No more 9000 point exchanges???

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

On the points website the announcement about the changes seems to have one small but important line

"The farther you stretch your RCI Points, the more options you have to use them. We know that. That’s why we’ll be periodically reducing the RCI Points value of some of our inventory — not just 45 days out, but up to 10 months in advance.

What does that mean for you? With up to 50% off the published RCI Points value, you can use fewer RCI Points for a first-rate resort vacation — leaving you with more to play with. "

I take it that definitely means the end of 9000 points or less exchanges?

I would give up the longer planning time in order to have the dirt cheap points, as you still have to factor in the exchange fee too.

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

RCI Points inventory is completely separate from RCI weeks inventory. The 9000 point exchanges are for RCI weeks.

These discounted rates are for RCI Points. There will still be last minute inventory available in RCI weeks. Why would there be a need to eliminate the 9000 point exchange?

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

Ok. I will breathe a sigh of relief. Sorry for the panic. It just seems that whenever I find a feature I like, it disappears post haste!

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

Why would there be a need to eliminate the 9000 point exchange?

Simple; to be fair, honest, and straight with the Weeks members for a change. Points members should simply NOT have access to inventory in our system unless we have similar access to theirs. It should be either a two-way street or no street at all. The Points parasite needs to be plucked off of the back of Weeks.

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

I wouldn't breathe a sigh of relief, if I were you.

"The Answer Place" tab on the RCI website is the place to check on any changes to policy. You used to be able to type in "9,000 points" and get a FAQ about those types of exchanges, but that option is no longer searchable. They are taking the bargain exchanges away, no doubt about it. For now, we can see them, but not very long, is my guess. They are probably re-writing their policies and are getting ready to mail us all a new RCI points guide and this will be gone.

What are the salespeople going to say now, to talk people into points?

I am still buying more points from opkansas, as they are a bargain and I can use them for another three years without the obligation of ongoing maintenance fees. For now, the system is great. I also am recommending the purchase to a firefighter Rick works with. He wants to go to Hawaii often, and I cannot think of a better way than RCI points right now.

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

Simple; to be fair, honest, and straight with the Weeks members for a change. Points members should simply NOT have access to inventory in our system unless we have similar access to theirs. It should be either a two-way street or no street at all. The Points parasite needs to be plucked off of the back of Weeks.

I'm not sure how RCI handles it, but my guess is when an RCI Points owner exchanges 9000 points for a last minute weeks exchange, RCI puts a last minute RCI Points week back into the RCI weeks pool.

The RCI Points weeks that are still left are probably those that are "over pointed" using your terminology since they would be the leftover units that were overpriced. That could be a very good deal for RCI weeks owners.

The problem now is that RCI Points is putting in a more dynamic pricing mechanism. So, RCI points using the new discounting model will help ensure a smoother balance of supply and demand. So, those great trade up opportunities will no longer exist.

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

Since we are talking about RCI, you can only build in a sigh of relief by assuming that your ownership will depreciate by 10% per year and costs will also increase by 10% a year.

As long as you keep that as your expectation, you won't be too disappointed.

[cshelz Member Find all posts View Profile Close cshelz]

Cindy please explain

[/QUOTE]I am still buying more points from opkansas, as they are a bargain and I can use them for another three years without the obligation of ongoing maintenance fees. For now, the system is great. I also am recommending the purchase to a firefighter Rick works with. He wants to go to Hawaii often, and I cannot think of a better way than RCI points right now.[/QUOTE]

Im confused by your statement. What do you mean you can use your points for 3 years without the obligation of ongoing maintenance fees? Dont you have to pay a maintenance fee each year for your allotment of points? I have 147,000 RCI points per year but they only carry over 1 year without paying a penalty. Please explain.

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

Your speculation is contrary to the inside information posted by RCI employees at TimeshareTalk. The Weeks system would be quite lucky to get anything at all back.

I'm not sure how RCI handles it, but my guess is when an RCI Points owner exchanges 9000 points for a last minute weeks exchange, RCI puts a last minute RCI Points week back into the RCI weeks pool.

The RCI Points weeks that are still left are probably those that are "over pointed" using your terminology since they would be the leftover units that were overpriced. That could be a very good deal for RCI weeks owners.

The problem now is that RCI Points is putting in a more dynamic pricing mechanism. So, RCI points using the new discounting model will help ensure a smoother balance of supply and demand. So, those great trade up opportunities will no longer exist.

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

You are correct that last minute WEEKS inventory has been the engine for developers selling the small points packages. The salesmen do not even push the combining weeks scenario as they know that dog doesn't hunt.

It sure looks like the Points people will get an ''enhancement'' (corporate-speak for hosing consumers) but I would bet RCI has some other plan than sending that inventory back where it belongs to Weeks members. They have probably figured out new ways to rent it to the general public.

I wouldn't breathe a sigh of relief, if I were you.

"The Answer Place" tab on the RCI website is the place to check on any changes to policy. You used to be able to type in "9,000 points" and get a FAQ about those types of exchanges, but that option is no longer searchable. They are taking the bargain exchanges away, no doubt about it. For now, we can see them, but not very long, is my guess. They are probably re-writing their policies and are getting ready to mail us all a new RCI points guide and this will be gone.

What are the salespeople going to say now, to talk people into points?

I am still buying more points from opkansas, as they are a bargain and I can use them for another three years without the obligation of ongoing maintenance fees. For now, the system is great. I also am recommending the purchase to a firefighter Rick works with. He wants to go to Hawaii often, and I cannot think of a better way than RCI points right now.

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

Your speculation is contrary to the inside information posted by RCI employees at TimeshareTalk. The Weeks system would be quite lucky to get anything at all back.

So what happens when a week gets exchanged for 9000 points? We know that RCI Points takes a week out of RCI weeks. What gets put back into RCI weeks? Something has to be put back. Otherwise, there is definitely an injustice which if it is being done should be stopped immediately. This case would be a clear violation of some kind.

Many mini-systems have this discounted points attribute for II and RCI. WorldMark and Club Sunterra do.

Let's use II and Worldmark as an example. In the Flexchange period, it is 4000 WorldMark credits used for any available Flexchange week. My assumption has always been, if I take a week out, something has to be put back in. So, I pluck out a Marriott Ocean Pointe and WorldMark puts in something else in the Flexchange period. Why would II accept anything less?

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

If you assume that anything at all is put back, you might want to look at the posts at TimeshareTalk.