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Trading Places Changes

I just signed up for the 2 years free RCI membership with a code offered on this website so will try my deposits with them the next 2 years instead of Trading Places.
 
Interesting that TPI was a decent exchange alternative during the 5 years or so they were owned by Marriott but that reputation has been squandered by Capital Vacations in less than half that time. Would be interesting to know how much of the old TPI (offices, people, processes) still exists.

Say what you will about Marriott management but it's worlds apart from CV mismanagement.
 
gravityrules said:
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 ?
Click to expand...
Are the tier values the same between TPI and DEX? Where can I look up the tier value assigned by DEX (Destination Xchange)?
Is the assigned tier value reduced when the check-in date is getting closer (<45 days, <21 days,...etc.)

It appears the tier values are not set correctly by TPI currently, or did TPI just copy from DEX?
(Diamond resorts vs Capital Vacations)

​

 
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Hopi said:
Are the tier values the same between TPI and DEX? Where can I look up the tier value assigned by DEX (Destination Xchange)?
Is the assigned tier value reduced when the check-in date is getting closer (<45 days, <21 days,...etc.)

It appears the tier values are not set correctly by TPI currently, or did TPI just copy from DEX?
(Diamond resorts vs Capital Vacations)

​

Click to expand...

Online search found this old
DEX guide:

 
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They are also available in the stickies in the Hilton Vacation Club forum.

Diamond Resorts The Club points and Destination Exchange pdfs

I have attached the current year's The Club points guide and the current year's Destination Exchange guide. updated for 2025! 2025 DEX membership guide: https://tugbbs.com/forums/threads/diamond-resorts-the-club-points-and-destination-exchange-pdfs.284941/post-3145870 2025-2026 deeded weeks...
tugbbs.com
 
gravityrules said:
Interesting that TPI was a decent exchange alternative during the 5 years or so they were owned by Marriott but that reputation has been squandered by Capital Vacations in less than half that time. Would be interesting to know how much of the old TPI (offices, people, processes) still exists.

Say what you will about Marriott management but it's worlds apart from CV mismanagement.
Click to expand...
Interval Leisure Group (ILG) acquired Trading Places International in November 2010.
Marriott Vacations Worldwide acquired ILG, Inc. on September 1, 2018.

Before Marriott bought Trading Places Intl, it was a good exchange company to trade since it made its HOA inventory available to bonus week pool within 45 days check-in days.
The founder of Trading Places Intl was not greedy and was practical about how much money they could get from these HOA inventory.
And they used these HOA inventory to attract more deposits. He had free membership, so that people could try Trading Places Intl.
That was how he made Trading Places Intl the 3rd largest exchange company.

Before it made its abrupt "Changes to Membership Benefits & Policies", I really wondered if Trading Places Intl (now owned by Capital Vacations) even did a market research with the competitors such as Platinum Exchange, GPX, RCI, II, etc. including last-minutes deals
 
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timesharer said:
Interval Leisure Group (ILG) acquired Trading Places International in November 2010.
Marriott Vacations Worldwide acquired ILG, Inc. on September 1, 2018.

Before Marriott bought Trading Places Intl, it was a good exchange company to trade since it made its HOA inventory available to bonus week pool within 45 days check-in days.
The founder of Trading Places Intl was not greedy and was practical about how much money they could get from these HOA inventory.
And they used these HOA inventory to attract more deposits. He had free membership, so that people could try Trading Places Intl.
That was how he made Trading Places Intl the 3rd largest exchange company.

Before it made its abrupt "Changes to Membership Benefits & Policies", I really wondered if Trading Places Intl (now owned by Capital Vacations) even did a market research with the competitors such as Platinum Exchange, GPX, RCI, II, etc. including last-minutes deals
Click to expand...
From my experience with Capital Vacations, they know everything, they will define the future of timesharing, and us peons who know nothing should simply accept their brilliance and follow along, being fleeced like sheep in the process.
 
Carlsbadguy said:
I just signed up for the 2 years free RCI membership with a code offered on this website so will try my deposits with them the next 2 years instead of Trading Places.
Click to expand...
Now TPI has no Bonus Weeks search ability showing on the web site but are they still giving two Bonus weeks for your deposit. What good if you have bonus week credit in your account?
 
I didn't know they are offering bonus weeks for deposits after the announced changes. A bonus week is Tier 2, usable for exchanges up to Tier 4, you just use the regular exchange availability for searches. It's $179 upgrade for EACH tier, on top of the $229 exchange fee for bonus weeks. I suppose they could lower the tiers for 'last minute' inventory but I haven't seen evidence of that.

The lack of last minute deals (however you want to define last minute) is a competitive disadvantage for TPI.

I'm not seeing any reason to pay a yearly membership fee to play in TPI's considerably more limited (compared to II and RCI) sandbox.
 
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You would think to be able to earn some money TPI would lower the Tier Value/Exchange feeon last minute exchanges. There are a couple weeks in the near future I would be interested in using for a partial week only, but with my MTC fee, exchange fee, Tier Upgrade fee I would be looking at a cost around $1,800 for a week for a mid grade resort.
 
TPI's website says Bonus Weeks are no longer offered, here is the info:

Bonus Weeks are Discontinued

Bonus Weeks associated with the “2-for-1” Deposits benefit previously offered have been discontinued. Bonus Weeks will no longer be issued in connection with any membership benefits.

Members who have unused Bonus Weeks will still be able to use them through the Bonus Week expiration date.

Bonus Weeks can be used to book reservations from the Exchange Availability list and are limited to Tier 1 to Tier 4 inventory.

Bonus Weeks are assigned a value of Tier 2. Bookings made for Tier 3 and Tier 4 inventory will require payment of a Tier Value Upgrade Fee.
 
The changes have definitely sealed their fate going forward with me. They will not get any of my timeshare weeks ever again. My existing bonus weeks have been devalued to the point of being useless (Tier 2), and even though southern California beach timeshares are supposedly so valuable that they won't let you make an ongoing search for them for the summer months, my existing deposit has been rated a Tier 4. Once I figure out how to use that existing devalued deposit, I'm outta there.
 
I was just shocked to find out this change. I have always been a long time classic member, booking their hot deals for some more last minute vacations. I just tried to book one and found out I need to pay $99 to join in order to book what is now a not so hot deal. And as others have noted, anything in prime season is even worse. I don't think I'll bother anymore with them, just stick with free RCI last calls with my Wyndham membership.
 
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