RCI Deposit Calculator

[lawrence55 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close lawrence55]

Already deposited week 50 2010: 17
Max value shown by calculator for week 50 2010: 14 (current value 8)
Max value shown by calculator for week 50 2011: 13

I mistakenly recalled the 2011 value as being 14.

Have you looked at 2012 max value? Holiday calendar?

I researched my week 22 thinking maybe the 8 point discrepancy in value between years 2011 and 2012 was due to the Memorial Day Holiday, but Memorial Day falls on week 22 both years.

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

Both the numbers and the reason why matter to me. As it should to anyone using the system.

Sure. But, as Carolinian will take great pains to point out, you aren't going to ever be told the reason why. So, we can all make stuff up as our guesses, and that's great, but none of us---at least none of us who haven't worked for RCI recently---can really know for sure what the reasons are. We can only try to observe what the credits are, how they differ, how they change over time, and make use of our weeks with what information we *do* have.

My guess is still that you are seeing what some other experienced timesharers claim to have seen (though I have not seen this at my own resorts): for some reason, at some resorts, there is such a thing as depositing "too early". If that's the reason, then if you wait, your credit value will go up. If that's not the reason, it won't.

The other reasonable guesses are that, for some reason, RCI expects demand for weeks "similar to" yours will go down and/or supply to go up between 2011 and 2012. In that case, the credit value won't go up over time. Or, a third guess is that RCI simply screwed up. In that case, only your deity of choice knows whether it will ever get corrected or not.

If anyone has some way of knowing which of those guesses is right---without getting a job at RCI, because I'd rather keep the one I have---I'm all ears. Absent that, you have choices to make: deposit 2012 now with RCI (clearly not a good choice), deposit 2012 with an independent (better), or wait to see what happens until closer to a year out or maybe a little less (what I would do).

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

none of us---at least none of us who haven't worked for RCI recently---can really know for sure what the reasons are

You can include most of the people who work for RCI in that, including, since we have referred to them recently, Guides.

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

Naturally. You wouldn't expect someone being paid minimum wage (or, in the case of overseas call centers, less) to be privvy to the valuation system, would you?

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

I know you tend to knock me (and others) when you have a chance, and that at this particular time you are reveling in the moment , but I have had some fairly close working relationships with some above the entry level, when they and I were attempting to figure some things out. I know it's hard to believe, but there were some days when we (me and them) pulled together.

In one lengthy instance, I provided more than 100 pages of research to demonstrate a problem.

There was a time when they were sorta warm and fuzzy when they wanted to be.

&, yes, I understand I have worn out that welcome with some of them, even after the good work I have done for and with them. Such is life. Perhaps it's a good thing that I grabbed and saved their kudos.

There have been more than one instance when those trying to fix things could not because they were bumping their heads on that need to know ceiling. Propietary applies to all but few who work there. Very, very, very few.

There is a limit to what they see, and they fill the void with their guesses. Same as us, only some of us really do have extensive research into and experience in our subject matter.

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

I own 2 week 51s at the same resort. Many years ago I deposited one of them a little more than a year out and was so disappointed in the trading power that I held on to the other. Three months later I decided to go ahead and deposit the second week - and was shocked that it was FAR stronger. None of the RCI reps I spoke to could explain it. That was when I learned that you can deposit too early. This was at least 3 or 4 years ago, so I am not sure so much has changed. It is just more obvious now.

I also own week 51 at two different resorts and a week 8 at another resort and noticed trading power differences from year to year and concluded that trading power is determined by your dates and not week number.

For instance when week 51 comes out as December 23-30 in Aruba you will get the highest trading power available for that resort for that year since schools are closed for the entire week.

The same resort week 51 December 16-23, when there is a week 53 will have the same trade power as week 50 for all other years because none of these days have schools closed. I have seen this several times over the past 20 years of trading.

Similarly once every 7 or so years my week 8 came out to presidents week and traded like gangbusters when all other week 8 where the week after presidents week.

So my conclusion which makes sense is trading power goes by exact dates and demand for that particular week in that particular area and may fluctuate if you have a holiday week or other popular week in any given year.

If you own in an area where super bowl Sunday covers your week that year or the Olympics are at your location wouldn't you expect higher trading power?

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

I know you tend to knock me (and others) when you have a chance, and that at this particular time you are reveling in the moment

No, not at all. This time I am knocking the call centers. The folks staffing the Wyndham desk have been pretty good overall. But I hear some pretty awful horror stories by those who have to call the "regular desk".

Even so, I don't expect every person staffing the call-in numbers (the Guides) to know how the valuations are necessarily set. They probably have some pretty decent guidelines, but as you yourself point out---some of them just walked in off the street a few weeks ago.

In general, I don't particularly wish you ill will. I kid because I care.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

This time . . .

Oops.

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

Well, there's no reason to lie...

[lawrence55 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close lawrence55]

[QUOTE=bnoble;412756]Sure. But, as Carolinian will take great pains to point out, you aren't going to ever be told the reason why.[QUOTE]

That's what I've heard from the naysayers since the 80's. We've had multiple RCI "enhancements" since and we have indeed been "told the reason why" many things previously regarded as almost 'mystical' work as they do.

My belief is RCI has made these "enhancements" due to being querried and pressed by dissatisfied members, not because they are a benevolent, understanding entity. RCI is driven by profit, so the way to effect further "enhancements" is to continue suggesting improvements which can be shown to benefit both rci members and rci's bottom line.

My situation is a microcosm - I'm not depositing my 2012 weeks because of the substantially lower Maximum Trading Power value compared to my very same 2011 weeks for which rci offers no comprehendable explanation (yet). I'm seroiusly considering jumping ship to another network.

Sure, it's only around five hundred bucks a year for annual membership and exchange fees they won't be gettting from me. Multiply that by hundreds or possibly thousands of members experiencing this discrepancy - who also balk at doing biz with rci - and it adds up to a not insignificant hit. Combine this with a similar effects from just a handful of other discrepacies in the system and the potential economic hit can be shown to be substantial.

This, I submit, is what has driven rci to "tell us why" in the past and will continue to drive rci to make "enhancements" and "tell us why" in the future.


[Quote] ....for some reason, at some resorts, there is such a thing as depositing "too early". If that's the reason, then if you wait, your credit value will go up. If that's not the reason, it won't. [QUOTE]

If it is possible to deposit "too early", such a scenario serves to discourage early deposit. I'm sure I don't have to tell you, but deposits are as good as money in the bank to rci - once deposited with rci, the only way for a member to get that time back out is to pay rci The Fee. Fewer deposits equates to less revenue for rci.

Being "penalized" with a lower Trading Power value for depositing early doesn't appeal to me - I doubt it would to any member. If early deposits are discouraged by the system, there's going to be less inventory to choose from - I don't like that, either and doubt other members will. Reduced exchange choices serve to reduce the number of exchange requests which, in turn, reduces rci's revenue. Not to mention elevating member's frustration level and subsequent dissatisfaction with rci - which, in turn, serves to increase member attrition.

Not good for members, not good for rci's bottom line. Excellent motivation to address and remedy the issue. The 'fix' is win-win.

[QUOTE] We can only try to observe what the credits are, how they differ, how they change over time, and make use of our weeks with what information we *do* have.[QUOTE]

Yes. The next step is to use that observed information to make "squeaky wheel" noises and get some grease.

[lawrence55 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close lawrence55]

I also own week 51 at two different resorts and a week 8 at another resort and noticed trading power differences from year to year and concluded that trading power is determined by your dates and not week number.

For instance when week 51 comes out as December 23-30 in Aruba you will get the highest trading power available for that resort for that year since schools are closed for the entire week.

The same resort week 51 December 16-23, when there is a week 53 will have the same trade power as week 50 for all other years because none of these days have schools closed. I have seen this several times over the past 20 years of trading.

Similarly once every 7 or so years my week 8 came out to presidents week and traded like gangbusters when all other week 8 where the week after presidents week.

So my conclusion which makes sense is trading power goes by exact dates and demand for that particular week in that particular area and may fluctuate if you have a holiday week or other popular week in any given year.

If you own in an area where super bowl Sunday covers your week that year or the Olympics are at your location wouldn't you expect higher trading power?

Agree with you that a holiday or event falling within a week makes a difference in TP. Looked at my situation and Memorial Day falls on both of my '11 and '12 weeks - but the '11 gets 21pts and the '12 only 14pts. ?

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

Yes. The next step is to use that observed information to make "squeaky wheel" noises and get some grease.

Well, good luck with that. I have my own windmills at which to tilt.

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

Well, good luck with that. I have my own windmills at which to tilt.

Ok, that's pretty funny

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

If the deposit once done, the trading value will be fixed, than it is very likely RCI just push the openness of the trading power and actually overlook this part.

From what I read, before they open it, the trading power has kind of fluid, although most of the time it is fixed when it get deposit, but for the week deposit long enough, it sometime does see the trading power get reset up.

If that is the case, you have very good chance to have RCI fix this or have them relook at this area (not necessary they will do anything though).

Jya-Ning

[lawrence55 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close lawrence55]

The RCI Enhancements sounded appealing, so I logged on the site to check it out.

There is a tool called RCI Deposit Calculator which is supposed to calculate the Maximum Possible Value that each week can have. The tool is located under the Manage Your Weeks tab in the Deposit Tools and Resources box on the right of the screen.

Curiously, the RCI Deposit Calculator shows the Maximum Possible Value of my 2012 weeks as nearly half the Maximum Possible Value of the 2011 weeks in the same units, same resort.

Unit..Interval....Year........Max Value
P4B........22......2011.......18

P4A........22......2011.......21

P4B........22......2012.......12

P4A........22......2012.......14

I emailed RCI and asked for an explanation. Received a form letter response full of gobbedlygook which completely failed to address the issue. I have emailed RCI again asking for an explanation of the discrepancy but haven't yet received a reply.

Is anyone else seeing such huge differences in the value of their weeks from one year to the next with this tool or discovered an explanation?

Thanks

second rci response posted here:
http://www.timeshareforums.com/forum...y-later-3.html

Correction: The tool mentioned in the original post calculates what is called "Maximum Trading Power" value, not Maximum Possible Value as incorrectly stated in the original post. The figure implies that it is the maximum possible value, but does not specifically state that.
FYI, the tool also calculates another figure called "Current Trading Power" value for week(s) deposited now, today, in real time. Both useful additions.