Help with RCI TPU & RCI Points

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

..and Yes you could have a resort that may have a week that would reward you in 50tpu and also have the ability to do a PFD (points for deposit) if you chose but I haven't seen many that would be at both.

Summer "crown" resorts in SC would actually fall into all three categories (high TPUs, high PFD and high points if a points resort and unit has been converted into points). I'm sure there are others but that is the first that comes to mind for me.

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

You won't be able to do PFD anyway since it's a points resort so it's a mute point for you unless you convert the week.

The seller said it has already been converted and receives like 46,500 points or can be deposited as a week for 51 TPU's so that is what I am trying to get my head around. If it's converted, does that mean I can't deposit it in weeks?

[gandalf252002 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close gandalf252002]

So after checking the acronyms, I now know what PFD stand for. However, this makes no sense to me if you buy a "Points" resort, you doing exchange using RCI points? What exactly is the difference between TPU and PFD?

Is this just two different systems within one and if you buy at one resort you do not get options in the other's?

You won't be able to do PFD anyway since it's a points resort so it's a mute point for you unless you convert the week.

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

The seller said it has already been converted and receives like 46,500 points or can be deposited as a week for 51 TPU's so that is what I am trying to get my head around. If it's converted, does that mean I can't deposit it in weeks?

I'm not sure to be honest.
You might have to cancel the points account in order to do this.
I've heard of people doing this to get the TPU's but I'm not sure if it's a necessity to do this.
46.5K points is definetely chump change compared to 50 TPU's so it would be worth cancelling the points account if they wouldn't let you do both.

What has the current owner been doing with this unit?
Have they used TPU's?
I'm assuming probably not since TPU's are so new.
They might be mistakenly marketing this unit or not being clear on how you'd have to get it back to the TPU's.
You might need to call RCI to get clarification on this one.

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

I'm not sure to be honest.
You might have to cancel the points account in order to do this.
I've heard of people doing this to get the TPU's but I'm not sure if it's a necessity to do this.
46.5K points is definetely chump change compared to 50 TPU's so it would be worth cancelling the points account if they wouldn't let you do both.

What has the current owner been doing with this unit?
Have they used TPU's?
I'm assuming probably not since TPU's are so new.
They might be mistakenly marketing this unit or not being clear on how you'd have to get it back to the TPU's.
You might need to call RCI to get clarification on this one.

Thanks so much, that is what I am worried about. We would actually use it every other year and then deposit hopefully for the TPU's so I would have to be 100% sure I was eligible for that route. Thanks so much!!

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

So after checking the acronyms, I now know what PFD stand for. However, this makes no sense to me if you buy a "Points" resort, you doing exchange using RCI points? What exactly is the difference between TPU and PFD?

Is this just two different systems within one and if you buy at one resort you do not get options in the other's?

Sorry for confusing you with all the timeshare jargon but TPU = Trade Power Units. TPU is the currency exchange RCI gives you for a "weeks" system unit that you give them for deposit and exchange.

PFD is a totally different system of points. It's also a currency that RCI gives you for your week but is the original points system developed by RCI and the developers to sell you an enhancement to the "weeks" system. It's only been around for about 10 years.

I guess since not everybody converted to RCI points they decided that it was time for another "enhancement" to the way exchanging is done.

Personally I do think it's an enhancement if you happen to own a week that gets high trade power units TPU's. If you don't then you're stuck like Chuck with a dog week that won't get you the good stuff for the most part unless you're partial to overdeveloped areas like Orlando. Like me.

Anyway, that is probably where your confusion is coming in. PFD (Points for Deposit) only works for weeks that are at resorts that have not sold any RCI points to any of their owners. Usually it's resorts that have long abandoned selling anything like alot of the converted beach motels of the 70's that went timeshare.

Because I own 2 weeks at one of those type places, I can get RCI points for my week or I can get TPU's. It's not an RCI converted week but acts like one when I want more RCI points. You pay a fee to convert. I believe it's $24 to do a PFD. Then you don't have to pay any combining fees and the exchange fees are lower than weeks exchanges. $139 as opposed to $189.

RCI points are in the thousands. Example, my week will get me 38,000 RCI points but if I deposit it to the RCI weeks side and get TPU's then I'll only get 20 TPUs. That's why you are seeing such different numbers. You have to own an already converted to RCI points week somewhere in order to do any PFD transactions.

I hope I didn't confuse you further.

[gandalf252002 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close gandalf252002]

No I follow pretty good on this one, basically to different systems within the same company and different values.

Pretty sad when you have to do comparison shopping in your own network. You have to know how many PFD or TPU's the resort you want into requires, then found out what you can get for your deposit. Calculate out per point / TPU and then figure out the better deal. Of course keeping in mind that of course these are probably STC at any time.

It is no wonder everyone hates RCI! So far for me it is the stupid exchange fee. $70 everytime I want to go away for a weekend on top of all the money already spent!

Sorry for confusing you with all the timeshare jargon but TPU = Trade Power Units. TPU is the currency exchange RCI gives you for a "weeks" system unit that you give them for deposit and exchange.

I hope I didn't confuse you further.

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

No I follow pretty good on this one, basically to different systems within the same company and different values.

Pretty sad when you have to do comparison shopping in your own network. You have to know how many PFD or TPU's the resort you want into requires, then found out what you can get for your deposit. Calculate out per point / TPU and then figure out the better deal. Of course keeping in mind that of course these are probably STC at any time.

It is no wonder everyone hates RCI! So far for me it is the stupid exchange fee. $70 everytime I want to go away for a weekend on top of all the money already spent!

I'm sure most average Jane/Joe TS owners haven't a clue that comparison shopping is even possible. It just frustrates those of us who've learned that there is a way not to overpay but it does require work on your part to get the best deal possible. Most people don't want to own 6 or 7 TS systems.
Frustrating part is in the end, RCI may go and last call the puppy and all your work is for not.

Life was much simpler when I only owned my 3 weeks that I used myself at the beach and a small RCI points package for the last minute stuff. But that was before I discovered this forum and all my enabling friends.

Now it's the thrill of the exchange deal.

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

It just frustrates those of us who've learned that there is a way not to overpay but it does require work on your part to get the best deal possible.

I'm going to confess that I've gotten beyond this. If I end up spending a few dollars more on vacation, but save hours (or days) of scouring exchange inventory, well, that works for me. It's vacation, after all, and even if you "overpay" a little, it is still probably a good deal.

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

I'm going to confess that I've gotten beyond this. If I end up spending a few dollars more on vacation, but save hours (or days) of scouring exchange inventory, well, that works for me. It's vacation, after all, and even if you "overpay" a little, it is still probably a good deal.

True, I've come to peace with it too.
I figure if I pay an average of $100 a night for a 2 bedroom in high rent zones like Sanibel/Marco, any way I got it, then it's a good deal.

That's also why I still own DVC even though it's not the most economical way to see the mouse but it sure is the most convenient and I'm great at point stretching since I go off season for the most part.

Of course if I know that I can pay $40 a night by waiting and taking a last call in the land of last calls like Orlando then that's my strategy. I'm usually planning a last minute gig anyway like today planning for April 11th so I'm not too picky and pretty content with whatever good deal I can get.

Luckily I still remember the days of Kissimmee motels so anything else is a step up, even Westgate.

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

I want to throw in my own confused understanding of things to get clarification where needed.

If you own a RCI Points week then you get the RCI points automatically each year. If you want to not get RCI points for a specific year, you can call RCI and tell them that (at the 13 month mark) and you get the use of the underlying week for that year only. However you CAN NOT then turn around and deposit that underlying week into RCI Weeks and get TPUs for it. You can rent the week, use the week, etc. but you CAN NOT deposit it into RCI Weeks for TPUs. The next year you can do the same thing again if you want to. So - if a week is actively in the Points system you can not get TPUs for it.

If you own a RCI Points weeks and you want TPUs then you have to 'uncovert' it. That means you tell RCI that you are removing the week from the Points system. I understand that there is no cost to do this (but am not 100% sure on this). Once the week is 'uncoverted', it is a regular week and you can deposit it for TPUs if you want to. You could not do PDF on the week as it is obviously at a Points resort and these are not eligible for PDF.

If at some future time you want to go back into the RCI Points system you'd have to pay to have the week converted back into points. Not usually a cost effective action to take, but you could do it.

A benefit of buying a high RCI Points week with a high TPU valued week as the underlying week is that you have good options. You can take the high RCI points or you can reserve the underlying high demand week and rent it or use it yourself or you can 'uncovert' it back into a pure week for depositing into RCI Weeks.

What I think the seller is doing in the Ops referenced ad is kinda implying that a buyer could move freely between actions. And that is not the case. RCI has effectively blocked such free movement.

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

I want to throw in my own confused understanding of things to get clarification where needed.

Thanks Jayne, I know you've done this so nothing better than first hand experience.

[gandalf252002 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close gandalf252002]

Last call's are great, when you live where there are lots of available places to go. For somebody like myself, there are limits to where I can go unless prepared to spend extra money on driving / flying costs. Everytime I make a rental I worry that if I wait, there is a better deal. The same time wondering will it still be available when the better prices come along?

I seem to be in the minority here having just recently purchased at the Westgate Palace. Even though I bought from the developer which I said I would never do. Looking at some prices online afterwards, I did not pay much more than some of the resales I saw available. What exactly is it people do not like about Westgate?

True, I've come to peace with it too.
I figure if I pay an average of $100 a night for a 2 bedroom in high rent zones like Sanibel/Marco, any way I got it, then it's a good deal.

That's also why I still own DVC even though it's not the most economical way to see the mouse but it sure is the most convenient and I'm great at point stretching since I go off season for the most part.

Of course if I know that I can pay $40 a night by waiting and taking a last call in the land of last calls like Orlando then that's my strategy. I'm usually planning a last minute gig anyway like today planning for April 11th so I'm not too picky and pretty content with whatever good deal I can get.

Luckily I still remember the days of Kissimmee motels so anything else is a step up, even Westgate.

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

What exactly is it people do not like about Westgate?

It's kind of an inside joke. Honestly I have no complaints about Westgate but I don't own there. The hatred seems to come from former owners.
I know current owners who are very happy with their Westgate but those owners don't frequent the forums.

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

The seller said it has already been converted and receives like 46,500 points or can be deposited as a week for 51 TPU's so that is what I am trying to get my head around. If it's converted, does that mean I can't deposit it in weeks?

Oops. Looks like someone answered your question as I didn't read all the way to the end before answering.

As been commented, 46,500 points is not really high in the RCI points world. This is especially so when compared to WC maintenance fees, which I believe are $600+ per year for a 1BR. With RCI points, you are targeting unit point costs to be $0.01 per point.

I can't remember but I believe Winnier's Circle units are sold as fixed weeks as opposed to floating weeks. Where did you get the 51 TPUs number from? Was that you playing around and finding that was the highest or that is the actual value of the week you are buying/able to reserve?

If you kept the unit in its current converted format of RCI points, you would not be able to deposit it in the the future as a week with TPU trade value. With fixed weeks converted to points, from month 13 to 12 prior to your check-in date, you get to decide if you want the actual use of that week. After that 12 mth mark, you are automatically assigned the points. If you say you want the use of the week and then decide at some point down the road, say 6 mths prior to the check-in you want to exchange it, you get assigned the previously discussed # of RCI points. So it is use of the actual week or points trade value, not TPUs.

If you decide not to keep the week in points, then you've given up the converson fee and would have to pay it again if you want to go back to points in the future. If your week truly gives you 51 TPUs, I would say you are better off on the weeks side of things as opposed to points.