Nonowners take on Points

[jlr10]

The agent I work with just returned from Ohau. They stayed at the hotel at Ko'Olina. I warned him they would probably try to get he and DW to take a tour of Ko'Olina. They did, and they loved it. They put a lot of time and thought into the purchase and seriously considered it and walked way because they weren't going to make a purchase under pressure and because they have their first child due in July.

They pretty much were advised weeks were horrible, and no one was able to get a good trade anymore, and everyone was dumping the weeks and points were the way to go. (I asked if they advised of the skim, of course they weren't.) But the real reason they walked away was the timing of the points. They didn't like that they had a shorter timeframe to be used. With the weeks there is 3 year planning window, which is flexability they need with a new little one. I advised him he made a good choice and shouldn't make any purchase until he did more research, especially here on tug, for either points or weeks.

Then I reminded him that I was going on vacation in 2 weeks with my weeks trade into Maui Marriott Ocean, and Waiohai, both on exchanges, and then would be spending 3 days on rewards points at Marriott Wailea, and it was too bad my weeks couldn't get a good trade. :rofl:

 

[sparty]

They pretty much were advised weeks were horrible, and no one was able to get a good trade anymore, and everyone was dumping the weeks and points were the way to go.

The attribute I like about points and the point system is it's more liquid than weeks, especially going back and forth with cash. This really gives you the ultimate level of flexibility and effectively deals with expiration (there is none).

 

[FractionalTraveler]

Like anything else, the guy with the most chips at the table has the most fun.

If you don't have a lot of enrolled weeks or Trust points to play with, its less attractive.

 

[dougp26364]

The attribute I like about points and the point system is it's more liquid than weeks, especially going back and forth with cash. This really gives you the ultimate level of flexibility and effectively deals with expiration (there is none).

Points are fine. You just have to realize there is a price for those points if you convert a legacy week into DC points. If you don't mind the price in the form of getting less vacation time or staying in smaller units, then it's fine.

What disturbs me is the outright lie that weeks are a dead program. They're not. I can still do better with my weeks in relationship to value recieved than I can with points.

Sometimes you need the flexablity. To that end, this year we converted one of our legacy weeks into points.

Sometimes you prefer value. To that end, next year we most likely won't convert that week into points but will make traditional exchanges via the weeks system.

Despite what the sales weasels might tell you, the weeks system remains alive and well.

 

[m61376]

The attribute I like about points and the point system is it's more liquid than weeks, especially going back and forth with cash. This really gives you the ultimate level of flexibility and effectively deals with expiration (there is none).

I think your post is a little confusing (or it's me)- but there is actually less latitude time-wise with points than with week exchanges, since if you borrow or bank the points they must be used in that year, while a deposit can be used the year before or up to two years after, and even extended for a year for a small fee if you need to. Once you change the use year of the points, you must use it in that year, and you can only bank for the following year, but not for the year after that. Sometimes things happen and you use a deposit a few years later, and it is nice to have that option rather than just using it.

My guess is that a lot of points will go to waste, either from people not having quite enough for an extra night and/or not being able to use them in hte year they were designated for. Marriott is the real winner there.

 

[fluke]

I think your post is a little confusing (or it's me)- but there is actually less latitude time-wise with points than with week exchanges, since if you borrow or bank the points they must be used in that year, while a deposit can be used the year before or up to two years after, and even extended for a year for a small fee if you need to. Once you change the use year of the points, you must use it in that year, and you can only bank for the following year, but not for the year after that. Sometimes things happen and you use a deposit a few years later, and it is nice to have that option rather than just using it.

My guess is that a lot of points will go to waste, either from people not having quite enough for an extra night and/or not being able to use them in hte year they were designated for. Marriott is the real winner there.

I think it is judged according to everyones perspective. If you are a legacy owner and want to intermittently elect points then you are likely to leave points on the table. But if you are a trust owner or elect points every year you can bank and borrow and pretty much always utilize al you points.

Anyway, wasting "trading power" is nothing new, it is just more obvious when utilizing points as the currency. I am sure most people have been stuck with a not so favorable trade (no one ever brags about these). I myself have traded a prime summer Ko Olina week for a November MFC week in St Thomas.