Sticky - Official Wyndham website thread - updates/bugs/enhancements and requests posted here!

[HitchHiker71]

Agile is perfect for a cadre of beta testers that have no good choice for the level of service they get. For customers with choice, not so much.

Comments like this belay the simple fact that you don't understand the Agile methodology at all. It's superior to the old waterfall development methodology in every way, that's why, almost without exception, every software company uses variations on the Agile methodologies. Just because Wyndham does a bad job at software development, doesn't mean the myriad of other software development companies that use Agile do - which universally includes every major big tech software company on the planet - including the most competitive sectors in the modern global economy.

 

[HitchHiker71]

Another recent update as follows for the Club Wyndham website:

 

[comicbookman]

Comments like this belay the simple fact that you don't understand the Agile methodology at all. It's superior to the old waterfall development methodology in every way, that's why, almost without exception, every software company uses variations on the Agile methodologies. Just because Wyndham does a bad job at software development, doesn't mean the myriad of other software development companies that use Agile do - which universally includes every major big tech software company on the planet - including the most competitive sectors in the modern global economy.

Actually, thats kind of the point. In order to use an agile approach, you need to do a good job. Wyndham's history with the website was already terrible when they started this sprint. There was always a high likely hood that this would go poorly, and in fact it has. This is not a comment on the individuals in IT struggling to keep up, it is an indictment of Wyndham's corporate culture and lack of empathy for its member/users.

 

[Eric B]

Comments like this belay the simple fact that you don't understand the Agile methodology at all. It's superior to the old waterfall development methodology in every way, that's why, almost without exception, every software company uses variations on the Agile methodologies. Just because Wyndham does a bad job at software development, doesn't mean the myriad of other software development companies that use Agile do - which universally includes every major big tech software company on the planet - including the most competitive sectors in the modern global economy.

No they don’t.

Definition of BELAY

to secure (a rope or cable) by turns around a cleat, pin, or bitt; to make fast : to fasten down; stop, cancel… See the full definition

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[Eric B]

Comments like this belay the simple fact that you don't understand the Agile methodology at all. It's superior to the old waterfall development methodology in every way, that's why, almost without exception, every software company uses variations on the Agile methodologies. Just because Wyndham does a bad job at software development, doesn't mean the myriad of other software development companies that use Agile do - which universally includes every major big tech software company on the planet - including the most competitive sectors in the modern global economy.

Comments like this belie the fact that it’s important to select the correct words when criticizing someone for their opinion of Wyndham’s poor implementation of any IT methodology.

 

[HitchHiker71]

Comments like this belie the fact that it’s important to select the correct words when criticizing someone for their opinion of Wyndham’s poor implementation of any IT methodology.

Wordsmith all you want - my point stands. Nowhere in your comment did you explicitly state anything about Wyndham, you said and I quote:

Agile is perfect for a cadre of beta testers that have no good choice for the level of service they get. For customers with choice, not so much.

Show me, Mr Wordsmith, how this sentence structure or statement applies specifically to Wyndham. You said "Agile", not Wyndham's implementation or usage of the Agile methodology.

 

[HitchHiker71]

Actually, thats kind of the point. In order to use an agile approach, you need to do a good job. Wyndham's history with the website was already terrible when they started this sprint. There was always a high likely hood that this would go poorly, and in fact it has. This is not a comment on the individuals in IT struggling to keep up, it is an indictment of Wyndham's corporate culture and lack of empathy for its member/users.

No argument, as I already stated that Wyndham doesn't do a good job of using the Agile methodology, particularly as it relates to the inbuilt QA processes within the Agile framework. That said, using any methodology doesn't require doing a good job of it per se. Any methodology can be implemented badly in other words, whether Waterfall or Agile, or any other industry standard practice or process, doesn't really matter. Basically, any process can be implemented well or implemented badly. Wyndham has a history of not doing things like this very well, at least from an outside in viewpoint.

FWIW, I am a certified SAFe Agile Scrum Master and SAFe Agile Product Manager, and have run DevOps/CloudOps teams using SAFe Agile frameworks in the past, so I speak from real world experience having done this the right way (mostly) during my career travels.

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[geist1223]

When if ever will Wyndumb Corporate spend the money and acquire qualified resources for IT/IS? I ask this as a Worldmark Member that has had to suffer from their poor work.

 

[paxsarah]

I've noticed that the Club Wyndham mobile website lags behind the desktop website in updates. I first noticed this a few months ago when the "Resort News" section of the website was updated with the article "Your Resort Portfolio Is Getting a Refresh" (which was the only place Wyndham had publicly announced the resort closures), but the mobile website didn't link to that article in the Resort News section - and still doesn't.* Now I noticed it on the "Contact Us" page, where the owner care mailing address on the desktop website has been updated to the 501 W. Church Street address, while the owner care mailing address on the mobile contact page is still the old 6277 Sea Harbor Drive address.


*You can get to the actual article by googling the title, but it's just not linked from the Resort News page on the website (so how would someone find it if they didn't know it existed in the first place?).

 

[BoomerKwanger]

I don't know if this is a new bug or just an issue my account has been having, but I'm having trouble making a reservation using a combination of resale and developer points.

In the past, if a reservation costs 300k points and I only have 200k resale points, I've been able to supplement with 100k developer points.

Now when I try to book using the website, I just get an error that says "an unknown error has occurred". On the app, I also get an error, but it's slightly more descriptive: "There are insufficient benefits associated with this purchase type. Please select a purchase type with sufficient benefits."

Any insight on what might be happening would be appreciated!

 

[comicbookman]

I don't know if this is a new bug or just an issue my account has been having, but I'm having trouble making a reservation using a combination of resale and developer points.

In the past, if a reservation costs 300k points and I only have 200k resale points, I've been able to supplement with 100k developer points.

Now when I try to book using the website, I just get an error that says "an unknown error has occurred". On the app, I also get an error, but it's slightly more descriptive: "There are insufficient benefits associated with this purchase type. Please select a purchase type with sufficient benefits."

Any insight on what might be happening would be appreciated!

It is a newish bug. Wyndham is aware of it and it is supposedly in the air to be fixed. There is a thread about it here on tug. The bigger issue is the vc' s can't do it either, so calling in is useless as well

 

[paxsarah]

In case anyone is still grappling with any kind of bug or issue with the website, never fear! Wyndham's IT resources have been busy developing an interface to point us to potential availability for World Cup matches!

For funsies, CW Atlanta's availability for match dates (I can't check MVC Atlanta, though - maybe there's something there):

 

[Sandy VDH]

I still cant see ALL contracts I own. It says I have 7 but it will never fully show me all 7. What it does show me is variable every time you refresh the "My Ownership" screen.

I am trying to see what contract I ended up with CWA from my Glade conversion. But it never shows me that one contract.

 

[comicbookman]

I still cant see ALL contracts I own. It says I have 7 but it will never fully show me all 7. What it does show me is variable every time you refresh the "My Ownership" screen.

I am trying to see what contract I ended up with CWA from my Glade conversion. But it never shows me that one contract.

I had that issue for about 2 months, then it magically fixed itself.

 

[paxsarah]

New Extra Holidays skin just dropped:

But the link is only there if you're not logged in.

What would make even more sense (or maybe it would be very confusing) is if when you're logged in it links straight to Vacationshare. Or a dropdown that has both the Club Wyndham rentals and Vacationshare links.

 

[HitchHiker71]

Recent updates published:

 

[paxsarah]

@HitchHiker71 Is there any detail on what exactly they mean by the VIP Upgrade Optimization? I could guess or make some assumptions (e.g. the ongoing issues over visible units that don't automatically upgrade, or how automatic upgrades may interact with <60 day waitlists, etc.) but it's really vague, even by Wyndham standards.

 

[HitchHiker71]

@HitchHiker71 Is there any detail on what exactly they mean by the VIP Upgrade Optimization? I could guess or make some assumptions (e.g. the ongoing issues over visible units that don't automatically upgrade, or how automatic upgrades may interact with <60 day waitlists, etc.) but it's really vague, even by Wyndham standards.

Long story short - it impacts instant upgrades. Wyndham has wised up to the fact that many VIP owners were looking for cherry picked instant upgrades like going from a studio to a four bedroom unit - with no one actually using those additional rooms as they are intended (they know exactly how many people stay in the rooms because that data is shared during check-in - unless the owner lies of course).

So, VIP upgrade optimization means you'll only get a one bedroom size upgrade moving forward. So from a studio to a one bedroom, a one bedroom to a two bedroom, etc. They ran the numbers and actually realized they're losing money on the stay due to high housekeeping expenses because all rooms/beds have to be cleaned, even if they were not used. So, moving forward, if the updated code works right, you will no longer see those instant upgrades appear for much larger rooms - only one additional bedroom upsize will appear if available. If have a one bedroom and happen to see a three bedroom using a normal availability search - you'd have to cancel and rebook - booking a two bedroom (if available) and then selecting the three bedroom instant upgrade. You, and everyone else, get the idea I'm sure.

The Experience Calendar in the app is kinda cool actually - people should check it out - at least for those resorts that offer such things. This is v1 - there is intent to eventually allow owners to book those experiences through the app as well.

 

[comicbookman]

Long story short - it impacts instant upgrades. Wyndham has wised up to the fact that many VIP owners were looking for cherry picked instant upgrades like going from a studio to a four bedroom unit - with no one actually using those additional rooms as they are intended (they know exactly how many people stay in the rooms because that data is shared during check-in - unless the owner lies of course).

So, VIP upgrade optimization means you'll only get a one bedroom size upgrade moving forward. So from a studio to a one bedroom, a one bedroom to a two bedroom, etc. They ran the numbers and actually realized they're losing money on the stay due to high housekeeping expenses because all rooms/beds have to be cleaned, even if they were not used. So, moving forward, if the updated code works right, you will no longer see those instant upgrades appear for much larger rooms - only one additional bedroom upsize will appear if available. If have a one bedroom and happen to see a three bedroom using a normal availability search - you'd have to cancel and rebook - booking a two bedroom (if available) and then selecting the three bedroom instant upgrade. You, and everyone else, get the idea I'm sure.

The Experience Calendar in the app is kinda cool actually - people should check it out - at least for those resorts that offer such things. This is v1 - there is intent to eventually allow owners to book those experiences through the app as well.

Bummer, but inevitable, Is it based solely on size/no. of rooms or does it take presidential into account? so for example would a one bedroom upgrade to a 2 bedroom presidential if no other 2 bedroom was available?

 

[paxsarah]

So, VIP upgrade optimization means you'll only get a one bedroom size upgrade moving forward.

Ouch, so the “optimization” is from Wyndham’s perspective rather than the owner’s.

Although given the predilection towards saltiness about the waitlist extension, at least some of the blame among owners will go towards the waitlist and not a standalone intentional nerf by Wyndham.

 

[Eric B]

Ouch, so the “optimization” is from Wyndham’s perspective rather than the owner’s.

Although given the predilection towards saltiness about the waitlist extension, at least some of the blame among owners will go towards the waitlist and not a standalone intentional nerf by Wyndham.

Much as I hate to lean towards the Wyndham side, there could be a difference between the “owner’s perspective” and the “owners’ perspective”. I have in the past arranged to get a multi-room size upgrade by taking advantage of the Wyndham system delaying the return of cancelled inventory - I just had to keep booking and canceling 1 BR units until the only upgrade left was to a 2 BR Presidential unit I wanted for the cost of a discounted studio. I got what I wanted within the bounds of the rules and the implementation, but anyone looking for a 1 BR was hosed for a while. Hence my thought that setting things up that way was optimal for my owner’s perspective but suboptimal for the owners’ perspective.

Happy with the change as it seems fairer than the gameable approach they had in place before.

 

[HitchHiker71]

Much as I hate to lean towards the Wyndham side, there could be a difference between the “owner’s perspective” and the “owners’ perspective”. I have in the past arranged to get a multi-room size upgrade by taking advantage of the Wyndham system delaying the return of cancelled inventory - I just had to keep booking and canceling 1 BR units until the only upgrade left was to a 2 BR Presidential unit I wanted for the cost of a discounted studio. I got what I wanted within the bounds of the rules and the implementation, but anyone looking for a 1 BR was hosed for a while. Hence my thought that setting things up that way was optimal for my owner’s perspective but suboptimal for the owners’ perspective.

Happy with the change as it seems fairer than the gameable approach they had in place before.

Thanks for sharing this example - it’s a good example of why this change was implemented.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Sandy VDH]

So if there is only a 1 and 3 BR at the resort, then NO upgrade will ever get provided because the resort does not have a 2 BR variety.

If the actual upgrade function after booking, not the instant upgrade worked, then maybe this might not be so bad. Are they changing the wording in the VIP because it says larger, and not just 1 sized unit larger.

Another downgrading in value......

 

[HitchHiker71]

So if there is only a 1 and 3 BR at the resort, then NO upgrade will ever get provided because the resort does not have a 2 BR variety.

If the actual upgrade function after booking, not the instant upgrade worked, then maybe this might not be so bad. Are they changing the wording in the VIP because it says larger, and not just 1 sized unit larger.

Another downgrading in value......

That's actually a good question - so for example - at Rio Mar - there are only studio, one and three bedroom units. Let me go back to Wyndham with this explicit example. My assumption would be that an upgrade would still process - because it's still only a one step jump given the room types at that particular resort - but stranger things have happened.

 

[Sandy VDH]

Any idea what was going on with an unscheduled outage last night? I got the well be back message.