Is HGVC Legacy Elite Premier Status worth it? (? Being devalued or useless now with Max)

[CruzinCarlz]

Well, even folks engaged with HGV find this all confusing

I'll try not to continue hijacking this thread.
To summarize, what I believe I have learned:

- Craig is going to be the most cost effective way of buying into Elite Premier, possibly close to $14k (I didn't see any listings on the website, but I sent an email with my inquiry).
- Buying into Craig also grants access to DEX. This would mean I could use the Craig points the same way I am using my legacy HGV points, or I can deposit them into DEX and have another large pool of locations to choose from.
- I would not have access to the HGV Max properties still because that is only for new retail purchases.

 

[GT75]

To summarize, what I believe I have learned:

You summarized correctly. I would only purchase Craig if you need and can use the additional points.

 

[HuskerATL]

I could imagine! Of the few times I've been at a car dealership, it always seems like I know more about the cars than the salesman.

I'll try not to continue hijacking this thread.
To summarize, what I believe I have learned:

- Craig is going to be the most cost effective way of buying into Elite Premier, possibly close to $14k (I didn't see any listings on the website, but I sent an email with my inquiry).
- Buying into Craig also grants access to DEX. This would mean I could use the Craig points the same way I am using my legacy HGV points, or I can deposit them into DEX and have another large pool of locations to choose from.
- I would not have access to the HGV Max properties still because that is only for new retail purchases.

Click the Special Offers button on that page. It will open a page with the listings.

You will have much better access to the Max properties via DEX EU. If you join Max, you get a 6 month window to book Diamond and Embarc properties but, via DEX, you get a 18 month window for all the Diamond properties not just the ones that they have made available in Max plus a 11 month window for Embarc properties. In addition, you get a lot of partner properties, especially in Europe, Asia, and the Caribbean.

To me this is much better than Max. EP and DEX EU access provides nice options or use your points in HGVC as normal.

 

[HuskerATL]

One caveat though, there is some clunkiness to enrolling in DEX. If you go this route, reach out to us for input.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

I'll try not to continue hijacking this thread.
To summarize, what I believe I have learned:

- Craig is going to be the most cost effective way of buying into Elite Premier, possibly close to $14k (I didn't see any listings on the website, but I sent an email with my inquiry).
- Buying into Craig also grants access to DEX. This would mean I could use the Craig points the same way I am using my legacy HGV points, or I can deposit them into DEX and have another large pool of locations to choose from.
- I would not have access to the HGV Max properties still because that is only for new retail purchases.

IMHO...$14k seems low. If you buy several 2 bdrms during UK summer to get PE you would pay about $5500 USD per week. I would guess about $25k + closing per unit. Perhaps you could go with off season or 1 bdrms which are cheaper but given that DEX had a significant devaluation last year, I would go with 2 bdrms IMO to get Tiers 5 and 6+ You would need to buy more 1 bdrms to make up the EP point bar.

 

[HuskerATL]

IMHO...$14k seems low. If you buy several 2 bdrms during UK summer to get PE you would pay about $5500 USD per week. I would guess about $25k + closing per unit. Perhaps you could go with off season or 1 bdrms which are cheaper but given that DEX had a significant devaluation last year, I would go with 2 bdrms IMO to get Tiers 5 and 6+ You would need to buy more 1 bdrms to make up the EP point bar.

They are a bit higher now than when we bought. Right now a 1 bed plat is about 2400 pounds but that are 7680 points and it would take 8 to get over the 54,400 mark so about 19,200 pounds.

The 2 bed plat are about 4,200 pounds but 11,200 points so you would need 5 of them for about 21k pounds to have enough or you could mix and match 2 bed and 1 bed.

Our last three 1 bed plat were 1500 pounds each.

You can offer less to Andrew and he will present it to the sellers.

 

[JohnnyO]

They are a bit higher now than when we bought. Right now a 1 bed plat is about 2400 pounds but that are 7680 points and it would take 8 to get over the 54,400 mark so about 19,200 pounds.

The 2 bed plat are about 4,200 pounds but 11,200 points so you would need 5 of them for about 21k pounds to have enough or you could mix and match 2 bed and 1 bed.

Our last three 1 bed plat were 1500 pounds each.

You can offer less to Andrew and he will present it to the sellers.

I got five two bedroom CL Platinum weeks for 20,200 pounds plus closing and HGVC transfer. I had offered 20k. The list was higher but Andrew worked it out. I probably could have held out for 20k but I was in a hurry. 11,200 points x 5 = 56,000 points. All counted toward Elite Premier status. YMMV.

 

[mountainboy]

I got five two bedroom CL Platinum weeks for 20,200 pounds plus closing and HGVC transfer. I had offered 20k. The list was higher but Andrew worked it out. I probably could have held out for 20k but I was in a hurry. 11,200 points x 5 = 56,000 points. All counted toward Elite Premier status. YMMV.

May add that these are modest reductions/negotiations as you are still saving almost 90%+ off the Retail, developer HGVC costs, and modestly squeezing the exit costs of fellow Craig Lodge owners (sellers) (from approx 4500 GBP each to 4k GBP each or so)...

Most peak summer (July/August) will not price down, unless in a hurry; price reductions will mostly be late fall, earlier summer weeks (which DeX EU had devalued briefly before many of us lobbied hard to have them match the HGV Platinum for DeX EU Peak weeks)...

In the big picture, these are modest price differences in one's many years/decades of HGV ownership (as MFs are the real cost long-term).

$ intentional weaking by current admin, as a trade tool, may impact MFs (as billed in GBP) but still a nice acquisition & nice $/MF ratio.

My 2c, fwiw...

 

[mjm1]

NEWS FLASH- Andrew is no longer with HGVC. We stopped by the resale office this morning and spoke with Donna, who was very friendly and informative. She told us that Andrew left the company recently and they don’t have a replacement for him yet. In the meantime she is handling everything from sales to contracts, etc. She can still be contacted at the same email address noted earlier for Andrew (the sales department.)

 

[HuskerATL]

NEWS FLASH- Andrew is no longer with HGVC. We stopped by the resale office this morning and spoke with Donna, who was very friendly and informative. She told us that Andrew left the company recently and they don’t have a replacement for him yet. In the meantime she is handling everything from sales to contracts, etc. She can still be contacted at the same email address noted earlier for Andrew (the sales department.)

Wow! That hurts. Andrew was great but so is Donna. That is a lot of hats for her though

 

[HuskerATL]

NEWS FLASH- Andrew is no longer with HGVC. We stopped by the resale office this morning and spoke with Donna, who was very friendly and informative. She told us that Andrew left the company recently and they don’t have a replacement for him yet. In the meantime she is handling everything from sales to contracts, etc. She can still be contacted at the same email address noted earlier for Andrew (the sales department.)

Did they say why he left?

 

[mjm1]

Did they say why he left?

Yes, that’s a big loss for them. No reason for leaving shared, but it sounded rather abrupt and while he told his boss (who is in the US) he didn’t let current customers know. I imagine that is making it a challenge for Donna as she already handles quite a bit from the sounds of it. Hopefully they get another good person for the job.

 

[HuskerATL]

Yes, that’s a big loss for them. No reason for leaving shared, but it sounded rather abrupt and while he told his boss (who is in the US) he didn’t let current customers know. I imagine that is making it a challenge for Donna as she already handles quite a bit from the sounds of it. Hopefully they get another good person for the job.

Sounds like a personal decision versus a company change so that is good. Yes, Donna does all the admin side for finance. You close through her and she arranges the set up into HGVC, points, etc. I suspect buying a week will be slow for a bit.

Dang it though... Andrew owes me a few beers...

 

[alexb]

i have a 3 bedroom craigendarroch week 24 i have advertised on tug am i better listing it through Craigendarroch

 

[CalGalTraveler]

i have a 3 bedroom craigendarroch week 24 i have advertised on tug am i better listing it through Craigendarroch

Yes

 

[GT75]

i have a 3 bedroom craigendarroch week 24 i have advertised on tug am i better listing it through Craigendarroch

The people that we know who are buying are trying to increase their elite status, besides access to DEX, and need more points. They will only get elite status benefits if they purchase from the onsite HGVC agent. I believe that the Craig sales office will take a 20% cut, so that is something to think about. So, unless you are listing the unit with deep discounts, I would certainly list it through Craig.

 

[brp]

The people that we know who are buying are trying to increase their elite status, besides access to DEX, and need more points.

We're planning to likely buy Craig later this year. We're just looking at added points and DeX, with no interest in elite status. The more I see of the benefits, the more I'm sure that there are virtually none of any value to us. We have zero qualifying points at present and no need to buy anywhere near as many more at Craig to amount to any elite status, unless some levels come pretty low.

Cheers.

 

[mjm1]

i have a 3 bedroom craigendarroch week 24 i have advertised on tug am i better listing it through Craigendarroch

The people that we know who are buying are trying to increase their elite status, besides access to DEX, and need more points. They will only get elite status benefits if they purchase from the onsite HGVC agent. I believe that the Craig sales office will take a 20% cut, so that is something to think about. So, unless you are listing the unit with deep discounts, I would certainly list it through Craig.

Definitely best to sell it through their resale department as GT75 said. I spoke with Donna in their office yesterday and they charge a 30% commission.

 

[alexb]

Thanks for all your helpful comments

 

[GT75]

We're planning to likely buy Craig later this year. We're just looking at added points and DeX, with no interest in elite status. The more I see of the benefits, the more I'm sure that there are virtually none of any value to us. We have zero qualifying points at present and no need to buy anywhere near as many more at Craig to amount to any elite status, unless some levels come pretty low.

Yes, certainly understand, especially for someone with AI. I know that the Craig sales office closing costs and HGVC enrollment fees are around £195 and ~£309 (there are no additional fees). I don't know what the costs are for purchasing through a third party. I would suggest checking on that first before purchasing via a third party.

 

[brp]

Yes, certainly understand, especially for someone with AI. I know that the Craig sales office closing costs and HGVC enrollment fees are around £195 and ~£309 (there are no additional fees). I don't know what the costs are for purchasing through a third party. I would suggest checking on that first before purchasing via a third party.

Oh, I still plan to purchase direct from Craig as I've heard great things about that channel and Andrew. Even though he has gone, I would still expect Donna, and whoever they get to replace Andrew, to be a good resource and likely better than a third party. May wait until closer to year end when MFs are due

Cheers.

 

[HuskerATL]

Oh, I still plan to purchase direct from Craig as I've heard great things about that channel and Andrew. Even though he has gone, I would still expect Donna, and whoever they get to replace Andrew, to be a good resource and likely better than a third party. May wait until closer to year end when MFs are due

Cheers.

Just remember that it takes about a month to get the weeks after you sign the paperwork. The UK has a 2 week cooling off period after all parties sign the paperwork. Either party can withdraw for any reason. After that 2 weeks, you call Donna to pay. I have used our Aspire for that and received the resort credit and 14x. Then about 2 weeks later you will have the reservations in your HGVC account. Donna will ask you if you want the week or the points. If you want to deposit in DEX, then you need the week. You would then contact DEX EU to enroll and then they would contact HGVC to cancel the reservation for that week and deposit it in DEX EU. If you decide that you want the points, then you just cancel the reservation. You will have the reservation 2 years out so this year, 2026, and 2027.... If you get the 2025 with the purchase. After Jan 1st, you will get 2028.

 

[brp]

Just remember that it takes about a month to get the weeks after you sign the paperwork. The UK has a 2 week cooling off period after all parties sign the paperwork. Either party can withdraw for any reason. After that 2 weeks, you call Donna to pay. I have used our Aspire for that and received the resort credit and 14x. Then about 2 weeks later you will have the reservations in your HGVC account. Donna will ask you if you want the week or the points. If you want to deposit in DEX, then you need the week. You would then contact DEX EU to enroll and then they would contact HGVC to cancel the reservation for that week and deposit it in DEX EU. If you decide that you want the points, then you just cancel the reservation. You will have the reservation 2 years out so this year, 2026, and 2027.... If you get the 2025 with the purchase. After Jan 1st, you will get 2028.

Thanks. We have no specific plans for the points, but will likely use the weeks in DEX going forward. As to the reservation window, I assume that the 2 years means until 2 years from now, but within that time period, i.e. I can get something before then, if available.

Anyway, with that one clarification requested, further questions can move toward a more appropriate thread as this is somewhat off-topic for this thread. Saw the one comment, so decided to ask.

Cheers.

 

[HuskerATL]

Thanks. We have no specific plans for the points, but will likely use the weeks in DEX going forward. As to the reservation window, I assume that the 2 years means until 2 years from now, but within that time period, i.e. I can get something before then, if available.

Anyway, with that one clarification requested, further questions can move toward a more appropriate thread as this is somewhat off-topic for this thread. Saw the one comment, so decided to ask.

Cheers.

After each January 1st, you get all your weeks deposited for 2 years out not from the current date. So, after January 1, 2025 (or close to that... This year was delayed for some reason), all the 2027 weeks were automatically booked in HGVC. You can cancel them for the points up to 2 years out from the current date though or deposit into DEX 2 years out from the current date. For example, we have fall weeks in 2027 that were reserved automatically but we can't cancel them for points yet or deposit them into DEX. I will have to wait until the fall. Does that make sense?

 

[mountainboy]

Anyway, with that one clarification requested, further questions can move toward a more appropriate thread as this is somewhat off-topic for this thread. Saw the one comment, so decided to ask.

Cheers.

@brp is very savvy & we have had discussions re this via PM before, as you remember, @HuskerATL ...