Need new purchase for VIP?

[skuzuker28]

I recently took over my dad's Worldmark membership, and went one of their updates. They talked about how TravelShare was being rebranded/revamped into VIP, and that there would be additional benefits but in order to access those additional credits would need to be purchased. I was hesitant, but they had a small foreclosure account available for purchase that at the time I felt was "worth" it for the additional benefits and annual credits (but still much more than what I could purchase on the secondary market, as I've come to find out).

I was looking up some of the stuff on the Worldmark Website about the VIP program, but didn't see anything about needing a new purchase to participate. In fact, it almost sounds like existing TravelShare members (which my account is) would automatically get the equivalent status in the VIP program. Moreover, the benefits/options that prompted us to buy don't appear to be listed. I'm starting to wonder whether I already had access to those things and didn't need to make a purchase at all. Most of what interested us was being able to use credits for other vacation-related expenses such as hotel stays for road trips, tours, Vacasa rentals (for locations that don't have Worldmark nearby), and car rentals. But I don't see any of those things listed on the sparse landing page for the VIP program.

Were they just blowing smoke up my rear? And if not, how do I make sure I get access to the benefits/options I'm purchasing, since this is all supposed to launch next year.

 

[geist1223]

A Sales Person's Job is to sell Credits and make money. Not to help you. If a Sales Person's Lips are moving they are lying. We attended a Sales Pitch at Seaside last week. When pressed the Sales Person actually admitted they do not know the parameters/benefits of the new level except it will take a total of 85,000 Developer Credits.

Do not use Credits for rental cars, hotel stays, tours, flights, cruises, etc. When you do this Wyndham only gives you 4 cents per Credit. A $1,000 Flight will cost you 25,000 Credits. It is the worse possible use of Credits.

 

[sue1947]

Were they just blowing smoke up my rear?

Yep. They lie and will say anything to get you to purchase. There is nothing in travelshare that is worth the extra cost of developer credits over resale and there really isn't anything worth paying the monthly Travelshare dues (which are extra over the maintenance fees we all pay).
Using your credits for non-timeshare stays is a very poor return on your maintenance dues, not to mention the thousands extra you paid for those developer credits. They value them at around 4 cents/credit while MF are more than double that. You can rent out any unused credits at wmowners.com and use money to pay via deals elsewhere.
Rescind the latest purchase immediately. Take a close look at what you are actually getting for your current TS dues. The only level that has anything worth anything is Platinum with the housekeeping. If you are below that, it just isn't worth the extra money.
And think about it: You can buy resale credits for .10/credit or less; why would you pay 20 times that for developer? that is why they lie.

 

[FunnyFarm]

One of the benefits of Traveshare is using WM credits to book Wyndahm resorts. Still the conversion rate is not advantageous.
If your inherited credits are older credits you may be grandfathered into that benefit.
Your webpage would list your credits as WM A+ I believe

 

[amycurl]

All of the above is to say....rescind before the window closes! You apparently don't need this, and clearly need the time to do more research to figure the system out. But you can only rescind once....if you want that deal again, you can bet that they'd let you have it (but you'll soon figure out you don't need it at all.)

 

[geist1223]

If your Dad was Travelshare then you are Travelshare. Travelshare would be Developer purchased Credits after November (I believe) 20, 2006. Credits purchased prior to that date (Developer or resell) are WM+A. WM+A Credits have access to Club Pass (Booking Wyndham Resorts with Worldmark Credits) and Wyndham South Pacific (which includes 3 Resorts in Europe - Normandy, Tuscany, and Bavaria). Travels hare Credits also have access to Club Pass and Wyndham South Pacific.

 

[skuzuker28]

Thanks everyone. I'll be mailing the letter tomorrow!

Have a lot to learn on how best to use my membership. Thank you all for your input!