 

[geist1223]

I question whether or not you will truly learn how Hilton works by attending Presentations. They are not there to teach you but to Sale.

 

[Mjasp]

You are probably 100% correct, but if I have at least a little knowledge then I could come on here and learn more easily.

 

[dioxide45]

You are probably 100% correct, but if I have at least a little knowledge then I could come on here and learn more easily.

You will learn more by reading through the stickies at the top of the forum.

 

[Reddart]

You will learn more by reading through the stickies at the top of the forum.

You will learn almost nothing about how the system works at a presentation. In fact, you will more likely be misled.

 

[GT75]

I think that HGV is charging between $5-$7/pt for retail now. Someone reported that they were going to increase the price to $8/pt but that of course might have just been a salesperson trying to make a sale. VIP package is ~$1700.

 

[Heron]

I've been looking to see how many points you need for a week in a 2BR and a 1BR and you answered my question. Thank You.
I have a great trader but looking for a points unit for the same reason as you, to do shorter stays.
Does anyone know the price per point HGVC is charging for retail points?
I only buy resale, but very curious if it's worth it, because doesn't Hilton charge you to trade if you bought resale?
I really would like to go to a presentation to learn the system and buy a sampler (anyone know the price of samplers) I have no problem saying NO and sticking with it.

The 1700 VIP package is the sampler. There are also short "getaway" trips you can book where they give you a cheap room and hilton honors points for attending the presentation. Those are much less out of pocket than the VIP. I agree with others that you will be lied to and it can be high pressure so be prepared. I believe the point chart for HGVC as well as the member guide is on this forum. I'd start there. Hilton is not typically a cost effective trader. If you want to book short vacations at HGVC resorts, it's a great program. $69 charge per reservation and no resort fees.

 

[dioxide45]

The 1700 VIP package is the sampler. There are also short "getaway" trips you can book where they give you a cheap room and hilton honors points for attending the presentation. Those are much less out of pocket than the VIP. I agree with others that you will be lied to and it can be high pressure so be prepared. I believe the point chart for HGVC as well as the member guide is on this forum. I'd start there. Hilton is not typically a cost effective trader. If you want to book short vacations at HGVC resorts, it's a great program. $69 charge per reservation and no resort fees.

If one is so inclined, they can book the cheap 3-night promo packages. After not purchasing at the presentation HGVC will then offer the VIP package. HGVC has a link on their website to the promo packages but they tend to only be for Orlando, Las Vegas or Myrtle Beach.

 

[4TimeAway]

Timeshares are complicated and the systems make them more so.

I like HGVC. Might just be becuase I've invested so much time trying to understand it and have now bought into it.

We did the $100-3day deal. Then found TUG. Attedned the 1st presentation. Bought the VIP $1,700. Bought I think 2 resale weeks before we used the VIP. Used the VIP to stay at Kohala. Was upgraded to a second floor end unit (I think that's the mid-tier there). It is not perfect, but it has been good for us.

So we have been to 2 presentations. The first one was in Vegas. They really pushed buying new and all the "stuff you could do." We knew we could not justify. The VIP for us made us more comfortable becoming resale owners. That presentation at Kings Land was pointless. They were pushing DEX, which the saleperson tried to load 2 years of availalbity from around the world. The computer just loaded and loaded....

If you want to do 3 day stays, HGVC has been perfect for us for those. For week stays, its been perfect. You do have to plan and keep an eye open for deals/sales to maximize value, but its not that hard a game to play most of the lower/mid seasons.

 

[WaikikiFirst]

then buy retail to get points will those two purchases be combined? Am I missing something here?

I'll say. What basically every retail buyer seems to miss. The Entry Cost of that retial buy is far too high. That is a large chunk of capital moving from your pocket to theirs. Nothing they will give you couldn't be duplicated using that capital and the earnings you can make off that capital yr after yr after yr after ...
and then ... MFs are ON TOP of that. Oy vay

 

[HuskerATL]

This is what I have in my notes;

With Resale

• No HGVC VIP benefits
• No HGV Max
• Pay an Activation Fee $695 for each deed purchased
• Pay individual transaction fees. Points deposit, reservation transaction
• You still get access to Open Season
• You can still convert your timeshare to Hilton Honors points
• RCI membership is still included in your annual Club Dues
• You are paying a lot less buying resale

With exceptions.....there are HGVC Legacy Elite benefits with some resale and some resale have put people in Max. The latter is a system glitch though but has happened to many folks.

Other than the Legacy Elite or Max discussion, the rest of the benefits are the same between retail and resale. Same ownership and program benefits. Now, there are a few snooty sale's offices who will make comments about resale owners and few, often HI and NYC, who may not even let you attend one...but that is not a corporate policy.

 

[TheWay.ISeeIt]

With exceptions.....there are HGVC Legacy Elite benefits with some resale and some resale have put people in Max. The latter is a system glitch though but has happened to many folks.

Other than the Legacy Elite or Max discussion, the rest of the benefits are the same between retail and resale. Same ownership and program benefits. Now, there are a few snooty sale's offices who will make comments about resale owners and few, often HI and NYC, who may not even let you attend one...but that is not a corporate policy.

Hi, do you know which resale resorts have HGVC Legacy Elite attached to them? Thanks!

 

[HuskerATL]

Hi, do you know which resale resorts have HGVC Legacy Elite attached to them? Thanks!

Craig Lodges, I think Dunkeld, Valdoro, I have heard Marbrisa, and maybe SW FL. SW FL used to but then it ended, however, someone asked the resale person at Charter Club and she said that they still counted. You have to get it from the official resale office at each property though.

Ours are through Craig Lodges and the resale office there.

 

[tkoden]

Is there anyone trustworthy that specializes in HGVC resale and can assist with finding good properties?

Is there a podcast or breakdown of benefits of buying silver, gold, platinum points weeks?

 

[TUGBrian]

Is there anyone trustworthy that specializes in HGVC resale and can assist with finding good properties?

can find plenty of resales across all the popular resale platforms tug/redweek/ebay...and some brokers like judi kozlowski for the higher dollar stuff!

Is there a podcast or breakdown of benefits of buying silver, gold, platinum points weeks?

as mentioned above, HGVC maint fees are based on room size....not silver/gold/platinum season or point values. this is why there is almost no value for silver or gold ownerships.