Am I being unreasonable?

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

I'm pretty disgusted with II right now. Bottom line, I own a sleeps six oceanfront unit at the Pono Kai in Hawaii. Technically, it's a one bedroom with a loft, but in the loft is a true, very private king bed with a closet, dresser, etc. The bedroom has a Queen bed. It's a nice unit and sleeps six comfortably and sleeps four privately. I feel that I should be able to trade for a unit that sleeps six people.

I want to go to Orange Beach Al. in July 2011. The resort's one bedrooms units only sleep four people...there are two one bedrooms available for the exact time that I want to go. I'm willing to pay two exchange fees! II is saying no...they are also saying that I can't put in an ongoing search for a two bedroom because I don't have a two bedroom. I'm really angry. I said, "so basically I can't get a unit large enough to house my party in exchange...should I just never deposit my Pono Kai week again? Should I just cancel my II membership?" The rep said "yes, if you want to cancel I will transfer you to that department".

I think that I'm just about done with II.

What do you guys think?

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

The criteria for what constitutes a two-bedroom unit are quite clear, and it's clear that a loft, no matter how nice, does not quality as a second bedroom.

******

There really does have to be a very clear demarcation here as to what constitutes a two-bedroom unit. It would be almost impossible for II (or any other exchange company for that matter) to start evaluating units with lofts to decide which ones are nice enough or private enough to count as a second bedroom and which don't.

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

I feel your pain....we too own a 1Br at a TS and it sleeps six, and II won't allow the 6 part to count.....with RCI it was different. But II still overall has better inventory and we are much happier with II.

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

Why not take the one bedroom unit and look for Getaway Special @ the resort for that time period,

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

That is why I have never given II my 1 bedroom/two bath sleeps 6. Like KM, my resort is listed with II as a sleeps 4 and they won't change it. And even a loft, without a wall and a door, isn't really a private separate bedroom.

I think that II's flexibility in allowing two smaller exchanges that add up to the deposit is a generous one, and something not offered by the competition. But it does sound as though you are really asking for a "trade up" with the two full one bedrooms (that would sleep 8 and have two full baths/kitchens) you are trying to book.

[philsfan Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close philsfan]

What about the info posted in this thread? Someone got two units just by asking for them and paying a 2nd exchange fee. Not ideal, but it solves the problem.

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

I hear you.....but Hawaii vs Alabama...directly on the ocean vs. hang off the side of the balcony...CHRISTMAS BREAK vs. Summer...I'd say that it's close to even, especially with two exchange fees. Also, I just looked and I've given II over $700 in the last 12 months, and also renewed a membership thru 2014. It's not like I'm a crappy customer.

They just won't get my 2011 unit.

That is why I have never given II my 1 bedroom/two bath sleeps 6. Like KM, my resort is listed with II as a sleeps 4 and they won't change it. And even a loft, without a wall and a door, isn't really a private separate bedroom.

I think that II's flexibility in allowing two smaller exchanges that add up to the deposit is a generous one, and something not offered by the competition. But it does sound as though you are really asking for a "trade up" with the two full one bedrooms (that would sleep 8 and have two full baths/kitchens) you are trying to book.

[joycapecod Silver Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close joycapecod]

and sadly Holly, they won't care......

Joy

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

So true, so true. Not worth getting too upset over, but I can vote with my wallet.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

I hear you.....but Hawaii vs Alabama...directly on the ocean vs. hang off the side of the balcony...CHRISTMAS BREAK vs. Summer...I'd say that it's close to even, especially with two exchange fees. Also, I just looked and I've given II over $700 in the last 12 months, and also renewed a membership thru 2014. It's not like I'm a crappy customer.

They just won't get my 2011 unit.

I hear you. They don't get my Park City week, either, and I'm not giving them my usual deposit this year due to their new low in customer service and appreciation. Unfortch, they don't have a mechanism to make the type of flexibile comparison we can all agree would be more equalizing given all the factors you mention, their procedures don't allow for it.

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

I'm pretty disgusted with II right now. Bottom line, I own a sleeps six oceanfront unit at the Pono Kai in Hawaii. Technically, it's a one bedroom with a loft, but in the loft is a true, very private king bed with a closet, dresser, etc. The bedroom has a Queen bed. It's a nice unit and sleeps six comfortably and sleeps four privately. I feel that I should be able to trade for a unit that sleeps six people.

I want to go to Orange Beach Al. in July 2011. The resort's one bedrooms units only sleep four people...there are two one bedrooms available for the exact time that I want to go. I'm willing to pay two exchange fees! II is saying no...they are also saying that I can't put in an ongoing search for a two bedroom because I don't have a two bedroom. I'm really angry. I said, "so basically I can't get a unit large enough to house my party in exchange...should I just never deposit my Pono Kai week again? Should I just cancel my II membership?" The rep said "yes, if you want to cancel I will transfer you to that department".

I think that I'm just about done with II.

What do you guys think?

I hear you. They don't get my Park City week, either, and I'm not giving them my usual deposit this year due to their new low in customer service and appreciation. Unfortch, they don't have a mechanism to make the type of flexibile comparison we can all agree would be more equalizing given all the factors you mention, their procedures don't allow for it.

Yeah -

The OP is essentially arguing that her unit is more valuable (due to qualify of unit, location, season, etc.) and so she should be able to trade up to the two-bedroom.

As has often been noted, though, in II those factors don't get a lot of weight. II focuses more on matching the quality of the unit.

RCI, though, gives much more weight to the supply and demand of a unit. When we played in RCI's sandbox we had no problem at swapping our Winners Circle week 52 for two-bedroom units, even during peak periods.

******

If the OP wants to be able to make trades such as she describes, she needs to get out of II to do so. If she goes to RCI she will probably be able to make direct swaps. Also most independent exchange companies will allow her to exchange into a two-bedroom unit, but they will also add on an upgrade fee.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

Yeah -

The OP is essentially arguing that her unit is more valuable (due to qualify of unit, location, season, etc.) and so she should be able to trade up to the two-bedroom.

As has often been noted, though, in II those factors don't get a lot of weight. II focuses more on matching the quality of the unit.

RCI, though, gives much more weight to the supply and demand of a unit. When we played in RCI's sandbox we had no problem at swapping our Winners Circle week 52 for two-bedroom units, even during peak periods.

******

If the OP wants to be able to make trades such as she describes, she needs to get out of II to do so. If she goes to RCI she will probably be able to make direct swaps. Also most independent exchange companies will allow her to exchange into a two-bedroom unit, but they will also add on an upgrade fee.

And that is why SFX got my Park City week. They value it appropriately both in terms of quality and holiday, and will allow an upgrade if available. RCI cuts both ways - you can upgrade in size at no additional charge subject to availability (note that size is beginning to matter there), but if you are downgrading in size there is no option to book a second unit or to be otherwise compensated for the downgrade.

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

I'm pretty disgusted with II right now. Bottom line, I own a sleeps six oceanfront unit at the Pono Kai in Hawaii. Technically, it's a one bedroom with a loft, but in the loft is a true, very private king bed with a closet, dresser, etc. The bedroom has a Queen bed. It's a nice unit and sleeps six comfortably and sleeps four privately. I feel that I should be able to trade for a unit that sleeps six people.

I want to go to Orange Beach Al. in July 2011. The resort's one bedrooms units only sleep four people...there are two one bedrooms available for the exact time that I want to go. I'm willing to pay two exchange fees! II is saying no...they are also saying that I can't put in an ongoing search for a two bedroom because I don't have a two bedroom. I'm really angry. I said, "so basically I can't get a unit large enough to house my party in exchange...should I just never deposit my Pono Kai week again? Should I just cancel my II membership?" The rep said "yes, if you want to cancel I will transfer you to that department".

I think that I'm just about done with II.

What do you guys think?

Yes you're being unreasonable IMHO. You own a 1 bedroom sleeps 6, you'll only be able to make an ongoing exchange for a 1 bedroom. However, you can do your own search online and, if a larger unit is available, you should be able to confirm it. I've "traded up" this way many times.

FWIW, I'm in the same boat with RCI. I own a 2 bedroom loft that sleeps 8. It was originally sold as a 3 bedroom. Because the loft is not a fully private bedroom, RCI treats it as a 2 bedroom unit.

I don't know what the independant exchange companies work but, I assume I'll find the same situation exists with them as well.

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

Because the loft is not a fully private bedroom, RCI treats it as a 2 bedroom unit.

But, in RCI, the lack of the "formal" bedroom is much less of a hindrance than it would be in II.

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

It's funny...I have a Lake Condos at Big Sky unit that has a loft...there is a Queen or double (not sure) bed in the loft, and it's handy but I wouldn't call it a bedroom. It's not private, you can see it when you are in the living room...it's great for a kid to sleep in, etc.

On the other hand, the loft in Hawaii is really, truly a bedroom. It really is private...when we go there, we stay in the loft and put our daughter in the "bedroom"...the loft is bigger than the bedroom. The loft has a king sized bed...the bedroom has a queen. You can't see into the loft, the loft walls are about two feet from the cathedral ceiling...they should have just closed it in.

I recently went to the Cove at Yarmouth on Cape Cod and the bedroom was not closed in...it was same situation, but Interval calls that a one bedroom. Using the same criteria as they are using for my Pono Kai unit, they should call the Cove at Yarmouth one bedrooms, "studios with a loft". My Pono Kai unit is set up almost identically to the one we had at the Cove except that the Pono Kai has another bedroom on the first floor.

I think that I will reserve my PK unit again between Xmas and New Years and just try to rent it. Oh well.