VEP clarification

[EAM]

Madge,

Having read the FAQ's and many of the other posts on VEP, I think I understand that

1. VEP is calculated as a rolling 12-month average
2. An account's VEP for Extra Vacations, Last Call is set by the VEP of the resort whose ID is the first four digits of the account number. In these cases the VEP filter works to filter out resorts that have significantly lower VEP than the account's VEP.
3. VEP is only one of several factors that determine GC and SC status.

However, I am still a little confused on some aspects of VEP and I hope you can provide some clarification.

Here are my questions:

1. For regular, greater than 45 day exchanges, does VEP act as a filter (both up and down) or is it just one of the six components of Trading Power so it can be counteracted by other factors? And in these cases, is it the VEP of the the account that matters or the VEP of the week being exchanged?

2. During the 45 day window, it is my understanding that there is a VEP down filter (but not an up filter). Does this depend on the VEP of the account or the VEP of the week being exchanged?

 

[Timeshare Von]

Just learning, myself . . .

Madge,

I also have a question about VEP. My RCI account is tied to the first timeshare I purchased in the early 1980's. It was a 20 year RTU and I no longer have any ownership interest and yet, my RCI account still starts with that identifier (0369 - Split Rock Resort). I own three other resorts, all of which are much nicer and probably rated higher than Split Rock ever was. Is the impact of this VEP thing, that I will receive lower/poorer offerings from RCI because my membership ID is tied to that dog of a timeshare resort? If that is the case, that seems very unfair and inappropriate since I don't have any interest in that resort and my current ownership is much better. How can I fix or change that if I am being penalized for my original ownership and joining RCI through Split Rock Resort?

Yvonne Bennett

 

[Madge]

EAM,

Please see my comments below:

Madge,

1. For regular, greater than 45 day exchanges, does VEP act as a filter (both up and down) or is it just one of the six components of Trading Power so it can be counteracted by other factors? VEP acts as a filter and it is one component of Trading Power.

And in these cases, is it the VEP of the the account that matters or the VEP of the week being exchanged? Both, since it is the range between the two resorts' VEP levels that is being measured.

2. During the 45 day window, it is my understanding that there is a VEP down filter (but not an up filter). Does this depend on the VEP of the account or the VEP of the week being exchanged? See above

 

[Madge]

Yvonne,

Our system only uses your original resort as a VEP reference when you search online. Guides are capable of referencing any of your timeshare ownerships to search. We do plan to allow members to make this selection online in the future.

In the meantime, if you feel there would be better availability using a different ownership reference, please contact a Guide for help searching.

 

[EAM]

More VEP clarifications

Thanks, Madge. However, I don't think I really presented my question as clearly as I should have. Let me present it another way

Assume the first resort I own is resort A. Its VEP is the account's VEP since resort A's ID is the first four digits of my membership number.

Later I purchase resort B.

If I exchange resort B for resort C, does the VEP of resort A matter? If the exchange is within the 45 day window, does the VEP of resort A matter then?

And I have two more questions:

How does VEP come into play for Last Call and Extra Vacations if the first resort one owns is a FF or other resort in which generic points deposits are exchanged rather than specific weeks? In the same situation, how is VEP determined for exchanges?

 

[Timeshare Von]

Yvonne,

Our system only uses your original resort as a VEP reference when you search online. Guides are capable of referencing any of your timeshare ownerships to search. We do plan to allow members to make this selection online in the future.

In the meantime, if you feel there would be better availability using a different ownership reference, please contact a Guide for help searching.

Madge,

I appreciate your time in responding to us here, really I do. So is the bottom line that it helps or hurts to have a low rated resort for your "home" resort as indicated by the first four digits of your membership number?

Yvonne

 

[Madge]

EAM,

Please see below:

Assume the first resort I own is resort A. Its VEP is the account's VEP since resort A's ID is the first four digits of my membership number.

Later I purchase resort B.

If I exchange resort B for resort C, does the VEP of resort A matter? No. VEP measures the relationship between your deposit and the potential exchange resort.

If the exchange is within the 45 day window, does the VEP of resort A matter then? No. Again, VEP is measuring your deposited resort against the exchange resort.

And I have two more questions:

How does VEP come into play for Last Call and Extra Vacations if the first resort one owns is a FF or other resort in which generic points deposits are exchanged rather than specific weeks? In the same situation, how is VEP determined for exchanges? It is calculated the same way for both. All deposits have a VEP assigned to them, even Fairfield. The special deposits for some clubs like Fairfield use an average of the resorts within the club.

The only reason we ever use the first resort ownership for VEP comparison is that our website is not capable of doing it any other way yet for Extra Vacations and Last Call. That is the only reference it can grab right now since an actual deposited week is not being used. However, we do plan to add the technology that would allow our website to identify different ownerships for Extra Vacations/Last Call VEP comparison purposes. This will allow members to select the ownerships they wish to use.

 

[Madge]

So is the bottom line that it helps or hurts to have a low rated resort for your "home" resort as indicated by the first four digits of your membership number?

Yvonne,

It all depends on what you're looking for. Having a lower VEP reference may not give access to some very high VEP resorts until shorter notice. However, if you are using a high VEP resort, you will not have access to resorts with significantly lower VEP even under 45 days.

 

[happybaby]

Yvonne,

Our system only uses your original resort as a VEP reference when you search online. Guides are capable of referencing any of your timeshare ownerships to search. We do plan to allow members to make this selection online in the future.

In the meantime, if you feel there would be better availability using a different ownership reference, please contact a Guide for help searching.

Madge
Is the VEP only in reference to extra vacations? Or does it have any influence on our on going searches. I still feel VEP is unfair. If I am willing to pay for an extra vacation, let me be the one to decide if I want the unit available.... below or above my VEP
Extra vacations as you say are surplus inventory. Then all surplus should be made equally to all members

 

[sfwilshire]

And to beat the proverbial dead horse, TUGgers would appreciate some way to do a VEP waiver that doesn't involve phoning in endlessly. In other words, so the VEP waiver could apply to ongoing and online searches.

I still have trouble getting into my favorite resort that has the terrible VEP. I've exchanged into there three times. I'm obviously happy there. Just wish I could find an easier way to grab it.

I even deliberately bought a week at a low rated resort hoping to resolve this and the VEP at the new place still isn't quite low enough to pull my favorite.

My biggest complaint with RCI for the past 11 years.

Sheila

 

[Madge]

Sheila,

Especially if you've been there many times, a Guide should be able to manually search for you. If you have any trouble, please just send an e-mail for the Communications Team and they'll search it for you.

 

[sfwilshire]

Thanks, Madge, and they do always search when I ask. The problem is that very few weeks at this resort get deposited in RCI. I feel like I really need an ongoing search to catch one. I tend to keep one going most of the time, and one year I actually confirmed a week with an ongoing search. I can only assume that a VG that was assigned to manually try to make matches waived the VEP for me.

Sheila

 

[Madge]

Sheila,

Our system will not automatically search a resort that is below VEP for the deposit. If you are really stuck and a vacation is very important, but you know that VEP will be an issue, please do send an e-mail to the Communications Team. They may be able to help.

 

[Pit]

Our system will not automatically search a resort that is below VEP for the deposit.

Madge

I think that was already understood. What would be useful to many is a process for members to obtain a permanent VEP waiver. Or better yet, make the VEP filter a search parameter, so your system can automatically search resorts below the deposit VEP. Why not improve the system?

The only reason we ever use the first resort ownership for VEP comparison is that our website is not capable of doing it any other way yet for Extra Vacations and Last Call. That is the only reference it can grab right now since an actual deposited week is not being used.

Given that no deposit is being used, and people can join RCI without even owning a "first" resort, it makes sense to remove the VEP filter altogether for EV/LC. What VEP filter is applied for members that have never owned?

If you are really stuck and a vacation is very important, but you know that VEP will be an issue, please do send an e-mail to the Communications Team. They may be able to help.

All of my vacations are very important, but how can I always know if VEP will be an issue? People are asking for the option to exclude the VEP filter, without having to write emails or call to plead their case each time. That would be a nice improvement for the web user. Don't you agree?

 

[sfwilshire]

Pit explained my problem with much more clarity than I did. I was extremely unhappy with an inability to pull this resort for YEARS before I even figured out it was a VEP issue.

Now that I understand it, I know to call in (and have emailed the communications group as you suggested), but with very few weeks ever being deposited for prime times, it's a shot in the dark to call at just the right time.

I understand that you don't want to book members into resorts they won't be happy with, and certainly appreciate that, but the points that make up the VEP may mean more to some than others.

Location means more to me than the other things, particularly when there are few resorts available in the much desired location. I can live with a few dust bunnies and an office that's never open if it gives me my 3br beach cottage on my favorite island.

Thanks, Pit, for stating our problem so clearly.

Sheila

 

[Madge]

Sorry for the delay - had medical issues last week - much better now!

Pit,

I must first disagree with your assertion that RCI allows subscribers to enroll as non timeshare owners. This is not accurate. RCI does require that all new members own at least usage rights in a timeshare resort or club.

The issue of VEP has been hotly debated for as long as I have been on TUG. RCI would not consider the abandonment of VEP to be an improvement to our system. We are not ashamed of our reasoning for instituting and continuing the value-for-value aspect of our program.

The idea of allowing certain resort ID's to search without restriction may indeed have merit; however, it would require significant resources to make that happen, and this process is not an issue for most of our members.

If you want to see if VEP is an issue, or need help in trying to overcome it, our staff can help.

 

[jlwquilter]

Hmmm...I am not so sure of that, Madge

I just joined RCI. I am in mid-closing of the purchase I joined RCI for (it has a banked week). The RCI VG had no issue with opening my account. She did use the ID of the resort I told her I was buying. If I had known (or cared to) I could have totally made up my buying a week - AND picked any resort with whatever VEP I wanted! Even right now RCI has no proof that I am really, truely buying a week (ie: what if the sale fell thru? I would still have my RCI membership!).

That VEP comment is only theoretical in my specific case. I don't understand it enough right now to have deliberately opened an account with a high or low VEP resort. But if I did, I could have, is my point.

 

[Madge]

jlwquilter,

RCI's policy is to require timeshare ownership for subscribing membership. Accounts that are set up in error circumventing this policy can be canceled without notice. While I recognize that rules can sometimes be "gotten around," they may still be valid and enforceable.

 

[SBK]

I disagree with you, Madge

Pit,

I must first disagree with your assertion that RCI allows subscribers to enroll as non timeshare owners. This is not accurate. RCI does require that all new members own at least usage rights in a timeshare resort or club.

Madge --

I would like to politely disagree with you. You do, in essence, allow non-time share owners to join RCI. I would submit that your "permanent" guest certificate is a way to get the benefits of RCI membership without buying a timeshare.

All a person has to do is know someone who is an RCI member, pay the $149 or $159 (I forget which it is) and for five years they have unfettered, independent access to all Last Call and Extra Vacations. That access costs them considerably less than RCI membership costs us and they are not burdened with MFs and special assessments.

Would you please comment? Thanks

 

[Madge]

SBK,

I commented on the Guest Pass program here. If you would like to continue the discussion about Guest Pass, please follow up in the original thread.

For purposes of this thread and discussion, it is in fact RCI's policy to require that its subscribing members own at least a right to use interest in a timeshare resort or club.

 

[Pit]

I must first disagree with your assertion that RCI allows subscribers to enroll as non timeshare owners. This is not accurate. RCI does require that all new members own at least usage rights in a timeshare resort or club.

Fair enough. Let me ask the question another way. What VEP filter, if any, does RCI apply for non-members searching the RCI rental inventory via RCI Holiday Network (and partner sites)?

The issue of VEP has been hotly debated for as long as I have been on TUG. RCI would not consider the abandonment of VEP to be an improvement to our system. We are not ashamed of our reasoning for instituting and continuing the value-for-value aspect of our program.

You missed the point. People are not asking RCI to abandon VEP wholesale.

People are requesting the option to exclude the VEP filter in individual online searches, in order to make the search more productive. Offering this option would give members more opportunities to find a suitable exchange. Given that it is such a hot topic, perhaps the suggestion has merit.

If you want to see if VEP is an issue, or need help in trying to overcome it, our staff can help.

That's not really adequate. Members who search online want to identify exchange opportunities without having to contact the staff. Web users prefer a self-service format, otherwise they wouldn't be using the web site in the first place.

 

[Madge]

Pit,

I responded to your point above in this thread when I said:

The idea of allowing certain resort ID's to search without restriction may indeed have merit; however, it would require significant resources to make that happen, and this process is not an issue for most of our members.

There are members who would appreciate having this online feature; however, the numbers would be few as compared with our overall membership base, only about 10% of whom currently do business with us online.

Fair enough. Let me ask the question another way. What VEP filter, if any, does RCI apply for non-members searching the RCI rental inventory via RCI Holiday Network (and partner sites)?

A midrange VEP is applied to Holiday Network transactions, similar in principle to the way that VEP is applied to Weeks exchanges in the Points system.

 

[SBK]

SBK,

I commented on the Guest Pass program here. If you would like to continue the discussion about Guest Pass, please follow up in the original thread.

For purposes of this thread and discussion, it is in fact RCI's policy to require that its subscribing members own at least a right to use interest in a timeshare resort or club.

Madge --

My question is NOT about the Guest Pass, per se.

It is about your statement that RCI does not offer "subscribing membership" to non-owners of timeshares. Your Guest Pass program DOES offer all the important benefits of membership to non-owners. The only requirement is to know someone who already belongs to RCI.

As an RCI member, I may deposit my timeshare or not. If I elect NOT to deposit it, I may still use Last Call or Extra Vacations as often as I want.

As a holder of a Guest Pass, I would own no week to deposit, yet I could still use Last Call or Extra Vacations as often as I want -- and for far less money than an RCI member.

I submit to you that your Guest Pass offers exactly the same membership benefits as an RCI membership does to an owner who chooses not to deposit.

 

[Madge]

SBK,

The Guest Pass program is a more convenient way for some members to provide Guest Certificates. Guest Pass recipients are not RCI members and do not enjoy member benefits such as the RCI directory, Endless Vacation magazine, the ability to deposit or receive deposit transfers for exchange, or take advantage of other specials offered only to our subscribing members.

Please submit further comments about Guest Pass in the original thread. I will not comment further on it here.

 

[suzanne]

Madge, for people like me who have been with RCI for years and know how the system works and sometimes doesn't work, why can't we make the decision to have the VEP removed from our accounts permanantly? Most of us who request the VEP be waived when looking for a resort know that its there and why and are willing to accept the lower and if we're lucky at times the higher rated VEP resorts. There should be a place on your website for us to waive the VEP if we want to, along with the proverbial waiver that we know we are accepting a resort of lessor quality than we own and will not try to hold RCI responsible if we are unhappy with the exchange.

Thanks,

Suzanne