posted 06-28-2002 16:47            

I need to remind everyone that Craig Urbine is Vice President of Customer Service for Interval International (is that the right title, Craig?). He is only able to comment on company policy. That is, exchange rules, how things work, etc. Although he has answered a few individual personal situations, he is unable to do this in the future. If we keep asking him to do this, we may very well lose his participation on these boards.

I hope everybody understands this topic is a gift to us, and we shouldn't use it to argue or post personal agenda.

Thanks for joining us again, Craig.

posted 06-28-2002 17:48            

Craig -- W've been II members for several years and havd had some satisfying trades. A few years ago I deposited summer weeks for my RGC (ridgecrest) and received a bonus week both times. The following year I received no bonus week but did trade into a 2 b/r. And now I have Tahoe christmas and new years weeks, which I assume are in high demand, but your Ridge agent says there are no incentives (bonus weeks) for depositing these weeks. I am confused. Do your phone deposit agents know/control incentives or are they handled by someone above him/her? Or was I just lucky the first two times. I also ask about trade power of these weeks and all the agent tells me is what is currently available and that I should deposit these weeks and hope for the best. I worked hard obtaining these weeks for trade purposes, but I can't seem to get any satisfactory information. I am tempted to rent these out myself and forego your services.

How does someone know about the trading power of their weeks before depositing?\

How does a member find out which are the most desired weeks for trading with II.

posted 06-28-2002 18:58            

I apologize if you have answered this before, but you are so popular it is hard to keep up with all the posts!!! I did a search and came up with nothing on lock-off trading.

How does II handle lockoffs? My Marriott salesman told me that I would be able to trade my sleep 4 lockoff for a 2bd at resorts that only have 2 bedrooms.

When I tried to do this the II rep told me that this was only true within the 60 day flex window.

Is this correct, or can I put in an ongoing request and receive an exchange before the 60 day window? I know that people have gotten trades in the past before the 60 day window, so I want to know the official policy.

posted 06-28-2002 19:01            

Hi again, Craig. So glad to see that you're still onboard --we certainly enjoy your participation.

Some of your Vacation Counsellors are very good at offering similiar resorts to the ones on our pending requests. (And other counsellors make no suggestions, at all)

"Sorry Mrs. Smith, your request is still pending for a Marriott
in Orlando. However, there is a lovely 2 bedroom at Sheraton's
Vistana Resort. Would you be interested in that?"

"you bet I would"

Just my opinion, but I love it when the counsellors offer up different resorts. It really gets your interest level up, and I'm willing to bet many Interval members accept the alternate
resort.

I was just wondering if some counsellors are especially creative
and especially helpful, or do you encourage them to make alternate choices?

Personally, I think it's a great idea

Regards

Patricia

posted 06-28-2002 20:37            

I own a week at a resort the recently became dual affiliated. The HOA owns about 30% of the units, and is reselling them; the first year membership in II is being included in the new sales. Current owners have not been offered any incentive as yet to join II.

WHile I would love to know what will happen with this specific resort, my question pertains to any resorts who dual affiliate at such a point. Does II generally offer some sort of incentive for the existing owners to try II? When is such an offer usually extended? I intend to ask my HOA directly, but perhaps this information could help others in a similar situation - and may have bearing on decisions to ask resorts to consider dual affiliation.

------------------
Melinda Towne

posted 06-29-2002 05:32            

As far as your last two questions, I think the experts here have more flexibility to answer.

quote:

---

Originally posted by danielg:
Thenks Fern...

Craig -- W've been II members for several years and havd had some satisfying trades. A few years ago I deposited summer weeks for my RGC (ridgecrest) and received a bonus week both times. The following year I received no bonus week but did trade into a 2 b/r. And now I have Tahoe christmas and new years weeks, which I assume are in high demand, but your Ridge agent says there are no incentives (bonus weeks) for depositing these weeks. I am confused. Do your phone deposit agents know/control incentives or are they handled by someone above him/her? Or was I just lucky the first two times. I also ask about trade power of these weeks and all the agent tells me is what is currently available and that I should deposit these weeks and hope for the best. I worked hard obtaining these weeks for trade purposes, but I can't seem to get any satisfactory information. I am tempted to rent these out myself and forego your services.

How does someone know about the trading power of their weeks before depositing?\

How does a member find out which are the most desired weeks for trading with II.

---

posted 06-29-2002 05:35            

quote:

---

Originally posted by Meatsss:
I have a different question that Craig may not be able to answer. I own a Sunterra week at Flamingo in St. Martin. Sunterra has just canceled their exchange relationship with RCI and joined hands with II. How will we be contacted about joining II? We are a fixed week owner. I have heard that II will be automatically enrolling those owners who are in Club Sunterra. Any news you can give us?

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posted 06-29-2002 05:41            

Anytime a member is requesting a trade, they are able to request any unit size not larger than their own. We do not state you cannot list resorts that don't offer the unit size relinquished. In that case, we reserve the right to uptrade in unit size to fulfill your vacation request. We do this, on a supply and demand basis, on many transactions every day that are outside the 60 day window.

quote:

---

Originally posted by dtgerlitz:
Craig,

I apologize if you have answered this before, but you are so popular it is hard to keep up with all the posts!!! I did a search and came up with nothing on lock-off trading.

How does II handle lockoffs? My Marriott salesman told me that I would be able to trade my sleep 4 lockoff for a 2bd at resorts that only have 2 bedrooms.

When I tried to do this the II rep told me that this was only true within the 60 day flex window.

Is this correct, or can I put in an ongoing request and receive an exchange before the 60 day window? I know that people have gotten trades in the past before the 60 day window, so I want to know the official policy.

David

---

posted 06-29-2002 05:47            

One of the enhancements scheduled for the internet is to have the sytem intelligently offer alternate suggestions. As we have been enhancing the online experience, we have also embarked on redesigning our internal system to ensure consistent service. We are well on our way to accomplish this goal. Completion of the project will enable the system to drive the workflow to ensure compliance with policies set to deliver world class customer service.

quote:

---

Originally posted by Patricia:
RE: Alternate resorts/helpful vacation counsellors

Hi again, Craig. So glad to see that you're still onboard --we certainly enjoy your participation.

Some of your Vacation Counsellors are very good at offering similiar resorts to the ones on our pending requests. (And other counsellors make no suggestions, at all)

"Sorry Mrs. Smith, your request is still pending for a Marriott
in Orlando. However, there is a lovely 2 bedroom at Sheraton's
Vistana Resort. Would you be interested in that?"

"you bet I would"

Just my opinion, but I love it when the counsellors offer up different resorts. It really gets your interest level up, and I'm willing to bet many Interval members accept the alternate
resort.

I was just wondering if some counsellors are especially creative
and especially helpful, or do you encourage them to make alternate choices?

Personally, I think it's a great idea

Regards

Patricia

---

posted 06-29-2002 05:49            

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dean:
Craig, might I suggest that the on line website offer a listing of resorts not listed in the previous wish book. It should be a simple task to have a links page for new resorts though I'm sure nothing is truly simple when it comes to a major web site.

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posted 06-29-2002 05:53            

quote:

---

Originally posted by Mel:
Craig,

I own a week at a resort the recently became dual affiliated. The HOA owns about 30% of the units, and is reselling them; the first year membership in II is being included in the new sales. Current owners have not been offered any incentive as yet to join II.

WHile I would love to know what will happen with this specific resort, my question pertains to any resorts who dual affiliate at such a point. Does II generally offer some sort of incentive for the existing owners to try II? When is such an offer usually extended? I intend to ask my HOA directly, but perhaps this information could help others in a similar situation - and may have bearing on decisions to ask resorts to consider dual affiliation.

---

posted 06-29-2002 07:36            

quote:

---

Originally posted by CraigU:
The enhanced website does allow updates to the resort directory listings. Moving forward you will see new resorts affiliated being added on an ongoing basis.

---

posted 06-29-2002 08:19            

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dean:
[QUOTE]Originally posted by CraigU:
[b]The enhanced website does allow updates to the resort directory listings. Moving forward you will see new resorts affiliated being added on an ongoing basis.

---

[/B][/QUOTE]

posted 06-29-2002 10:23            

I have a suggestion for the 'multiple resort groups': On the E-exchange page, for example, the Marriot Florida Group is listed as MOI and has a link that shows the following:

The details for this resort are not available at this time.
Please try again later

The resort pages for the individual resorts in the group exist, so it would be nice to replace the above message with a list of links with an explanation such as 'the following is a list of links to the resorts currently participating in the Marriott Florida Group.'

Just a suggestion.

Thanks for your participation.

posted 06-29-2002 13:14            

quote:

---

Originally posted by Jenn:
Craig,
I am pretty new to this whole timeshare thing, and am not yet an owner. I am looking at purchasing at a resort who trades through Interval. And just like everyone else, I'm interested in the big mystery of what my "trading power" will be. I have read articles, advice, and posts on message boards until my eyes have crossed and just came across your response to someone asking about the big "exchange value" secret. Your response compared II's exchange value chart with Coke's secret recipe. I have to say, that does not give a potential owner motivation to run out and buy a timeshare. At least when I buy a Coke, I know if I'm getting a whole case of Coke or just a can. Not to mention, if I don't like it, I only wasted $1.29. But you want me to invest several thousand dollars into a deal when I have no idea if I'm going to get what that smooth salesperson promised me. The deal I have been offered includes getting a bonus week each year if I exchange to go to another resort instead of the one I'd be buying at, so the "trading power" means everything to me. I'm not expecting miracles, but I need to be better informed of the potential before I buy. If you'd like to make a wary potential customer a happy definite customer, you'd give me a hint as to what sort of exchanges I can expect to make with a yellow week at Williamsburg Plantation (5 star).
Sincerely,
Jenn

---

posted 06-29-2002 13:45         

quote:

---

Originally posted by CraigU:
You shouldn't buy timeshare solely for trading. You should buy timeshare because you want to travel to the resort you purchase.

---

posted 06-29-2002 13:47         

If you'd like to make a wary potential customer a happy definite customer, you'd give me a hint as to what sort of exchanges I can expect to make with a yellow week at Williamsburg Plantation (5 star).
Sincerely,
Jenn [/B][/QUOTE]

posted 06-29-2002 14:58            

The components of trade power are farily straightforward and include:

• Unit Size
  
• Resort Quality as measured by QRS (Quality Rating System)
  
• Resort demand as measured by CMG (whatever that is)
  
• date request placed
  
• Internal trading issues
  
• Apparently now at II also lead time to to deposit
  

That's the easy part. The hard part is they won't tell you about CMG and QRS nor how these pieces fit together. They will barely acknoledge they exist and you MIGHT be able to get them to give you the info on a resort you own if you're very pushy. They will not give you the info so you can compare one week or one resort to another. Obviously there is some common sense here. A red week should be higher than a lower rated week. A 5* should generally be higher than a non rated resort for the same week. A lot of info can be gleamed from the hints the VC give you as well as the info available on TUG both in the reviews and ratings as well as from members directly. In addition, II has another rating system, ABC type, which they also tend not to admit and will not give out info on.

I envision an algebraic formula taking the above info into account and giving each a proportional value. My assumption that the desirability of the week is the strongest component with the unit size and resort quality being next. There are varying reports of internal trading being only a tie break vs the main factor.

I can see II's position here. If they gave out all of the info, think how this would affect our week reservation requests, which resorts and weeks we bought and most importantly, the value of developer weeks. A few resorts and weeks owners would be very happy to see the info. Many owners and most resorts would be shot out of the water. I guess it's much like getting the dealer cost on a new car, only with much more variability. II depends on having affiliated resorts to entice owners and get revenues. Less resorts means less opportunities for exchange and less income for II from both membership fees as well as exchange fees. I'm sure there are many more factors.

posted 06-29-2002 15:59            

quote:

---

Originally posted by Fletch:
Be careful Craig, to many people do that and you are out of a job ! LOL

---

posted 06-29-2002 18:43            

quote:

---

Originally posted by Dean:
Jenn, I can't speak for Craig and don't want to put words in his mouth. I also don't want to oversimplify a very complex issue. Sorry Craig, I know you'd just as soon not see some of this posted and I know that it would not be appropriate for you to discuss but such is the nature of TUG. If the moderators would prefer it on a new thread, they can move it to such.

The components of trade power are farily straightforward and include:

• Unit Size
  
• Resort Quality as measured by QRS (Quality Rating System)
  
• Resort demand as measured by CMG (whatever that is)
  
• date request placed
  
• Internal trading issues
  
• Apparently now at II also lead time to to deposit
  

That's the easy part. The hard part is they won't tell you about CMG and QRS nor how these pieces fit together. They will barely acknoledge they exist and you MIGHT be able to get them to give you the info on a resort you own if you're very pushy. They will not give you the info so you can compare one week or one resort to another. Obviously there is some common sense here. A red week should be higher than a lower rated week. A 5* should generally be higher than a non rated resort for the same week. A lot of info can be gleamed from the hints the VC give you as well as the info available on TUG both in the reviews and ratings as well as from members directly. In addition, II has another rating system, ABC type, which they also tend not to admit and will not give out info on.

I envision an algebraic formula taking the above info into account and giving each a proportional value. My assumption that the desirability of the week is the strongest component with the unit size and resort quality being next. There are varying reports of internal trading being only a tie break vs the main factor.

I can see II's position here. If they gave out all of the info, think how this would affect our week reservation requests, which resorts and weeks we bought and most importantly, the value of developer weeks. A few resorts and weeks owners would be very happy to see the info. Many owners and most resorts would be shot out of the water. I guess it's much like getting the dealer cost on a new car, only with much more variability. II depends on having affiliated resorts to entice owners and get revenues. Less resorts means less opportunities for exchange and less income for II from both membership fees as well as exchange fees. I'm sure there are many more factors.

---