II 60 day exchange period

[cp73]

During the 60 day flexchange period do all Marriott timeshares see the same thing when doing a search regardless of what they are using to search...??

 

[Dean]

During the 60 day flexchange period do all Marriott timeshares see the same thing when doing a search regardless of what they are using to search...??

My understanding is NO, trade power still has an effect, just less of one.

 

[PerryM]

All Marriotts see all other Marriotts at 59 days

ANY Marriott will see ALL 59-day or less Marriott reservations, in fact all reservations will show up at that point – except if this is an Orlando Marriott it may not be able to see certain non-Marriott Orlando resorts. Trading power is eliminated for searching at that point – II wants to make a profit so they make exchanges much easier.

The reverse is not necessarily correct – the 24 day Marriott window is in effect for newly deposited Marriott reservations but at the 59-day threshold that 24 days shrinks to about 3-days this is controlled by Marriott and varies case by case – its an II secret so we can only guess.

 

[Steve]

Trade Power still plays a role under 60 days out

ANY Marriott will see ALL 59-day or less Marriott reservations, in fact all reservations will show up at that point – except if this is an Orlando Marriott it may not be able to see certain non-Marriott Orlando resorts. Trading power is eliminated for searching at that point – II wants to make a profit so they make exchanges much easier.

This is not correct. I have owned 6 Marriott weeks in 5 different resorts, and they have not all been able to see all Marriotts available at 59 days out. The idea that trade power is completely eliminated at the 60 day mark is a myth. As Dean said, trade power restrictions are relaxed...but not eliminated. If you have a weak Marriott...and often if you are looking with the studio part of a lock off...you will NOT see every Marriott that is available. You also won't see some other high end weeks such as Four Seasons, Hyatt, and others.

Steve

 

[Dave M]

Dean is correct.

As one example of a response given some time ago by our then TUG rep from II, Carig Urbine:

In theory, should the online system display all availability during FlexChange? Or are some exchanges available only on the phone?

Craig's response:

Online searches display results that are of reasonable comparable quality. An adviser can see more, and make the offer, as they can advise of any nuances of the particular unit.

 

[PerryM]

Well II says no restrictions

As I typed my post I was on the phone with II and asked the very question asked here. I reported the answer verbatim as was given to me.

There are, of course, many explanations here:

1) The II rep was completely wrong
2) The II rep is partially wrong
3) The II rep reported the II answer but in reality it's different
4) II can change the rules minute by minute and what was true 2 years ago may not be true today

My experience indicates that the answer given by the II rep is correct.

However, you guys can call and ask another rep what their answer is.

P.S.
I thought this II rep was very knowledgable.

This rep indicated that II has nothing to do with the 24 day window or adding more restrictions after the 59-day window - these were handled by a Marriott employee. My personal experience would back this up. I have gotten some crazy exchanges that should have never happened but happen on a regular basis.

The rep indicated that Marriott can do what it wants to those exchanges and if there is a over supply of weeks or an under supply of weeks this is handled by Marriott and NOT II.

So perhaps, II is correct in saying that "All restrictions are lifted" and Marriott may impose some if they choose.

 

[Steve]

Perry,

There is no need to call and ask another II rep. Years of experience with my ownership at multiple Marriott weeks...plus conversations I have had with a couple of senior people at II...have confirmed the information which Dean has presented.

I might add that until fairly recently I owned a gold week at Summit Watch...just as you do...and it could NOT pull everything that was available within 60 days. You might think that it does...but unless you have something stronger in your account to test it against...then you don't really know what is out there. WorldMark is not strong enough in II to pull some of the really tough exchanges...so that is not a good ownership to use for comparison.

Steve

 

[PerryM]

My experience

Steve,

I have had II exchanges which are complete opposite of your experience - in the last year. I can only report II's answer and my personal experience with a Gold Summit Watch and WM. Both indicate the rep is correct.

To recap my understanding of how Marriott and II interact:

1) The 24 day "flag" is placed by a Marriott employee and is not controlled by II

2) The 59-day window has Marriott deciding if any 24 day window is useful (if an oversupply there could be no window)

3) Marriott may control trading power restrictions at ANY time - not just at the 59 day window. This adjustment if based on supply and demand.

The answers given by the II rep match my experiences exactly and explain some of the crazy exchanges I get.

 

[jtui]

Now I'm really confused about Marriott trading power in II

Now I'm really confused. Paraphrasing what I've learned from the discussion in this and similar threads, WM and other extraordinarily strong traders can see everything that any Marriott can see after 24 days and especially during the 59-day-window. Or not. And ONLY the strongest Marriott weeks can pull top Marriotts as well as other high-end weeks--except for most of time, when WM can ALSO pull them. Different experiences, various exchangers, multiple II reps with many opinions...what's a potential purchaser to do with all of this contradictory information?

The TUG trade test results (which are from 2002) shed some light for Aruba, Mexico, Orlando, and Williamsburg...but are these locations representative of the most sought-after weeks (maybe Aruba results generalize to Hawaii?) Obviously, stronger weeks will pull stronger weeks, and (thanks to the crystal-clear explanations by many of you!) I pretty much understand the general lifting of restrictions at 24 days out and then at 59 days before. But there is clearly more to the story, and it is the "more" that I and probably many others want to figure out.

Is it opening a can of worms even to continue this thread, let alone to suggest some sort of trade test or concurrent search, pitting strong week against strong week for the hardest-to-get weeks? Maybe such answers, if there are any, are best left to the dark recesses of II. Or are the results subject the whims of II personnel? Perhaps II computer algorithms change the answers daily, invalidating any trade test?

 

[pcgirl54]

jtui
Even if you did a trade test now the results may change later on. I would not give yourself a headache over it or count on getting certain exchanges regularly. Understand the 59 day window "may" give you more options that "interest you "if you can travel on short notice. There are no guarantees on what will be there and often there are very good weeks that disappear in a flash. You would need to be diligent in daily searches at all hours.