Purchasing points direct?

[Zac495]

I spoke to my salesman last night (he called after I wrote to him complaining about the change in the system). He insisted that no one can buy points direct UNLESS they are going towards a package. He said you can't buy points and save them. He said if you already had (for instance) 150K and needed 100K more to buy the package (the old one), you could pay for the 100K and buy the package.

Is this true or can you buy 50K per year per person/account and let them accumulate?

He also went on and on about how people using the 7 day package were 3.5% of those using their points and that the new system is so good blah blah. I stopped listening.

 

[jerseygirl]

You might want to send him this link:

https://buy.points.com/marriott/init.do;jsessionid=980C8753C62099FEECDE51A98B4DA6CB?method=buy

Members can buy 50K points per year for $625.

 

[KathyPet]

Then I must be imagining the charge on my Marriott VISA for the 50,000 points that I bought last month. If I send him my bill will he make the charge go away?

 

[LAX Mom]

You can definitely purchase points (50,000) per year without getting an award at the same time!!

However, I think several years ago there was that restriction, you could only purchase the amount you needed to get the award you wanted. Then for awhile you could purchase unlimited points for $.01 each.

It really bugs me when salesmen tell me things that I know aren't true!

 

[lll1929]

I hope they have some EOY sales. Last year, you could buy Marriott gift cards at a discounted price. I wish they would offer points for a discounted price. That would make me and others really happy!!

 

[Zac495]

I emailed him and told him I was really bugged by his either ignorance or lies. I'll see what he says. I probably enraged him.

 

[Zac495]

his response

Ellen,
I did some more research for you, and you are correct and I am wrong. I apologize. Apparently this was just changed last year. I was correct because that used to be the policy, but apparently no one in management shared that change with us last year. It wasn’t intentional or ignorance. I try to know as much about my program as I possibly can so I can communicate effectively with owners. I can admit when I am wrong, and there I no excuse for me not knowing that. That is one that got by me.
I am sorry for your frustration and I wish there is something I can do to make you happy. However, Marriott has the ability to make changes to their program whenever they want. They don’t ask for my opinion or yours. We can either roll with the changes or let it get the best of us. I will choose to roll with the changes. I guess one change every 25 years is not so bad.

 

[LAX Mom]

Ellen-
He's correct that it used to be their policy, only allowing purchase of points to top off a points redemption. I recall that situation when redeeming points. However, it's been a couple of years since they changed, I have no idea how long.

Oh well, at least he acknowledged his error and apologized.

 

[Latravel]

True. There's a difference in my mind if he was trying to purposely mislead you vs. he really didn't know. Still, he should have known!