Trading Places Changes

[Carlsbadguy]

People, including me, have been complaining about Trading Places and non-availability and they just made big changes. There is a lot more availability but exchange prices have gone way up, including availability at resorts within the next week or 2. They don't seem to have any last minute discounts. 2 days ago I saw a week in Park City for March I could have booked for a bonus week that cost me $229, or a $169 exchange fee and no guest fee if needed. Today that same week would cost me over $500 in exchange and Tier Upgrade fees plus a cost for a guest certificate if needed. So the weeks i have banked will cost me over $1,500 to use a week including the maintaince fees and exchange/upgrade fees. Could even be more if I want to upgrade the size of a unit. If I knew the costs were this high I never would have deposited my weeks. Looks like Capital Vacations is trying to get money wether they keep the week for rent or put it in the exchange pool.

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[gravityrules]

Bonus weeks previously awarded for a deposit are assigned a Tier 2 value (scale is 1-6 with 6 being the highest value) and can only be exchanged up to Tier 4. Bonus week exchange fee is still $229 and Tier upgrade fee is $179. If you were upgrading unit size it is another $99.

Now the bonus week can see everything up to Tier 4 so a lot more inventory but it will cost more. A bonus week exchanged for same size unit as the original deposit with a tier upgrade ends up as $408. Not far from II bonus week cost but Interval wouldn't be hitting you for yet another fee based on size.

Changes effective Jan 23, no prior notice.

Announcement also said no bonus weeks for deposits going forward.

 

[gravityrules]

It's not clear to me if the required Trading Places Prime membership (there is no longer a Classic membership) is a one time $99 fee or is that per year?

If that is $99/year they are destroying part of their value proposition compared to the 'Big 2' right at launch.

 

[Carlsbadguy]

The membership fee is per year. I was given the first year free I guess because I have deposits and exchange requests with them.

 

[Hopi]

Is "Tier upgrade fee" $179 charged per tier? Is it $587 ($229 + $179 *2) to use a Bonus week to book a Tier 4 week?

It is unfair that this change affects the existing deposit weeks and bonus weeks in our accounts. Trading Places/Capital Vacations should honor the terms and conditions (contract/agreement) that were in place at the time of deposits (before 1/23/2025).

 

[slip]

This is too much of a change for me. I used to occasionally bank a Maui Schooner week to rebook in Maui Schooner the next year.

Now, they give my deposit a tier 4 but when I book back into Maui Schooner it's a tier 6 so two upgrades. I don't do it often but I won't be using them anymore.

 

[aandmrun]

These changes are a big disappointment. I have about 3 bonus weeks that I will probably not be using now.

 

[gravityrules]

The membership fee is per year. I was given the first year free I guess because I have deposits and exchange requests with them.

Same here.

The CV capture of TPI now appears complete. Not sure why they think making TPI more non-competitive for non-CV deposits is a good move.
As Weird Al sings in "Mission Statement" ... "monetize your assets".

 

[timesharer]

The Capital Vacations executives seem not to understand why the previous Trading Places management had offered the following benefits to compete with RCI and II:

- Free membership
- Bonus weeks that could be used to book any week within 45 days of check-in
- $229 to book a bonus week
- $169 to exchange a regular week
- Prime membership offering exchange and unit upgrade discounts

All of these benefits have now been canceled. The Capital Vacations executives should ask themselves the following question:
'Will anyone use Trading Places to exchange when the inventory and destination choices are much lower than RCI and II, and when the cost is higher?'

I think Trading Places will have many of the HOA weeks from the resorts they manage go unused because more people will not use Trading Places to exchange anymore. Instead of earning additional tier upgrade fees, they will earn $0 due to the lack of exchanges.

 

[gravityrules]

Is "Tier upgrade fee" $179 charged per tier? Is it $587 ($229 + $179 *2) to use a Bonus week to book a Tier 4 week?

It is unfair that this change affects the existing deposit weeks and bonus weeks in our accounts. Trading Places/Capital Vacations should honor the terms and conditions (contract/agreement) that were in place at the time of deposits (before 1/23/2025).

Yes, they will charge you per tier.

 

[slip]

I actually just emailed them and gave them my example of trading back into the Maui Schooner. Depositing as a tier 4 and having to pay a 2 times upgrade to trade back into the Maui Schooner as a tier 6 is just too much. I let them know, I won't be making anymore Deposits with them.

I'm sure it's best to let them know as soon as a change is made is best but I'm not expecting anything. I'll just move on. I only have two deposits left either them anyway.

 

[Carlsbadguy]

Any decent resort in prime time is a tier 6 so even last minute can't use a bonus week. Just like RCI and II reduce upgrade fees and don't care about trading power close in they should at least do that. I think also it is very unfair that they change the rules when I deposited weeks because of a certain way and cost to use them and now I can't. Costs for exchanges will cost me much more than with II. Also my 1 bedroom is a sleep 6 but if I exchange to a 2 bedroom with sleep 6 or even 4 I need to pay the upgrade fee.
I saw a resort available for next weekend I would have used a bonus week for paying $229, even only staying 4 nights. Now I can't use a bonus week since it is a tier 6 and using a regular week would cost about$1,600 when I include my mtc fees and all upgrade and exchange fees. Cheaper to stay at a nice hotel.

 

[timesharer]

I actually just emailed them and gave them my example of trading back into the Maui Schooner. Depositing as a tier 4 and having to pay a 2 times upgrade to trade back into the Maui Schooner as a tier 6 is just too much. I let them know, I won't be making anymore Deposits with them.

I'm sure it's best to let them know as soon as a change is made is best but I'm not expecting anything. I'll just move on. I only have two deposits left either them anyway.

exchange@tradingplaces.com has never responded to my inquiry since Capital Vacations took over.

Whom did you email?
rich.muller@vriresorts.com
AChamblin@capitalvacations.com

Thanks!

 

[slip]

exchange@tradingplaces.com has never responded to my inquiry since Capital Vacations took over.

Whom did you email?
rich.muller@vriresorts.com
AChamblin@capitalvacations.com

Thanks!

I used the exchange email address. I just sent a copy to the two you attached here.

 

[Laurie]

I was also given a free membership this year, though I have no current deposits or requests with them. I did just complete a TPI exchange last month, maybe that's why, or maybe they're giving everyone a free membership this year.

 

[jp10558]

The Capital Vacations executives seem not to understand why the previous Trading Places management had offered the following benefits to compete with RCI and II:

- Free membership
- Bonus weeks that could be used to book any week within 45 days of check-in
- $229 to book a bonus week
- $169 to exchange a regular week
- Prime membership offering exchange and unit upgrade discounts

All of these benefits have now been canceled. The Capital Vacations executives should ask themselves the following question:
'Will anyone use Trading Places to exchange when the inventory and destination choices are much lower than RCI and II, and when the cost is higher?'

I think Trading Places will have many of the HOA weeks from the resorts they manage go unused because more people will not use Trading Places to exchange anymore. Instead of earning additional tier upgrade fees, they will earn $0 due to the lack of exchanges.

I never used Trading Places, but I can't see why I'd use something other than RCI or II if it's not cheaper.

 

[gravityrules]

I never used Trading Places, but I can't see why I'd use something other than RCI or II if it's not cheaper.

TPI used to be a decent deal if they had resorts you liked. No membership fee for 'Classic' membership, 2 bonus weeks w/$229 redemption fee + an $169 exchange week. They did have 3 seasons (think it was red, white, blue) but if you had deposited a good red week that didn't matter. It wasn't hard to get good value for a deposit.

Most of us here liking exchange arbitrage opportunities (i.e. 'trading up') and these TPI changes have removed that opportunity unless you're willing to spend significantly more.

Yearly membership fee, tier upgrade fees, combined with less inventory in general and possibly not inventory in locations or in resorts that you want (most inventory is likely from resorts in the CV orbit) ... not a winning formula for us.

The TPI ground rules are different if you're already in the CV points universe. IMHO TPI will lose a lot of non CV members with these changes.

 

[Kozman]

In another issue since Capital has rebranded TPI under their umbrella. Beware of trading into any TPI/Capital resort before calling to confirm that they have not added a resort fee for the exchange without any prior notification on the reservation or TPI website. This just happened to us. When we arrived at the Lodges at Smoky Mountain our check-in paperwork indicated a $77 resort fee for which we were never informed about before booking. We have disputed this and still have not received an answer from the resort manager. In fact the TPI exchange page for this resort still makes no mention of any fee. So are we expected to write a blank check to them when we book a week?

 

[philemer]

This is too much of a change for me. I used to occasionally bank a Maui Schooner week to rebook in Maui Schooner the next year.

Now, they give my deposit a tier 4 but when I book back into Maui Schooner it's a tier 6 so two upgrades. I don't do it often but I won't be using them anymore.

I used my last deposit to book a 2br in Maui but I will not be doing business with them anymore. Just a lousy cash grab by Capital.

 

[gravityrules]

In hindsight there were clues to changes coming prior to this announcement. TPI did have some DEX inventory and that inventory was showing a tier value.
So did TPI just copy DEX ?

 

[djyamyam]

In hindsight there were clues to changes coming prior to this announcement. TPI did have some DEX inventory and that inventory was showing a tier value.
So did TPI just copy DEX ?

I was thinking the same thing. I had seen KBC (Kaanapali Beach Club) a few times available as exchange and always saw the "tier 6" line and thought it odd as I had seen it in Dex. Dex tier fees are slighy higher but I didn't really do much trading within Dex

 

[happytrailz]

I am a TPI member with existing deposits. I have a relationship with a class action attorney in California and have provided him with the details of this fiasco. His initial response was, as regards the sudden onset of this change and how it affects existing deposits, this is a strong class action case. Of course, if TPI/CV want to slit their own throats by pricing themselves out of the market for future business, that's their right. I won't be giving them any more business going forward, and honestly I doubt I'll be using the deposits I already have. Costs too much.

 

[Carlsbadguy]

I am the same. I have 2 deposits with them both with a Tier 4 value and 2 bonus weeks with a Tier 2 value. Doubt I will be using any of them. To make some money off exchange fees they really should ignore Tier Values for close in exchanges.

 

[timesharer]

From AI:

Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
The FTC can launch an investigation and enforces laws that prevent unfair, deceptive business practices. You can file a complaint with the FTC online. http://ftc.gov/complaint
The FTC will consider the severity of the alleged violations, the pattern of complaints, and whether there is credible evidence of a widespread unfair or deceptive business practice.

File A Complaint

The official website of the Federal Trade Commission, protecting America’s consumers for over 100 years.

www.ftc.gov

Better Business Bureau (BBB)
You can file a complaint with the BBB against Trading Places International.
You can contact the BBB for Capital Vacations at (833) 233-2335.

Trading Places International | BBB Complaints | Better Business Bureau

View complaints of Trading Places International filed with BBB. BBB helps resolve disputes with the services or products a business provides.

www.bbb.org

When considering whether to file a complaint against Trading Places International (owned by Capital Vacations) with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) or the Better Business Bureau (BBB), the primary pros with the FTC are its potential for broader impact and legal enforcement power, while the BBB might be better for faster resolution and public visibility within the consumer community, but with potentially less legal leverage

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[Kozman]

An update:

In another issue since Capital has rebranded TPI under their umbrella. Beware of trading into any TPI/Capital resort before calling to confirm that they have not added a resort fee for the exchange without any prior notification on the reservation or TPI website. This just happened to us. When we arrived at the Lodges at Smoky Mountain our check-in paperwork indicated a $77 resort fee for which we were never informed about before booking. We have disputed this and still have not received an answer from the resort manager. In fact the TPI exchange page for this resort still makes no mention of any fee. So are we expected to write a blank check to them when we book a week?

After reading the riot act to them we did not hear a peep from them the rest of our stay. This resort has zero amenities. No pool. No workout room. No sauna. No tennis courts, etc.