RCI Weeks to offer value transparency - Finally!

[timeos2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close timeos2]

I have recently heard from two different RCI sources that, as part of the fallout from the ill-fated class action suit, the RCI Weeks system is going to undergo a major and unprecedented change. The long secret trade value is coming out from the shadows and will be used front and center as the new means for facilitating trades.

What that means is no more secret values. Instead each and every week will get a known value when you deposit - and what you want to get will also have a known value. This is a major breakthrough. It will finally give members a way to know what they have and what it will cost to get what they want. It is NOT another points systems (trades will remain as 7 days). It will have other features.

- Consolidating. The resort you deposit is worth 40 on the trade scale. The one you want (one of the best, highest demand in the system as we all seem to desire) demands 55. Yo can take a combined value of another week to reach the 55.

- Change back. You are the lucky owner who deposits a high value time worth 50 on the scale. You can travel in off season or can use a smaller unit at only 20. You get the "change back" (30 credits) for future trades.

Those are just a couple key basics. What a positive and long overdue change. With the values revealed and the ability to use multiple weeks and/or get change back the whole game changes. For the better.

Of course there will be losers as well. Those who knew how to game the system for free upgrades will now pay the going rate. Those who thought they had gold in some low value or over inventoried area will get less credits. Those who felt quality wasn't in the equation will learn it has a place. Overall I see this as a big step in the right direction for the broken weeks based exchange system that every exchange, not just RCI, should be looking at adopting.

[djyamyam Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close djyamyam]

If this happens, this would provide an opportunity for the average exchanger. However, I can see a whole bunch of crappy weeks being exchanged for that one good week. Makes me think of the current Redweek exchange system.

It'll definitely make it more interesting.

Any time idea on the time frame for this happening?

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

Very interesting info..... I guess we will wait and see.

BTW, will you know the value of your week BEFORE you deposit?
And the value required of those trades you want?
Whatdid your source say?

[timeos2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close timeos2]

Any time idea on the time frame for this happening?

I understand it will be announced within two months.

[timeos2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close timeos2]

BTW, will you know the value of your week BEFORE you deposit?
And the value required of those trades you want?
Whatdid your source say?

Yes to both.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

That means my crap weeks can now be combinded to get something good, I like that since I only pay just over $300 mf I will now combine them and it will still cost me less than what value I am trading for.

[wackymother Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close wackymother]

But what if you have a good week that's undervalued? Since RCI is determining the value....ughhhh. I just about had a system worked out.

And let me ask this. Somehow I'm suspecting there will be a way to pay money for an "upgrade," and over time those upgrades will cost more and more and more, and pretty soon everything will be an upgrade, no matter what you deposit.

[logan115 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close logan115]

Wow - guess it makes sense for me to hold off a few months before snagging a 2nd TS.

Also curious to know if they said anything about how frequently the values would be updated or would change.

Sounds like a great thing for the less informed such as myself, and appears that those who know how to play the game will also be able to exploit the new system as well. A win-win ?
Thanks,

Chris

[Carolinian Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Carolinian]

As long as values are dynamic instead of frozen, I have no problem with such a system in the broad sense. We will see about the details. The main concern is that the mechanism for setting values be transparent, as otherwise we will have the same problem as the RCI Points numbers racket; i.e. that developers would politick RCI for numbers that the market does not justify. Another big concern is whether values will be dynamic or not. The value of a deposit has always been set at time of deposit, which makes good sense, but its ultimate value depends on supply and demand at the time of deposit. The value of an exchange, likewise, is based on market conditions at the time the exchange is made. Removal of dynamic market conditions in the value on either end would be a huge negative for exchanging. However, doing so would help RCI justify diversion of weeks into rentals.

If RCI screws the pooch too much on this, it will just add to the reasons that owners need to be screaming to their boards to dual affiliate with II.

[timeos2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close timeos2]

Location and dates are a key - along with other things as well

As long as values are dynamic instead of frozen, I have no problem with such a system in the broad sense. We will see about the details. The main concern is that the mechanism for setting values be transparent, as otherwise we will have the same problem as the RCI Points numbers racket; i.e. that developers would politick RCI for numbers that the market does not justify. Another big concern is whether values will be dynamic or not. The value of a deposit has always been set at time of deposit, which makes good sense, but its ultimate value depends on supply and demand at the time of deposit. The value of an exchange, likewise, is based on market conditions at the time the exchange is made. Removal of dynamic market conditions in the value on either end would be a huge negative for exchanging. However, doing so would help RCI justify diversion of weeks into rentals.

If it's a sign of credibility then an interesting fact I heard was that in the system, if 60 is the top value (I'm not sure what the real number is so we'll use that) then the resort/week that holds the absolute top trade value of 60 happens to be a tiny, island based motel conversion studio of under 250 square feet. Why? Because the demand for the location/date is so great that it trumps even the nicest, 3+ bedroom palace with every amenity but happens to be located in an area that has more inventory vs requests.

It will be interesting to finally see where the true value lies and how the assumptions of the mystery value days play out.

[katiemack Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close katiemack]

An interesting development, but again, since RCI will set these values, there is that limitation to be considered.

[bnoble Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close bnoble]

On first blush, this certainly seems like a positive development---I also hope that the values are more dynamic than trade power has been in the past. These large discontinuous jumps are much more painful than a more gradual, but continuous change.

[3kids4me Super Moderator and Super Mom Find all posts View Profile Close 3kids4me]

This is just like points.

I'll bet that those weeks you have actually been exchanging like for like will suddenly require some extra cash to secure.

[Carolinian Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Carolinian]

I wonder if this will just be for the North American market for now, or if they will roll it all over the world?

This will be a real resort wrecker. HOA's need to move quickly to migrate their members to other exchange systems.

[Carolinian Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Carolinian]

This is just like points.

I'll bet that those weeks you have actually been exchanging like for like will suddenly require some extra cash to secure.

A good example is the overbuilt areas. We all know from experience that a blue week most anywhere has enough trading power to get a week in an overbuilt area whether Orlando or the Canary Islands. With this system, wanna bet that it no longer will? Wanna bet that they artificially inflate the ''value'' of overbuilt areas like they do in points? Maybe that is why the OP is so happy about this.