Conversion into DRI-Is it worth it?

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

I have a 2BR floating week at Arizona Villa Mirage with a MF of $860. Recently while on vacation there the sales team offered to convert this deeded property into the DRI points system 10,000pts + The Club + into the US Collection for $8500 + MF $1400.
At first I agreed and then declined. The follow-up sales person offered 11,000pts for $4500 + the Club and $235 added to my present MF.
I was also given the choice of a straight conversion with no purchase of additional points. It would convert to 9500 pts for $2995 + the Club + $235 added to my present MF.
Welcome to the land of confusion. I understand the flexibility of The Club over the deeded property. Obviously the first offer is out of the question. Which other offer is the best value for me.
Thanks to everyone

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

Welcome to TS4Ms!!!

I have a 2BR floating week at Arizona Villa Mirage with a MF of $860. Recently while on vacation there the sales team offered to convert this deeded property into the DRI points system 10,000pts + The Club + into the US Collection for $8500 + MF $1400.
At first I agreed and then declined. The follow-up sales person offered 11,000pts for $4500 + the Club and $235 added to my present MF.
I was also given the choice of a straight conversion with no purchase of additional points. It would convert to 9500 pts for $2995 + the Club + $235 added to my present MF.
Welcome to the land of confusion. I understand the flexibility of The Club over the deeded property. Obviously the first offer is out of the question. Which other offer is the best value for me.
Thanks to everyone

Assuming you mean Scottsdale Villa Mirage, only you can decide whether THE Club will work for you. You've already seen how much the sales weasel's story can change in price when you say no. Everthing else a timeshare saleswoman says can change, too, unless it's in writing and then the written rules can be changed when you don't have control over the Trust that you own in and the Club that you belong too. That's not to say that the benefits of THE Club won't outweigh the uncertainties.

There's a lot of information in this forum that YOU need to read and sift through. Only YOU can decide if THE Club conversion is worth it to you. Most Club members think it is great. It is very flexible, but you need to understand that the best value is use of the resorts and not all the add-ons where your value is severely diminished based on a $/pt view.

Some will tell you that if you convert you want the option to keep your deed at SVM. There have been resorts like Cypress Pointe Phase1 where the owners were able to oust the DRI predecessor and hire their choice of management company but these instances are few and far between. The developer's goal will always be to keep control of their cash cows even when it is not in the best interest of their owners and Club members.

Please read everything in this DRI forum, then cogitate, then read it again. Ask questions.

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

This question has been asked and responded to often times in the forum. As Spence recommended, spend some time reading threads with similar questions, as well learning about the quirks of the Club. Then you'll be in a position to decide whether the Club makes sense for you and you can figure out what the best way to get into the Club will be.

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

"Most all good Americans hate the Yankees. It is a value we cherish and pass on to our children like decency and democracy and the importance of a good breakfast." - William B. Mead

Includes Orioles fans but not Peter Angelos.

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

Conversion into DRI-Is it worth it?

JFTR, I think it is worth it, if you have enough points. My suggestion would be to convert, hold your deed, get an agreement to add two or three more contracts in a one year time frame at no additional cost, more points is better. Anything can be negotiated, especially near the end of a slow month. There is a list of sales centers in the stickies above, you might ask several to see which sales team is more desperate.

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

It Could Be Worth It but It Depends

I have found the Club great. However, you want to make sure that you receive enough points in your conversion to get at a minimum what you have now. For example, when I converted into Sunterra's club, I owned a 2 Bdrm at Scottsdale Links that I could stay at during any season for a week. I had no clue that when Sunterra took over that my 8500 points could only get me a stay during mid season and not peak season. When I bought the TS in red season which was the high season was peak season with the previous company. I had exchanged a few times and then when I tried to stay at my traditional Christmas season as I did with the old company, I did not have enough points.

I would suggest that if you can currently go at anytime to Scottsdale Village Mirage and are not limited to the time of year, that when you convert they give you enough points to at least cover that. If you can go at anytime then you would need a minimum 12000 points because that is what peak season in DRI will get you.

I own 30000 points and it is more than enough to do what I would like for it to do. I take lots of vacations since I live in California. I use flex time a lot so it requires half as many points. I look forward to retirement because I will really use a lot of time consecutively in places like Hawaii. I read yesterday on the DRI forum about a man who said he stays in one of the European resorts every year for 18 weeks. He has 26000 points. That is very, very possible.

The down side of having more points is a higher maintenance fee. However, if you have flexibility you can do a great deal with those points and stay places for long period of time and travel to different places cheaply if you know how to work the system. Sometimes using Interval Internation can get you a great place for less points but for the exchange fee. Club Select allows you to use your points and stay at a lot of great resorts around too.

So read more on this forum and Timeshare Users Group so that you can make an informed decision based upon what you would like to do that fits your needs.

[JoeMid Banned Find all posts View Profile Close JoeMid]

I have found the Club great. However, you want to make sure that you receive enough points in your conversion to get at a minimum what you have now. For example, when I converted into Sunterra's club, I owned a 2 Bdrm at Scottsdale Links that I could stay at during any season for a week. I had no clue that when Sunterra took over that my 8500 points could only get me a stay during mid season and not peak season. When I bought the TS in red season which was the high season was peak season with the previous company. I had exchanged a few times and then when I tried to stay at my traditional Christmas season as I did with the old company, I did not have enough points.

I would suggest that if you can currently go at anytime to Scottsdale Village Mirage and are not limited to the time of year, that when you convert they give you enough points to at least cover that. If you can go at anytime then you would need a minimum 12000 points because that is what peak season in DRI will get you.

I own 30000 points and it is more than enough to do what I would like for it to do. I take lots of vacations since I live in California. I use flex time a lot so it requires half as many points. I look forward to retirement because I will really use a lot of time consecutively in places like Hawaii. I read yesterday on the DRI forum about a man who said he stays in one of the European resorts every year for 18 weeks. He has 26000 points. That is very, very possible.

The down side of having more points is a higher maintenance fee. However, if you have flexibility you can do a great deal with those points and stay places for long period of time and travel to different places cheaply if you know how to work the system. Sometimes using Interval Internation can get you a great place for less points but for the exchange fee. Club Select allows you to use your points and stay at a lot of great resorts around too.

So read more on this forum and Timeshare Users Group so that you can make an informed decision based upon what you would like to do that fits your needs.

Unfortunately, while Spence said that anything can be negotiated, what you are saying probably won't be. The points assigned to his week will be what they already told him, which is an average of the points of all the weeks that his original float was. What I have seen negotiated for a float (if that's what he has) is that although he gets 9500 points.... at Villa Mirage and Villa Mirage only if he wants to book a higher value week that was originally in his float (and he holds the deed!!!) they will give him that higher valued week for the 9500 points.

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

I tried-but was rejected

Thanks to everyone for their input and guiding me to further research.
I brought up the point that my present Villa Mirage 2BR floating would get me a week anytime of the year while the 9500pts they offer would not cover the 12,000pts they want for peak season. He totally shot down that they would give me that amount of points,but, would put a grandfather clause in that I could use my points in exchange for any week of the year. Of course being a pessimist I think this will get totally screwed up when you talk to a travel counselor or try to book online (I already hear them saying "I don't know what you are talking about").
Presently I'm still a working man and only take 1 or 2 weeks vacation to go away and play golf away from NY. Although I have no problem with the weeks I go to Villa Mirage, in the future I might like to go to Palm Springs or somewhere else that the sun shines on the golf balls. Is it easier to just join II and deposit and exchange or is it tough to exchange? I usually plan vacations in May and Oct.
Everyone is a big help because I always feel these guys are trying to get the upper hand on you.

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

Thanks to everyone for their input and guiding me to further research.
I brought up the point that my present Villa Mirage 2BR floating would get me a week anytime of the year while the 9500pts they offer would not cover the 12,000pts they want for peak season. He totally shot down that they would give me that amount of points,but, would put a grandfather clause in that I could use my points in exchange for any week of the year. Of course being a pessimist I think this will get totally screwed up when you talk to a travel counselor or try to book online (I already hear them saying "I don't know what you are talking about").
Presently I'm still a working man and only take 1 or 2 weeks vacation to go away and play golf away from NY. Although I have no problem with the weeks I go to Villa Mirage, in the future I might like to go to Palm Springs or somewhere else that the sun shines on the golf balls. Is it easier to just join II and deposit and exchange or is it tough to exchange? I usually plan vacations in May and Oct.
Everyone is a big help because I always feel these guys are trying to get the upper hand on you.

I've seen what Joe has seen, get it in writing and you'll be fine, although you won't be able to do it online and you might have to 'elevate' to a supervisor; it works.

[JoeMid Banned Find all posts View Profile Close JoeMid]

Thanks to everyone for their input and guiding me to further research.
I brought up the point that my present Villa Mirage 2BR floating would get me a week anytime of the year while the 9500pts they offer would not cover the 12,000pts they want for peak season. He totally shot down that they would give me that amount of points,but, would put a grandfather clause in that I could use my points in exchange for any week of the year. Of course being a pessimist I think this will get totally screwed up when you talk to a travel counselor or try to book online (I already hear them saying "I don't know what you are talking about").
Presently I'm still a working man and only take 1 or 2 weeks vacation to go away and play golf away from NY. Although I have no problem with the weeks I go to Villa Mirage, in the future I might like to go to Palm Springs or somewhere else that the sun shines on the golf balls. Is it easier to just join II and deposit and exchange or is it tough to exchange? I usually plan vacations in May and Oct.
Everyone is a big help because I always feel these guys are trying to get the upper hand on you.

While I have heard that DRI was going to dual affiliate many of their managed resorts over time, you need to find out whether Scottsdale Villa Mirage is dual affiliated. I know that their Williamsburg resorts are only affiliated with RCI currently. You say - well why is Greensprings in the II catalog? - it is in the II catalog because it is affiliated through THE Club, not as an individual resort. This means that a Greensprings weeks owner (where their property is straight weeks and not pledged to THE Club) cannot deposit their week into II, only RCI or an independent exchange company that may accept it. My thoughts are that Villa Mirage may still be the same way and that you cannot deposit your week there currently with II.

[Ryne08 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ryne08]

Anything a sell person tell you get it in writing and have it signed off by all the right people at closing.

You want 12,000 points annually to use anytime of the year or no deal.

Listen to Spence from Northern Viriginia.

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

You want 12,000 points annually to use anytime of the year or no deal.

Won't happen as explained above by Joe and as OP divulged in later post.

Listen to Spence from Northern Viriginia.

NoVa, I don't think so, I've lived in Norfolk and in Williamsburg, but never Northern Virginia.

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

I've seen what Joe has seen, get it in writing and you'll be fine, although you won't be able to do it online and you might have to 'elevate' to a supervisor; it works.

You need to get the letter, and then make sure the information in the letter gets added to your account information. As mentioned, there's a good chance that you will still need to go above the person you talk with on the phone. And you can only do it on the phone; the on-line system will not recognize that your points allotment is good for any week at the resort.

[Ryne08 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ryne08]

Sorry Spence, I was under the impression you lived in our nation capital area.

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

Sorry Spence, I was under the impression you lived in our nation capital area.

I do. The Crumbling Capital of the Free World is bordered about 1/3 to NoVa and about 2/3 to the Free State of Maryland, although I am a Virginian by birth, guess where the wife is from.