Marriott resale owners disadvantaged?

[TNB]

I'm hoping to buy a Marriott T/S on the resale market, but I read a posting dated Dec 07 that Marriott was planning changes to make private resales less attractive.
As I understand it the only current disadvantage of buying privately is that no Marriott points are available.
Anyone have an update on this issue?

 

[Dave M]

You are correct. That's the disadvantage.

It's unclear whether, when and to what extent Marriott might introduce changes that would adversely affect resale purchasers (or enhance the benefits of direct purchasers) in other ways. All of the betting though seems to be that any existing resale owners at the time of any such change would be grandfathered.

 

[dfjkl]

I don't understand how they could make it worse. They use "deeded property" as a selling point...to be able to continue to do that, you really need SOMETHING of value for resale. They oversell the points (which almost made me buy from them) until you come here and realize their valuing of the points is miserable and if you are buying for points considerations you're getting the short end of that stick.

 

[Graceville]

At a presentation yesterday, the Marriott sales guy said that Marriott was not planning to leave Interval International in 2009, but that it was on the cards for the future. He said that Marriott reserves the right to make programs changes, for both direct and resale owners, and that Marriott was looking to make things harder for resale owners, such as preventing a resale owner from splitting a lockup into two trades. He said that "for peace of mind" one should buy direct from Marriott. (I purchased resale at half the current Marriott price.)

 

[billymach4]

At a presentation yesterday, the Marriott sales guy said that Marriott was not planning to leave Interval International in 2009, but that it was on the cards for the future. He said that Marriott reserves the right to make programs changes, for both direct and resale owners, and that Marriott was looking to make things harder for resale owners, such as preventing a resale owner from splitting a lockup into two trades. He said that "for peace of mind" one should buy direct from Marriott. (I purchased resale at half the current Marriott price.)

Don't believe a word your Marriott sales guy bloviated about. I can tell you right now with full confidence whatever he said was an absolute LIE. He was a LIAR plain and simple.

Yes Marriott reserves the right to make program changes but they cannot prevent you or me or anyone else from depositing and locking out our units. Of course Marriott can stay with II or leave just like DVC. Or they can do their own internal thing. But it ain't gonna happen. At least not in the near future.

 

[Dave M]

I agree. It's quite possible, based on various reports and the questions on a survey of Marriott owners conducted recently, that Marriott may adopt some type of internal exchange program - a program that Marriott rather than II would handle. But Marriott would still be affiliated with II. It needs II for external exchanges (e.g., a Marriott to a non-Marriott), unless it were to dump II in favor of RCI.

In this case, I don't believe the salesperson lied. There is so much miscommunication going around on this topic that I'm guessing (1) he misspoke, (2), he was referring to the internal exchange program, which Marriott might take away from II or (3) he misunderstood what some higher-up said about possible forthcoming changes.

 

[Lawlar]

More White Lies

At a presentation yesterday, the Marriott sales guy said that ... Marriott was looking to make things harder for resale owners, such as preventing a resale owner from splitting a lockup into two trades. He said that "for peace of mind" one should buy direct from Marriott. (I purchased resale at half the current Marriott price.)

I don't get any peace of mind knowing that Marriott may devalue my direct purchase MOC villa (a mere $58,000) by reducing the rights I will be able to convey to a third party if I want to sell my unit.

Marriott tells you in its sales presentations that you are getting a deed that you can sell or give to your heirs. What good is a deed if Marriott is going to restrict the rights of a prospective purchaser?

Did the salesperson lie? Was it a Marriott salesperson? He lied.

 

[dfjkl]

I don't get any peace of mind knowing that Marriott may devalue my direct purchase MOC villa (a mere $58,000) by reducing the rights I will be able to convey to a third party if I want to sell my unit.

Marriott tells you in its sales presentations that you are getting a deed that you can sell or give to your heirs. What good is a deed if Marriott is going to restrict the rights of a prospective purchaser?

Did the salesperson lie? Was it a Marriott salesperson? He lied.

Precisely the point I made and brought up to our salesman. If you are hyping the fact that I'm buying a property...don't screw with my "property rights."

 

[Y-ASK]

I don't get any peace of mind knowing that Marriott may devalue my direct purchase MOC villa (a mere $58,000) by reducing the rights I will be able to convey to a third party if I want to sell my unit.

This was my exact thought after a short sales pitch at OceanWatch. I think my 1st post here was to complain about the loss of points from a resale. I felt that it was a devaluation of any purchase I might make directly from Marriott. Really kind of stupid to treat resale buyers as second class citizens.

Y-ASk

Actually in my 1st post I was complaining about not being able to upgrade as a re-sale buyer, not the points issue...

 

[larue]

I agree. It's quite possible, based on various reports and the questions on a survey of Marriott owners conducted recently, that Marriott may adopt some type of internal exchange program - a program that Marriott rather than II would handle. But Marriott would still be affiliated with II. It needs II for external exchanges (e.g., a Marriott to a non-Marriott), unless it were to dump II in favor of RCI.

In this case, I don't believe the salesperson lied. There is so much miscommunication going around on this topic that I'm guessing (1) he misspoke, (2), he was referring to the internal exchange program, which Marriott might take away from II or (3) he misunderstood what some higher-up said about possible forthcoming changes.

I received and participated in a survey regarding program changes that Marriott is considering. It includes an internal exchange system similary to the Starwoods internal system (where you have points that you use to stay at any number of Starwood condos). The survey also implied that you would have to opt in or out and that the exercise of your option would be binding for 3 years (you either stick with Interval or go with the Marriott system).

As for the sales presentations, I just went through one that involved all kinds of woppers. It was in late November at Ko Olina, where I already own from a secondary market purchase. We went with an open mind and actually purchased a penthouse islandview after a detailed presentation regarding how we could use the points incentive to stay for two weeks at the Marriott in Rome for 300,000 points. We already had the trip planned, so I figured this as a $12,000 savings that justified buying from the developer. I got back to my room and surfed the internet and found out about the new points rules, and identified specifically that the sales agent lied. What he said would cost 300,000 points would now cost 480,000 (europe hotels now at category 8, 40,000 points per night with a break for every 5th night after 4 consecutive nights). Needless to say, we called back and cancelled our contract and had a frank discussion with the sales manager. The sales agent contended he did not know about the new program (in spite of the fact that it was pasted on their website in detail). I told the sales manager that he had two choices, either his 20 year-experience sales agent lied or he was incompetent. The manager agreed and said he would have cancelled too. I will never buy direct from Marriott after this experience. If they bale out of Interval and penalize secondary market purchasers, they will be cutting off their noses to spite their faces. Buyers like me will just move on to Hyatt or Starwood, etc.

 

[Lawlar]

Good For You!!

Larue: I'm glad you cancelled. Good for you.

You might consider filing a complaint with the BBB just to make a record of what occurred as a warning to others.

If Marriott cleaned up its sales tactics we would all benefit. Marriott might lose some sales in the short term, but in the long term it would gain respect and trust while creating real long-term value to its timeshares. Otherwise its timeshares resemble a ponzi scheme.

 

[taffy19]

I hope Mr. Marriott (read the link of today) reads this one day soon because this isn't the Marriott I knew. We were not lied to when we bought a few years ago nor the first time either. It will hurt their name if they continue this.

Let the resorts do the selling for them by keeping them nice and up to date and not by having their sales people lie as that will hurt them sooner or later.

We bought twice from the Marriott on a tour and an update while we had no intention in buying that day or in the future either and we let them know this in advance but the resorts sold themselves because they looked so nice. That's what they should do again as they build nice resorts in great locations. Come on Marriott, clean up your act!

 

[jimf41]

I take a sales tour for points twice a year. I can't really say that I've ever been lied to though. I recently had a relatively new sales rep who didn't know as much about the system as I did but she never lied. Her best line, when I asked her about resales was " ...why would you want to do that. Because you can't trade for points you're only getting half a program". I laughed a little and I guess that made her angry and it went downhill from there. Done in 90 minutes for 10k points.

While she was inexperienced and made a few rookie mistakes I wouldn't characterize anything she said as a lie. I guess I've been luckier than most tuggers.