PIC Plus conversion fees increasing effective 9/11/2024 (really?)

[HitchHiker71]

To anyone who uses PIC Plus and actually converts their weeks into Wyndham points:

Couple of initial thoughts for my part. One, Wyndham just increased these fees last year (2023) from $89 to $165, and now up to $226 - all within two years. Two, 9/11? Really? That date doesn't seem like a good date to announce more fee increases given it's importance here in the U.S.A. Just saying.

 

[Floridaman76]

That plus having to pay the program fee is making this much less attractive

 

[Sandy VDH]

I have them, just to gain VIPP, but I never actually convert them to points.

HICV has something called Global Choice, you can opt to annually, deposit any straight up weeks resorts in RCI and you can for $75 fee convert that RCI week deposit into HICV points. Don't have to purchase to do it, can decide when and if you convert deposit into points. Better deal than Wyndham at $229 a week.

 

[jhoug]

Wow! I was already upset when I found out about the $165 when I PIC’d this year. I never got any of the notices.

 

[HitchHiker71]

I have them, just to gain VIPP, but I never actually convert them to points.

HICV has something called Global Choice, you can opt to annually, deposit any straight up weeks resorts in RCI and you can for $75 fee convert that RCI week deposit into HICV points. Don't have to purchase to do it, can decide when and if you convert deposit into points. Better deal than Wyndham at $229 a week.

That's a nice program on the part of HICV.

 

[dioxide45]

I have them, just to gain VIPP, but I never actually convert them to points.

HICV has something called Global Choice, you can opt to annually, deposit any straight up weeks resorts in RCI and you can for $75 fee convert that RCI week deposit into HICV points. Don't have to purchase to do it, can decide when and if you convert deposit into points. Better deal than Wyndham at $229 a week.

But you must have to own some amount of HICV points?

 

[Sandy VDH]

But you must have to own some amount of HICV points?

Yes at least 1 week. Which I have had via resale for over 2 decades, from a resort that HICV took over in Vegas. That resort have gone through 4 or 5 ownership changes, and a physical buyout and relocation by Harrah's.

 

[chapjim]

To anyone who uses PIC Plus and actually converts their weeks into Wyndham points:

View attachment 99113

Couple of initial thoughts for my part. One, Wyndham just increased these fees last year (2023) from $89 to $165, and now up to $226 - all within two years. Two, 9/11? Really? That date doesn't seem like a good date to announce more fee increases given it's importance here in the U.S.A. Just saying.

I'm hoping someone smarter than me can explain how increasing the transaction fee "ensure(s) the continued value of the PIC Plus program."

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

I'm hoping someone smarter than me can explain how increasing the transaction fee "ensure(s) the continued value of the PIC Plus program."

It certainly increases the value of the PIC plus program for T&L.

 

[pagosajim]

Are you booked into a Presidential Reserve suite?

According to Wyndham's website, Avon is entirely Presidential, not Presidential Reserve. They are not the same thing.

To anyone who uses PIC Plus and actually converts their weeks into Wyndham points:

View attachment 99113

Couple of initial thoughts for my part. One, Wyndham just increased these fees last year (2023) from $89 to $165, and now up to $226 - all within two years. Two, 9/11? Really? That date doesn't seem like a good date to announce more fee increases given it's importance here in the U.S.A. Just saying.

Thanks for the heads up on this one. I have a PIC deposit waiting in the wings that I guess I'll be calling on today in order to save $61 this year.

I haven't received the email (yet?).

 

[chapjim]

It certainly increases the value of the PIC plus program for T&L.

Ah! It's the value for them, not for us, that increases. Should've known!

 

[paxsarah]

I'm hoping someone smarter than me can explain how increasing the transaction fee "ensure(s) the continued value of the PIC Plus program."

Given the stories I've heard over the past months about it taking weeks for some owners to get their PIC points deposited into their account, maybe this will pay for the staffing to get it done as quickly as it used to be? (Which would not be a good look for Wyndham to come out and say directly, lol.)

 

[chapjim]

Given the stories I've heard over the past months about it taking weeks for some owners to get their PIC points deposited into their account, maybe this will pay for the staffing to get it done as quickly as it used to be? (Which would not be a good look for Wyndham to come out and say directly, lol.)

One can wish, I suppose.

Has the transfer fee increase led to shorter processing times?

 

[rickandcindy23]

I have 254,000 points available to me with Twin Rivers red weeks (look at the giveaway on TUG Free timeshares for a free week that Chelle is giving away), maintenance fees of $950 max + $226 + program fee. Not terrible, but I think I should PIC my 2026 weeks today for some savings. Not that I need more points, but I can use them in RCI.

205,000 points to exchange into Val Chatelle, the kids' favorite spot for skiing at Copper. I get some points back.

When using RCI Weeks, I have to use the full week at Twin Rivers to get Val Chatelle, or any Hilton 2 bed, so this is a great deal. So this is a better cost. Rick will laugh at me over this one, giving more money to Wyndham.

 

[Pink_Warrior]

So did PIC Express owners get this email as well since it very clearly states "Plus?" Or no because they don't or can't normally deposit? My guess is that they are trying to make it less appealing. Personally I have NO idea why PIC Express exists. And looking at RCI, there isn't much timeshare availability anyway. So this might be eliminating inventory in order to push their hotels.

 

[HitchHiker71]

So did PIC Express owners get this email as well since it very clearly states "Plus?"

Since PIC Express owners cannot convert to points, I wouldn't imagine this email was sent to PIC Express owners, but I cannot say for certain.

 

[TolmiePeak]

They are trying to sqeeze the last ounce of profit out of many of these programs before they collapse.

 

[rickandcindy23]

They are trying to sqeeze the last ounce of profit out of many of these programs before they collapse.

Why would PIC collapse? Have you heard something about it that leads you to believe this is going to happen.

 

[TolmiePeak]

Why would PIC collapse? Have you heard something about it that leads you to believe this is going to happen.

The timeshare industry is a dying one plus it has a terrible reputation. Their customer base is rapidly ageing and they aren't doing enough to react to changes in the industry. AirBnB is eating their lunch.

Only reason I'm here is I don't mind being a vulture and picking over the last few bits of meat from a carcass.

 

[dioxide45]

The timeshare industry is a dying one plus it has a terrible reputation. Their customer base is rapidly ageing and they aren't doing enough to react to changes in the industry. AirBnB is eating their lunch.

Only reason I'm here is I don't mind being a vulture and picking over the last few bits of meat from a carcass.

According to ARDA, half of all timeshare owners are millennials or younger. Peoples travel preferences change as they age. They want something more consistent and stable.

 

[pedro47]

Is it just my imagination everything under the Marriott umbrella the fees are increasing between 20 to 30% over last year fees ?

 

[Floridaman76]

The timeshare industry is a dying one plus it has a terrible reputation. Their customer base is rapidly ageing and they aren't doing enough to react to changes in the industry. AirBnB is eating their lunch.

Not so fast with AirBNB.

There has been considerable backlash to VRBO/AirBNB in the past few years. Many municipalities and HOA's have enacted laws restricting or in some cases outlawing them in residential areas.

Someone bought a single family home in my neighborhood directly across from my house in April of 2023 and it's been a nightmare. My county has a law against short term rentals (less than one week) and the owner has been cited multiple times. Also my HOA just voted to completely retrict them. If they continue, the HOA can initiate foreclosure proceedings against them.

So I'm not so sure that AirBNB is going to be around too much longer. These short term rentals destroy neighborhoods and contribute to skyrocketing housing prices. .

 

[TolmiePeak]

So I'm not so sure that AirBNB is going to be around too much longer. These short term rentals destroy neighborhoods and contribute to skyrocketing housing prices. .

A perfect time for one of the timeshare systems to come in and pounce and take over the short term house rental business.

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

Not so fast with AirBNB.

There has been considerable backlash to VRBO/AirBNB in the past few years. Many municipalities and HOA's have enacted laws restricting or in some cases outlawing them in residential areas.

Someone bought a single family home in my neighborhood directly across from my house in April of 2023 and it's been a nightmare. My county has a law against short term rentals (less than one week) and the owner has been cited multiple times. Also my HOA just voted to completely retrict them. If they continue, the HOA can initiate foreclosure proceedings against them.

So I'm not so sure that AirBNB is going to be around too much longer. These short term rentals destroy neighborhoods and contribute to skyrocketing housing prices. .

I agree that Airbnb is a cancer. It’s also caused real problems with the residential housing supply in this country.

 

[Floridaman76]

I agree that Airbnb is a cancer. It’s also caused real problems with the residential housing supply in this country.

It absolutely is, and having lived across from one for over a year, I think their days are numbered. The "guests" are noisy, rude, over-occupy the home, leave trash everywhere, park more cars than allowed on the driveway and street, have "other guests" over. Summer and spring break are the worst because college kids rent it out and throw parties.

The home in question is a 4 bedroom 3 bath house in the ~2300 sq ft range and i've seen as many as 4 vehicles there for the actual "guests", plus sometimes 3+ more cars for THEIR guests who just show up.

I've lived in my house for almost 20 years, the previous residents were a nice elderly couple so this was quite the change.

Obviously it's not EVERY guest that is like that, but it's more often than not we get people who treat our neighborhood like an ashtray and then disappear leaving the damage