To PIC or not to PIC, that is the question...

[Billikan]

I am a longtime owner (2nd generation owning over 30 years) going back to the Fairfield days. I own UDI at Kingsgate (84,000 developer) and Branson (126,000 resale). 210,000 total. Attended “update” at Midtown 45 a few days ago. Of course need to buy more, VIP gets service, no Housekeeping or Reservation fees, etc. Showed fake math that ignores time value of money, compound interest, etc. Also don’t seem to have an answer to the question about how VIP is even a status when everyone is VIP going forward since don’t sell new less than bottom VIP status. Status is not status if everyone has status. All this said, I am also a 5 star Vistana owner (WF, ADV, SVV). The program there is much more straight forward. In fact, I used my Wyndham to get “phantom points” to reach 5 star. Is this how PIC works? Do I really get something for nothing with Wyndham, of course other than buying a minimum contract. They don’t seem to be able to describe how PIC points work. I don’t trust them and I do not want to give up any of my Vistana Usage.


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[Eric B]

It’s never really something for nothing; an owner winds up paying the program fee for the point value of the PIC contract. That would be $.64 per thousand points now. In exchange for that, the PIC points count towards VIP status, which can get you savings on transaction and housekeeping fees and potential discounted stays, depending on how many points you wind up with. There’s also the underlying ability to use the points in Wyndham or through Club Pass if you choose to. You’re absolutely right about the need to figure out whether it’s worth it to you, though.

 

[paxsarah]

I'm not that familiar with how Vistana works, but depending on how the ownership is structured (i.e. points-based) it might only be PIC Express, which is temporary for five years and IMO not worth the retail buy-in with Wyndham.

 

[HitchHiker71]

The Wyndham PIC Program

Q: What is the PIC Program and how can it save me money on VIP? PIC stands for Personal Interval Choice. The directory explains more, but this is the nutshell version. If you have a qua…

wyndhamexperts.org

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[Richelle]

I'm not that familiar with how Vistana works, but depending on how the ownership is structured (i.e. points-based) it might only be PIC Express, which is temporary for five years and IMO not worth the retail buy-in with Wyndham.

If it is not depositable in RCI, then it doesn’t qualify for a PIC Plus. It’s only eligible for express. I agree it’s not worth it unless you plan on buying every five years to slowly work up to VIP without PIC. That wouldn’t be my plan.

 

[cbyrne1174]

The minimum they will sell new owners is 77k I think. You need to buy 105k developer points from telesales at about $134 per thousand to get VIP Gold. The silver benefits aren't very good. VIP Gold lets you have ARP twice a year where you're not deeded, you get unlimited transactions, 35% off, the ability to request units, upgrades 45 days out, and unlimited HK credits.

You find two really low MF deeds that qualify for PIC plus and enroll them with your 105k developer purchase. That would give you 210,000 + 105,000 + 508,000 (PICs) points. You can find really low MF resorts to PIC for free online. So essentially, you can be permanent VIP Gold for $14,000-$15,000. I would say maybe 1/5th of owners are VIP tops. The majority of owners are non-VIP retail owners. On the forums, most of us are either 100% resale or PIC to VIP because those are the two most cost effective ownerships.