Phone Rep at Grande Ocean selling hard

[dmharris]

We check into Grande Ocean this coming Saturday for a week that I traded via Interval, putting in a request and depositing our one bedroom GV gold. I got a call today from "George" wanting to schedule a presentation. Typically you can't do more than one in 12 months and we did one at Newport Coast in February. He really wanted me to attend one to learn about all the changes that were announced late May/early June.

He offered $150 or 15,000 Marriott Reward points or 250 Destination Club points for two years. He said the latter was worth a lot more than the former two. I made a reservation for Wed a.m. for the 250 points. I am researching what I can get with that. We're off season vacationers, so I can go in Jan/Feb back to Hilton Head for 75 points a night weekday. What do you think about that? I hadn't heard of that incentive before.

AND he kept saying, he wanted me NOT to use Interval. I told him that's what I do, I love my weeks, I get much more for my week (1 br +lockoff) than points for the one week we own. Do you think they're actively trying to tell owners NOT to use Interval?? Kinda not nice to Interval, don't ya think?

Anyways, curious to your opinions. TIA

 

[BocaBoy]

We check into Grande Ocean this coming Saturday for a week that I traded via Interval, putting in a request and depositing our one bedroom GV gold. I got a call today from "George" wanting to schedule a presentation. Typically you can't do more than one in 12 months and we did one at Newport Coast in February. He really wanted me to attend one to learn about all the changes that were announced late May/early June.

He offered $150 or 15,000 Marriott Reward points or 250 Destination Club points for two years. He said the latter was worth a lot more than the former two. I made a reservation for Wed a.m. for the 250 points. I am researching what I can get with that. We're off season vacationers, so I can go in Jan/Feb back to Hilton Head for 75 points a night weekday. What do you think about that? I hadn't heard of that incentive before.

AND he kept saying, he wanted me NOT to use Interval. I told him that's what I do, I love my weeks, I get much more for my week (1 br +lockoff) than points for the one week we own. Do you think they're actively trying to tell owners NOT to use Interval?? Kinda not nice to Interval, don't ya think?

Anyways, curious to your opinions. TIA

I am a big fan of January at Hilton Head. If you don't mind garden view, you can get any of the HHI resorts except Grande Ocean for 50 points a night weekdays. Grande Ocean is 75 points for a January weekday. I would pick a resort and stay 5 nights (Sunday-Thursday nights) for your 250 DC points. January availability is particularly easy to get in January at Grande Ocean, Barony and Surfwatch.

 

[dmharris]

Thanks BocaBoy! We have stayed at Grande Ocean one January week on our way to Florida and it was cold but we had the entire beach to ourselves. We road our bikes and after a storm, there were oodles of sand dollars and it was a lot better than being here in cold and snow!

 

[dioxide45]

We check into Grande Ocean this coming Saturday for a week that I traded via Interval, putting in a request and depositing our one bedroom GV gold. I got a call today from "George" wanting to schedule a presentation. Typically you can't do more than one in 12 months and we did one at Newport Coast in February. He really wanted me to attend one to learn about all the changes that were announced late May/early June.

I don't think there is really any such rule about how often you can attend. I have done tours four months apart. It all depends on the sales site and how many people they have booked for tours. If they are short on leads, they loosen the rules.

 

[dmharris]

I don't think there is really any such rule about how often you can attend. I have done tours four months apart. It all depends on the sales site and how many people they have booked for tours. If they are short on leads, they loosen the rules.

That's interesting. I get the sense Marriott is trying harder than usual to sell their product. Anybody else get that feeling? Wonder if the bloom is off the rose of points and weeks owners are holding on and not converting?

 

[dmharris]

I got an email from the rep today who also is giving us $25 Marriott dollars. Wonder where one can use that?

 

[normab]

We have stayed at Ocean Pointe and Barony in the past two weeks. Both tried to get us to attend presentations but we declined. During the phone call, the gentleman at Barony asked us "I hope you're not using Interval?", to which I replied, yes, and we also are using the DC points.

It struck us as weird, but Marriott wants us to use the points since that benefits Marriott. However, we of course know that weeks owners can do very well trading in II. In fact, several years ago we were sold a unit expressly for last minute trading, which wouldn't get us much in the DC points arena. It's no surprise they change the tune based on what suits them.

We tend to get better value out of the weeks we trade, and sometimes we trade outside of the Marriott system based on where we're going. But we also like the flexibility of using DC points for short getaways. We are doing both and appreciate the flexibility of having choices.

We will keep doing what works for us......

 

[SueDonJ]

I got an email from the rep today who also is giving us $25 Marriott dollars. Wonder where one can use that?

Generally Marriott dollars can be used to pay for anything which can be charged to a folio during a stay. I don't know about using them away from a stay.

 

[dmharris]

Thanks Norma and Susan, all good to know.

 

[SueDonJ]

Diane, after you get to GO can you update us on the new Sales Center that's being built across S. Forest Beach Drive at the site of former tennis courts? How's it look, when will it open? Thanks!

 

[dmharris]

Absolutely! Happy to do so!

 

[Fasttr]

Diane, after you get to GO can you update us on the new Sales Center that's being built across S. Forest Beach Drive at the site of former tennis courts? How's it look, when will it open? Thanks!

I'll try to find out when it will be done, but the outside is nearing completion....looks like a ways to go on the inside. Here are a few pics.

 

[Fasttr]

Pic..... 2

 

[Fasttr]

Pic..... 3

 

[SueDonJ]

Thanks, Fasttr. I'll be at Barony next week, may stop by SurfWatch to see if they have a timetable for moving.

 

[Mamianka]

We check into Grande Ocean this coming Saturday for a week that I traded via Interval, putting in a request and depositing our one bedroom GV gold. I got a call today from "George" wanting to schedule a presentation. Typically you can't do more than one in 12 months and we did one at Newport Coast in February. He really wanted me to attend one to learn about all the changes that were announced late May/early June.

He offered $150 or 15,000 Marriott Reward points or 250 Destination Club points for two years. He said the latter was worth a lot more than the former two. I made a reservation for Wed a.m. for the 250 points. I am researching what I can get with that. We're off season vacationers, so I can go in Jan/Feb back to Hilton Head for 75 points a night weekday. What do you think about that? I hadn't heard of that incentive before.

AND he kept saying, he wanted me NOT to use Interval. I told him that's what I do, I love my weeks, I get much more for my week (1 br +lockoff) than points for the one week we own. Do you think they're actively trying to tell owners NOT to use Interval?? Kinda not nice to Interval, don't ya think?

Anyways, curious to your opinions. TIA

You - and just about EVERYBODY - knows that trading week will get you a good deal - and points fluctuate in *cost* throughout the seasons. Yes - there are exceptions to this - but if you can decide WHEN you vacation, you can manipulate that. So - the more that Marriott steers you AWAY from getting trade thru Interval, the more Marriott can pressure you ( or try!) to buy MORE POINTS! If you calculate how many DCPs you get for your property versus the Fees you pay each year, you will see how much MRPs and DCPs are with in $$. So yes - it is WORTH it to them to plant the idea in your head that they are giving you DCPs that are worth MORE than the other 2 offers! Costs them nothing - except the psychology. If sitting thru their rannygazoo is worth it to you and you know where and when you are going to USE those points - well, your call. DH and I no longer will sit in one of these sessions - Marriott can KEEP their little bribes, and we can keep our blood pressure down. Lying and manipulation (on their part) is NOT one of the activities that I want to participate in when on vacation.

Mamianka

 

[Fasttr]

Thanks, Fasttr. I'll be at Barony next week, may stop by SurfWatch to see if they have a timetable for moving.

At owners meeting today, GM said 1/22/16 is opening day for new sales center.

Apparently lease is up on old center at SW shortly thereafter.

 

[PamMo]

It does seem like Marriott has instructed sales to repeat the mantra that trading in Interval is good only for non-Marriott resorts. They're trying to make you believe if you want to trade your Marriott week for a different Marriott week, you'll need to go through them using DC points. We'll see...

At this stage, I am more likely to dump both my Marbella (in DC points) and Kauai weeks than buy more points. With the strong dollar, lots of available timeshare rentals, AirBnB homes and apartments, etc, I'm getting tired of developers coming up with new products to screw with current owners. Both Starwood and Marriott sold timeshares with the promise of a system preference in Interval. Now they say there won't be any weeks deposited in Interval? :annoyed: I'm glad I bought where we like to vacation.