Marriott Destination Points...They have done it!!!!!! {Merged}

[Frisbeeace]

I will ask him why I would pay $25,000 hoping to get a $10,000 loss when i can buy a resale at the same resort for $1000 and sell it for zero for a total loss of $1000? I would still be $9000 ahead buying a resale with zero resale value, and that is if marriott can or will sell my developer week (which they won't do untilthey have sold all of their own inventory).

If the system is a success as they expect (which I seriously doubt), Marriott would start to sell weeks under the new points structure and would buy your week at a sold-out property for 60% of its developer market value. Then, owners willing to sell like me, will list their weeks with them and won't burn them at lower prices in the secondary market anymore. In the short term, my guess is that direct resale prices will remain low until Marriott starts to move inventory again and accepts new weeks for sale.

 

[taffy19]

As is my hisorty, I never toss the baby out with the bath water. I always look at past history and compare what I've done with my weeks account, then compare what I could have done if points had been available. Here's my personal results.

Ocean Pointe 3 bedroom silver season: 4,225 points

We use the master suite and typically trade the studio. We've recieved at a minimum 1 bedroom exchanges and once a 2 bedroom exchange. All have been for Willow Ridge in Branson with the exception of Mountain Valley Lodge next week.

This was an easy calculation. We would recieve 4,225 points for our 3 bedroom silver season ocean front unit. To researve the Nov. or Dec. weeks we've always used, it would take 5,225 points. We'd be short 1,000 points to reserve a smaller unit that we own. Needless to say, NONE of the exchanges we've made with our studio unit would be possible.

Grand Chateau 3 bedroom platinum season 4,625 points:

We've only owned for a couple of years. We've traded the Master Suite 2 bedroom portion for Waihoai 2 bedroom in March (5,875 points) and a Harbor Club at Harbor Town 2 bedroom unit in May (1,725 points). Totaly points would have been 7,600 points. Under the new system we'd have been 2975 points shy for making these exchanges.

The year previous we exchanged for a 2 bedroom Newport Coast Villa's March week (2,900 points) and a 1 bedroom Custom House May week (2,900 points). Total points for both exchanges 5,800 points. Again a deficit. This time 1,175 points

In short, the new system won't work for us in any way shape of form. Marriott gives to little for our weeks then charges to much in points for the exchanges. I have no intention of shelling out $695 to join a program that would provide historically less value than what I've recieved. I feel pretty safe in saying that we'll be sticking with the way things are with our ownership. To see a consitant deficit for every single year is both amazing and disheartening. I expected more from Marriott.

I see direct exchanges doing very well between us here or exchanges with independent exchange companies as we still have that right.

The only people, who are going to do well, are the people who own many weeks that they bought from the Marriott direct because they will have the chance to reserve the very best weeks they like to have but they may not be able to rent them. I believe that I saw a warning somewhere so the best weeks are now going to be used for personal use mainly. There was a warning somewhere about abuse but I may not have understood it properly.

I feel for the owners, who bought only one, or a few weeks as it will be much harder for them to stay at their own resorts in the season they bought and I feel bad too for the owners, who bought many weeks and paid developer prices because re-sale values are going to be very little for every one eventually. We now have the worst of both systems, I believe.

I have said many times that I do not like the way this industry is heading as each time, it's in the developer's favor and they are getting more control over what we bought.

On top of that, we will see big increases in maintenance fees too because timeshares are becoming more like hotels where people check in and out more frequently but here you have to deal with kitchens and washer and dryers too that will give more wear and tear because people are losing the feel of pride of ownership like timeshare people used to have when they owned a fixed week and unit at a particular resort. JMHO.

One good thing is that everyone can read all the documents before signing the dotted line and that we have some time to think it over and discuss it here. Marriott must hate this forum, if people happen to find us here during the rescission period of a new purchase by a prospective buyer. They wouldn't have had to worry if knowledgeable, seasoned timeshare owners were happy with the big change.

 

[Luckybee]

I just called owner services to get some info on why we might be interested(or not ) in the new system. About us :
1. We own 2 1 bdrm gold weeks.
2. Since the Aruba Ocean Club opened we have only traded twice(and on both occasions on very short notice because of medical issues)
3. We always go near the end of our season(that is end of Nov beginning of Dec.)

My concerns when calling were :

question 1. What happens when we call 13 months out for the end of the season and nothing is available because of the new system with more people trying to book Aruba
question 2. If we were to choose points and had to cancel what happens

For question 1. The rep that their would be less availability to us but that we are "guaranteed" something within our season so they would have to find us 2weeks somewhere.
for question 2. The rep stated that one must cancel 60 days out which would allow one to bank the points for 1 year. Within 60 days you would lose the right to use. (contra with I.I where we cancelled 15 days out on one occasion)

What was most interesting was that the rep after listening to our pattern of use stated" This is just a 5th usage option that wouldnt be an advantage for you like many of our other owners. We expect only about 5% of our current owners to be interested in the new system"

Im still not sure how they can guarantee to find us something within our season under the circumstances I've described. If the earlier weeks are fully booked(as they usually are already) it will be interesting to see what happens. I am so lamenting that we didnt pull the trigger on selling last
year

 

[IngridN]

I think this is the key point to verify. I don't know how they would manage their legal obligation to provide a week to owners if they did not keep a separate inventory.

If they do have a points inventory then the weeks inventory will dry up in II pretty quickly. No developer deposits, no MR deposits, no points deposits, and pretty soon there will be very limited Marriott trades available through II.

I haven't been able to read the thread as I've been working all weekend and am just taking a quick break. I did call Marriott this morning: I was told that inventories would be totally separate. I asked the same question several ways and gave examples. My concern is that our Aruba Surf Club week is always booked to use. I am in the process of purchasing a resale week there and was concerned about the 'home resort' priority if I decided to join points (aside from the fact that currently, new resale weeks aren't eligible), was told that unless I gave up the week for points, absolutely nothing would change. Points inventory is garnered from people joining points and giving up their week for points to exchange elsewhere, people exchanging their week for MAR points and Marriott inventory. These were previously provided to II, they will now comprise the available inventory in the Marriott points exchange program.

Based on her comments, I would expect Marriott II inventory to drastically decrease. However, it appears that I will have no issue with booking at my home resort. Once the resale closes, I can call 13 months out. Interestingly, I urrently own Oceanside and it is not yet sold out so my booking to use availability would decrease because Marriott will allocate their unsold inventory to points. However, the one we're purchasing is Oceanfront which is sold out. In our scenario, she stated that an Oceanfront unit would be available to the points group only if an owner in the points program relinquished the weeks for points or if they relinquished for MAR points...we'll see.

Talked to DH and we're still going to pull the trigger on the resale. Any comments as to how foolhardy we're being .

Ingrid

 

[Nickfromct]

Well, I looked over the materials I have one very basic issue here. My Aruba Surf Club Gold week gets me 3075 points. We used this week to do our summer vacation with. Under the new system there will be virtually no, what are in my estimation, decent resorts to go to without having to buy a fair amounts of points. To bad. We've traded into NCV several times before. No more I guess. I'll pass on the points system, unless I'm missing something.

 

[Dean]

I don't know where this will shakeout but...

GV OS OF

BB 3725 4500 5400

GO 4500 5400

SW 3725 4500 5000

These are for 2 bedrooms only. You may be right. If so, it probably won't take them long to fix it. Did you buy your weeks from the developer? Maybe there are addl points if bought thru developer?

I have 5 Platinum HH weeks. Two are GO OF, one is GO OS, one is SW GV and one is SW Ocean Vista. Of those weeks, only the GV units was developer purchase. Two of the GO weeks can also trade for MR points and I had assumed from that they'd come under like a developer resale but apparently not the way it's currently showing. Not that it really matter since I have other resale weeks and those are the ones I want in the new system.

 

[scrapngen]

Have I moved to the dark side??

I believe that I've now joined the ranks of those who believe this new system will hurt almost everyone - except Marriott.

Fletch and others basically said those w/premium weeks/HI prime weeks, etc would see value in the new system and like it. Maybe I was mistaken to believe I might be part of this group. My jumping would increase my trade ability -etc. My other assumption was that most owners would blindly jump to points, (still believe this will happen w/good salesmen) and that this would probably affect those who did not jump negatively.

Now I don't see that. While my points values are fairly high and I own more than one Plat. Plus week so am a multiple week owner - they certainly will not get me to similar Platinum/Platinum Plus resorts at a one-to-one ratio, much less give me more time - unless I trade down again. But it doesn't look like my Platinum Plus is enough to get to any other Platinum Plus - including my own resort!! I also can't exchange to things like good summer or ski weeks that are Platinum!!

So as far as I can see in this system: I don't even think I can get equal 1:1 trades!! This doesn't give much more value - really - to the owners of "more expensive" properties any more than it benefits the golds/plats of other resorts.
And it looks like that is true across the board for many/most people.

The ONLY people I see getting more value will be those who own enough multiple weeks to equal Premier Plus status. 12000 or more points. My take is that these people will have even more opportunity to gather up the prime weeks and shut out deeded owners of fewer weeks and home resort owners.

Can point reservations be rented????? I haven't figured that out yet. But...Those of you who think more prime weeks will open up in a points system - This system looks seriously flawed!!! With points and weeks owners getting equal chance at a set amount of reservations, and II best deposited weeks going right back to points owners - I don't know that weeks owners who don't switch will still get what they did in the past - and I also don't think it will be better for the 1 - 2 week owners to move to points. They still won't get what they occasionally got in the past!!!

As a fixed week owner who bought to use, I think I'll do fine staying out of the overlay...but everyone else will lose out - even at their home resort - , and none of us will be able to trade well in II. Since I'm a new owner, have no way to judge this aspect.

What's really sad is that we are a prime candidate to buy more Marriott weeks and almost bought a third week right from the start. Luckily, our heads said let's try it out and do more research. A resale float week now needs time to see how this new system plays out for those who don't convert, and buying from the developer now means points - the only way points looks good to me is to hit that magical 12,000 - and that's a lot of money.

And still, it would seem that the minute we tried to use points to - say book a different start/end date to our fixed weeks, we'd actually potentially lose the weeks altogether (that we payed a premium price for), because the fixed weeks enter the system as soon as you choose to use points, and then the reservation gets looked at. Those fixed dates will immediately pass on to someone else who already has THEIR request in - not you!! Can anyone tell me otherwise? Those documents spell this out pretty clearly (as I quoted from the exchange document, and as others have quoted the levels of Premier/Premier Plus/ etc.)

Marriott, you seem to no longer value the current owners as a group to sell more to - as far as I can tell. Are you only now interested in finding a different group to sell to? Who are they?? Do they have any disposable income to share with you in this economy as they potentially see the current owners unhappy and getting more so as this program rolls out? Maybe you don't care and just need quick cash this year??

 

[wsrobinson]

I have 5 Platinum HH weeks. Two are GO OF, one is GO OS, one is SW GV and one is SW Ocean Vista. Of those weeks, only the GV units was developer purchase. Two of the GO weeks can also trade for MR points and I had assumed from that they'd come under like a developer resale but apparently not the way it's currently showing. Not that it really matter since I have other resale weeks and those are the ones I want in the new system.

So, does the SW GV have a higher point value than the resale weeks or is it in line with them. Just curious if Marriott would try to further enhance developer purchases in their system?

 

[IngridN]

I guess those TUGGERS urging you to buy to use were right...Assuming inventory is truly separate, we'll be OK with our Aruba week (soon to be weeks) as we only use. The other 3 weeks which are used to trade (SR used exclusively to trade), we'll be shafted under the points program unless we combine or borrow form previous or future year.

At first I thought this points stuff was pretty good. As I think it through on the 'cost' of exchanging into othe Marriotts (although I really need to get back to work!) we'll probably pass and continue with II. There are lots of other nice resorts out there and my Marriott week should be a tiger trader, no?

Ingrid

 

[winger]

When I go thru the faux enrollment process this what they show for enrollment fees for me:

2 Barony silver weeks (developer bought) -- $695
1 Shadow Ridge platimum week (resale bought) -- $1495
Total -- $2190

So unless the website is wrong, it's not capped at $1995. I'm not going to bother calling, since I don't think we'll be enrolling.

Website explicitly says if you are converting both developer and resale weeks, you need to call to convert.

 

[wuv pooh]

I haven't been able to read the thread as I've been working all weekend and am just taking a quick break. I did call Marriott this morning: I was told that inventories would be totally separate. I asked the same question several ways and gave examples. My concern is that our Aruba Surf Club week is always booked to use. I am in the process of purchasing a resale week there and was concerned about the 'home resort' priority if I decided to join points (aside from the fact that currently, new resale weeks aren't eligible), was told that unless I gave up the week for points, absolutely nothing would change. Points inventory is garnered from people joining points and giving up their week for points to exchange elsewhere, people exchanging their week for MAR points and Marriott inventory.

Based on her comments, I would expect Marriott II inventory to drastically decrease. However, it appears that I will have no issue with booking at my home resort. Once the resale closes, I can call 13 months out. Interestingly, I urrently own Oceanside and it is not yet sold out so my booking to use availability would decrease because Marriott will allocate their unsold inventory to points. However, the one we're purchasing is Oceanfront which is sold out. In our scenario, she stated that an Oceanfront unit would be available to the points group only if an owner in the points program relinquished the weeks for points or if they relinquished for MAR points...we'll see.

Talked to DH and we're still going to pull the trigger on the resale. Any comments as to how foolhardy we're being .

Ingrid

That would make sense to me. I am essentially offered to join the system for free today - $695 vs. 800 points is a wash to me. I am concerned about the future.

If you do not join the new system:

1. You will not have access to any new resorts.
2. You will not have the access to the flexibility which creates the value under the new system, ie trading days, sizes, or seasons.
3. You may/may not be offered to join in the future at some price.

I think it was a pretty slick move to eliminate uptrades.

II uptrades will dry up because people with high value weeks will join the new system and remove their weeks.

II uptrades will dry up because all develper and MR points inventory will be removed.

Points uptrades are eliminated by the new point structure.

I see only two options:

1. Don't join and use your weeks. Or be happy with non Marriott trades through II.

2. Join for free and keep your flexibility. The real value of the new system will be using Sun-Thur in shoulder season until they rebalance the points. There will also most likely be something similar to flexchange added to soak up points that are expiring as empty units.

I think it is a slam dunk that most people with Platinum weeks will convert to keep their options open.

Need to talk to a few more people, but that is my initial take.

 

[Dean]

So, does the SW GV have a higher point value than the resale weeks or is it in line with them. Just curious if Marriott would try to further enhance developer purchases in their system?

I haven't seen any indication of differences in points between resale and retail, just the conversion fee.

 

[Venter]

This is just a very quick look, but here's what I see so far:

Waiohai fixed 51 island view: 4225 points
Waiohai fixed 52 island view: 5175 points
Total 9400 pts which I guess would fit the Premier for 13 month reservations of 7 or more days.

Then I was able to download the Points-charts.pdf file - looked at how many points those same weeks with same view would cost someone to reserve with points for 2011, 2012. Very disturbing as the answer is 5075 and 5550 points respectively. So my point value is less than the point chart??
So why again would I want to pay extra when my points won't even be enough to get the same 14 days??? At first view this doesn't look good for my prime HI fixed weeks....:annoyed:

Just wanted to some specific info out there for you folks to compile. Will continue to investigate...

My geuss is that if you own these weeks you just go ahead and book them as this will be within your usage rights. However if you want points to go elsewhere then you will get the assigned points. It will therefore be a it silly to get points and then book your weeks you already own.

 

[Dean]

I believe that I've now joined the ranks of those who believe this new system will hurt almost everyone - except Marriott.

Fletch and others basically said those w/premium weeks/HI prime weeks, etc would see value in the new system and like it. Maybe I was mistaken to believe I might be part of this group. My jumping would increase my trade ability -etc. My other assumption was that most owners would blindly jump to points, (still believe this will happen w/good salesmen) and that this would probably affect those who did not jump negatively.

Now I don't see that. While my points values are fairly high and I own more than one Plat. Plus week so am a multiple week owner - they certainly will not get me to similar Platinum/Platinum Plus resorts at a one-to-one ratio, much less give me more time - unless I trade down again. But it doesn't look like my Platinum Plus is enough to get to any other Platinum Plus - including my own resort!! I also can't exchange to things like good summer or ski weeks that are Platinum!!

So as far as I can see in this system: I don't even think I can get equal 1:1 trades!! This doesn't give much more value - really - to the owners of "more expensive" properties any more than it benefits the golds/plats of other resorts.
And it looks like that is true across the board for many/most people.

The ONLY people I see getting more value will be those who own enough multiple weeks to equal Premier Plus status. 12000 or more points. My take is that these people will have even more opportunity to gather up the prime weeks and shut out deeded owners of fewer weeks and home resort owners.

Can point reservations be rented????? I haven't figured that out yet. But...Those of you who think more prime weeks will open up in a points system - This system looks seriously flawed!!! With points and weeks owners getting equal chance at a set amount of reservations, and II best deposited weeks going right back to points owners - I don't know that weeks owners who don't switch will still get what they did in the past - and I also don't think it will be better for the 1 - 2 week owners to move to points. They still won't get what they occasionally got in the past!!!

As a fixed week owner who bought to use, I think I'll do fine staying out of the overlay...but everyone else will lose out - even at their home resort - , and none of us will be able to trade well in II. Since I'm a new owner, have no way to judge this aspect.

What's really sad is that we are a prime candidate to buy more Marriott weeks and almost bought a third week right from the start. Luckily, our heads said let's try it out and do more research. A resale float week now needs time to see how this new system plays out for those who don't convert, and buying from the developer now means points - the only way points looks good to me is to hit that magical 12,000 - and that's a lot of money.

And still, it would seem that the minute we tried to use points to - say book a different start/end date to our fixed weeks, we'd actually potentially lose the weeks altogether (that we payed a premium price for), because the fixed weeks enter the system as soon as you choose to use points, and then the reservation gets looked at. Those fixed dates will immediately pass on to someone else who already has THEIR request in - not you!! Can anyone tell me otherwise? Those documents spell this out pretty clearly (as I quoted from the exchange document, and as others have quoted the levels of Premier/Premier Plus/ etc.)

Marriott, you seem to no longer value the current owners as a group to sell more to - as far as I can tell. Are you only now interested in finding a different group to sell to? Who are they?? Do they have any disposable income to share with you in this economy as they potentially see the current owners unhappy and getting more so as this program rolls out? Maybe you don't care and just need quick cash this year??

I'm seeing 13K to get to Premier Plus level.

 

[scrapngen]

I see direct exchanges doing very well between us here or exchanges with independent exchange companies as we still have that right.

The only people, who are going to do well, are the people who own many weeks that they bought from the Marriott direct because they will have the chance to reserve the very best weeks they like to have but they may not be able to rent them. I believe that I saw a warning somewhere so the best weeks are now going to be used for personal use mainly. There was a warning somewhere about abuse but I may not have understood it properly.

I feel for the owners, who bought only one, or a few weeks as it will be much harder for them to stay at their own resorts in the season they bought and I feel bad too for the owners, who bought many weeks and paid developer prices because re-sale values are going to be very little for every one eventually. We now have the worst of both systems, I believe.

I have said many times that I do not like the way this industry is heading as each time, it's in the developer's favor and they are getting more control over what we bought.

On top of that, we will see big increases in maintenance fees too because timeshares are becoming more like hotels where people check in and out more frequently but here you have to deal with kitchens and washer and dryers too that will give more wear and tear because people are losing the feel of pride of ownership like timeshare people used to have when they owned a fixed week and unit at a particular resort. JMHO.

One good thing is that everyone can read all the documents before signing the dotted line and that we have some time to think it over and discuss it here. Marriott must hate this forum, if people happen to find us here during the rescission period of a new purchase by a prospective buyer. They wouldn't have had to worry if knowledgeable, seasoned timeshare owners were happy with the big change.

I think you and I are pretty much in complete agreement here. I see other venues for trading becoming much more popular (at least among those who don't believe this will be as great a system as salepeople will say) as owners decide not to allow their inventory to be swallowed up into II to go to the points requests. (While there have been some phone calls where Marriott people are assuring us that inventories will be kept separate, until I see it in writing, I am more likely to look at the Starwood dealing with II as an example of things to come...)

I will remain happy (I hope) using my TS as planned. And be unhappy to forego increasing our stays with new purchases until the dust settles...

 

[IngridN]

I think it is a slam dunk that most people with Platinum weeks will convert to keep their options open.

Need to talk to a few more people, but that is my initial take.

It's OK to convert, but you don't have to use the points. That's where my issue arises. Some of my weeks are used exclusively to exchange. I looked at a couple of scenarios, and no way, the 'cost' in points is too high. I will need to combine a couple of weeks or borrow points from prior or future year. Joining the points program also allows me to continue as is. I can still deposit into II with Marriott as my liaison with II. At first she told me that I had to call to make exchanges, similar to Hilton in RCI. Told her that was a deal breaker as I want the ability to go online and at all hours of the day or night and look at availability. She then went to check on this and told me that I could still continue to do so...hmmmmm, really?

Bottom line, we're waiting it out until the answers are clear. I may continue with II...there are other resorts out there.

Ingrid

 

[bw3]

Marriott points and the Royal Scam

Only an idiot would sign up for this program. The bid-ask spread is astronomical (4%-20%). And we thought Wall Street was evil. After looking at the Grande Ocean spread, I wonder how to contact all owners and alert them to this scam. I guess we just have to fire Marriott. They are that dense.

 

[scrapngen]

That would make sense to me. I am essentially offered to join the system for free today - $695 vs. 800 points is a wash to me. I am concerned about the future.

If you do not join the new system:

1. You will not have access to any new resorts.
2. You will not have the access to the flexibility which creates the value under the new system, ie trading days, sizes, or seasons.
3. You may/may not be offered to join in the future at some price.

I think it was a pretty slick move to eliminate uptrades.

II uptrades will dry up because people with high value weeks will join the new system and remove their weeks.

II uptrades will dry up because all develper and MR points inventory will be removed.

Points uptrades are eliminated by the new point structure.

I see only two options:

1. Don't join and use your weeks. Or be happy with non Marriott trades through II.

2. Join for free and keep your flexibility. The real value of the new system will be using Sun-Thur in shoulder season until they rebalance the points. There will also most likely be something similar to flexchange added to soak up points that are expiring as empty units.I think it is a slam dunk that most people with Platinum weeks will convert to keep their options open.

Need to talk to a few more people, but that is my initial take.

If it was join for free to keep the flexibility - I wouldn't balk so much, but here's what I see. A $695 cost to join that is a wash with the 8000 bonus points (except they have to be used in the first year)

But it will also cost $165 or more per year. You didn't add this into your equation. It may or may not be a wash depending on what additional fees you currently spend - PER YEAR. So it may be a wash for some if they always are locking-off, etc., but for others, it is locking yourself into another yearly fee. (small, but not insignificant if you are not currently paying it)

Not to mention that it can change anytime! fees/point values/etc. The way I see it EVERYTHING in the new system is up to Marriott to change/take away/increase at will. That may or may not benefit you, but certainly doesn't come free.

 

[ACE1]

Just checked on our 2 bdrm. Platinum at MCV now worth 2950 points but if I want to reserve my 2 bdrm. during Plat. season it is 4175. Big difference, I can barely get a 1 bdrm. now!

 

[Numismatist]

Is this true?:

OTHER than the $595 to join, if I NEVER choose to exchange my deeded week for points each year, have I lost anything?

 

[dougp26364]

One other thing -- I bet their is a profit component in the MFs. $400 for 1,000 points? That's a Hawaii level for MFs -- wow!!

This would put the MF's on our two units at $3,540. Presently the total for those two units are $2,841. All I can say is I'm glad I purchased our weeks long before this new program rolled out. That's a 20% increase in MF's and, those points aren't even enough to reserve the weeks we typically use. The MF's for the points required for the weeks we typically reserve at our home resorts would be a whopping $4,450 or 63% higher than what we currently pay.

All I can say is what a racket Marriott has cooked up for it's existing and new owners.

 

[wuv pooh]

I believe that I've now joined the ranks of those who believe this new system will hurt almost everyone - except Marriott.

Can anyone tell me otherwise?

Scrapgen, you are pretty much the biggest winner of anyone under the new system.

Join the system. If you want to stay in your fixed weeks then use them as planned - simple. If you had floating weeks, you would have a potential issue, but fixed weeks are guaranteed.

If you want to trade - multiple opportunities. You are no longer forced to trade down via II or rent your week and hope for the best.

You can spend 10 nights in the summer in Newport coast. Go to San Diego for the weekend and spend 10 nights Sun-Thur and still have points left over.

You can spend a week at Grande Ocean Ocean Side and have points left over- a comparable trade or spend a few more points or go 6 days Ocean Front - a great trade.

You can spend TWO weeks in Orlando or Williamsburg

etc., etc.

It is a great program for people who have spent big bucks with Marriott.

 

[timeos2]

You absolutely get what you own

If you get 2550 annual points for your deposited week, and they charge another points owner 3000 points to exchange for your week you deposited, then you at 2550 points are not getting what your week is worth, or what Marriott charges others. That is a benefit for Marriott and a ripoff for all points owners.

This is a bad deal for you and everyone when marriott gives the owner less annual points than they charge another owner to stay in the identical week. That is not counting the fact that they are killing resale values by charging $2000 tranfer fees and threatening the possibility of not ever allowing resales to ever become points in the future. They also are claiming access to all inventory deposited with II, whether it was deposited by a weeks owner or a points owner, which in the long run will kill your trading power with II and will immediatelly reduce prime inventory that Marriott siphons off of what was deposited in II by weeks owners to use for it's internal points exchange program. This is just what we know from the inital launch, I fee lsure many more things will come to light as the months/years pass.

You do understand that under the new system, as in any points system, the range of weeks covered by a deeded ownership include some that will carry high point values - holidays, summer weeks - and some lower but still in that season as originally outlined. So while your deed has the right to reserve one of the higher point value weeks you cannot and do not get that value every year. Instead they take the TOTAL points generated for all weeks in that season, divide by the total use periods & the resulting average per week is what you receive. So you are getting a fair distribution of point value covering your true share based on the week / season purchased. To further ensure that you get what you have coming they also do not charge you the actual "outside" value for those weeks - even the higher point value ones - if you use your own resort. You get the time for the value of your deeded ownership (and actually don't even have to use points to do that).

Once you step outside your home resort you do need to pay the true rate. You can easily do that by pooling, borrowing, renting or just owning more points than your original deed entitled you to. Now by carefully spreading those points through all the process and all the options it should be possible to get the exact use you want at various resorts and maximize the value of what you own. That is what we have found with other points based exchanges and no reason to think Marriott would work any differently.

You are getting a fair shake. The days of playing the system for free upgrades goes away. A known value system with hopefully better access to desired times (as owners are more careful with what they spend their limited points for rather than grabbing the best and biggest even just to trade) is what a good points system buys you. It does cost more than the old place & hope weeks type trades but is far easier to utilize and understand for most buyers. More like hotel reservations.

 

[Stefa]

Just checked on our 2 bdrm. Platinum at MCV now worth 2950 points but if I want to reserve my 2 bdrm. during Plat. season it is 4175. Big difference, I can barely get a 1 bdrm. now!

You can still reserve your 2BR if you join the points system. If you want to stay at your home resort you just don't convert to points that year.

 

[pacheco18]

Only an idiot would sign up for this program.

Absolutely right. It is a contract that guarantees value to Marriott and guarantees nothing to point owners. Your points can (and will) be devalued as Marriott sees fit and you will be forced to purchase more points to get the trades you want. Simply from a legal perspective, it is insane! You do not (knowingly) enter into a contract that is one sided.