Suggestions for a new poll in March?

[DeniseM]

Please make suggestions for a new poll for March.

Possibilities:

What is your Elite Status?

1) 5 Star
2) 4 Star
3) 3 Star
4) Not Elite yet, but working on it.
5) Do not plan to become an Elite member.

Other possibilities:

Places you'd like to see Starwood build

Where do you own resale weeks?

Features you'd like to see in future Starwood resorts.

Your SVO Pet Peeve(s).


(These AREN'T the polls, I'm just asking for suggestions.)

 

[rocky]

Starpoint Devaluation Survey

I think a survey that somehow addresses the Starpoint Devaluation problem we all deal with would be great and would give additional attention to this issue......

Any ideas about the question?

Perhaps we can phrase it as what is the most insulting SVO practice faced by owners that made Starwood developer purchase?

a. Starpoints Devaluation. The fixed starpoints value for units owned has declined in value by X% on average year over year making units rented at $800 night by Starwood worth about 3 nights in a closet at the Four Points in Tijuana for SVO owners.

b. The crappy reservation system.

c. Excruciating "owner update" meetings.

d. come on everyone... you can come up with some choices here.

 

[stevens397]

Hi again Rocky!

As someone who has had extensive and ongoing communication with SVO about the impact of point devaluations, I suggest you skip this topic. It's dead and all we can do is bitch about it with no possible solution to the problem.

I'm grateful that they let me convert at the last minute when I couldn't rent my Kierland week for the Super Bowl. And if I convert it to business class airfare, I'll do fine. But as far as I can see, the issue is dead and not worth writing about unless some people just need to vent!

I'm also concerned that this not just become a complaint thread. We all hope that Starwood monitors TUG and if they see this is just a bitch session, I imagine they'll just pass it by.

 

[Denise L]

The top 5 reasons we love our Starwood Vacation Ownership.

(someone has to help our ownership(s) maintain their value, right? )

 

[Ken555]

b. The crappy reservation system.

c. Excruciating "owner update" meetings.

These definitely deserve some attention. Is it worthwhile for TUG to start a petition of some kind to tell SVN what we think of these "benefits"?

 

[rocky]

Hi again Rocky!

As someone who has had extensive and ongoing communication with SVO about the impact of point devaluations, I suggest you skip this topic. It's dead and all we can do is bitch about it with no possible solution to the problem.

I'm also concerned that this not just become a complaint thread. We all hope that Starwood monitors TUG and if they see this is just a bitch session, I imagine they'll just pass it by.

I respectfully disagree with your comments. The ongoing devaluation of starpoints is a MATERIAL concern to anyone who has purchased or is considering purchasing a unit from the developer. It strips the value of our purchases like nothing else can. It's unacceptable.

Having worked for major Fortune 500 firms as a relatively senior executive for most of my career, I can tell you that they don't typically pass by "bitch session" complaints. They are concerned about brand, they are concerned about customer perception, and if it's easy for a client to google and find TUG and learn about devaluation it hurts their sales.

I won't relent until they do. You can skip over my postings if need be. For those that have been around TUG a long time they will remember my intial support for purchasing from the developer, my happiness with having the option to convert to points..... I'm not happy about being this disillusioned about a product I paid a crap load of money for.... and I'm not going to give up on speaking up about the situation, as you suggest.

I am frankly unconcerned if it hurts my "resale value" to talk about the negatives. My resale value has been hurt already..... and now I've got nothing left to lose except MORE @#$ Starpoints.

It's interesting that we have a faction on our Starwood board that wants only happy talking. Fortunately that's not part of the TUG rules of engagement.

 

[DeniseM]

As long as we attack the topic, and not each other, we can certainly debate any of the Starwood issues on TUG...

 

[stevens397]

Appreciate your comments Denise but fear not, I don't feel attacked and I have total respect for someone who has worked in the corporate world rather than spend 35 years fixing teeth and making smiles!

Rocky, I understand your upset and if you feel that we can impact on Starwood corporate policy, more power to you. I spend a lot of time on this board but also on FlyerTalk and the bitching there makes our complaints look tame!

More to the point, someone on FT posted an internal document about what Starwood's polcies are based on and it's all profits and shareholder return. Nowhere on the list did customer service or satisfaction appear. So I feel kind of resigned to this being the way it is.

My answer is to enjoy the properties I have and to shy away from buying more. It doesn't depress me because as I have written elsewhere, I'll hopefully be buying a second home in Florida and that will be my major winter vacation destination. It's kind of funny - since I've been a member of this board, Denise has spoken of the folly involved in turning in your unit for points. Well, the times have certainly moved the argument even more in her favor. Another posting on this board lists eBay results for SVO units. At a time when new timeshares are in the $100k range, $10,000 for a Platinum week in Mission Hills, even without SVN, is a bargain to those who like the area. So for years we've told newbies to buy where you want to go. Maybe we'll all have to follow our own advice and realize that Starwood has day by day diluted the benefits of being part of their system. They certainly do seem only focused on their own benefits and to hell with the rest of us.

I have a successful dental practice and I make money when patients accept treatment. But the moment my patients feel that I'm more interested in my bottom line than in their well-being, well, that's the moment it all goes to hell. Maybe Starwood will need to learn that lesson.

 

[rocky]

No offense taken! (Why are we all on TUG right now and not working???)

I think the property in FL is a great idea. We own a second home in Mexico and I have never looked back on the decision, it was the best idea we ever had. I only wish I had that $44K WKORV money back. I would have done something different...... maybe a third home in Belize. hahaha

Cheers!

 

[zinupe]

i am owner of 3 lagunamar and 1 princeville. i recently booked 5 nights at the W in manhattan for new years for 80k points. with a rack rate of $795 not including tax, the value of the stay is over 4K (795 x 5 nights). this is not to mention a possible suite upgrade which i am 2 for 2 since becoming platinum.

now... i get 86,000 plus 10% for elite 5 star status giving me over 92,000 points for my maintainance fee of about $2000. All in all, i wouldn't say that conversion to starpoints is useless. but you must book at the right locations.

just another viewpoint

 

[zinupe]

btw...for denise's poll

i am 5 star elite and have been very pleased with the service on all ends thus far.

 

[DeniseM]

Hi zinupe - this isn't actually THE poll, it's just a poll, to see what kind of a poll, you would like!

I will be setting up a new poll for Nov. though, thanks for your input!

 

[Denise L]

It's interesting that we have a faction on our Starwood board that wants only happy talking.

I respectfully disagree with your statement. I did mention that we could also talk about the positive aspects of SVO (if anyone thinks there are any), in addition to constantly elaborating on the negative aspects of SVO. I certainly am not one for only "happy talking," but I did want to point out that if someone wants to sell their ownership, it might not be in their best interest to tell everyone how much they hate it before trying to unload it. Common sense to me, but maybe not to others.

We'll be at WKORV in a few weeks....as usual I will be glad to report on all the problems we encounter while enjoying the beautiful Maui weather.

 

[tomandrobin]

How about "How do you use your week?"

reserve and use at the 12 month mark
Use SO at 8 month mark for a non-home resort
Trade via II, RCI or other exchanne company
Convert your unit to SP
do not use at all.

 

[Transit]

i am owner of 3 lagunamar and 1 princeville. i recently booked 5 nights at the W in manhattan for new years for 80k points. with a rack rate of $795 not including tax, the value of the stay is over 4K (795 x 5 nights). this is not to mention a possible suite upgrade which i am 2 for 2 since becoming platinum.

now... i get 86,000 plus 10% for elite 5 star status giving me over 92,000 points for my maintainance fee of about $2000. All in all, i wouldn't say that conversion to starpoints is useless. but you must book at the right locations.

just another viewpoint

Zinupe, Here's the Problem were facing ....A few short years ago W Manhattan was a cat 4 .That would have given you 10 nights there for 80000 pts. In the future that hotel may cost 80,000 points per night but the point value of you unit will not go up (unless Starwood corrects this). As for $795 per night most travelers here simply would not pay that for a hotel room so it becomes a non-value to them.
Denise, I like the places Starwood should build Idea.

 

[DeniseM]

A gentle reminder - let's keep the topic on the issues.

Thanks!

 

[water-dog]

Pole

How many people stay at there home resorts OR trade to other resorts. each year.

 

[Sir Newf]

how about--the next, or first starwood location I would purchase is....(then list all the choices).