Leveling the 1 in 4 playing field

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

So it seems that 1 in 4 serves developers, and arguably owners, by making it hard to exchange into a place in an effort to encourage purchasing rather than exchanging in. I even own a 1 in 4 resort, but it doesn't change my position that it is an unfair exchange practice unless it is uniformly applied.

A large part of any RCI affiliated sales pitch is the prospect of exchanging into 3700 properties around the world. But they don't tell you that you can only exchange once every four years into some. And the more resorts that allow/encourage this practice, well, you get the picture.

But why should any of my prime demand resorts allow a 1 in 4 resort owner (from, say the Manhattan Club, or Morritts (at which I own), or Smuggs) to exchange in every year, if owners at resorts without such a restriction cannot do the same in reverse? Seems to me that RCI needs to make a decision, are they the 1 in 4 exchange company, or not?

I don't know the ins and outs of just how RCI is in bed with the 1 in 4 resorts, though it looks like there may be a connection with trying to increase "points" sales/conversions. And am guessing that some of the RCI inventory is developer inventory, though not all.

Thoughts? Where are the holes in my logic? Does the idea have merit?

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

No merit at all, it's just a sales ploy by resorts who need an extra ploy to sell their overpriced weeks and a red flag against buying them.

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

So it seems that 1 in 4 serves developers, and arguably owners, by making it hard to exchange into a place in an effort to encourage purchasing rather than exchanging in. ...

Thoughts? Where are the holes in my logic? Does the idea have merit?

Encourage purchasing rather than exchanging....hmm, is that what RCi is supposed to be doing? But then why does RCI turn around and then rent these weeks ..... how does ownership and exchanging fit into that.... seems to me developers don't really have an ally in RCI...

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

I don't see how the 1 in 4 rule benefits the owners. There may be adaquate demand for the resort for exchange but, because people may only exchange in once every 4 years, many of those units could sit unused.

The 1 in 4 rule can easily be circumvented by exchanging through one of the independant exchange companies. It's only a scam IMO and one more reason why I don't care for RCI.

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

I don't see how the 1 in 4 rule benefits the owners. There may be adaquate demand for the resort for exchange but, because people may only exchange in once every 4 years, many of those units could sit unused.

The 1 in 4 rule can easily be circumvented by exchanging through one of the independant exchange companies. It's only a scam IMO and one more reason why I don't care for RCI.

Sometimes. Not always. The Grand Mayans are an example of you can get around it as are the PBs. SFX has been known to get MC. DAE Morritts.

My least favorite 1-in-4 group is the GPP resorts. Not only can you hardly ever see prime summer weeks at them, but when you do there ia a1-in-4 block for all 7 SCal resorts.

RCI EXCHANGER: GROUP RULE IS STRICTLY ENFORCED FOR ANY COMBOOF THE FOLLOWING RESORTS: 1285 1379 2885 3007 3987 A474 & 5362. ONLY 1 CONFIRMATION ALLOWED PER MEMBER ACCOUNT IN 4 YEARS.

I rarely see any of these with the Independents and I look for them!

[barndweller Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close barndweller]

I also hate those regional blocks. II has these, too. I own an II affiliated resort that blocks me from seeing it with my other II resorts. I assume that is so that I will deposit my unit. That has to be an agreement with the developer and the resort is sold out so it really pisses me off!

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

What makes anyone think that RCI has *ever* considered members its primary customers? As far as I can see, RCI has always considered the *resorts* their primary customers, because resort affiliation dictates the "default" exchange company that owners at that resort will use.

My guess is that if a resort bulk-banks unsold inventory as a sales tool, that resort is pretty much given carte blanche to restrict inbounds however it chooses to. As a side effect, individual member deposits are bound by these restrictions as well.

In any event: it is what it is. The exchange game constantly changes, and so we have to stay informed to keep getting the best value possible. The 1-4 rules are just part of the game.

[4ARedOctober Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close 4ARedOctober]

I traded via RCI into all of the GPR resorts and decided I liked them as a group. So I bought a few resale. As an owner of 3 different GPR resorts I love the 1 in 4. That is one reason I bought there.....so that more exchange weeks are available to me as an owner and with less competition from everyone wanting to get into high demand summer & holiday weeks that I want.

RCI is our GPR internal exchange company....as an owner I expect and am happy for the privileges we get along with an exchange discount.

Sometimes. Not always. The Grand Mayans are an example of you can get around it as are the PBs. SFX has been known to get MC. DAE Morritts.

My least favorite 1-in-4 group is the GPP resorts. Not only can you hardly ever see prime summer weeks at them, but when you do there ia a1-in-4 block for all 7 SCal resorts.

RCI EXCHANGER: GROUP RULE IS STRICTLY ENFORCED FOR ANY COMBOOF THE FOLLOWING RESORTS: 1285 1379 2885 3007 3987 A474 & 5362. ONLY 1 CONFIRMATION ALLOWED PER MEMBER ACCOUNT IN 4 YEARS.

I rarely see any of these with the Independents and I look for them!

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

What makes anyone think that RCI has *ever* considered members its primary customers? As far as I can see, RCI has always considered the *resorts* their primary customers, because resort affiliation dictates the "default" exchange company that owners at that resort will use.

My guess is that if a resort bulk-banks unsold inventory as a sales tool, that resort is pretty much given carte blanche to restrict inbounds however it chooses to. As a side effect, individual member deposits are bound by these restrictions as well.

In any event: it is what it is. The exchange game constantly changes, and so we have to stay informed to keep getting the best value possible. The 1-4 rules are just part of the game.

That seems to make some sense.

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

So it seems that 1 in 4 serves developers, and arguably owners, by making it hard to exchange into a place in an effort to encourage purchasing rather than exchanging in. I even own a 1 in 4 resort, but it doesn't change my position that it is an unfair exchange practice unless it is uniformly applied.

To a certain extent, the 1 in 4 is an extention of the exchange priority periods that exist with the hotel bands or mini-groups (e.g. Marriott, Sheraton, Sunterra). I'd say that the various restrictions have encouraged purchasing as opposed to exchanging. Red has said something to that effect for GPP. It's also why I bought resale there as well. I don't think fairness really is applicable. I look at it if that's what it is, then how do I make it work for me?

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

I traded via RCI into all of the GPR resorts and decided I liked them as a group. So I bought a few resale. As an owner of 3 different GPR resorts I love the 1 in 4. That is one reason I bought there.....so that more exchange weeks are available to me as an owner and with less competition from everyone wanting to get into high demand summer & holiday weeks that I want.

RCI is our GPR internal exchange company....as an owner I expect and am happy for the privileges we get along with an exchange discount.

How were u able to do this if it has a 1 in 4 for ALL resorts? - after u made your first exchange - u were blocked from returningto ANY for 4 years - did u buy after your first stay???

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

To a certain extent, the 1 in 4 is an extention of the exchange priority periods that exist with the hotel bands or mini-groups (e.g. Marriott, Sheraton, Sunterra). I'd say that the various restrictions have encouraged purchasing as opposed to exchanging. Red has said something to that effect for GPP. It's also why I bought resale there as well. I don't think fairness really is applicable. I look at it if that's what it is, then how do I make it work for me?

To me, this is different - it gives priority to group owners for a certain period but then releases it to everyone.

I joke with my sister about 'her resort' Marriott Grand Vista - she has traded in there every year for Presidents week the past 5 years using Foxrun. I do get 'priority' as a Marriott owner bt it doesn't exclude everyone else...having to wait 3 days or 10 days or even 24 days is MUCH less then 1461 days to return to a 1 in 4 resort.

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

To a certain extent, the 1 in 4 is an extention of the exchange priority periods that exist with the hotel bands or mini-groups (e.g. Marriott, Sheraton, Sunterra). I'd say that the various restrictions have encouraged purchasing as opposed to exchanging. Red has said something to that effect for GPP. It's also why I bought resale there as well. I don't think fairness really is applicable. I look at it if that's what it is, then how do I make it work for me?

Hmmm... not sure about this one... though I see how you are connecting the dots. But brand priorities are one thing, restrictions another. If I buy a Marriott, I get better access to Marriotts, and pay a premium for that. Other exchangers still can trade in after Marriott requests are filled, and off-season weeks are open to all, for the most part. 1 in 4 seems so much more restrictive than that, and doesn't give owners a priority for anything except being able to use their own weeks at their own resorts. I don't disagree re: making it work for ourselves the best way we can, but it seems so counter to the interests of exchange members...

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

How were u able to do this if it has a 1 in 4 for ALL resorts? - after u made your first exchange - u were blocked from returningto ANY for 4 years - did u buy after your first stay???

If you own one of the GPR resorts, the 1 in 4 doesn't apply to any of the family of resorts.

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

To me, this is different - it gives priority to group owners for a certain period but then releases it to everyone.

I joke with my sister about 'her resort' Marriott Grand Vista - she has traded in there every year for Presidents week the past 5 years using Foxrun. I do get 'priority' as a Marriott owner bt it doesn't exclude everyone else...having to wait 3 days or 10 days or even 24 days is MUCH less then 1461 days to return to a 1 in 4 resort.

I should have clarified to say it was an extreme extention