TPU Calculator

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

Ok, so I have decided that I am at least going to start looking at purchasing into an actual RCI resort.

Having been around a little while I am obviously going to start looking at stuff that is nearby so being in Ontario what is there in Nearby NY, ON, MI and perhaps even upper PA, or OH. Are there any actual RCI resorts in these area's that I can buy into?

My other questions is whether the only way for me to find out what the TPU's I would be able to get is by actually making a purchase? For example eBay item350462249679 what kind of TPU could I expect? Sands Ocean Club week 3, 1 BDRM?

Another recommendation was a triennial package but I am more interested in some of these last minute low TPU weeks. I am not seeing much in the way of "low cost" points weeks like with the TPU's and figure this is probably the way of the future whether I like it or not.

[rapmarks Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close rapmarks]

that has a trading power of 8

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

The answer to question I believe you are asking, you can determine the TPU du jour for any unit any week at any resort.

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

Look for the brightest red week you can find at a resort. New Years or Week 7 in US ski resorts. Week 26/week 27 in beach resorts but most summer weeks at beach resorts do well. Ideally you don't want a resort that is 1 season only look for something that is 3 or 4 season. You also get the best bang in RCI with lock off units. Its better to pay a little for a better unit than to get a dud for a $1.00 but some decent units still slip thought for $1-$500.

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

Anything in SW FL Weeks 1-14 would be good.

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

If I understand what you are saying, I get that the TPU's RCI assigns is STC and may very on when it is deposited etc, but as a general rule of thumb it appears you have to be an RCI member to use the calculator (thanks RapMarks).

The answer to question I believe you are asking, you can determine the TPU du jour for any unit any week at any resort.

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

Ok, so now I have three more questions and promise I will go away! Just to make sure I understand everything and do not make any mistakes (as I undoutably will any way)

How do I differentiate which are resorts near me are actual RCI resorts? ie not just a part of RCI's exchange program but an actual RCI resort? There is no point in me getting into RCI unless there is a nearby resort. From what I can tell Georgian Manor in Collingwood is, but not sure if there are others.

My other question is this; If I purchase a deeded RCI resort that get's me into TPU's and if I purchase a RCI points package at a resort that get's me into the points system. The two of these are mutually exclusive and one precludes the other.

Finally, the piece de resistance; Once I have purchased either will this allow me to say reserve a week with another program and desposit? For example, if I book a week with SVC or BlueGreen, can I deposit to RCI in order to get TPU's?

The reason I ask this is having done some comparison's it would be more beneficial to book a week and deposit it, then to use the points of my internal program to make the reservation.

Thanks again for all your help!

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

If I understand what you are saying, I get that the TPU's RCI assigns is STC and may very on when it is deposited etc, but as a general rule of thumb it appears you have to be an RCI member to use the calculator (thanks RapMarks).

What I am saying is that for those of us who have done a bit of searching and paying attention, there has been inconsistencies in both values assigned to deposits and values necessary for an exchange.

I have weeks that the deposit values have changed for in the short time since last November.

I believe it is something that is intended to be in a state of flux, as has always been the case concerning Trading Power.

As for being a member to use the TPU Calculator, I see that as a non-issue for those using this or other forums, as there is always someone ready and willing to do that for non-RCI subscribers, as there has always been someone ready and willing to provide trading power information.

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

Yep, then we are certainly on the same page. I just hate having to ask everytime I look at something. However you guys have given me some good advice as to where and what I should look for to maximize the POSSIBLE TPU's! If nothing else, at least I can make an estimate. For example that 8 TPU for the one I was looking at would not get me to timbuktoo!

One thing I have noticed, and perhaps somebody else can answer this one. Having viewed a eMidSouth video, it looks like one advantage of having an RCI account is to view only availability based on points required. This does not appear to be a part of the mini-systems so is this exclusive to RCI? The video shows a search done using a limited of 7500 points so I would suspect the same can be done on the TPU program? Maybe I should get one of both systems .

What I am saying is that for those of us who have done a bit of searching and paying attention, there has been inconsistencies in both values assigned to deposits and values necessary for an exchange.

I have weeks that the deposit values have changed for in the short time since last November.

I believe it is something that is intended to be in a state of flux, as has always been the case concerning Trading Power.

As for being a member to use the TPU Calculator, I see that as a non-issue for those using this or other forums, as there is always someone ready and willing to do that for non-RCI subscribers, as there has always been someone ready and willing to provide trading power information.

[rod Member Find all posts View Profile Close rod]

How do I differentiate which are resorts near me are actual RCI resorts? ie not just a part of RCI's exchange program but an actual RCI resort? There is no point in me getting into RCI unless there is a nearby resort. From what I can tell Georgian Manor in Collingwood is, but not sure if there are others.

There are no "actual RCI resorts." RCI is an exchange company, not a resort developer.

RCI has 2 different types of exchange programs, weeks and points -- some resorts are affiliated as weeks only, some resorts are affiliated as points only, and some are affiliated as both. The weeks exchange program is the one with the TPU's.

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

Yikes! So, if I am correct (having been provided this information from another gracious user) can find a potential purchase on eBay and then go to the RCI website to find out if it is points, weeks or both to determine which whether I will be using TPU's or points? I do not want to rely on the seller to give me the correct information.

Forgive my ignorance, but this whole thing has me baffled tremendously. RCI is not nearly as simple as my BG and SVC stuff! I guess the info I need is what are the closest RCI affiliated resorts that I can purchase to have access to the TPU and/or Points programs and will this allow me to deposit weeks' booked in another company such as BGU or SVC.

There are no "actual RCI resorts." RCI is an exchange company, not a resort developer.

RCI has 2 different types of exchange programs, weeks and points -- some resorts are affiliated as weeks only, some resorts are affiliated as points only, and some are affiliated as both. The weeks exchange program is the one with the TPU's.

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

You can access the RCI directory without being a member simply by going to RCI.com. You can then see all the resorts that exchange with RCI.

[coachb Member Find all posts View Profile Close coachb]

whenever I have these type of questions I call RCI directly. I tell them I'm thinking of joining and I'm asking for some guidance. Based on these conversations, I booked a certain week at my resort which I'll deposit in September. They were very helpful.

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

whenever I have these type of questions I call RCI directly. I tell them I'm thinking of joining and I'm asking for some guidance. Based on these conversations, I booked a certain week at my resort which I'll deposit in September. They were very helpful.

Sounds like something I mighta done 20 years ago.

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

Yikes! So, if I am correct (having been provided this information from another gracious user) can find a potential purchase on eBay and then go to the RCI website to find out if it is points, weeks or both to determine which whether I will be using TPU's or points? I do not want to rely on the seller to give me the correct information.

Forgive my ignorance, but this whole thing has me baffled tremendously. RCI is not nearly as simple as my BG and SVC stuff! I guess the info I need is what are the closest RCI affiliated resorts that I can purchase to have access to the TPU and/or Points programs and will this allow me to deposit weeks' booked in another company such as BGU or SVC.

You can no longer make your own deposits to RCI with BG points. From my understanding you have to use the crossover grid and the corporate portal to book using your BG points in RCI now. It used to be that you could pick a week to deposit but they changed that last year. It's the same for me in Hilton, Wyndham and DVC. That's why it's good to have a portfolio of stuff to see what's cheapest, at least that's my opinion on the matter.

If you want to use RCI points to get BG stuff in RCI then that is doable with a regular RCI points or weeks ownership. The availability is limited in BG and Shell thru RCI but I do see weeks there all the time. It's mostly off season stuff that gets deposited to RCI but if you check often you can pick up some nice BG stuff every no and then.

Many of the units on ebay in RCi points resorts are not necessarily RCI points just because the resort is a points resort. The owners will have had to convert their week to RCI points in order to get RCI points on the transfer. Many owners did not convert their weeks and just because a resort is an RCI resort that does not mean you automatically get the points. You're going to have to kinda rely on the ads to determine if they've converted to RCI points or not. It's a selling point so if it's converted and gets a decent amount of points then they're going to list it.

You could purchase a very small RCI points account, say a triennial unit in Grandview or Vacation Village with very low MF's of around $115 to $250 and get around 15K to 25K RCI points respectively. Once you own an RCI points account, you can deposit weeks at resorts that do NOT participate in the RCI points program (usually older resorts) and get RCi points for those weeks. RCI calls that PFD or points for deposit. There is a grid that will show you how many points you will get for your week. If your resort is a dual RCI points/weeks resort then you canNOT do this with that particular week. Here is the grid to see what you'd get and where.
http://www.rci.com/docs/KnowledgeBas...rsionGrids.pdf
The closer in you deposit the less points you get, similar to the TPU's.

I do this with weeks that I like to use occasionally and then deposit for PFD. For example I own 2 weeks at a beach place. I always use one and every other year I use the other or PFD it and go elsewhere. It's a nice way to save exchange fees every other year and yet not be tied down. This resort does not offer biennial units so I do this instead. Best of both worlds.