Just found this ebay auction, I think this fits as a horror story!

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

Hi Angela,

You are a multiple week owner already so should not have the problem! You will have to read the forum and learn how to really take advantage of the system. It becomes more important yet when you add on more weeks. I will send you a private pm about the warning I read once.

Congratulations in booking your Aruba week in February. I know how you like that resort.

I read somewhere too that many people don't take advantage yet of booking 13 months out but when more people start doing this, the tougher it will get for us, single week owners, to reserve a week.

emmy,

although i am a multiple week owner, i cannot take advantage of the 13 month rule.......my seasons do not coincide/overlap each other. one is winter, the other summer.

i was able to make my feb 9 reservation in aruba using the normal one week, 12 month rule.

as i previously stated......i have been lucky (once again, knocking wood).....

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

Timeos2:
How can someone take your TS unit if you have a fixed week and unit. I have several and would have them arrested for tresspassing if they occuppied my unit in my time slot. I am the owner in fee and are the only one who can decide who inhabits it. Carolinian is right.

They can't and that is the advantage of owning a fixed week and fixed unit. We own fixed weeks and fixed units in Mexico and in Maui too at the Maui Sunset.

Once, we arrived with guests at our unit and someone was in there. The owner had mixed up his dates. We had him removed the next day because it was late in the day but the resort had to put us up for one night and gave us an upgrade too. It was an honest mistake by the owner but the resort learned from this experience to check each owner's check-in date before they can occupy the unit.

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

Angela, you are right. This system is too complicated for me so we will never buy a second week!

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

I am reading this whole thread over because I do not want to bash the Marriott if it is not warranted. The OP wrote this:

Well if you own 2 weeks, at any resort, you could call 13 months in advance for reservations. So anyone who owns 2 weeks, anywhere in the Marriott Family, could bump you out of your home resort. ( that's funny, I dont recall being told this at the presentation) So I could have bought 2 weeks, at some less desirable resort, for the same price I purchased my Ocean Front, and stayed there anyway? Could you imagine the excitement I am feeling at this point?

You can only reserve early at the resort you own. As far as I know, you can deposit this week in II and hope to get the very best exchange week for that somewhere else. This may be the reason why outsiders can find these very desirable weeks but don't quote me as we hardly exchange.

I have to correct an error too in my own post and will use the strike-out feature, if it is still there.

I really don't like bashing the Marriott so that is why I removed my post last night but Ken asked me to reconsider.

Please, correct me if I am wrong!!!!!

emmy,

i also just re-read this thread, and the statement you have highlighted by the ebayer is incorrect, as you have stated.

in the marriott system, you can only book a week at the resort you own.......at any period in time......you must then use II to exchange your week, if you want to go to another resort.

and, as previously mentioned, there are other rules that must be followed in order to qualify for the 13 month rule........it is not as simple as owning two weeks.

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

Angela, you are right. This system is too complicated for me so we will never buy a second week!

emmy.....you're right, it is a little complicated. pat (grayfal) explained much of the system to me.....many times, especially the 13 month rule...... before i understood it.

and i am sure that i still don't understand it completely......but, i'm getting better.......

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

Im the one!

I happen to be the person on the ebay auction. My whole purpose for the auction was to be noticed. I got the idea from another auction on ebay. If you get the chance type in casement windows and read the auction for jen weld casment windows and all the attention he is receiving. Any way my plan is working, I am receiving many helpful emails. That is how I ended up here. I just want to be able to use my week, as it is a very beautiful resort. I like Myrtle Beach so much that I even bought property there. It is just very frustrating, that I cannot use my week, for 3 years now, when I want to. What really ticked me off was being told by a rep of the company, in not so many words, we can get in who we want to. very deceitful in deed. I just dont like all the promises, and no delivery! Any one who can help? it will be greatly appreciated.

[Chap7 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Chap7]

Welcome to the website. Too bad we didn't come together under better conditions. There are a lot of knowledgeable contributors here and hopefully, someone will be able to help you make the best out of your situation. I can certainly understand your frustration.

[Guest Close Quarterbore]

I happen to be the person on the ebay auction. My whole purpose for the auction was to be noticed. I got the idea from another auction on ebay. If you get the chance type in casement windows and read the auction for jen weld casment windows and all the attention he is receiving. Any way my plan is working, I am receiving many helpful emails. That is how I ended up here. I just want to be able to use my week, as it is a very beautiful resort. I like Myrtle Beach so much that I even bought property there. It is just very frustrating, that I cannot use my week, for 3 years now, when I want to. What really ticked me off was being told by a rep of the company, in not so many words, we can get in who we want to. very deceitful in deed. I just dont like all the promises, and no delivery! Any one who can help? it will be greatly appreciated.

Welcome,

I was the one that started the thread here and sent you an E-mail through your auction. There are a number of real experts on the site that can help you learn the ins and outs of the industry. Personally, I am no expert as we own two fixed weeks and we go where we own most years!

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

thanks

I was under the impression when I bought, that I would have no problem getting my week. I had no intention on trading as I bought there specifically to stay there. MB is just gorgeous and I have 2 small children, who love the beach. As a matter of fact, I was at Grande Vista in Orlando when I purchased MB. I just want to stay there. What to do?

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

I was under the impression when I bought, that I would have no problem getting my week. I had no intention on trading as I bought there specifically to stay there. MB is just gorgeous and I have 2 small children, who love the beach. As a matter of fact, I was at Grande Vista in Orlando when I purchased MB. I just want to stay there. What to do?

to TS4Ms

I don't now if I am an 'expert' but will add my thoughts as a 4 week (2 recently sold but buying another) Marriott owner for 5+ years and moderator of this forum.

First, only 50% of reservations for ALL/ANY given week are released at 13 months.
That means that at the 13 month or 13 month 2 week or 14 month mark ONLY 50% of the units will be available to reserve.
So when you are calling Marriott at 9 am Eastern time on the EXACT day you should, 50% of the units are still available to reserve.

Example: you want Sunday June 24,2007 checkin at MB - you should be calling Thursday June 22,2006 at 9am eastern to get that reservation.

Others on this thread are stating they do not think this is fair that 50% of reservations are given at 13 months but most TS 'systems' have 'perks' for owners/members who own large quantities of their product.
Some call it VIP - but most have advantages to owning more then one week or lots of points.

What you should do now?
I didn't check your auction but I after reading the thread I would suggest the following.

Call II and do a "Request First"
This is when you retain the right to use your week unless II fills your request.
Tell the II Marriott Rep that you will only accept one resort (MB) with one (Sunday) check-in date - they might try to talk you out of that but be firm.

Another suggestion would be to bite the bullet, keep your oceanfront week with the Friday check-in and rent a Friday night at the resort at the end of your stay....you could always leave Friday night, stay overnight on the way down...and arrive on Saturday staying until the following Saturday.

I know both of these suggestions are not ideal but at this point this is all I can offer.

There are definitely drawbacks to a floating system but for me the plusses outway the minus.
I enjoy having flexible travel plans each year - others like the security of knowing where and when they are going year after year.
I have never been disappointed in any of the Marriotts I have stayed in and look forward to many more.

As has been previously stated - some resorts have very unrealistic platinum periods - Newport Coast comes to mind.
An example of a great one is Aruba - Christmas week 51 to the end of April....all a wonderful timeto be in Aruba - if Platinum started in October and ran until the end of May...there would be a problem getting reservations because most people want to go from the holidays until Easter.

I sold my Gold Fairway Villas (NJ) because Gold season was from November until mid April...in Hilton Head - Gold runs into June when you can actually golf! So when Fairway Villas is sold out - Platinum owners will have a hard time gettting a June thru September resie - someones going to get 'stuck' with April, May and October.

I don't know if this was helpful but it is my $0.02

[Guest Close Quarterbore]

Ya know GrayFal, I just realized we don't have a private HOA forum here for Marriott owners... If you or anybody else would like to try to get a group going Frank and I can help you set it up!

Ken

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

Ya know GrayFal, I just realized we don't have a private HOA forum here for Marriott owners... If you or anybody else would like to try to get a group going Frank and I can help you set it up!

Ken

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

Thanks GrayFal

thanks for the .02 I called EXACTLY @ 9:00 am when I was supposed to. I did this 2 weeks in a row so that I could be flexable. Both times SOLD OUT. I dont want to have to go thru II every time I want my resort!!!!!!!!!!!! I appreciate all the solutions, I just want to be there at my convienience, not theirs. Thats why I bought this.

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

I was under the impression when I bought, that I would have no problem getting my week. I had no intention on trading as I bought there specifically to stay there. MB is just gorgeous and I have 2 small children, who love the beach. As a matter of fact, I was at Grande Vista in Orlando when I purchased MB. I just want to stay there. What to do?

hi gjradz, and welcome to ts4m's.......this is a great place to come and learn more about the timeshare industry. you will learn the good, the bad, and the ugly. also, it's a nice place to share your own experiences.

i'm sorry you have not been able to get your requested week, and enjoy your timeshare. hopefully, pat's ideas will be of help. if you do decide to give your week to ii, just be aware that they do not take "views" into consideration. therefore, you will not be guaranteed an ocean front view.

it's not a bad idea to stay an extra night in a hotel......it may not be perfect, but, it's doable, and at this point, i think better than the alternative.

since you own an ocean front unit, you will always have a harder time getting your first choice than others will. you need to be a little flexible in your dates.

as pat has suggested, make sure you call at 9 am the first day available to you for the date that you are requesting for the following year.....if the date you are requesting is not available, take the next best date, and call the next day, and the next day, etc.....many times people relinquish dates that are booked. so, what is not available one day, may become available a few days later.

good luck to you......i hope you manage to have a wonderful vacation......

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

Welcome, gjradz

Welcome to TS4MS! You will be educated here how to use your week to your advantage. Just hang around.

Pat,

gjradz had no intention in exchanging his home resort but wanted to stay there one week per year. He may have kids so only a few weeks will work for him and it is very hard to do if you are a single week owner. It is really bad if you cannot even stay at your home resort for which he paid enough!

Other people have had the same problem too. It has been posted in several threads already, especially with the NCV resort.

I still feel that one week owners are penalized and when we bought, this 13 month reservation option wasn't even there but we noticed a big difference when this came into effect. Before, it was easy to rent our condo but after the change, we couldn't do it anymore for the dates that people requested.

We solved our problem by making a few exchanges with the week the MVCI handed to us because we didn't ask for a date. They were the slowest time of the year, of course! I know this now but we still got decent exchanges and were happy with that plus we exchanged it for the MRPs too.

It is only since my DH retired that we wanted to start using our resort ourselves as we like the area. All three years, it was a nightmare to book reservations as I have stated here before. We no longer own at the MDSV-I as it was too much hassle for us.

I sympathize with gjradz and the Marriott has to do something about this. Can you imagine if owners of two weeks today start having difficulty booking their week too, do they now have to buy one more week to make it easier?