Week versus Points

[babscarter]

I just found and joined this forum in the last hour. We just got back home tonight from Vacation Village at Bonanventure. We have owned there since 1996 but this was our first trip back. We went to the "meeting" about converting our week into points for 4,995 and for about 39,500 points. Then the talk morphed into trading/selling our week at Bonanventure to purchasing at Vacation Village at Parkway for the trade & 6,990 plus 869. right then. It's week 31 / 92,500 points.

While I didn't feel extreme pressure from the guy who gave us the tour, the "I'll call her the closer" kept going over to somewhere out of sight and would come back with, "I can do this" or "That" for you today. I feel positive that everyone there got the full price they had paid previously as "the down payment" on the new buy. They kept asking if we had recieved something by registered mail a couple of years ago about converting to points and did I sign it. We told them we didn't know. She jumped up again, ran over somewhere and came back to say they could not verify that we had signed the form so "they had to let her give me this great deal"

While the guy Mike had explained the difference and the easier way to exchange (shorter trips, airline tickets etc) I was very interested in the shorter trips part. Understanding right off that the various tickets would probably be cheaper in the long run just paying for them.

We did "take the deal." Now I'm wondering if I made the right decision. Why do they have to say TODAY only? I feel I allowed the closer to push me.

I am looking for input about this scenario since I'm sure most of you are familiar with this. I have 6 more days that I can change my mind and revert back to my week at Bonaventure.

Thanks for your insight.

Barbara

 

[Timeseller]

How much did you spend? Do you want to take more than one week of vacation? What exactly did you own? Annual, EOY, 2br etc... How much did you pay originally. Is the main reason for switching just to get shorter vacations? Did you "trade" in your property for a completley different property with a different management company? Or did you truly get the equity that you had in it? How many maintence fees are you aying every year. Are those points you got every year?

Overall I am biased toward weeks vs. points. And you could probably buy for less on the resale market.

 

[frenchieinme]

Fixed weeks vs points??? Well let's see...

IMHO, fixed weeks vs. points is a purely individual decision based on one's own needs, wants & flexibility. I happen to own fixed weeks because at this point in time that meets my immediate needs, wants & flexibility. I have already made my car rental arrangements and flight arrangements for weeks 7 & 8 in 2008. I know what I am going to get when I want it and what I don't use I have rented and those people know for sure what they are getting and when. It works for me.

Now if I wnated to take a couple of short vacations at the same location or elsewhere, now that is another story. Points would be of more interest to me in that scenario. :whoopie:

Like timesharing itself, different folks have different needs and wants hence there are different means of meeting those needs---fixed weeks, points, floating weeks, 1/4 shares, etc... If we come up with more needs and wants, the timeshare industry will be there to fill that void whether or not we need or want it.

frenchieinme

 

[Timeshare Von]

Generally speaking, I think that any points system used for car rentals and/or airline tickets is more costly than if you were to just buy a ticket or rent a car.

The "short weekend" type trips often are only good if you can get to the resorts in your "system" for such short stays. For me living in the midwest, it is much more of a "trip" to get to most TS resorts so doing short one to three day stays just isn't a feasible way to plan travel.

The price to convert (did I really see $4995??) are typically very expensive too. If you want points, you can probably find a points package of a similar size through resale for less.

"Trading in" as it appears you were convinced to do, to buy something more seems even less like a deal to me.

P.S. It is the closer's job to push you! I would encourage you to rescind.

 

[elaine]

so, you gave your week back and paid $7K plus $869?

so, you bought 92,000 points for $7K. Is this a good deal? NO.
Is this an AWFUL deal? NO.
Can you revert back to your old week and spend less on a resale purchase to get about 92,000 points? YES.
For $5K or less (sometimes A LOT less), you should be able to buy a second timeshare that gets you about that # of points. Do you want a 2nd one? and a 2nd maint. fee? Or were you looking for more flexibility from your old week?
If you want a 2nd TS, then rescind and revert back to week #1 and then look on various resale sources for a few months until you see one that you fancy---the supply VASTLY outweighs the demand, so prices are rock bottom for most places.
If you want more felt from week #1, $7K is not great, but not awful for an upgrade to 92,000 points.

 

[babscarter]

Thank you for your responces. I'm going to rescind, donate my VV@B week to a charity, and vacation vicariously with my RCI membership. Then I'm going to watch E-Bay and purchase something with points later down the road.

Barbara

 

[Timeshare Von]

I'm curious why you are looking to get rid of your original week? I'm assuming it's paid off, so why not just keep it?

 

[babscarter]

The last several years I have taken a friend with me or we have gifted our week to friends/relatives. My husbands schedule and mine have seemed to prevent us both getting away at the same time for 7 or 8 days. We have been doing 4 day getaways etc. That's why the point system would suit our lifestyle better. So I figure why pay the MF (725.) on something that he and I have only used together 4 times in 11 years.

At least donating is high in my thoughts right now.

Barbara

 

[Timeshare Von]

Well I'm assuming you've paid your MF's for this year (2007) so I would take my time and make a good decision without rushing it. Looks like you're doing more homework on the donation route . . . so that's good.

Again, I truly hope you find a solution that works out for you in the long run

 

[frenchieinme]

Flexibility is the key to enjoying timesharing...

My husbands schedule and mine have seemed to prevent us both getting away at the same time for 7 or 8 days. We have been doing 4 day getaways etc. That's why the point system would suit our lifestyle better. So I figure why pay the MF (725.) on something that he and I have only used together 4 times in 11 years.

At least donating is high in my thoughts right now.

Barbara

Timesharing really requires one to be flexible. When the husband's schedule does not coincide with the wife's and you are able to use your timeshare 4 times in 11 years, this certainly does not show flexibility and in this situation owning timeshares is a bummer and something to be avoided. Just MHO.

frenchieinme