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Values in any honest points system should be based on supply and demand, not arbitrarily assigned numbers. Looking at summer UK versus dime-a-dozen overbuild areas in the US is a good example of how RCI's system does not truly reflect supply and demand.
There are about 100 timeshare resorts in the UK, most of them affiliated or dual affiliated with RCI. Out of all those timeshares, for summer 2013, the five months May through September, there are only 7 (seven) weeks availible, and 6 of those are in May or September. That reflects an extremely strong demand for the existing supply, yet the points lite values range from 19 to 36, with most in the 20s. That suggests underpointing when compared to the overbuilt areas in the US, for which there is an oversupply much of the year.
Another interesting point of comparision is the values given UK weeks, especially summer weeks, between RCI Points and RCI ''Weeks'' (aka Points Lite). Most of the weeks that are woefully underpointed in Points Lite receive much higher relative values in regular Points.
Of course within the UK there are variations in the supply / demand curve. London is probably the hardest exchange to get in the world and never appears online. Scotland and Wales are easier trades than England, and within England, the south, outside Cornwall, is the hardest to find.
Anyone who looks closely at the system and owns a high season or even mid season UK week, should avoid depositing in RCI ''Weeks'' because they will not be given fair value.
There are about 100 timeshare resorts in the UK, most of them affiliated or dual affiliated with RCI. Out of all those timeshares, for summer 2013, the five months May through September, there are only 7 (seven) weeks availible, and 6 of those are in May or September. That reflects an extremely strong demand for the existing supply, yet the points lite values range from 19 to 36, with most in the 20s. That suggests underpointing when compared to the overbuilt areas in the US, for which there is an oversupply much of the year.
Another interesting point of comparision is the values given UK weeks, especially summer weeks, between RCI Points and RCI ''Weeks'' (aka Points Lite). Most of the weeks that are woefully underpointed in Points Lite receive much higher relative values in regular Points.
Of course within the UK there are variations in the supply / demand curve. London is probably the hardest exchange to get in the world and never appears online. Scotland and Wales are easier trades than England, and within England, the south, outside Cornwall, is the hardest to find.
Anyone who looks closely at the system and owns a high season or even mid season UK week, should avoid depositing in RCI ''Weeks'' because they will not be given fair value.
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