Question about Right To Use Points in Mexico (on Ebay auction)

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

eBay

I am looking at El Cid in Mazatlan (see above link) and wondering if this is as good as it sounds.. I wouldn't mind going to it periodically but I was really looking for low maintenance fees and points I can trade within the Wyndham system.. I'm an owner right now and bought from the developer (I know, my mistake) but I got a small package and would like more points and I'm going resale the second time around.

Couple questions:

1. Anyone know why the maintenance fees are so low for so many points? Am I missing something? It can't be just because it's Mexico because there was an auction for the same resort, 77,000 points annually, with maintenance fees of $500 a year and this $700 for more than 3 times the points. It's a right to use until 2018 so maybe that's why because the 77,000 point one was RTU for 2028 - 10 more years. I don't know if that's why.

2. Is RTU any different than deeded points (other than the fact that it ends at some point and is not good forever.)? For the next 2 years, would I be able to use those points the same way I use my deeded points I have now? Anything I should know before buying RTU?

3. Can I combine the 244,000 RTU points with my 210,000 deeded points to get a resort that is 300,000 or do I need to use them separately since one is RTU and one is deeded?

4. Also, people mentioned doing due diligence before buying anything on ebay. Any suggestions for what kind of research I should do and where I should start other than looking at the seller's ebay feedback? Should I look up the closing company somewhere on google?

Thanks for the help.

Jill

[Jya-Ning Silver Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close Jya-Ning]

I have answered your question at tug. Now I get a chance to look at the eBay ad.

I am afraid it is not Wyndham point. So you may not mix use it with your point. From the ad I believe the old owner has converted it to El Cid point. And I have no idea how it behavors. I will expect if they treat Wyndham as affliate resort, and it is 1:1 ratio, but can not say it for sure.

Jya-Ning

[rikkis_playpen Diamond Club Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close rikkis_playpen]

I would also advise caution.. El Cid has sold both Wyndham points and an internal usage system. The El Cid availability is not shared between the systems (I've had instances where availability is not there for a Wyndham pts owner- but an El Cid owner can get the reservation). Also, don't expect m. fees to be lower for one contract than another. It seems to be a common misconception of eBay buyers that because one seller says his fees are lower than another- that the lower price may actually be available!

Annual fees and assessments are billed equally to owners. Equal owners of a timeshare system all pay the same thing- one just isn't either being truthful- or is simply mistaken..

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

I would also advise caution.. El Cid has sold both Wyndham points and an internal usage system. The El Cid availability is not shared between the systems (I've had instances where availability is not there for a Wyndham pts owner- but an El Cid owner can get the reservation). Also, don't expect m. fees to be lower for one contract than another. It seems to be a common misconception of eBay buyers that because one seller says his fees are lower than another- that the lower price may actually be available!

Annual fees and assessments are billed equally to owners. Equal owners of a timeshare system all pay the same thing- one just isn't either being truthful- or is simply mistaken..

Caution is a good thing. I wish my husband had been more cautious as he built his portfolio. Things to remember about El Cid

1) Only a portion of units are available for Fairfield point owners. This portion DECREASES as more Fairfield/El Cid point owners either convert to El Cid points OR their contracts expire.

I do not understand the Wyndham/Fairfield connection because we don't own Wyndham. My husband had El Cid weeks, converted to Fairfield several years back, then converted everything to El Cid points.

2) RE: The EBay auction for 77K points. Studios with mini kitchens are 90K. We think the 77K "Hotel Units" are in the older buildings like Granada. Even though El Moro tower is waterfront and El Cid Yacht Club is considered waterfront (a bit of a walk to the water from the harbor), not all properties are waterfront.

If I understand correctly, RCI determines status by factors like waterfront but then resorts can acquire additional properties across the street that are NOT waterfront. Although in El Cid's case, I like the swimming pool at Granada because there are solar panels on the nearby building. That pool is warm enough for me. I love to swim and El Cid Yacht Club's pools were only warm enough for me mid-day.

3) Contracts CANNOT be combined. If you buy 77K, you'd have to pay to internally bank to get 154K for a one bedroom every other year.

4) MF - our credit card is currently charged $588 per month ($7056 annually). Slightly less than last year. Some of those EBay ads listing $58 MF were providing the MONTHLY MF not annual.

MF calculations include a portion for ECVC El Cid Vacation Club. That might be why people have problems comparing MF in various resale contracts.

5) The customer service manager at the Mazatlan is first rate. His assistant is also first rate. Our at least for us. Not sure if having a $303K contract is part of the reason but they are very, very nice people. Reservations people are nice too. The American sales manager in Cozumel is the best TS employee I have ever met. I have many issues with other TS people at the resort though.

Hope this helps.