It's been a year - what's the verdict

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

I don't now the exact date but last November RCI rolled out the new TPU system. I am curious how most people feel about it. Over the past year, we have had time now to see the rise and fall of TPU numbers, last minute bargains, etc. Lot's of head scratching trying to figure out how RCI has come up with values for both deposits and exchanges. So what's the verdict?

I, for one, have given RCI way more money in exchange fees than in the past. I own 4 weeks and, in the past, I did 4 exchanges per year. This year I am over 10, because I have a hard time passing up some of those 5 TPU bargains. We have gone to places we would not have gone to under the old 1 for 1 system. We just came back from Branson and had a great time. My husband was very leery, but I think he had even more fun than I did.

How do others feel? (no rants please)

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

Many of the changes in values from the old system simply make no sense based on supply and demand. While they promised they would not change the values, just make them visible, that is clearly untrue.

The fact that they often given different values for the same week at the same point in time, depending on whether it is a deposit or an exchange, shows that the system is seriously flawed, and also is a good way to see which weeks are underpointed or overpointed by RCI.

Before the change, I cautiously kept one week at a time in RCI. Since Points Lite was imposed, I give them no weeks. RCI was going downhill before, but now it is a complete turkey.

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

I think it's better but yeah I'm in the RCI rah rah camp.
Well most of the time I am.

Anyway, I've seen some killer bargains for me living in Florida which if I hadn't used all my deposits I'd have been able to get, but next year I'm revving up for the deals. A DVC for 7 TPU's is just way too good to pass up but I didn't have one stinking TPU to play with so I've just suffered in silence as you guys snag all the good stuff.

I still check inventory but I know several who are making a killing with ongoing requests so I need to wean myself from the online booking and just set up some requests for the really good stuff. Yeah, you gotta pay to combine but it seems it's the only way to get prime stuff. Not that I haven't snagged a great exchange or two but I'm jealous of all the ongoing requests that get the stuff.

So yeah, I'm liking the system so far. Much easier for me to understand since I've been an RCI points owner and understood that system better than the 1 for 1 exchanges that were a total mystery with all the bands and brands. Just way too risky to give them anything like that with all that cloaking of stuff. Now I know, if they don't give me enough points then I take my unit to II or Platinum Interchange. It makes depositing decisions much easier now.

[Nancy Platinum Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close Nancy]

I like it better. I have some lousy weeks that combined work well.

Nancy

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

It's a new business model for RCI. Some of it makes sense, some of it doesn't. Some of it works well, some of it is a real PIA. Some of it makes me happy and some of it doesn't. Welcome to the real world.

The key to success for using any of the exchange companies is to find out where you can make the best deal (exchange) for yourself and make it work.

So far RCI is where those deals for me occur - and even better deals now than I was able to get under the old one for one system. So I am, overall, happy with the new system. When that stops, sayonara.

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

11/16/2010

guilty

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

NO not feeling the love at all. to get what I used to get with 1.

The one week that I have left used to trade into everything, Now I would need 2 $600 - $1200/week


Sayonara RCI.

I'll in-house exchange instead.

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

The Manhattan Club now costs 58 -60 tpus, even for dead of winter weeks. NOT COOL.

I'm managing to do ok with the system as I always have, but I don't think it's better for the members. It is undoubtedly better for RCI, lots of extra fees to collect now.

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

It's a new business model for RCI. Some of it makes sense, some of it doesn't. Some of it works well, some of it is a real PIA. Some of it makes me happy and some of it doesn't. Welcome to the real world.

The key to success for using any of the exchange companies is to find out where you can make the best deal (exchange) for yourself and make it work.

So far RCI is where those deals for me occur - and even better deals now than I was able to get under the old one for one system. So I am, overall, happy with the new system. When that stops, sayonara.

I would agree with these comments. I too have given more money to RCI this year with exchanges and combo fees. For me, I own a number of weeks so for the resorts where the changes became a negative, I just adjusted which exchange company I deposited them with - ie. not RCI. On the flip side, where I gained, I made more exchanges.

I would also say that I made more last minute bookings in weeks this year than I did in points. I found I did way less RCI points bookings of last minute instant exchanges because all that inventory was not available as discounted points bookings but was at reduced TPUS in weeks.

What also became apparent to me this year was that I needed to purchase a "mini-system" that trades into RCI at a flat point schedule for those stupid-high TPU exchanges. You had those issues in RCI Points resorts but got magnified with the TPU thing.

Just as you need to rebalance your investment portfolio to adjust to the marketplace, the same thing needed to be done with my timeshares.

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

Just as you need to rebalance your investment portfolio to adjust to the marketplace, the same thing needed to be done with my timeshares.

It would be nice if our timeshare portfolio was the same as our investment portfolio.