eBay 24Oct07 in a matter of about 15minutes the world has changed

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

I totally disagree with you. All but one of the auctions I discussed went for about the going rate of say 25cents/pt except for the one that went to 70cents. I was the runner-up on a couple of them, beat out by devbuyback. I spoke to DRI/Sunterra and they confirmed that they were getting active in this.

The specific auction you call out below I am e***. who was the runner-up.

The strange names - Hidden Identities - ALL sold from Sunterra locations - Diamond/Sunterra is dumping repos for cash and maintenance fees. They enter the price they want to get with a phony name (with no history) and if someone exceeds their "hidden "reserve" price, they will get the deal. Otherwise, the devbuyback gets the property back to list again and hope it sells at the price they want the next time. Pretty Slick! - AND, we will get a darn good deal on Sunterra because I believe that their property + II's property + their Points For Deposit (I cannot remember their name for this program) + their special rental rates for Sun Options owners is a true value. I am REAL tempted!

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

The strange names - Hidden Identities - ALL sold from Sunterra locations - Diamond/Sunterra is dumping repos for cash and maintenance fees. They enter the price they want to get with a phony name (with no history) and if someone exceeds their "hidden "reserve" price, they will get the deal. Otherwise, the devbuyback gets the property back to list again and hope it sells at the price they want the next time. Pretty Slick! - AND, we will get a darn good deal on Sunterra because I believe that their property + II's property + their Points For Deposit (I cannot remember their name for this program) + their special rental rates for Sun Options owners is a true value. I am REAL tempted!

You are wrong.

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

Not much meat on the bone

The strange names - Hidden Identities - ALL sold from Sunterra locations - Diamond/Sunterra is dumping repos for cash and maintenance fees. They enter the price they want to get with a phony name (with no history) and if someone exceeds their "hidden "reserve" price, they will get the deal. Otherwise, the devbuyback gets the property back to list again and hope it sells at the price they want the next time. Pretty Slick! - AND, we will get a darn good deal on Sunterra because I believe that their property + II's property + their Points For Deposit (I cannot remember their name for this program) + their special rental rates for Sun Options owners is a true value. I am REAL tempted!

This whole thread is a lot of unfounded theories and zero facts. But if they were doing what you say they would be in violation of a number of eBay rules. And no timeshare company would ever stretch the rules. Except may Wastegate but that goes without saying.

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

Spence, you are not seeing the entire picture.

You are wrong.

You disagreed - now you say I am wrong.

OK! I respect you opinion; but, I do not share your opinion and, frankly, am not sure I understand just what is your opinion.

You are the Sunterra expert. I am a Sun Options owner and have been for many years. Sunterra, when Nick Benson was president, there were a lot of questionable and, in Europe, shady business dealings. When Benson was terminated, the NEW management strenghtened its affiliation with II and have appeared, to me, that they now have all of their ducks in a row.

If you would study the EBay bids one by one, with a spreadsheet, each Auction with each auction - the bid history of the phony names who have made lots of bids and yet have NO ratings - if you look deeply at EACH auction, you just might come to my conclusion. I have no question that Diamond/Sunterra in involved in this Ebay deal, but I see this as a positive thing for Diamond/Sunterra and for Sun Options owners and an opportunity for many "newbies".

Having read this entire thread, I have not read any other viable answer mentioned. ALL companies can use cash - many NEED cash. Maintenance fees, as we all know, are mandatory for survival. Costs have skyrocketed primarily because of the questionable "management" tactics of the management companies.

Diamond/Sunterra can well have substantial and excess repo inventory that they need to turn. This is one method of turning their inventory and, this is the "off" season for timeshare sales.

Discussion through Timeshare Forums, with our knowledgeable base, could well be a great deal for BOTH the BUYER and the SELLER while Diamond/Sunterra will still have their high pressure "visits" WHICH will still bring them their big bucks.

Spence, I would appreciate your comments!

Re: Ebay - There has been game playing and outright lies going on for years in the timeshare section. EBay is just like RCI etc. - they want the bucks!
Ethics Smethics!
- 122,000 points for $ xxx.xx/year ( Two years points while mentioning 1 year of MF.)
- Biannual Points mentioned while showing only 1 year MF.
- Absolutely phony endorsements from "buyers"
- Quotes of MF's in Florida without including the VERY significant taxes.
- The totally phony hidden ID for the "buyer's protection". Yeah, right!

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

You disagreed - now you say I am wrong.

OK! I respect you opinion; but, I do not share your opinion and, frankly, am not sure I understand just what is your opinion.

Spence, I would appreciate your comments!

Re: Ebay - There has been game playing and outright lies going on for years in the timeshare section. EBay is just like RCI etc. - they want the bucks!
Ethics Smethics!
- 122,000 points for $ xxx.xx/year ( Two years points while mentioning 1 year of MF.)
- Biannual Points mentioned while showing only 1 year MF.
- Absolutely phony endorsements from "buyers"
- Quotes of MF's in Florida without including the VERY significant taxes.
- The totally phony hidden ID for the "buyer's protection". Yeah, right!

This thread is not about RCI points. It never was. I don't follow RCI Points on eBay so I won't comment on RCI Points. This thread was about Sunterra Trust SunOptions on eBay and the buyer devbuyback. devbuyback is buying Trust contracts from long established eBay sellers. Because of the cancelled auction discussed above we saw their buying ceiling of 70cents/pt. devbuyback and DRI/Sunterra is not selling on eBay in any manner. They are buying. They are not shilling. This is not just an opinion, I confirmed it on 25Oct. If you want to start a thread somewhere else on RCI Points auctions, you can bet I won't comment.

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

This thread is not about RCI points. It never was. I don't follow RCI Points on eBay so I won't comment on RCI Points. This thread was about Sunterra Trust SunOptions on eBay and the buyer devbuyback. devbuyback is buying Trust contracts from long established eBay sellers. Because of the cancelled auction discussed above we saw their buying ceiling of 70cents/pt. devbuyback and DRI/Sunterra is not selling on eBay in any manner. They are buying. They are not shilling. This is not just an opinion, I confirmed it on 25Oct. If you want to start a thread somewhere else on RCI Points auctions, you can bet I won't comment.

OK, now I understand why I'm watching Polo Towers units still under the radar. Polo Towers isn't in the trust yet so it's not trust points that are being purchased. It's still individual fixed weeks that can be converted to Sunoptions. I believe you stated the Polo Towers would be added to the trust but as of yet no one from Polo has contacted us about that.

Trust points make more sense if they are automatically in the points system without having to purchase a little something from the developer or pay a hefty fee to have them added. I think I can understand DRI going after trust points since they don't have an angle to sell more points or the conversion fee.

That is if I'm understanding this correctly.

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

OK, now I understand why I'm watching Polo Towers units still under the radar. Polo Towers isn't in the trust yet so it's not trust points that are being purchased. It's still individual fixed weeks that can be converted to Sunoptions. I believe you stated the Polo Towers would be added to the trust but as of yet no one from Polo has contacted us about that.
That is if I'm understanding this correctly.

I'm not sure if I understand you correctly but even if units at a particular resort are placed into the trust it does not mean that fixed weeks at that particular resort will have more value in the resale market actually it could be argued that it may slightly devalue units at that resort to other club owners who would like to have an extended window to book at the resort. For instance if I wanted an extended window to book The Edgewater Beach Resort I would have to purchase at that resort and do a conversion whereas if it was part of the trust I could use whatever trust points I have and access their trust (not club) inventory (13 month), meaning I wouldn't need to buy fixed weeks at Edgewater or Polo for that matter.

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

I'm not sure if I understand you correctly but even if units at a particular resort are placed into the trust it does not mean that fixed weeks at that particular resort will have more value in the resale market actually it could be argued that it may slightly devalue units at that resort to other club owners who would like to have an extended window to book at the resort. For instance if I wanted an extended window to book The Edgewater Beach Resort I would have to purchase at that resort and do a conversion whereas if it was part of the trust I could use whatever trust points I have and access their trust (not club) inventory (13 month), meaning I wouldn't need to buy fixed weeks at Edgewater or Polo for that matter.

You need to understand that, for example, if there is one unit, that one unit (be it a unit-week or a unit-year) at Polo in the Trust, that is the only time that the Trust owners get the 13month priority. All other inventory like people who put their deeded week into the Club isn't available to the Trust members until 10months ahead.

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

Never mind. I'm not certain I'm adding to this conversation or that I completely understand it after re-reading it.

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

I believe you stated the Polo Towers would be added to the trust but as of yet no one from Polo has contacted us about that.

Inventory that gets put into the Trust from Polo will be any inventory collected by the HOA or DRI. You won't be contacted per se, the only way your unit would be put into the Trust is if you took up their offer for conversion to the Club and gave up your deeds voluntarily to become a Trust member.

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

Inventory that gets put into the Trust from Polo will be any inventory collected by the HOA or DRI. You won't be contacted per se, the only way your unit would be put into the Trust is if you took up their offer for conversion to the Club and gave up your deeds voluntarily to become a Trust member.

Interestingly enough they started off the converstation by telling my I would NOT give up my deed. It was said in such a way they seemed sensitive to the subject. The trust was never brought up in our conversations nor was it offered as an option. Something I find interesting if they intend to include PT's in the trust. Should it ever become difficult for standard Club Sun members to get their desired week because PT's decided to offer the trust to enough people who excercised that 13 month rule and took up the good weeks to rent out, I can see that causing some owner unrest that weren't offered the option.

I don't really think it will be a problem so it's probably a moot point. For us I'm sure it won't be a problem as we don't intend to actually use our PT's weeks but will be exchanging them. Which was part of the reason I joined Club Sun to begin with. Internal exchanges to protect against I.I. becoming one large rental pool for deposits and to make better usage of our units via points for exchange through I.I.

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

This thread is not about RCI points. It never was. I don't follow RCI Points on eBay so I won't comment on RCI Points. This thread was about Sunterra Trust SunOptions on eBay and the buyer devbuyback. devbuyback is buying Trust contracts from long established eBay sellers. Because of the cancelled auction discussed above we saw their buying ceiling of 70cents/pt. devbuyback and DRI/Sunterra is not selling on eBay in any manner. They are buying. They are not shilling. This is not just an opinion, I confirmed it on 25Oct. If you want to start a thread somewhere else on RCI Points auctions, you can bet I won't comment.

HELLO! Is anyone there? Who the heck said I think thisthread was about RCI Points? You "claim" that you "confirmed" your opinion on Oct 25 with WHO? You say that schilling in not happening but EVERY indicator that I listed in previous posts supports my "theory". LOOK at the FACTS!

My mention of RCI Points was made to illustrate that timeshare EBay listers have been shilling on EBay for years AND EBAY HAS DONE NOTHING TO STOP IT.

You have your opinions and I have mine and we do not agree. So be it!

P.S. Who did you talk with at Diamond/Sunterra?

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

ding

You "claim" that you "confirmed" your opinion on Oct 25 with WHO? You say that schilling in not happening but EVERY indicator that I listed in previous posts supports my "theory". LOOK at the FACTS!

My mention of RCI Points was made to illustrate that timeshare EBay listers have been shilling on EBay for years AND EBAY HAS DONE NOTHING TO STOP IT.

You have your opinions and I have mine and we do not agree. So be it!
P.S. Who did you talk with at Diamond/Sunterra?

There are no such indicators. I attended the Trust Annual meeting on 25Oct and spoke to many DRI employees and I am not going to tell you who. You can disbelieve and be wrong all you want, it's certainly your right.

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

First off, I probably have no business posting in this thread (I'm an RCI Points owner)! I couldn't resist reading the thread with such a provocative title.

I have been around eBay for quite some time (registered and active buyer--and sometimes seller--beginning in 1998). Over the years I have turned in a number of bidders that I suspected of shilling, and eBay apparently agreed as their bids were cancelled, and in some cases their accounts were suspended.

I really do not see any evidence that "devbuyback" is shilling. He/she has bid on auctions from four different sellers. Most of those sellers have an extensive history on eBay. He/she doesn't seem to be pushing the bids higher throughout the auction: devbuyback apparently likes to place one bid, and that comes near the end of the auction. devbuyback has won every auction in which he/she has bid. Not a bad percentage!

I'm not sure what opkansas means about hidden identities. If he is referring to all of the asterisks in the user IDs of the bidders in the bid history, that is a new "feature" that eBay has added:

"eBay has changed how bid history information is displayed for higher-priced items. To help keep the eBay community safe, enhance bidder privacy, and protect our members from fraudulent emails, only you and the seller of the item can view your User ID in bid history. Other members will see anonymous names."

Now we can watch to see if devbuyback follows through on the wins to the satisfaction of the sellers. With a brand new account, zero feedback, and thousands of dollars spent, some of the sellers may feel a bit antsy.

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

First off, I probably have no business posting in this thread (I'm an RCI Points owner)! I couldn't resist reading the thread with such a provocative title.

I have been around eBay for quite some time (registered and active buyer--and sometimes seller--beginning in 1998). Over the years I have turned in a number of bidders that I suspected of shilling, and eBay apparently agreed as their bids were cancelled, and in some cases their accounts were suspended.

I really do not see any evidence that "devbuyback" is shilling. He/she has bid on auctions from four different sellers. Most of those sellers have an extensive history on eBay. He/she doesn't seem to be pushing the bids higher throughout the auction: devbuyback apparently likes to place one bid, and that comes near the end of the auction. devbuyback has won every auction in which he/she has bid. Not a bad percentage!

I'm not sure what opkansas means about hidden identities. If he is referring to all of the asterisks in the user IDs of the bidders in the bid history, that is a new "feature" that eBay has added:

"eBay has changed how bid history information is displayed for higher-priced items. To help keep the eBay community safe, enhance bidder privacy, and protect our members from fraudulent emails, only you and the seller of the item can view your User ID in bid history. Other members will see anonymous names."

Now we can watch to see if devbuyback follows through on the wins to the satisfaction of the sellers. With a brand new account, zero feedback, and thousands of dollars spent, some of the sellers may feel a bit antsy.

A much more reasonable evaluation. dbb did get outbid on one auction above and that's where we saw their 'limit' of 70cents/pt (CC considered). That auction was later cancelled because of problems with the winning bidder who was not dbb.