Trade Power - NO week sees everything - Quality

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

Just thought I would start a thread about II trade power.

Thanks to ArtsieAng and other contributers , we have a great II EX-OP Board.

And it has become more and more apparent that QUALITY matters with II, even in flex-change (less then 60 days from check-in).

Depending on which resorts I search with, I see a VERY wide variety of resorts.
European resorts are the most apparent - I see MANY more European locations using a 'standard' resort - and not with Marriott, Sheraton or even Fairway of the Mountains - which has no II "Laurel or Pineapple".

I can 'see' Europe with Divi Resort, Ocean Club at Smugglers Beach (early summer Cape Cod) and Island Park Village, and sometimes Bluebeard's BeachClub.

DR and OC also see many different resorts in the US - I have never seen St Augustine until recently with these two resorts.

I am interested in hearing about others experiences.

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

I don't think this has been looked at as closely as it has with RCI, but I have definitely seen quality play a part with II. Once, when trading into a Williamsburg
five star (Wmsbg. Plantation) on the phone, the VC said that she would put me in the Manor Club which was more close in quality to my deposit. II is like for like in exchanging and this can sometimes be used over the phone to improve your trade.

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

Pat,

Thanks to ArtsieAng and other contributers , we have a great II EX-OP Board.

Thanks Pat!

Thanks to yourself, and others, as well. Also even tho it's not II, many thanks to Lawren, Ken & all the others that participate in making our ex-ops boards the best available.

And it has become more and more apparent that QUALITY matters with II, even in flex-change (less then 60 days from check-in).

Many people do not realize this, but it's true....All resorts DO NOT see everything during flexchange. For example.....Marriott, you may or may not be able to see certain Marriott resorts during flexchange. Not all other resorts will see Marriott's, even after the preference has been lifted. Also, the number of days that a Marriott will continue to be under the Marriott preference seems to vary during flexchange, based on the resort.

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

Restrictions are lifted during Glitches. Keep doing flex exchanges during the day and at different times you will pull different properties.

Be patient.

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

Restrictions are lifted during Glitches. Keep doing flex exchanges during the day and at different times you will pull different properties.

Be patient.

Yes, this is true..... although I think it can also be related to the constant addition of new inventory during the day.

But what I was specifically addressing is that our members post they can not 'see' a particular resort when they search online with their week - see yesterday/todays St Augustine and Ireland sightings - and are frustrated as to why - because they felt a particular ownership would 'see' everything - and it is not the case.

The reason I purchased at Foxrun 7 years ago was because I could NOT see much with my Gold Marriott week - it didn't have the 'power' to see all the 'good stuff' and the quality filter prevented me from seeing 'regular' stuff.

I would search with the 2BR Gold Mar (it was RED in II) and then the 2BR Red FXR - using the same dates and 'search all destinations' I might 'see' 20 areas with the Marriott and 50 areas with the FXR - FXR had the 'ability' to see slightly up and down in quality - Marriott would only see top rated resorts.

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

This is true, you will be seeing A LOT of different inventory even in flexchange.


II will not let for example Marriott owners exchange into a unit that its not equal to what they own, also keep in mind there's geographical restrictions.

If I use my Star Island to search availability in Orlando none of the Westgate properties will show up even if they have TONS available.

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

I know this is an old thread, but I just wanted to add my observations. A while ago, there were posts here about weeks being given away at Inverness at Walden II in Texas, which is, as I understand it, a fairly basic resort. I bought a couple of these weeks ("bought" being a relative term, since I just paid a closing fee) and now have a couple of them in my II account, and they don't see Marriotts until less than 60 days before check-in. I don't think this is a trade power issue, because my Inverness at Walden II weeks don't even see hurricane season studios in Orlando more than 60 days out, yet II gave me an AC for these weeks. The Inverness at Walden II units never see DVC, even during flexchange.

So, this is evidence that II's upwards quality filter is relaxed during flexchange, but not altogether eliminated. I don't know if the downwards filter is relaxed during flexchange; I would guess that it is not, because II doesn't want people complaining that the unit they received was far inferior to what they gave.

My Inverness at Walden II unit sees a lot of locations that are never seen by my better resorts, such as Falcon Point and Fairways of the Mountains. (Both of which are Select; Falcon Point was 5-star under the old system.) I assume that the resorts in these locations are too low in quality to be offered to Select resorts.

On the other hand, I'm not certain that RCI even has a upwards quality filter (that is, one that prevent low-quality resorts from trading into higher quality ones.) Does anyone know? RCI didn't have a problem with my little ol' Inverness at Walden II trading into a Grand Mayan , so I tend to think RCI has no upwards quality filter.

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

On the other hand, I'm not certain that RCI even has a upwards quality filter (that is, one that prevent low-quality resorts from trading into higher quality ones.) Does anyone know? RCI didn't have a problem with my little ol' Inverness at Walden II trading into a Grand Mayan , so I tend to think RCI has no upwards quality filter.

I believe RCI does have one, but it seems to be invoked less frequently. I base it on my experience comparing my 2 tiger traders, a standard one to a silver or gold crown - online they usually see identically, but there are a few GC resorts that have been excluded from the standard's range of vision. A couple of exchanges where I noticed this were the Anfi resorts, and Hilton NYC back when it traded in RCI.

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

Several years ago we wanted to exchange into Scotland for a weeks vacation. I had called to speak with an I.I. rep, something I very rarely do, about the exchange. She looked for us and then had to put me on hold. It appeared that she was going to need a supervisor to over ride I.I.'s exchange quality controls.

We did get the exchange and, I was aware that European resorts were not necessarily the same quality as the resorts we may be accustomed to in the U.S. What we were exchanging was an bonus week we had picked up from Marriott (actually a Hawaii week deposited in our name) as part of an incentive to buy our Marriott's Ocean Pointe week back in 2001.

The resort quality was FAR below that of Marriott's resorts and I can see some people complaining about the accomadations if they were expecting Marriott like quality. As it was, we knew it was an unrated resort, we knew quality and size standards were different in Europe and we were very happy to have a decent place to stay to explore Scotland. Now, would I exchange back into that resort in Scotland? Probabaly not as it really was more or less a rustic cabin. Would I want to exchange one of the weeks we owned for that particular resort? Only if we were desperate for the exchange.

Based on that one experience I can understand any quality controls I.I. might have. I can see members not being happy with an exchange such as we made and feeling they'd been ripped off. If enough complaints were received about lack of quality for what they gave up, I can see I.I. not wanting to sail those waters very often. Even if you explain to someone that the quality of the resort your trading into isn't the same quality your giving up, people will still feel ripped off and complain. It's probably easier to just not make those exchanges. Even if it does frustrate U.S. members wanting to exchange into Europe.

On the other hand, trading down to up doesn't seem to be as big of a problem. This could make things easier going from Europe to the U.S. I have a select (silver) weeks and I can often see weeks that are of better quality than that particular resort. They are not always the best of the best or even the better or more prime weeks but, it does trade up better than my top resorts trade down.

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

I know this is an old thread, but I just wanted to add my observations. A while ago, there were posts here about weeks being given away at Inverness at Walden II in Texas, which is, as I understand it, a fairly basic resort. I bought a couple of these weeks ("bought" being a relative term, since I just paid a closing fee) and now have a couple of them in my II account, and they don't see Marriotts until less than 60 days before check-in. I don't think this is a trade power issue, because my Inverness at Walden II weeks don't even see hurricane season studios in Orlando more than 60 days out, yet II gave me an AC for these weeks. The Inverness at Walden II units never see DVC, even during flexchange.
So, this is evidence that II's upward quality filter is relaxed during flexchange, but not altogether eliminated. I don't know if the downward filter is relaxed during flexchange; I would guess that it is not, because II doesn't want people complaining that the unit they received was far inferior to what they gave.

My Inverness at Walden II unit sees a lot of locations that are never seen by my better resorts, such as Falcon Point and Fairways of the Mountains. (Both of which are Select; Falcon Point was 5-star under the old system.) I assume that the resorts in these locations are too low in quality to be offered to Select resorts.
On the other hand, I'm not certain that RCI even has a upward quality filter (that is, one that prevent low-quality resorts from trading into higher quality ones.) Does anyone know? RCI didn't have a problem with my little ol' Inverness at Walden II trading into a Grand Mayan , so I tend to think RCI has no upward quality filter.

This is why it is nice to have 'different' resorts/ownerships.
I first purchased at Foxrun in 2002 (now own Fairway of the Mountains) to see a wider variety of resorts then I could see with my Marriott weeks. I also receive ACs

You seem surprised that you were offered an AC for Inverness because it doesn't 'see' Marriott level resorts - but that doesn't make it any less desirable in terms of location/season that II wants to be able to offer to its' members. Those resorts are the 'hidden' gems of II trading - usually lower fees and great trading power.

And yes, it is HARD to figure out RCI - but maybe not. With their 'relationship' with the Grupo Mayan - I believe the whole purpose of "1 in 5" rule is to lure fresh meat - oops! 'owners' of less opulent resorts to their lair and get them to buy - case close
Any rule/restriction that limits the ability to trade into a resort thru an EXCHANGE company is anti-exchange, plain and simple.... JMHO????

Aside from those mega-resort chains - they really do seem to value where and when u r giving over WHAT u r giving them.

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

Several years ago we wanted to exchange into Scotland for a weeks vacation. I had called to speak with an I.I. rep, something I very rarely do, about the exchange. She looked for us and then had to put me on hold. It appeared that she was going to need a supervisor to over ride I.I.'s exchange quality controls.

We did get the exchange and, I was aware that European resorts were not necessarily the same quality as the resorts we may be accustomed to in the U.S. What we were exchanging was an bonus week we had picked up from Marriott (actually a Hawaii week deposited in our name) as part of an incentive to buy our Marriott's Ocean Pointe week back in 2001.

The resort quality was FAR below that of Marriott's resorts and I can see some people complaining about the accommodations if they were expecting Marriott like quality. As it was, we knew it was an unrated resort, we knew quality and size standards were different in Europe and we were very happy to have a decent place to stay to explore Scotland. Now, would I exchange back into that resort in Scotland? Probably not as it really was more or less a rustic cabin. Would I want to exchange one of the weeks we owned for that particular resort? Only if we were desperate for the exchange.

Based on that one experience I can understand any quality controls I.I. might have. I can see members not being happy with an exchange such as we made and feeling they'd been ripped off. If enough complaints were received about lack of quality for what they gave up, I can see I.I. not wanting to sail those waters very often. Even if you explain to someone that the quality of the resort your trading into isn't the same quality your giving up, people will still feel ripped off and complain. It's probably easier to just not make those exchanges. Even if it does frustrate U.S. members wanting to exchange into Europe.

On the other hand, trading down to up doesn't seem to be as big of a problem. This could make things easier going from Europe to the U.S. I have a select (silver) weeks and I can often see weeks that are of better quality than that particular resort. They are not always the best of the best or even the better or more prime weeks but, it does trade up better than my top resorts trade down.

Thanks for sharing this experience - because it shows the difference in #1 - knowing ahead of time about the resort quality and # 2 - just doing an exchange and being very surprised and disappointed when u arrive.
It is very understandable why an exchange company would want to avoid # 2.

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

At other times and venues, it's been clear that RCI and II are emphatic about this issue of exchanger dissatisfaction, even when members have been advised a resort is lesser quality and the member has said they want the exchange anyway. These situations have obviously created major problems for them.

A lot of these lower quality resorts probably are not top rental properties; hence from a financial standpoint there would be little or no reason for the exchange companies to not try to collect exchange fees for these weeks. The fact that they heavily filter downward and make it extremely difficult for their staff to override indicates the resultant headaches aren't worth it for them.

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

I guess that is an advantage in using DRI points, as you do not get asked how many you wish to trade before getting the availability shown.

But it has got me wondering, does it mean that certain resorts will never show using DRI to trade as the resort is considered (on a week for week basis) to be superior to anything that DRI has?

[Sue S Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Sue S]

I guess that is an advantage in using DRI points, as you do not get asked how many you wish to trade before getting the availability shown.

But it has got me wondering, does it mean that certain resorts will never show using DRI to trade as the resort is considered (on a week for week basis) to be superior to anything that DRI has?

I think it might be more a case of the resorts being inferior to the DRI ones. Since the DRI takeover I'm able to see the 4 seasons resorts which I never could before but when Pat (or Lawren) posted a sighting of a resort in Ireland I wasn't able to see it. Also I now don't see some the Italian sightings and they are notoriously poor quality resorts.

Sue