Should I join RCI for 30 Trading Power

[pmdpmk3]

I have points in travelsmart that expire end of year I can transfer over (get 30 in trading power) for $250 +$99 RCI membership. I don't know much about RCI but I'll have 30 Trading power and it will cost me $350 to get set up. Is it worth it to join as is there a fee to use the trading powers and when you use them is there resort fees or booking fees? I called RCI but they don't give me a straight answer since I'm not a member and I don't even know how much availability is in the states and what I would be able to book so hard to jump into it for $350 and I might never use it.
What is the estimated value of 30 trading points? Can you buy more or sell trading points?

 

[Grammarhero]

I have points in travelsmart that expire end of year I can transfer over (get 30 in trading power) for $250 +$99 RCI membership. I don't know much about RCI but I'll have 30 Trading power and it will cost me $350 to get set up. Is it worth it to join as is there a fee to use the trading powers and when you use them is there resort fees or booking fees? I called RCI but they don't give me a straight answer since I'm not a member and I don't even know how much availability is in the states and what I would be able to book so hard to jump into it for $350 and I might never use it.
What is the estimated value of 30 trading points? Can you buy more or sell trading points?

I say no. You really have to learn how to use RCI. It’s a major learning curve. Plus, I don’t think you’d get the total 30. Since it’s so close to the end of the year, you might get 15.

 

[rapmarks]

If you did get 30, you could get a nice trade along the gulf coast of Florida except for the most prime months, and something along the east coast too by putting in an ongoing search. The trade would cost an additional $239. You also could probably grab a bonus week but not in prime location in prime season.

 

[Grammarhero]

There’s no guarantee that you will receive 30 TPU. You can receive as low as 14, given its close to the end of the year. For my 26 TPU, if I deposit at the do use year, I’d only get 12.

 

[bnoble]

Do you have extra vacation time you can take that you don't have a good use for right now? If you are letting points expire, chances are good that you will have more timeshare assets for the next few years than you can possibly use. In that case, it doesn't make sense to pay more money to have even more timeshare assets.

On the other hand, if you imagine wanting to take more vacation than you currently have assets for, this might be a way to extend some and turn them into something useful.

 

[pmdpmk3]

I was told I'd get 30 points then if I join RCI good for a year (I could also buy 2 year membership for $189). I probably could use them during week in summer if they have availability in Maine, Alaska or somewhere like that. I just don't know availibility using trading power but heard it's better then weeks or points so it may work out. I'll have to look into it more

 

[pmdpmk3]

If you did get 30, you could get a nice trade along the gulf coast of Florida except for the most prime months, and something along the east coast too by putting in an ongoing search. The trade would cost an additional $239. You also could probably grab a bonus week but not in prime location in prime season.

When you mean trade do you mean a booking fee to use 30 trading power units? As the transfer from my time share to trading power costs $250 so I'm not sure what $239 is

 

[Synergy]

Assuming you actually get the full 30tpu by paying $350, that's a pretty good cost for TPU. In order to use any of those TPU, you'll have to pay a $239 exchange fee on each booking. If you find a week you're interested in that's 14tpu, it'll cost you an extra $239 to book that week. You'd have 16tpu left to book additional weeks, but each week you book will incur that $239 fee. If you used it all on one week, you'd only pay a single $239 exchange fee.

 

[Eric B]

There’s no guarantee that you will receive 30 TPU. You can receive as low as 14, given its close to the end of the year. For my 26 TPU, if I deposit at the do use year, I’d only get 12.

@Grammarhero, RCI has a program that allows for restoration of trading power that is lost due to a late deposit. The fee for it is currently $69. Worth knowing about it as it would get you the 14 TPU for $69 if you're ever in that situation; helpful when you take over a TS with a soon-to-expire week that hasn't been deposited.

RCI Deposit Restore SM Guidelines

1.1. RCI Weeks Members who deposit a Week less than 271 days before the start date of such Week may receive a lower Deposit Trading Power for such Week in accordance with Trading Power Adjustment Schedule. The RCI Deposit Restore product allows RCI Weeks Members to deposit a Week less than 271 days before the start date of such Week (but at least 15 days prior to the start date of such Week) and receive the full Deposit Trading Power for such Week by purchasing the optional RCI Deposit Restore at the time of deposit. RCI Weeks Members whose Weeks are deposited by their resort and who wish to avail themselves of this option must purchase the RCI Deposit Restore product before the end of the next Business Day after receiving notice that the Week has been deposited by the resort into the member’s RCI account.

1.2. In order for an RCI Weeks Member to be eligible for the RCI Deposit Restore benefit, the applicable Weeks Membership must be current and paid in full at the time the RCI Deposit Restore benefit is requested.

1.3. Deposit Restore may be cancelled for a refund before the close of the next Business Day after the date of purchase. Upon cancellation of Deposit Restore the Deposit for which the Deposit Restore product was purchased will receive a Deposit Trading Power based on the date of the Deposit in accordance with the Trading Power Adjustment Schedule.

1.4. RCI in its sole discretion may waive or modify certain of these guidelines for RCI Members who are Platinum Members. Please see the RCI Platinum Membership Tier Rules for additional details.