Shell's new exchange II not as good as RCI . . .

[Daisy33 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Daisy33]

Since Shell Vacations Club switched exchanged companies from RCI to Interval International, has any SVC members realized that exchanging with II is not nearly as easy or enjoyable as RCI? Due to expiring RCI points by Dec 2011, I booked 2 short-term stays in Palm Springs and Lake Arrowhead with the greatest of ease. Now with Interval, the same 2 resorts are also in the II resort directory but they are not listed on II's ShortStay Exchange. This is so disappointing!! Not to mention that the II website is so confusing. Every resort I've checked out says nothing is available for selected dates.

In addition to that, SVC members were advised in the FAQs that after the switch to II on Jan 2, 2012, any RCI banked points can be retained with RCI or transferred to II. Our intent was to retain with RCI but when I called RCI, we were advised that our membership was cancelled Dec 29, 2011 because we failed to advise RCI that we wanted to stay with RCI. Shell's newsletter said NOTHING to SVC members about having to take action about our RCI banked points, only to wait until after Jan 2, 2012 to advise SVC. Did any other SVC members have this same issue? I emailed SVC but no has responded . . . Very poor communication for this conversion.

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

I can only assume that the resorts/weeks you are seeing with RCI would not be available with II. Can't see how the resort could give the same weeks to both trading agencies.

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

Assuming the change was to dual affiliation, the units available to the new affiliate (II) would be minimal. Once you get used to the II system, you will find it as easy to use or as likeable as RCI's system.

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

I have found that I get better value using II as compared to RCI! The resort I own is also dually affiliated. I think that once you get used to using the II website that you might find, like I did, that II is definitely BETTER than RCI.

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

In addition to that, SVC members were advised in the FAQs that after the switch to II on Jan 2, 2012, any RCI banked points can be retained with RCI or transferred to II. Our intent was to retain with RCI but when I called RCI, we were advised that our membership was cancelled Dec 29, 2011 because we failed to advise RCI that we wanted to stay with RCI. Shell's newsletter said NOTHING to SVC members about having to take action about our RCI banked points, only to wait until after Jan 2, 2012 to advise SVC. Did any other SVC members have this same issue? I emailed SVC but no has responded . . . Very poor communication for this conversion.

SVC should "make this right" for you.

I belong to RCI & II.
II is much easier to use - you just have to know how.

Example - you want to look for an exchange for Sept 15,2012 - you need to put in a 2 week range of dates...if u put in 9/15/12-9/22/12 'search all destinations' you are likely to get an error message.
If you change your dates to 9/15/12-9/30/12 you will get many results returned.

I am not sure what u mean by "short stay"?
Do you mean less then a 7 day stay?
I know that not all resorts participate in this but have no direct experience.

Some resorts are dual affiliated but it is still up to owners to chose where to deposit.
Some resorts seem to have much more availability in RCI then II or just the opposite.

Play around with the website - and ask more questions.
Personally I am happy to have SVC resorts with II, they are very nice resorts.

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

I have found that I get better value using II as compared to RCI! The resort I own is also dually affiliated. I think that once you get used to using the II website that you might find, like I did, that II is definitely BETTER than RCI.

Or you might not. II's website may be easier, but some of their rules are not. An extended week, for example, can only be used for last minute reservations. Their ongoing search rules are much more restrictive than RCI's.

I only have one resort that is II only. I've been tempted to sell the unit so I could drop II. Much better results from RCI, even with all their quirks.

Sheila

[Keep Traveling Member Find all posts View Profile Close Keep Traveling]

I'm just the opposite, so much more in II than RCI, considering dropping RCI.

I guess it all depends on where you go.

KT

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

As always, it will depend on what you are exchanging, and what you are hoping to get.

However, my experience with II is that ongoing searches there were even *more* important than with RCI. If you are only searching online, or just calling to see what is available, you will find II to be more frustrating than it needs to be. There are some other differences---all ongoing searches always auto-confirm, and cancelation policies are a little bit tougher, but...all in all I was happy with them when I used them.

[gandalf252002 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close gandalf252002]

My thoughts

Perhaps the OP did not provide an updated email address or they were going to junk mail? I received at LEAST five different notifications from either RCI or SVC regarding banked points and what actions need to be taken. This sounds like there was some misinterpretation, as I was well aware that calling was the only way to keep my points with RCI.

As for the other aspect, there will be those that would rather have the RCI resorts, and others that prefer the II resorts. Me, I am somewhat indifferent as I still have access to RCI with Blue Green. There are definitely some nice resorts with II to travel in.

That aside, my issue is in the COSTS! Although full week exchanges are the same points, the weekend stays are more. What people are loosing is the flexibility to book shorter stays on weekends. Unless you want to pay more, you are being forced to book full weeks instead of two short stays. The cost to flex change is more than it was with RCI, on top of higher point values for the days most people would be going.

[Daisy33 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Daisy33]

Thanks everyone for your replies. . . . It is very encouraging to hear other II experiences. I was hoping that the 2 resorts that I booked with RCI would be as easy as pie with II but it's not quite yet. I was so thrilled when they popped up on the II directory. Widening the search date range is a great tip.

The only RCI correspondence that my co-owner received was the erroneous email from RCI sent in Nov 2011 which was offering an extra year to continue banking RCI points to Dec 31, 2012. I only found out it was an error when I read a complaint on a consumer affairs forum. Sure enough, when we contacted RCI, they confirmed the email was sent in error. The only resort available was a one-night stay in Solano Beach on Christmas Eve for the remainder of the year. I guess in that sense, we're glad SVC's not using RCI. They did not send a follow up email or phone call about the email.

I'll be patient with II but as I mentioned in an earlier thread, we will venture forth with the other 23 SVC resorts we have yet to explore. For those who don't know SVC's Point & Play feature to check points and then book, that one is easy as pie! Happy travels everyone!

[SVC Customer Care Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close SVC Customer Care]

Since Shell Vacations Club switched exchanged companies from RCI to Interval International, has any SVC members realized that exchanging with II is not nearly as easy or enjoyable as RCI? Due to expiring RCI points by Dec 2011, I booked 2 short-term stays in Palm Springs and Lake Arrowhead with the greatest of ease. Now with Interval, the same 2 resorts are also in the II resort directory but they are not listed on II's ShortStay Exchange. This is so disappointing!! Not to mention that the II website is so confusing. Every resort I've checked out says nothing is available for selected dates.

In addition to that, SVC members were advised in the FAQs that after the switch to II on Jan 2, 2012, any RCI banked points can be retained with RCI or transferred to II. Our intent was to retain with RCI but when I called RCI, we were advised that our membership was cancelled Dec 29, 2011 because we failed to advise RCI that we wanted to stay with RCI. Shell's newsletter said NOTHING to SVC members about having to take action about our RCI banked points, only to wait until after Jan 2, 2012 to advise SVC. Did any other SVC members have this same issue? I emailed SVC but no has responded . . . Very poor communication for this conversion.

Hi Daisy - We think there may have been a misunderstanding on the deadline to move points. The deadline indeed was December 29th, but maybe we can still help you out. Can you give us a call in Customer Care at 888-947-4355? Then we can take a look at your account and lend a hand. Or, you can email us at customercare@shellvacationsclub.com. Thanks and we look forward to hearing from you soon!

[gandalf252002 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close gandalf252002]

Nice to see customer care is out there seeing what people are posting, to bad it has taken this long for someone to post on the TS4MS.

[Picker57 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Picker57]

Indeed....I didn't realize that anyone from SVC was sitting in on ANY of these forums.

OK....since I have your (SVC) attention, perhaps you can help me with a new problem. First off, we've been SVC members for approx 5 years and generally happy, I think the website is in need of major cleanup, I dislike the mandatory membership in RCI (now II), and we love the Shell properties. And when I read about all the problems with Diamond, Westgate, and some others I think SVC is a pretty stand-up outfit; it's worked well for us.

This morning I talked to the Shell desk to cancel one reservation and book another one. I was informed that, since I had made 4 (maybe they said "more than 4") reservations, I would now be responsible for additional housekeeping fees at our new booking. He said it was in the contract we signed. Really? My questions: (a)What the hell is this for, since we're not incurring any additional housekeeping chores? And (b) is there anywhere in the website where this little "nuance" is stated? We're planning on banking this (2nd) week with another exchange company, and I hope this thing from SVC doesn't screw it up.

Thanks for any light you can shine on my situation.

Zach Kaplan ......... Ft. Collins, CO

PS I did email these same concerns via the SVC website but haven't heard back yet.

[Daisy33 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Daisy33]

SVC Housekeeping Fees

Pickler -

Below is the link on the SVC site regarding housekeeping fees. Actually, these fees and the transactions fees were news to us since we usually book with the phone rep. Only last year, we discovered the SVC and RCI sites and finally booked online. Now that Interval is the exchange company, we decided that the only way to keep our sanity with SVC fees in addition to annual maintenance fees is to strictly stay at SVC resorts. Even with the housekeeping and transactions fees, our ownership cost savings are still beneficial.

Last Thanksgiving we had a 2-day at a pet-friendly RCI desert resort that charges $85 nightly rate to non-SVC members. Exchange fee was $59. In December we had a 2-day stay at an RCI mountain resort with same $59 exchange fee and mandatory $51 housekeeping fee. The non-SVC nightly rate was $160. Since both 2-day stays were on the weekend, our annual points were used up in 4 days. Essentially we paid $550 annual maintenance + $118 exchange + $51 housekeeping = $719 total. Same 2 stays had non-SVC value of $85+$85+$160+$160+$51=$541. Where's the logic? . . Lesson learned . . . stay only at SVC from Monday-Thursday. The exchange rate with Interval is no less than $119 for even a one-night stay . . . are they serious?

Biggest gripe with SVC resorts is that NONE are pet-friendly. . . very disappointing.



https://www.shellvacationsclub.com/GetMembersOnlyScreen.event?cc=club_trans_fees

[Picker57 Member Find all posts View Profile Close Picker57]

Daisy - Thanks for the link. I'm finding there are all sorts of little nooks and crannies in the SVC website that aren't readily apparent. That's another of my gripes with SVC - their website (at least in my hands) is completely non-intuitive.

Regarding the SVC / non-SVC reservations, actually both the one we cancelled (Holua) and the one we reserved (Starr Pass) are SVC resorts. Will check out the website link explaining fees, but either way I find a mandatory fee for a non-existent service really really annoying.

I think the SVC maintenance fees are a mixed bag - probably a bit high in general, but not awful (I've no idea what Marriott, etc charge). But some resorts are real bargains and some seem really expensive, relative to their points requirements. Yes, SVC during the week (Sun thru Thurs) IS the best bang for the buck.

Cheers,
Zach