RCI: Pay First, See What You Buy Later

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

Thanks for the links. Have any experience or recommendations? Yes, my resort, Seascape, is dual affiliated - rci and ii. But last time I checked - a few years ago when contemplating a switch - ii is also a cendent company.

II and RCI do not have the same owners. Here is an old thread that addresses the issue:

Is II owned by Cendant? - Timeshare Users Group Bulletin Boards

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

II and RCI do not have the same owners. Here is an old thread that addresses the issue:

Is II owned by Cendant? - Timeshare Users Group Bulletin Boards

They were a cendant company when I checked before. Now, Interval is an operating segment of Interval Leisure Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: IILG)

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

What week? What unit size?

A 6/4 and 4/2 lockout.

[philsfan Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close philsfan]

A 6/4 and 4/2 lockout.

htse only takes red time as deposits so the week is important. Also, their upgrade fees are among the highest so if you think you will want to trade for a 2 bdr with them, deposit it as a 2 bdr or be ready to pay $175 for a bigger unit.

Platinum interchange also charges upgrade fees for season or unit size. Not sure about trading places. DAE did not charge unit size upgrade fees in the past but I haven't checking recently.

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

htse only takes red time as deposits so the week is important. Also, their upgrade fees are among the highest so if you think you will want to trade for a 2 bdr with them, deposit it as a 2 bdr or be ready to pay $175 for a bigger unit.

Platinum interchange also charges upgrade fees for season or unit size. Not sure about trading places. DAE did not charge unit size upgrade fees in the past but I haven't checking recently.

Week 22, end of May/beginning of June, at the beach, red week.

Thanks for the info. Will check them out.

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

RCI Response to email inquiry

I sent separate email inquiries to rci recently about 2 issues.

1) Why does the rci trading power calculator show the Maximum Trading Power value of my two undeposited 2011 weeks as 21pts and 18pts but calculates a much lower value - 14pts and 12 pts, respectively - for the very same resort/unit/weeks for 2012?

2) Now that we have a "points" style enhancement, why can't members be allowed to the see the available vacation inventory and the trading power "price" for exchanges without having to deposit first? It's like going to the store and having to pay before getting to see the merchandise or even know if it is in stock!

Michelle chose to combine the response to these inquiries, below.

text of rci response:

Hello,

Thank you for your e-mails. We recognize you have sent two
messages to us. We will respond to both in this response. (For ease of

reference, I have pasted the second message below.)

Deposit Trading Power is set at the time of Deposit and is based on the
prior 24-month average history, using the components of Trading Power:

1. Supply, demand, utilization, and classification
2. Size and type of unit
3. How far in advance the week is Deposited prior to its start date

4. Comment card score for your resort
5. Seasonal designation of week Deposited

You can maximize your Deposit Trading Power by depositing your week 2
years to 9 months prior to the start date of the week. Once a week is
deposited, the Deposit Trading Power will not change unless an Exchange
is made with the Deposit and then cancelled. This can impact the Deposit

Trading Power depending on how far in advance of the start date the
Exchange is cancelled if you didn’t purchase Vacation Protection.
Otherwise, Deposit Trading Power is assigned at the time of Deposit and
does not change.

The RCI Weeks program has offered vacation exchanges for over 36 years.
During this time the program basics have changed very little. Our
members have told us clearly that enhancements to the Weeks Program,
such as those we are adding, would add benefit by providing more
flexibility and choice to the program. We are pleased to know you like
the added flexibility.

We understand how important vacations are to our members and strive to
provide the vacations they request. In order to request an exchange,
you
need to deposit your week first. If members could request exchanges
without depositing
their own vacation time, the exchange system could not function
effectively. Unlike hotel/motel reservations systems, our exchange
program is completely dependent on members’ deposited vacation time.
Since a member can deposit his week any time from two years to two weeks

before its start date, our inventory is constantly changing.

Exchange Trading Power is dynamic and routinely fluctuates based on the
components of Trading Power with the largest factor being current
forecasted supply and demand and utilization. If you would like to
learn more about Exchange Trading Power, you can access the Exchange
Planner via RCI.com. It will provide the average Exchange Trading Power
historically required to confirm into specific areas by month. To
locate the Exchange Planner, please log into your account, and select
the "Manage Your Deposits" tab. The Exchange Planner is located on the
right side of the page.

Kind Regards,

Michelle B.
Customer Communications Specialist
RCI North America

end text of rci response

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

I've been reading rci-speak for more than 20 years. Somehow through all the changes it has remained constant.
- - - - - -
As to II being Cendant, we were dual-affiliated for a long time, I pride myself for being fairly aware of things related to timesharing since I have done something related to it almost every day and communicated with owners around the world almost every day, for more than 12 years, but I missed that along the way.

Here's Cendant's history:

•Key Dates:
•1973: Walter A. Forbes creates Comp-U-Card, an electronic shopping company.
•1979: Forbes quits his day job to focus is efforts on Comp-U-Card; the company launches Comp-U-Store Online.
•1982: The company's name changes to Comp-U-Card International.
•1983: Comp-U-Card goes public.
•1985: The firm launches its Travelers Advantage program.
•1986: Revenues reach $90 million upon the success of its telephone shopping club; the company acquires Benefit Consultants Inc. and Madison Financial Corp.
•1987: Comp-U-Card officially adopts the name CUC International Inc.
•1990: Hospitality Franchise Systems Inc. (HFS) is created by The Blackstone Group and immediately acquires the Howard Johnson franchise system and the U.S.-based Ramada franchise system.
•1992: CUC acquires Entertainment Publications; HFS purchases Days Inn of America.
•1993: HFS becomes the largest corporate hotel chain operator in the world with the purchase of the rights to Super 8 Motels Inc.
•1995: CUC purchases Welcome Wagon International Inc.
•1996: HFS purchases Century 21, Knights Inn, Travelodge, Coldwell Banker, Avis Inc., and RCI; CUC acquires Davidson & Associates Inc. and Sierra Online.
•1997: HFS purchases CUC for $14 billion; the two companies merge together and form Cendant Corp.
•1998: Shareholders file suit against Cendant for accounting irregularities and fraud; negative publicity surrounds the company.
•1999: Cendant reaches a $2.8 billion settlement in the shareholder class action lawsuit.
•2000: Ernst & Young agrees to pay Cendant shareholders $335 million to settle the accounting fraud suit; Cendant acquires the AmeriHost Inn and AmeriHost Inn Suites brand names and franchising rights.
•2001: Cendant purchases Galileo International and Cheap Tickets Inc.


Read more: Cendant Corporation - Company Profile, Information, Business Description, History, Background Information on Cendant Corporation Cendant Corporation - Company Profile, Information, Business Description, History, Background Information on Cendant Corporation

In 2005 and 2006, Cendant broke up and spun off or sold its constituent businesses.

I had Cendant stock and now have two of the spinoffs. I think.

Interval International (II) is a publicly traded company and former subsidiary of the corporation IAC/InterActiveCorp and is headquartered in Miami, Florida, USA.

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

Platinum interchange also charges upgrade fees for season or unit size. DAE did not charge unit size upgrade fees in the past but I haven't checking recently.

Platinum charges a $97 fee for a bedroom upgrade and $97 only if your exchange is on a holiday week, not just a whole season differnece.

Therfore, I have been depositing holiday weeks and the bonus weeks gven by them then are also okay for any holiday weeks I might want in the future.


DAE charge for upgrading from a studio.

These upgrade fees are on top of very low exchange fees, so the fee comparison with RCI is similar, especially if you are plannign to combine RCI deposits for a $99 fee.

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

It just gets more expensive, even during a recession, doesn't it?

[philsfan Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close philsfan]

Platinum charges a $97 fee for a bedroom upgrade and $97 only if your exchange is on a holiday week, not just a whole season differnece.

That doesn't match my experience but it matches what they have on their web site exactly. Has it changed in the last two years?

In Decemeber of 2008 I called to ask about exchanging a 4th of July week in the middle of nowhere in Texas for a Mayan Palace Puerto Penasco unit in October, same size. I was told I would have to pay an upgrade fee because I was trading for a beach resort and I wasn't offering a beach resort as an exchange.

The next time I call, I will have the web site in front of me just in case.

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

If they claim to be using supply and demand, they need to prove it, but revealing their formula and data. The numbers their calculator spits out, in fact, prove the CONTRARY. See, for example, Allen House!

I sent separate email inquiries to rci recently about 2 issues.

1) Why does the rci trading power calculator show the Maximum Trading Power value of my two undeposited 2011 weeks as 21pts and 18pts but calculates a much lower value - 14pts and 12 pts, respectively - for the very same resort/unit/weeks for 2012?

2) Now that we have a "points" style enhancement, why can't members be allowed to the see the available vacation inventory and the trading power "price" for exchanges without having to deposit first? It's like going to the store and having to pay before getting to see the merchandise or even know if it is in stock!

Michelle chose to combine the response to these inquiries, below.

text of rci response:

Hello,

Thank you for your e-mails. We recognize you have sent two
messages to us. We will respond to both in this response. (For ease of

reference, I have pasted the second message below.)

Deposit Trading Power is set at the time of Deposit and is based on the
prior 24-month average history, using the components of Trading Power:

1. Supply, demand, utilization, and classification
2. Size and type of unit
3. How far in advance the week is Deposited prior to its start date

4. Comment card score for your resort
5. Seasonal designation of week Deposited

You can maximize your Deposit Trading Power by depositing your week 2
years to 9 months prior to the start date of the week. Once a week is
deposited, the Deposit Trading Power will not change unless an Exchange
is made with the Deposit and then cancelled. This can impact the Deposit

Trading Power depending on how far in advance of the start date the
Exchange is cancelled if you didn’t purchase Vacation Protection.
Otherwise, Deposit Trading Power is assigned at the time of Deposit and
does not change.

The RCI Weeks program has offered vacation exchanges for over 36 years.
During this time the program basics have changed very little. Our
members have told us clearly that enhancements to the Weeks Program,
such as those we are adding, would add benefit by providing more
flexibility and choice to the program. We are pleased to know you like
the added flexibility.

We understand how important vacations are to our members and strive to
provide the vacations they request. In order to request an exchange,
you
need to deposit your week first. If members could request exchanges
without depositing
their own vacation time, the exchange system could not function
effectively. Unlike hotel/motel reservations systems, our exchange
program is completely dependent on members’ deposited vacation time.
Since a member can deposit his week any time from two years to two weeks

before its start date, our inventory is constantly changing.

Exchange Trading Power is dynamic and routinely fluctuates based on the
components of Trading Power with the largest factor being current
forecasted supply and demand and utilization. If you would like to
learn more about Exchange Trading Power, you can access the Exchange
Planner via RCI.com. It will provide the average Exchange Trading Power
historically required to confirm into specific areas by month. To
locate the Exchange Planner, please log into your account, and select
the "Manage Your Deposits" tab. The Exchange Planner is located on the
right side of the page.

Kind Regards,

Michelle B.
Customer Communications Specialist
RCI North America

end text of rci response

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

Work-around deposit first

I happened to have just used my last weeks banked with rci for exchange just before the enhancements so I have nothing in the bank.

In searches, I'm blocked from seeing any available exchange inventory until and unless committing to deposit. All they show me is rental and last call inventory.

So I can't see the trading power values I'll have to pay for an exchange with the new system......

Here's a work-around I found to be successful if you are in a similar situation as I with no current deposits and want to be able to see the new trading power exchange values before you irrevocably commit to deposit in the new RCI "points lite" system:

Log on to your RCI account and select the Manage Deposts tab.

Deposit an RCI week well into the future for which you have not yet paid the maint. fee.

The RCI sysem allows immediate access to exchange inventory and the new values can been seen.

If you do not like what you see, just don't pay the maint. fee.

If you haven't paid the MF, RCI kicks the week out when they contact your resort for verification and they report it unpaid. (This takes a couple of weeks, as I recall. It may be longer at your resort. RCI will send you a notification. Do nothing and they eventally void the deposit.)

If you like what you see and want to play, just pay your resort MF so the deposit will be verified.

(Note: Your week will be tied up in limbo so you won't be able to use it with another exchange network until RCI voids the deposit)

Worked for me.

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

Interesting approach. You might even deposit one that you have subsequently sold, and there would be no danger of some snafu that left a week in RCI's clutches.

Here's a work-around I found to be successful if you are in a similar situation as I with no current deposits and want to be able to see the new trading power exchange values before you irrevocably commit to deposit in the new RCI "points lite" system:

Log on to your RCI account and select the Manage Deposts tab.

Deposit an RCI week well into the future for which you have not yet paid the maint. fee.

The RCI sysem allows immediate access to exchange inventory and the new values can been seen.

If you do not like what you see, just don't pay the maint. fee.

If you haven't paid the MF, RCI kicks the week out when they contact your resort for verification and they report it unpaid. (This takes a couple of weeks, as I recall. It may be longer at your resort. RCI will send you a notification. Do nothing and they eventally void the deposit.)

If you like what you see and want to play, just pay your resort MF so the deposit will be verified.

(Note: Your week will be tied up in limbo so you won't be able to use it with another exchange network until RCI voids the deposit)

Worked for me.

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

Interesting approach. You might even deposit one that you have subsequently sold, and there would be no danger of some snafu that left a week in RCI's clutches.

Seems like that would work, too.
One might also be able select a unit for deposit with RCI that has already been deposited with another exchange network. Seems like RCI might void such a deposit a bit more quickly , however, it might afford a couple of days access for a member to search through and evaluate exchange availability and trading power pricing in the wake of the "points lite" enhancements.

Does anyone know if resorts report back specifics to RCI (or any exchange network) that a week is already deposited elsewhere, MF unpaid, etc. or just generically "ineligible" for deposit?

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

I have never had any problem withdrawing a Spacebank deposit. For years I have deposited, searched, and decided whether to leave it in.