Same resort exchange under new RCI?

[Jeanne Sz Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jeanne Sz]

We own a 1 bedroom red season. Under old RCI, I could deposit my week with RCI and exchange it for any other week at the same resort.

I was able to trade 3 years' deposits of our unit to get 3 week 27 at same resort via RCI. Because I used deposits through 2012, I can't check trade potential for 2013 unless I deposit first.

So, I'm wondering if anyone knows if I should still be able to get internal trades like this in the new system. All I know is that they don't do their own exchanges, but leave it all up to RCI. And my TPU for other trades is only 17 at most.

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

While I do not do internal trades myself, from what I read from others, the ability to do those even internal trades is something RCI has taken away from members in Points Lite. Now it may work out, but probably won't. It is just a crap shoot. Just another ''enhancement'' (a common Orwellian term of corporate-speak that means the opposite of what it seems to on the surface) from you good friends at RCI.

Maybe you ought to strongly suggest to your HOA that they dual affiliate with II.

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

Because I used deposits through 2012, I can't check trade potential for 2013 unless I deposit first.

You should be able to use the deposit calculator to check the deposit trade power you would receive without depositing first, for any week within the next two years. I think Wk 27 in 2013 is inside the window, so you should be able to check that one.

Exchange power for the same resort but a different week can be the same, more, or it can be less. For the most part, things you could do post 5/30/09's global revaluation are still possible. But, as usual, nothing is guaranteed.

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

I doubt you will be able to. I have found that internal exchanges for a better season are the biggest change I found with my weeks. I have a February mid Atlantic beach week that now gets a 10 (could/should be worse) but in the past could trade for a mid May week well in advance. Now the mid May week's get 15-17 so it can't happen without combining. The only other way I could get the trade is if I had a search and it was a last minute deposit or just sat in inventory until it became a last minute trade.

Per RCI the only preference you get for internal trades is if you already had enough trading power and both you and a non internal owner requested the same week, the internal owner would get the week even if the other member requested first.

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

I doubt you will be able to. I have found that internal exchanges for a better season are the biggest change I found with my weeks. I have a February mid Atlantic beach week that now gets a 10 (could/should be worse) but in the past could trade for a mid May week

Per RCI the only preference you get for internal trades is if you already had enough trading power and both you and a non internal owner requested the same week, the internal owner would get the week even if the other member requested first.

This really stinks! I would imagine that the "trade back" option was one of the BIG perks for getting people to keep paying maint fees on dog weeks (sorry Sally) like the beach in February! This is really going to affect the HOAs ability to keep income coming in at seasonal resorts.

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

So, again, I will ask the devil's advocate question: why is it RCI's job to generate value for deep-offseason weeks, when they (presumably) make more money by not doing so?

I totally get why it stinks for folks who used to be able to pull these kinds of season improvements, but that's not the same as "and so it should always be thus."

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

Because RCI CREATED the system that did that, and provided materials for developers to sell it that way. They have created the situation, and now are pulling the rug out from under both the member and the HOA. They have doublecrossed everybody, and that is just a dishonest way to do business.

Resorts should dual affiliate with II, or perhaps flee completely to II. And they should make their members aware of their ability to use independents.

Brian, you defend RCI on anything at all they do, no matter how it impacts others. Do you not believe that companies should have some honesty or integrity in the way they operate?

And actually RCI does make money on those off season weeks. They make the membership fees of people who would otherwise quit RCI, and they get the exchange fees when those owners exchange into weeks of similar supply / demand curves like weeks in overbuilt areas.

The internal exchange throught RCI was something RCI promoted in its own materials and if RCI was not going to have the integrity to continue to honor it, they should have had the honesty not to put it in their materials.

So, again, I will ask the devil's advocate question: why is it RCI's job to generate value for deep-offseason weeks, when they (presumably) make more money by not doing so?

I totally get why it stinks for folks who used to be able to pull these kinds of season improvements, but that's not the same as "and so it should always be thus."

[rapmarks Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close rapmarks]

rci gave me 15 for my week, but wants 20 for the same week. i deposited 9 months out. the resort has now changed policies to deposit further out. I still have to combine to trade back into my same week.

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

rci gave me 15 for my week, but wants 20 for the same week. i deposited 9 months out. the resort has now changed policies to deposit further out. I still have to combine to trade back into my same week.

Unfortunately under the new regime at RCI, you are hardly the only one in that boat, who cannot trade into his own week with the number of points lite RCI gives them for the very same week.

On the other side of the coin are the areas that are overpointed, like a holiday week at Vacation Village at Parkway someone reported OY where the calculator showed that RCI gave 50 points lite for a deposit but at the very same time the very same week was availible for exchange for a mere 10 points lite. So that owner could trade back into his own week and have 40 points lite left over to go somewhere else.

One of the fundamental flaws of Points Lite is this scheme of differing values at the same point in time for the same week, depending on whether it is being deposited or taken for exchange. An honest system of values would give the same value, whether it was going in or out. The way I look at it is that the number asked by RCI for an exchange into that week is the real value set by the market. The number they give for a deposit is an artificial number where they put their thumb on the scales and either underpoint or overpoint the deposit.

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

rci gave me 15 for my week, but wants 20 for the same week. i deposited 9 months out. the resort has now changed policies to deposit further out. I still have to combine to trade back into my same week.

The question for me would be "does the valuation of 15 give me sufficient assets to complete the exchanges I want at a price I find fair." If the answer is no, then it is possible that some other use will return better value to you---renting and using the proceeds for something else, exchanging with an independent, etc. Depending on exactly what you have, it is also possible that there is no such use, and liquidating is the right option.

But, you don't need to continue to use RCI unless it's a good value for you. Don't let inertia keep you there. Reacting to these valuations and making decisions based on them is the only way to make them work for the consumer.

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

This really stinks! I would imagine that the "trade back" option was one of the BIG perks for getting people to keep paying maint fees on dog weeks (sorry Sally) like the beach in February! This is really going to affect the HOAs ability to keep income coming in at seasonal resorts.

I bought it long before I knew about Timeshare Forums and TUG and before children but not before ebay so I only paid a $1 for it. My husband still loves to escape the hustle and busle and spend time with the locals in the restaurants and bars at the beach. I now have many other weeks including a May week there that I bought for $49.00 and since the MF are less than $400 I feel too guilty to try to give my February week to anyone else or ask the HOA to take it back. I just pay and use part of the week to support the HOA or if I trade with RCI I can still get a ski week in Massanutten or a last minute something at Williamsburg almost anytime of year. Giving it 10 is really generous on RCI's part. The May week there only gets 16/17 tpu's which is probably a little low for how much I enjoy Ocean City in May but owners can bring pets so if I don't use the May week myself I let my dad and his dog use the week RCI doesn't get weeks that I feel it underpoints. I know how to work the alternatives.

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

The other question would be ''Is this exchange company treating me fairly and honestly, or should a I move to a different one that does''

The question for me would be "does the valuation of 15 give me sufficient assets to complete the exchanges I want at a price I find fair." If the answer is no, then it is possible that some other use will return better value to you---renting and using the proceeds for something else, exchanging with an independent, etc. Depending on exactly what you have, it is also possible that there is no such use, and liquidating is the right option.

But, you don't need to continue to use RCI unless it's a good value for you. Don't let inertia keep you there. Reacting to these valuations and making decisions based on them is the only way to make them work for the consumer.

[Jeanne Sz Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Jeanne Sz]

I've already taken one week at the shore to SFX, and will probalby continue to do so because I fare much better there than with RCI. Heck, I can't even trade my week and afford to get the same week via RCI! I think the other resort is also with II, so I guess I'll check there.
I chose the resort because I like it and it's close enough to home to drive there any time of year, and also because they told me I could trade my week for any other available through RCI with my included membership. I guess that's changed!
Thank goodness RCI isn't the only exchange company in town!