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New levels ocean pt tour

To everyone: have they ever explained how you "pay MF with your points?" I mean every sideshow usage usually prides about 20-30 cents value and MF are over 85 cents, not counting upfront cost.
Yeah, any pay your MFs with points will be a terrible value. We'll be lucky if they give as much value as one can get for resort credit.
 
To everyone: have they ever explained how you "pay MF with your points?" I mean every sideshow usage usually prides about 20-30 cents value and MF are over 85 cents, not counting upfront cost.

I would expect it to work out the same...

I just asked Grok how it works with Wyndham "maintenance dollars". Basically you get credit for about 20%-25% of the maintenance fees, lose your points and owe cash for the rest (disclaimer: I have no idea if this is accurate as I am not familiar with the program).
 
There are currently five elite levels. Six would be A LOT and 7 would be crazy. Personally, that much granularity in the elite program doesn’t make it more attractive to me, especially as they largely just reallocate existing and former benefits across a wider points range. That just makes me feel like I’ve been ripped off in the past, which doesn’t make me want to give them more money, knowing they’ll likely just pull the football away again after a few years.

Also, as others have pointed out, how many people actually want and can afford the MFs on 30,000+ points? Can’t be a lot.
 
I would expect it to work out the same...

I just asked Grok how it works with Wyndham "maintenance dollars". Basically you get credit for about 20%-25% of the maintenance fees, lose your points and owe cash for the rest (disclaimer: I have no idea if this is accurate as I am not familiar with the program).
Am I reading this right? You (NOT YOU SPECIFICALLY) buy points at a large upfront cost, but then think it is a benefit to be able to return those points each year without using them, but still have to pay 75% of the MF on them?

This seems like buying a car just to you can lease it back to the dealer with no usage by you, but still have to pay 75% of the loan, maintenance, insurance and other associated costs for the year? Where do I sign (as the dealer)?
 
There are currently five elite levels. Six would be A LOT and 7 would be crazy. Personally, that much granularity in the elite program doesn’t make it more attractive to me, especially as they largely just reallocate existing and former benefits across a wider points range. That just makes me feel like I’ve been ripped off in the past, which doesn’t make me want to give them more money, knowing they’ll likely just pull the football away again after a few years.

Also, as others have pointed out, how many people actually want and can afford the MFs on 30,000+ points? Can’t be a lot.
This is a key point when they threaten you that your weeks won't be able to exchange, they will take away rights to elect, and further downgrade the product they sold. So I am supposed to buy something from someone that is telling me they can just yank away benefits in the future "subject to their discretion?"

Back to my car analogy. This is like visiting the dealer a year after you bought your car from them and the salesperson says, "you really need a new car. " Why is that, I like this car?

"Well you may not have noticed but we shut down your Automatic Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Detection, Lane Keeping Assist/Departure Warning, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), and Intelligent Speed Assist. Also, I just heard that we will be shutting down your satellite radio and headlights in the not too distant future. But you can turn your car in to us if you will buy a new one at MSRP. Let me tell you about all the great safety features it has that your old car had, including some new ones..."

I know there are some less than savvy people but how can this tactic work at even a basic, face value? I know it is the fear principle in sales, but still.
 
Am I reading this right? You (NOT YOU SPECIFICALLY) buy points at a large upfront cost, but then think it is a benefit to be able to return those points each year without using them, but still have to pay 75% of the MF on them?

This seems like buying a car just to you can lease it back to the dealer with no usage by you, but still have to pay 75% of the loan, maintenance, insurance and other associated costs for the year? Where do I sign (as the dealer)?

More or less, if I got it right...

But given what you get for cruises and hotels, is this a surprise. DVC is the only program I know of that offers reasonable value - covers your MFs on cruises and get almost double the MF cost for using points on annual passes.

This is what it said when I asked for a side by side comparison for Wyndham (I am not responsible for errors)

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To everyone: have they ever explained how you "pay MF with your points?" I mean every sideshow usage usually prides about 20-30 cents value and MF are over 85 cents, not counting upfront cost.

I intuitively know you can't create gold out of water, and if somehow you could you would pay more for the water and everything else to make the gold, but how do they explain it? The mechanics. Or does anyone know the theory?

It seems analogous to people who are inclined to pay a 3% service fee with a credit card purchase to receive 2% in cash back. Or people that say I'm going to buy this thing I may not really need, because I can write it off on my taxes.
I have another timeshare where I can pay fees with points and the financial return is c/w what you get with MVC for other cash options. I would expect somewhere in the 34¢ PP range give or take.The only way I'd consider cash type options is for points I didn't have other options on like holding account points or points that were going to expire and couldn't be banked. And I doubt one could use holding account points or points late in the year for such options.

This is a key point when they threaten you that your weeks won't be able to exchange, they will take away rights to elect, and further downgrade the product they sold. So I am supposed to buy something from someone that is telling me they can just yank away benefits in the future "subject to their discretion?"

Back to my car analogy. This is like visiting the dealer a year after you bought your car from them and the salesperson says, "you really need a new car. " Why is that, I like this car?

"Well you may not have noticed but we shut down your Automatic Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Detection, Lane Keeping Assist/Departure Warning, Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), and Intelligent Speed Assist. Also, I just heard that we will be shutting down your satellite radio and headlights in the not too distant future. But you can turn your car in to us if you will buy a new one at MSRP. Let me tell you about all the great safety features it has that your old car had, including some new ones..."

I know there are some less than savvy people but how can this tactic work at even a basic, face value? I know it is the fear principle in sales, but still.
I'm not sure using facts and financial logic talking to a sales rep. is especially helpful or productive. They have their strategies for about every scenario you can throw ad them. If they'r informed and have reasonable intelligence, they'll know the economics already. If not, were Darwin was wrong.
 
I have another timeshare where I can pay fees with points and the financial return is c/w what you get with MVC for other cash options. I would expect somewhere in the 34¢ PP range give or take.The only way I'd consider cash type options is for points I didn't have other options on like holding account points or points that were going to expire and couldn't be banked. And I doubt one could use holding account points or points late in the year for such options.


I'm not sure using facts and financial logic talking to a sales rep. is especially helpful or productive. They have their strategies for about every scenario you can throw ad them. If they'r informed and have reasonable intelligence, they'll know the economics already. If not, were Darwin was wrong.
Directed refutation of their garbage, whether financial or otherwise, has been quite productive for us. Not rude, not unprofesional just making them put their money where their lips are moving. Our last 5 tours have average about 30 minutes, with the shortest being 8 minutes. Fun enough for 3-4 steak dinners & drinks.

I certainly understand last resort options are always better than nothing, but that is not what they are selling. No one should pay what they are asking for that "option." From what I read on here, many sadly still do exactly that.
 
Directed refutation of their garbage, whether financial or otherwise, has been quite productive for us. Not rude, not unprofesional just making them put their money where their lips are moving. Our last 5 tours have average about 30 minutes, with the shortest being 8 minutes. Fun enough for 3-4 steak dinners & drinks.

I certainly understand last resort options are always better than nothing, but that is not what they are selling. No one should pay what they are asking for that "option." From what I read on here, many sadly still do exactly that.
Personally I think it foolish of them to even include these options as anyone with reasonable intelligence and any degree of due diligence would see it for what it is but it must be effective enough for them to continue to do so. OTOH, what does that say about the average timeshare buyer, it doesn't paint us in a very positive light as a group.
 
To everyone: have they ever explained how you "pay MF with your points?" I mean every sideshow usage usually prides about 20-30 cents value and MF are over 85 cents, not counting upfront cost.

I intuitively know you can't create gold out of water, and if somehow you could you would pay more for the water and everything else to make the gold, but how do they explain it? The mechanics. Or does anyone know the theory?

It seems analogous to people who are inclined to pay a 3% service fee with a credit card purchase to receive 2% in cash back. Or people that say I'm going to buy this thing I may not really need, because I can write it off on my taxes.
It’s the definition of insanity. You use cash to pay MF to get points usage. You use those points (+ extra cash) to pay next year’s higher MF at a cash per point valuation less than the cash you paid for their use.
 
If there are new levels coming, a certain level of owner will want to be in the top tier. That's what Marriott is going for.

I like my Westins, and I like the deeded view. I see no reason to use Abound. Chairman's Club is just a title with little meaning.
 
It must be happening. Someone else reported similar from another owner update. Perhaps if they put out new levels they will finally update the single PDF that outlines the benefits at each level. The only other one they have has bad information related to banking for Chairman's Club.
Was this someone else also at Oceana Palms?
 
I was shown a chart yesterday with 2 new levels being added above chairmain. It was 30k pts and 50k pts. Saying it launched May 1st but could by in today only at a discount.

When I questioned that new levels have been promised before her response was “this time it’s official. Why would we tell you something is coming in 2 days while you would still be in your rescission period. If it doesn’t happen you can just cancel”

I found that statement interesting. Has anyone heard of this change?

Was also told external weeks will no longer be able to enroll by buying pts or weeks, resale pts won’t count towards levels in the near future (but did say that they do now) new levels can pay maint with points and get priority room choices and upgrades if available.
If sales slime said this time is official then that's an admission of guilt. They have lied in the past and agreed to lies now and in the future.
 
No I was at Westin Desert Willow in California. But the salesperson claimed to be looking at a chart of the new levels – which she "wasn't allowed" to show me – so if there really WAS such a chart, it wouldn't be different in Florida than in California. So I think it's lies, as usual, though the frequency and specificity of this rumor makes me think that there is a chance it's true.

Here's the thing: I already had MVC take away the elite benefits I valued most when they rolled out Abound changes a few years back. So I would NOT spend money to get benefits which they would probably take away again after a few years. I wouldn't buy more unless I needed more vacation time.
What did you lose? We only found the additional option for pts was flexibility. Not a great value but options. Did we lose something?
 
No I was at Westin Desert Willow in California. But the salesperson claimed to be looking at a chart of the new levels – which she "wasn't allowed" to show me – so if there really WAS such a chart, it wouldn't be different in Florida than in California. So I think it's lies, as usual, though the frequency and specificity of this rumor makes me think that there is a chance it's true.

Here's the thing: I already had MVC take away the elite benefits I valued most when they rolled out Abound changes a few years back. So I would NOT spend money to get benefits which they would probably take away again after a few years. I wouldn't buy more unless I needed more vacation time.
Our person said Westin and Sheraton reps have no clue about mvc 🤣
 
I would expect it to work out the same...

I just asked Grok how it works with Wyndham "maintenance dollars". Basically you get credit for about 20%-25% of the maintenance fees, lose your points and owe cash for the rest (disclaimer: I have no idea if this is accurate as I am not familiar with the program).
I believe with Wyndham, you first have to convert points to Wyndham Rewards (hotel points), then use the hotel points to pay your maintenance fees.
 
What did you lose? We only found the additional option for pts was flexibility. Not a great value but options. Did we lose something?
Vistana Elite status had early check-in and late check-out, not always available but it did exist.

The killer was the cutting of the banking durations of StarOptions to match what was already in the Destinations club for Club points. Its not completely clear how material the impact is across the owner base, but it certainly was a significant cut. It may not have actually been implemented yet according to reports.

MVC Club points owners lost the ability to use Club points in II to go to Sheraton and Westin resorts, which cut out a good chunk of viable options and a good amount of inventory for using Club points.
 
Personally I think it foolish of them to even include these options as anyone with reasonable intelligence and any degree of due diligence would see it for what it is but it must be effective enough for them to continue to do so. OTOH, what does that say about the average timeshare buyer, it doesn't paint us in a very positive light as a group.
We met someone at the pool that had paid 100k to convert their weeks because they said each week was getting a 30k assessment. The owned three weeks. I was like even if that’s true it’s only 90k why would you pay 100…I referred them to Facebook and I believe they canceled the next day.

My husband and I aren’t the brightest but we did research and take time to be educated. Buyer beware must not apply to most
 
We met someone at the pool that had paid 100k to convert their weeks because they said each week was getting a 30k assessment. The owned three weeks. I was like even if that’s true it’s only 90k why would you pay 100…I referred them to Facebook and I believe they canceled the next day.

My husband and I aren’t the brightest but we did research and take time to be educated. Buyer beware must not apply to most
Lol, people spend huge amounts of money without even applying basic logic.

If the property has 200 units (for example) x 52 weeks x $30,000... that would be $312 million dollars. For that they could build multiple new resorts.

Sales people who spout this kind of nonsense should be terminated, but instead they seem to get promoted.
 
We met someone at the pool that had paid 100k to convert their weeks because they said each week was getting a 30k assessment. The owned three weeks. I was like even if that’s true it’s only 90k why would you pay 100…I referred them to Facebook and I believe they canceled the next day.

My husband and I aren’t the brightest but we did research and take time to be educated. Buyer beware must not apply to most
I've said this before on TUG. I'm always amazed at how otherwise intelligent people who would research an automobile or similar ad nauseam, can be conned by a timeshare sales person in such a manner. They do have to take responsibility for their actions, especially since they are signing acknowledgment that verbal representations are not binding.
 
I've said this before on TUG. I'm always amazed at how otherwise intelligent people who would research an automobile or similar ad nauseam, can be conned by a timeshare sales person in such a manner. They do have to take responsibility for their actions, especially since they are signing acknowledgment that verbal representations are not binding.
Most people don't know what the oral representation clause because they don't read a 20+ page contract on a tiny iPad at the sales office. They are then given a thumb drive that contains the contract, likely with no meaningful way to actually access the contract and read it during their vacation. No one wants to believe someone would outright lie to them, to their face. Timeshare sales people rely on the honesty of the people they are selling to in oder to deceive them. They are truly despicable people.
 
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So far this morning, 5/1, there is no new ownership level announced or listed on the MVC website, which should come as no surprise to anyone here.

Several years ago at Ocean Pointe they tried to sell use a “quarter share” so we could spend 3 months living in any MVC timeshare. The leveled for a “quarter share” started at 25,000 points if I recall correctly.

There must be some sort of an award or bonus salesmen receive when they manage to sell someone up to those levels. Sort of like the brass ring on a merry-go-round.

It would cost us roughly $262,000 To jump from our current Chairman level ownership to a new 30,0000 point level. For that money I believe I’d rather buy a full ownership condo on one of the local lakes and use it as an AirBnB when we weren’t in residence. I’m sure there are ownership expenses associated with this type of purchase but 30,000 points comes with a guaranteed MF around $25,500 with a history of going up approx 5% per year.
 
Heard the new levels are Reserve and Pinnacle at 30k and 50k. Might get more details this morning.
 
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