A Couple Final Comments

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

Past caring, but . . .

1. Regarding the new system, the TPUs needed to get an exchange should decline over time (closer to check-in) in the same increments as TPUs credited for depositing, instead of just falling off the table at the last minute.

< 14 days 45%
15 - 30 days 60%
31 - 90 days 80%
91 - 180 days 90%
181 - 275 days 95%
276+ days 100%

2. I have been on Internet timeshare forums for more than 10 years, almost daily, and the one constant has always been that one company, RCI, has the ability to pit folks against each other, like no other company.

Regardless of the business model du jour, they have always had the ability to make folks testy.

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

I'm not testy but am puzzled as to why you're not open to getting what you really want. The solution is in your hands. You might not like it but it's there. You just don't want to hear it.

But we still love you anyway.

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

I'm not testy but am puzzled as to why you're not open to getting what you really want. The solution is in your hands. You might not like it but it's there. You just don't want to hear it.

But we still love you anyway.

Although you have read most of my posts, you must have missed one.

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

Maybe I did miss one but here's a freebie TS in SW Fl for week 3.
Free HUGE timeshare - Timeshare Users Group Online Community Forums
It's a 3 bedroom.

I'll go back and see what I missed.

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

Maybe I did miss one but here's a freebie TS in SW Fl for week 3.
Free HUGE timeshare - Timeshare Users Group Online Community Forums
It's a 3 bedroom.

I'll go back and see what I missed.

NW FL

and free's a little high

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

NW FL

and free's a little high

That's not a bad MF for a 3 bedroom and you don't pay any exchange fees.
You're not gonna see $200 MF's on the beach/coast.
Insurance and taxes are skyhigh in FL.
This isn't Branson and this isn't 1970.

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

That's not a bad MF for a 3 bedroom and you don't pay any exchange fees.
You're not gonna see $200 MF's on the beach/coast.
Insurance and taxes are skyhigh in FL.
This isn't Branson and this isn't 1970.

It is not even 1995 - or 2000.
Things change over time...... blah blah blah.....

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

Some things change on their own, others ARE CHANGED, which is what is happening with RCI.

The other exchange companies are much more stable in their programs and do not play fruit basket turnover every time you turn around. RCI was stable back in the deHahn era but not in the Cendant/Wyndham era.

Most look at their personal situations and not much beyond that, and if the numbers have moved in their favor or not, and whether the mechanism of exchanging has become more convenient or less convenient for them personally. I look at those aspects, too, but as a former longtime HOA board member, I also look at RCI's machinations on HOA economics. That is where my big concern is, because by kicking the financial props out from under HOA's they are going to significantly raise m/f's and even cause HOA's to collapse. I am much more concerned about ongoing resort economics than I am about whether RCI can squeeze a nickel a little harder. We have some posters on timeshare boards who take the attitude that RCI should do whatever makes it a bit more in short term profits, no matter what the consequences are to HOA's and timeshare owners or indeed to RCI's long term prospects.

But it is really resort affiliates that need to wake up and take action.

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

It is not even 1995 - or 2000.
Things change over time...... blah blah blah.....

but there are some who refuse to get over it or refuse to move on or refuse to make the best of what you have and realize that times have changed.

I've been timesharing since 1988 and still own one of the original units I owned way back then. In 1988 the fees were $240, they are now $500, but I also make more now than in 1988......

Joy

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

It is not even 1995 - or 2000.
Things change over time...... blah blah blah.....

Back in 1995-2000 I didn't own TS and paid $900 a week for a comparable unit on the beach so those MF's don't seem unreasonable to me. For years LaHaina and Little Gull was my beach pad at those prices so I was part of the solution in helping those resorts stay solvent.

Carolinian, this is what resorts need to do, not blame RCI. Help owners rent their weeks. My beach resort helps their owners rent their weeks if they want that service. I know several people who have rented their units for just over MF's directly with the resort. Demonizing RCI doesn't solve any issues with HOA's. It's so easy to pass the buck.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

Back in 1995-2000 I didn't own TS and paid $900 a week for a comparable unit on the beach so those MF's don't seem unreasonable to me. For years LaHaina and Little Gull was my beach pad at those prices so I was part of the solution in helping those resorts stay solvent.

Carolinian, this is what resorts need to do not blame RCI. Help owners rent their weeks. My beach resort helps their owners rent their weeks if they want that service. I know several people who have rented their units for just over MF's directly with the resort. Demonizing RCI doesn't solve any issues with HOA's. It's so easy to pass the buck.

The inherent problem is that we have all learned to look for the deal. It starts with the hey a kitchen I can save $$ by eating some meals in and then you start shopping for airfare, it becomes ingrained.

I have gone to a LOT of places quite often over the years that I would not have if it weren't for cheap timeshare and low maintenance fees. A two bedroom in England for ~ $700? Caribbean for holiday ~ $700? Book it!

Our maintenance fees have gone up over the years. Who's haven't? RCI's fees have gone up too. Now using one week in exchange is getting in the $850 range but I'm not getting an equivilant vacation. This same company is now telling me I should invest TWO MFs AND give them another $100 bucks for the same vacation.

and THAT is the rub that a lot of us who own at Mugwump Swamp or their sister resorts are facing.

I am using myself as an example but I am down to one week ownership and because of the "in-house" no fee trade capability RCI will never see what used to be a tiger trader again.

There are ways to outfox the system but not everyone is going to be able to do it with thier current portfolios.

Gotta use your feet people. Mugwump might not even get you a nice quality last minute exchange any more.

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

See item 2 in OP.

For those who missed it, because there has been a lot to take in:

Since some here have complimented me (in a very round-about way ) over my ability to go with the flow and maximize whatever is sent my way RCI-wise (well, not exactly your words ), having had some time to evaluate what has been done to further adulterate their system, I intend to do exactly that, maximize.

I do not intend to attack the strength of the defense, but, rather, to take advantage of it's weaknesses.

It most likely will not involve them getting more money from us, and will most likely mean them getting less from us with which to make money off of others.

I fully expect that when large numbers start doing what I am going to do, RCI will change things again.

&

It took my buddy all of 15 minutes looking at the new program to make the same decision I have.

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

The inherent problem is that we have all learned to look for the deal. It starts with the hey a kitchen I can save $$ by eating some meals in and then you start shopping for airfare, it becomes ingrained.

I have gone to a LOT of places quite often over the years that I would not have if it weren't for cheap timeshare and low maintenance fees. A two bedroom in England for ~ $700? Caribbean for holiday ~ $700? Book it!

Our maintenance fees have gone up over the years. Who's haven't? RCI's fees have gone up too. Now using one week in exchange is getting in the $850 range but I'm not getting an equivilant vacation. This same company is now telling me I should invest TWO MFs AND give them another $100 bucks for the same vacation.

and THAT is the rub that a lot of us who own at Mugwump Swamp or their sister resorts are facing.

I am using myself as an example but I am down to one week ownership and because of the "in-house" no fee trade capability RCI will never see what used to be a tiger trader again.

There are ways to outfox the system but not everyone is going to be able to do it with thier current portfolios.

Gotta use your feet people. Mugwump might not even get you a nice quality last minute exchange any more.

Lawren, as you now know, it's location, location, location in real estate and that includes TS's. That is obviously a cardinal rule that was broken with many who purchased in mugwump swamp so they shouldn't be surprised that this is happening to them.

I think they should consider themselves lucky that for soooooooo many years they were truly blessed to be able to take advantage of a system that was obviously flawed.

Even I, as an uneducated TS owner purchased something that was in a decent location and something that I could use, not trade. The trading was way secondary to my decision to purchase. I really didn't even know about trading when I purchased. I learned that from you guys.

I just wanted a hedge against inflation on my yearly beach vacations which is what I got. $450 for a week at the beach in a 2 bedroom is a bargain and my reason for purchasing. The fact that RCI will give me 20 points is truly a secondary consideration.

My resort is on ebay for $1.00, so JLB, now is your chance to be on the sand for $450 a week. Enchanted Isle Hollywood FLORIDA RED Timeshare For Sale - eBay (item 370462537305 end time Dec-10-10 19:00:33 PST)
If you call the resort they'll give you a list of all the FSBO's. But if you watch ebay you'll see if come up. I bought both weeks on ebay.

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

Our maintenance fees have gone up over the years. Who's haven't? RCI's fees have gone up too. Now using one week in exchange is getting in the $850 range but I'm not getting an equivilant vacation. This same company is now telling me I should invest TWO MFs AND give them another $100 bucks for the same vacation.

and THAT is the rub that a lot of us who own at Mugwump Swamp or their sister resorts are facing.

For those folks, to save you the searching, just pick one:

Don't Worry
Be Happy
Don't Whine
Don't Pine
The solution is in your hands
Life is good
& Life will be good again
You can get what you want
It's a new game
YOU gotta change
Life is too short
You can get out and leave, get out and a keep telling old stories, or stay and play with the new rules
You take it or you leave it or you long for the good old days
The cookie crumbles multiple ways
It could go both ways
What are you waiting for?
Ain't gonna happen any more
Its not gonna get any better
It doesn't really matter what other people are doing
Some won/Some lost/Some both
Move On

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

Jim,
I actually do think that you had a great gig going for so long and do admire your ability to outfox the fox. I've learned alot from you guys but hate to see you so negative on something so wonderful as vacationing. Yes the rules have changed but that doesn't mean that it has to change you.