Shell to Wyndham Conversion Experience

[roy817]

I purchased into Shell Vacations club about 15 years ago. I was in Kauai staying at a Marriott and the Beachboy was having an open house. They provided a kicker for deep discounts for Kauai events. So I went to the presentation, listened to all the lies the salespeople were spouting off and gladly signed my name on the bottom line. To be honest, it wasn’t a lot of money to me and I paid it all off the next month. I was actually happy using the Shell accommodations and felt I was saving money and I’d be ahead of the game after 5 or 6 years. Then a few years later, I saw a sale on ebay for some points at the same home club I was in for zero dollars. Wow! What a deal. I scooped it up since with those extra points, I would have enough for 2 weeks at all the Shell properties. Welcome to the world of resale *bleep*ery! I’ve had to be constantly reminded every time I went for an “update” to get my $100 gift card that the resale didn’t count for extras. That was okay. I still got the $100. Then one day, I found out the Wyndham was buying Shell. I was now inundated with the constant, Shell was going broke, you won’t be able to make reservations, blah, blah, blah, lies to get my $100. I was still happy with Shell, and I figured I was way ahead, even with Shell, now Wyndham acting like the airlines and taking away the little perks that were free like the mid week cleaning. I actually wanted to convert my points to Wyndham since they have resorts in Maui and Shell didn’t. So along with the annual lies, I’d ask about converting since I read here once that Wyndham would do a conversion for around $2500. “Oh no, that’s not available, but if you buy some Wyndham points we’ll convert you at 40 to one”. Not interested, where’s my $100? Took a trip Vegas and stayed at the Desert Rose a couple of months ago. Got invited to an update for $150. I’ve never passed up the opportunity to get a gift card so I went. This time, they had a new angle. “All of your Shell points will convert and apply to VIP Bronze status, if you buy 64,000 Wyndham points”. Since I wanted to convert anyways, not having to put up with the resale *bleep*ery and getting back the mid-week cleaning and the other tiny perks seemed worthwhile for me. Plus they gave me another incentive of 64,000 points good for 2 years. So I gave them my credit card, signed the contract which clearly shows that my Shell points, all of them, plus the 64,000 new Wyndham points qualify me as VIP Bronze. Kool, right? Then I get an email from my “Conversion representative”. WHAT? She tells me that the VIP Bronze is only for 2 years based on my Shell developer points, plus the 64,000 new points, plus the bonus points good for 2 years add up to VIP Bronze, but only for 2 years. I remind her of the contract that shows all my Shell points plus the 64,000 new points are what qualifies me as VIP Bronze. It’s all there with the addition and the asterisks. She’s not budging. She wants to know what I want to do. What I want is for Wyndham to honor the contract. My question, if anyone here has taken the time to read my long missive is, what options do I have?

 

[raygo123]

You have in writing all points? And the total amount of points converted shows the number of points you own? And the total number of Wyndham points now owned shows the points previously owned and the new contract shows enough for bronze? Under one contract number? Well I would say hold out as long as possible for the best deal. Or resind. also dog through it and see if WYNDHAM has final say whether or not to accept it.

Sent from my T618 using Tapatalk

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

Are you still in your rescission period?

 

[roy817]

Are you still in your rescission period?

Nevada is five days. I bought in Feb.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Wow, I would be very unhappy with Wyndham over this lie by the salesperson. Of course, Wyndham doesn't stand by anything the salespeople say, like the salespeople are not even Wyndham but some outside agency that runs the presentations for them. Might as well be.

First, paragraphs would help. My eyes aren't what they used to be, even with glasses.

Second, how many points did you own in the Hawaii Club (we own West Club)? What amount of points did you get total in the conversion? How much did you pay for it?

Third, Wyndham should still be doing a mid-week tidy, I believe. Maybe I am wrong. We stayed in Bonnet Creek in January. I think they came in mid-week to pick up towels. I cannot remember because it's something we do not expect anymore because Marriott stopped doing it. They will do it for a fee. Properties in Hawaii still mostly do a mid-week tidy to keep the resorts clean.

Fourth, Wyndham doesn't have anything on Maui, except a few that WorldMark has: one in Kihei and WorldMark has Valley Isle in West Maui Valley Isle apparently is no longer going to be a timeshare. I don't know who actually owns the building, but VI/ WorldMark both had control of units in the building, but both companies are aware of the beach erosion at Valley Isle, threatening the stability of the foundation, unless something is done. I don't think either company wants to deal with those issues.

What I am telling you is that WorldMark owners grab inventory at Kihei, Maui, resort at exactly 13 months out. You cannot get it as a Wyndham owner.

 

[roy817]

Wow, I would be very unhappy with Wyndham over this lie by the salesperson. Of course, Wyndham doesn't stand by anything the salespeople say, like the salespeople are not even Wyndham but some outside agency that runs the presentations for them. Might as well be.

First, paragraphs would help. My eyes aren't what they used to be, even with glasses.

Second, how many points did you own in the Hawaii Club (we own West Club)? What amount of points did you get total in the conversion? How much did you pay for it?

Third, Wyndham should still be doing a mid-week tidy, I believe. Maybe I am wrong. We stayed in Bonnet Creek in January. I think they came in mid-week to pick up towels. I cannot remember because it's something we do not expect anymore because Marriott stopped doing it. They will do it for a fee. Properties in Hawaii still mostly do a mid-week tidy to keep the resorts clean.

Fourth, Wyndham doesn't have anything on Maui, except a few that WorldMark has one in Kihei and WorldMark has Valley Isle in West Maui Valley Isle apparently is no longer going to be a timeshare. I don't know who actually owns the building, but VI/ WorldMark both had control of units in the building, but both companies are aware of the beach erosion at Valley Isle, threatening the stability of the foundation, unless something is done. I don't think either company wants to deal with those issues.

What I am telling you is that WorldMark owners grab inventory at Kihei, Maui, resort at exactly 13 months out. You cannot get it as a Wyndham owner.

I'm in the West club as well. 4550 Dev, 2500 resale. Points convert at 40 to 1, so 282k. With the 64k, it adds to 346k. Says right on my contract that these are the points valid for VIP Bronze. I know the VIP Bronze status is like nothing, but it means something to me just like being a million miler means something to me. Bummer about what you said about Maui.

 

[zentraveler]

First, paragraphs would help.

roy817, I second this. Very long paragraphs with no paragraph breaks are really hard to read.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I'm in the West club as well. 4550 Dev, 2500 resale. Points convert at 40 to 1, so 282k. With the 64k, it adds to 346k. Says right on my contract that these are the points valid for VIP Bronze. I know the VIP Bronze status is like nothing, but it means something to me just like being a million miler means something to me. Bummer about what you said about Maui.

I have this dream of Wyndham taking over the Soleil-managed resorts on Maui to make it affordable for us to stay on Maui in our home resort of Hono Koa. I wish I had an "in" with Michael Brown. I would ask him to look into acquiring everything Soleil. They could sell off the crappy resorts and keep the best ones.

Our fees are approaching that $3,000 mark for a 2 bedroom. It's oceanfront but we believe there is a lot of bad debt, and RCI has full weeks for rent around $1,000-1,300 per week at Hono Koa.

Wyndham has a sales force they could put into place easily on Maui, they had one years ago on Maui, and I believe more people would buy, if Maui was an option for owners.

 

[roy817]

Well, it's being escalated. They said I would hear something in a week.

 

[JohnPaul]

Last time we were in SF they got us to a presentation (we make good use of the bribes) and told us they were no longer converting the "few" remaining Shell owners. We had a nice chat for awhile and she wanted to be sure we had the info to give back our points when we didn't want them any more.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Last time we were in SF they got us to a presentation (we make good use of the bribes) and told us they were no longer converting the "few" remaining Shell owners. We had a nice chat for awhile and she wanted to be sure we had the info to give back our points when we didn't want them any more.

The website is barely working for me. I remember when I used to be able to go to the website and add a guest name. Now I have to call to add a guest name. Even doing that, Shell's changing the name in their system doesn't change the name at the front desk. Shell employees have commented many times that the two systems do not work with one another.

I have a number to call to deedback our Shell, but I am unsure they will do it for us, since Wyndham has been less than cooperative over the last few months as we give away our unneeded Wyndham contracts because they won't take those back.

I used to have no problem getting Little Sweden, now there is no availability for the entire year. That alone is reason to suspect Wyndham is taking inventory, since I did see inventory in Wyndham for Little Sweden.

I am hoping Wyndham will allow us to exit Shell. In the end, if Wyndham doesn't take back our Shell, we may have to discuss other options to exit all of Wyndham.

 

[JohnPaul]

I just did a test booking for Little Sweden in September saying I was flexible with dates and room types and got a ton of options.

I had an issue with banking my points and had to call and work w a supervisor but it still seems way less problematic than the Worldmark website.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I just did a test booking for Little Sweden in September saying I was flexible with dates and room types and got a ton of options.

I had an issue with banking my points and had to call and work w a supervisor but it still seems way less problematic than the Worldmark website.

I see that now, and I told someone that offered to take my Shell that I couldn't get Little Sweden anymore. That was January, and nothing was showing at all for Little Sweden, not in any week. Go figure!

 

[roy817]

Thought I'd close this out. Wyndham refunded my money. Took about 4 months, but I got it all back.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Thought I'd close this out. Wyndham refunded my money. Took about 4 months, but I got it all back.

Good for you!