Shouldn’t the “skim” be a dead issue now?

[klpca]

Perhaps that the reason that some legacy owners are worried is because that is what they hear in the "owner updates". You know, when they tell you that you won't be able to get a trade via Interval so you need to convert/add points to get an exchange via the point system. We all know that it really hasn't happened that way, but that was definitely the message that had been given to us at owner updates. That sales pitch is based upon fear. I heard it first hand three times in a row. My response to that sales pitch was that I would consider a change if my trading opportunities in Interval dried up, but the only meaningful (to me) change that seemed to happen was that I stopped seeing a lot of larger units available for instant exchange. Even though I liked it, it never felt fair to me, so I understood that change. If it was driven by the addition of a point system, or merely the fact that tourism in general is up, I don't know.

Everyone is different and will have different thoughts about things. Timesharing is definitely not a one-size-fits all experience. I don't have a horse in this race anymore though. Just offering my 2 cents.

 

[Dean]

Perhaps that the reason that some legacy owners are worried is because that is what they hear in the "owner updates". You know, when they tell you that you won't be able to get a trade via Interval so you need to convert/add points to get an exchange via the point system. We all know that it really hasn't happened that way, but that was definitely the message that had been given to us at owner updates. That sales pitch is based upon fear. I heard it first hand three times in a row. My response to that sales pitch was that I would consider a change if my trading opportunities in Interval dried up, but the only meaningful (to me) change that seemed to happen was that I stopped seeing a lot of larger units available for instant exchange. Even though I liked it, it never felt fair to me, so I understood that change. If it was driven by the addition of a point system, or merely the fact that tourism in general is up, I don't know.

Everyone is different and will have different thoughts things. Timesharing is definitely not a one-size-fits all experience. I don't have a horse in this race anymore though. Just offering my 2 cents.

That's why I was careful to state what was contractual guaranteed. Things change over time. Anyone remember the goings on when horizon's was folded in to MVC.

 

[JIMinNC]

I agree with Swice that what may seem "reasonable" to one person may not seem "reasonable" to another person

As I've said previously, the skim doesn't bother me because 1.) I haven't really lost anything, 2.) I understand why the system was designed the way it was, and 3.) I have no power to change it even if I wanted to. But I also recognize that the skim really hacks some people off, and I don't intend for my lack of concern for the issue to in any way to diminish or minimize other people's issues with the way MVC does things. I can't speak for those folks specifically, but maybe they just put more weight on the perceived fairness of the system than I do. Maybe I'm just more willing to accept a business's decision on how they want to structure their program in a profitable way. Neither of us are right or wrong, we just weight different issues in different ways as we evaluate whether we like/agree with something or not. As a result, what seems reasonable to me from my "profit-focused" perspective may seem totally unreasonable to someone who looks at the same facts from a "fairness-focused" perspective. I can certainly see how someone could see something like the skim as being not really fair, even if it doesn't actually take anything away that they once had. The skim DOES take something away that they COULD have, if the program wasn't structured the way that it is.

 

[Dean]

I agree with Swice that what may seem "reasonable" to one person may not seem "reasonable" to another person

As I've said previously, the skim doesn't bother me because 1.) I haven't really lost anything, 2.) I understand why the system was designed the way it was, and 3.) I have no power to change it even if I wanted to. But I also recognize that the skim really hacks some people off, and I don't intend for my lack of concern for the issue to in any way to diminish or minimize other people's issues with the way MVC does things. I can't speak for those folks specifically, but maybe they just put more weight on the perceived fairness of the system than I do. Maybe I'm just more willing to accept a business's decision on how they want to structure their program in a profitable way. Neither of us are right or wrong, we just weight different issues in different ways as we evaluate whether we like/agree with something or not. As a result, what seems reasonable to me from my "profit-focused" perspective may seem totally unreasonable to someone who looks at the same facts from a "fairness-focused" perspective. I can certainly see how someone could see something like the skim as being not really fair, even if it doesn't actually take anything away that they once had. The skim DOES take something away that they COULD have, if the program wasn't structured the way that it is.

We all knew or should have known going in that exchanging wasn't guaranteed. IF we own weeks, we can use weeks and it doesn't appear that there will be much or any difference in availability. Sales are what they are, they will manipulate the current situation to make it sound like you need to buy something. From what I can see no one has lost anything they had before. True the system might not match what they think it should be, it doesn't for me, but every single change or variation has plusses and minutes. One thing I've learned in timeshares is that changes happen and often not for the better.

 

[bobpark56]

BonVoy has nothing to do with any integration between MVC and Vistana. Bonvoy is the Marriott hotel loyalty program and that has already been consolidated between the legacy Marriott and former Starwood brands. Its a totally different program, run for a different purpose, by a totally different company.

Point noted.(I knew that, I think!)

 

[SueDonJ]

From the minute "skim" was mentioned on TUG back in the VERY early days of the DC I considered it in the same vein that I'd always considered the "skim" my particular Weeks suffered in II. And between the two the DC Points value for my particular Weeks and their intended usage gave me more exchange value than I'd ever gotten from II, so that was one point (among others) in favor of enrolling my Weeks AND converting them to DC Points occasionally.

I completely understand why others are jazzed about the DC system's "skim" but I think it's important to note that for some Weeks (3BR non-lockoff / high-season / premium-view) there really has never been equal exchange value in II. That's not a knock on II but simply an acknowledgement that (1) very few 3BR units are deposited for exchange and (2) view categories cannot be booked in II. Believe it or not the DC allows some of us to overcome those II shortcomings while suffering less from skim.