Steamboat Springs Room Downgrade

[John_and_Val]

Anyone happen to be at Steamboat Springs?????

I managed (after hours of relentless "hunting") to get a 2 bedroom Presidential for 1/2 the points of a 1 bedroom, for 11 nights. It is next week.

Well yesterday a got a phone call from the manager at Steamboat saying they will not be able to accommodate my reservation because of "water damage". They said they will give me a 2 bedroom deluxe......

Sucks....

Any suggestions.....for some reason I just don't believe this guy.
How should I play this?

 

[spackler]

Tell him this exact scenario has happened before, and the previous manager even sent pictures to show the extent of the damage.

Then kindly ask for some pictures for comparison.

 

[CO skier]

How should I play this?

Perhaps be grateful you are getting a 2 bedroom of any kind for half the points of a 1 bedroom during the height of ski season at one of the best ski resorts anywhere, maybe? The units at Wyndham Steamboat Springs are very nice.

eta: Since you will be there for 11 days, you could ask to transfer to the Presidential unit when the "water damage" repairs are completed.

 

[John_and_Val]

I know it is a great place.....I have been there before. In regards to the points, well I put the time and effort to get it at that discounted rate.

Just don't see a water damaged room taking this long to fix.....

 

[CO skier]

Looking at the unit information for Steamboat Springs, the 2 BR Presidential units have 200-300 more square footage, but that is about the only difference.

Maybe the appliances in the Presidential are a bit more upscale. It doesn't seem to be that big of a deal.

 

[Passepartout]

Tell the MGR, "Gee, thanks for telling me. I sure don't want to go into a damaged unit, but since we already have it booked (Here's the confirmation), and we'll be onsite, we'll be able to move into it as soon as it's repaired, Right???"

Shame him into letting you have what you booked.

Jim

 

[am1]

Do not expect much from Wyndham. Ask them if they have a model and if so that you would be okay in that unit, after they make it liveable. That is what a company should do if they want people to spend of 10's of thousands of dollars on a timeshare.

 

[CO skier]

Shame him into letting you have what you booked.

You would have a point if the unit had been reserved at full price. This 2 BR Presidential was not booked at full price, or even half price; it was booked at half price of a regular 1 BR unit. If they had been offered a 1 BR Deluxe or even just a 1 BR unit, they would have been ahead.

I mean, really, let's be reasonable about this.

 

[am1]

You would have a point if the unit had been reserved at full price. This 2 BR Presidential was not booked at full price, or even half price; it was booked at half price of a regular 1 BR unit. If they had been offered a 1 BR Deluxe or even just a 1 BR unit, they would have been ahead.

I mean, really, let's be reasonable about this.

That unit was booked by spending a lot of money buying the timeshare.

 

[CO skier]

Just so anyone reading this who is not familiar with Wyndham, here are some of the point values for a full week stay during Prime ski season at Wyndham Steamboat Springs to put this whole discussion in perspective:

1 bedroom - 180,400

1 br Deluxe - 189,000

2 bedroom - 229,600

2 br Deluxe - 231,000

2 br Presidential - 300,000


So, for a full week, the OP is spending 90,200 points to stay in a unit worth 231,000 points instead of a unit worth 300,000 points. But the OP is staying 4 days beyond a week, so the differential -- 90K vs. 231K -- is even greater.

I wish I had such beneficial outcomes to complain about.

 

[CO skier]

That unit was booked by spending a lot of money buying the timeshare.

Yes, and I am sure that soon we will hear from those who think because they are driving a Ferrari, speed limits should not apply to them.

 

[Passepartout]

Yes, and I am sure that soon we will hear from those who think because they are driving a Ferrari, speed limits should not apply to them.

Ferrari, Schmerrari. For decades I drove $200,000 Peterbilts and Freightliners, with $millions in cargo inside them and paid as much as a quarter a mile in taxes. Speed limits, what speed limits? (Just kidding )

 

[Sloane S]

Yes, and I am sure that soon we will hear from those who think because they are driving a Ferrari, speed limits should not apply to them.

Are you actually arguing that he should be happy to take any unit offered rather than what he is confirmed into because he obtained a specific type unit for a discounted point amount by using a method advocated by several sales people that work for Wyndham, and that Wyndham's reservations system allowed to be booked? I would also note that this is not some type of isolated "mistake" booking, but rather a long standing and well known method.

The speed limit is a rather poor analogy, as he did not break any published Wyndham rules, unlike breaking a posted speed limit.

 

[CO skier]

Are you actually arguing that he should be happy to take any unit offered rather than what he is confirmed into because he obtained a specific type unit for a discounted point amount by using a method advocated by several sales people that work for Wyndham, and that Wyndham's reservations system allowed to be booked? I would also note that this is not some type of isolated "mistake" booking, but rather a long standing and well known method.

The speed limit is a rather poor analogy, as he did not break any published Wyndham rules, unlike breaking a posted speed limit.

I cannot speak for Passepartout, but what you write is exactly my point. The OP should have no reason to complain if what they are offered as a replacement for a "water damaged" room is equal to or greater than what they paid. This does not happen just in timeshares.

I booked an upgrade on a cross country flight out of Philadelphia using points. The day of departure, I was bumped back to economy and the points refunded -- no explanation, not even water damage seats in first class. I could see that first class was full, so maybe someone showed up willing to pay full price for first class, or maybe there was some legitimate reason to bump me.

I did not dwell on it, because there was that one time that I volunteered to stay overnight from an overbooked flight, and in addition to the generous flight coupons, both my flights the next day had me upgraded to first class, and it just happened to be my birthday, too (not sure which got me the upgrades -- did not ask, did not complain). Then there was another cross country flight (in first class) where the steward recognized my appreciation for fine wines. As I departed the flight in San Francisco, he offered me a bottle of the chardonnay I had enjoy while flying across the country to take home.

So, I focus on the positive moments and ignore the negative. This works well for moving through the rest of my life, too.

 

[CO skier]

The speed limit is a rather poor analogy, as he did not break any published Wyndham rules, unlike breaking a posted speed limit.

Please, what the OP did is a well know loophole that technically "evades" the published rules.

It should be noted at this point that in Club Wyndham's sister company, WorldMark, a loophole that had been promoted by the sales force for more than a decade, and was well known, was closed on January 1.

Loopholes work until they don't.

 

[davidvel]

[...]
Well yesterday a got a phone call from the manager at Steamboat saying they will not be able to accommodate my reservation because of "water damage". They said they will give me a 2 bedroom deluxe......

Sucks....

Any suggestions.....for some reason I just don't believe this guy.
How should I play this?

Since you think its fishy, be sure to ask to see the Presidential Suite that is damaged and the repairs they are doing when you get there. (Does anyone know how many of this room type there are there?)

A confirmed reservation at any price or points should get you what you booked. Not sure why people are against this basic principle.

 

[CO skier]

A confirmed reservation at any price or points should get you what you booked. Not sure why people are against this basic principle.

Speaking only for myself, it is because it was not booked at anywhere near full price.

You know, it really could be a water damaged room.

I will be in Steamboat Springs this Saturday on the WorldMark side and will inquire to the extent possible.

 

[davidvel]

Speaking only for myself, it is because it was not booked at anywhere near full price.

You know, it really could be a water damaged room.

I will be in Steamboat Springs this Saturday on the WorldMark side and will inquire to the extent possible.

So if you get a greatly discounted (not error) airfare in First Class that is confirmed and you pay for it you should get coach? If you pay for (at a great rate) a 4WD rental in a ski town they should be able to give you a Ford focus? If you get a 2 for 1 coupon to Ruth Chris they can serve you a burger instead of a steak?

Sorry, I just don't get it.

Yes if the room is simply unavailable because its damaged (not that they sold it to someone else for more revenue), I get it. Even then the customer should get some compensation for the difference in value of room (not price paid).

 

[CO skier]

Sorry, I just don't get it.

Yes, you just don't get it. But it is Wyndham, and it involves a loophole, and it is complicated. It is not your fault for not getting it.

 

[sandkastle4966]

Soooo.......I was actually at steamboat when there was a water break and a room got flooded. It was literally raining in the room. It was an all out effort just to stop the water. How much damage? No idea, but I am pretty sure all the carpet needed to be replaced.

I would ask the suite number and the progress on the repairs and if you can move when its done.

(I would also visit the suite to confirm it was empty. If not, I would ask for an explanation from management.)

 

[JuntaParty]

This is a little off topic (and feel free to direct me to where this information exists), but we're new to some of the Wyndham process. This 'well known loophole' you speak of - can you elaborate on what that is/looks like?

 

[Cheryl20772]

This is a little off topic (and feel free to direct me to where this information exists), but we're new to some of the Wyndham process. This 'well known loophole' you speak of - can you elaborate on what that is/looks like?

I believe they are referring to the free unit upgrade given to VIP owners These owners have paid 10's to 100's of dollars for this perk. The operating word is "available unit". At high demand times, there's no free upgrade because no available unit. The loophole is to reserve 2 units - a studio plus the desired larger unit. Then, in the upgrade window, cancel the larger unit and quick grab it back as an available upgrade for the studio. Problem is this is a gamble. Occasionally the larger unit won't reappear in the available inventory. Some Wyndham sales reps teach this technique in their presentations. So Wyndham knows about it- 'cancel rebook'.

I would be pretty sad too if l had managed to work the system for that presidential deal only to have it fall through. But I think the OP was given a fair enough alternative.

 

[Sloane S]

Please, what the OP did is a well know loophole that technically "evades" the published rules.

It should be noted at this point that in Club Wyndham's sister company, WorldMark, a loophole that had been promoted by the sales force for more than a decade, and was well known, was closed on January 1.

Loopholes work until they don't.

Maybe I missed it, but I also never saw it mentioned that the OP used the particular "loophole" either.

Speaking only for myself, it is because it was not booked at anywhere near full price.

Do you ever buy a product on sale, only to be told after you left the store that they won't actually honor the sale price? Do you just say "OK" and give them more money?

 

[tschwa2]

Even then the customer should get some compensation for the difference in value of room (not price paid).

To me it would be like a situation where a platinum flyer gets an upgrade to First class two days prior to the flight. For various reason on the day of flight, one first class seat isn't available.

It just so happens that everyone else paid full fair for their first class seats. The platinum member who is bumped back down is never going to get the cash difference between his seat and first class. He will get points-maybe enough to upgrade him to first without having to wait until the two day window, an exit row seat and a free alcoholic beverage if available on that flight.

If I were the OP I would ask for points compensation at least the difference between the 2 bedroom deluxe and the two bedroom presidential for the affected nights.

 

[John_and_Val]

CO Skier - didn't mean to upset you on this conversation, but I might as well tell you how I acquired Platinum Membership.

I bought 500K and my father bought 500K - two separate accounts......had his name on my deed and then had both accounts merged for Platinum Status
Still paid a lot of $$$ but I enjoy the little perks and 50% discounts. My wife and I ALWAYS book within 60 days and Always play the cancel rebook game.

If we get it we go - if not we stay. Just happens that Steamboat was a special occasion and was excited about the Pres. Suite.

These "loop holes" exist and there is ABSOLUTELY nothing wrong with taking advantage of it.

All I wanted to know is if there actually was a water damaged section of building 5 (mountain view). Sounds like you are going to be a sport and check it out for me.

Thanks