posted 07-06-2003 14:23               

Whether it's in Canada or Hawaii, Shell has really been trying to get people to switch from weeks (Kona Coast, in my case) to points in a deal that is all their way. They wanted $2995 US from me plus the deed to my existing week as the cost of converting.

Don't know how they were with you, but in Hawaii, they've been high pressure, and obnoxious in their pitches.

posted 07-07-2003 17:08               

You do if you convert to Shell points. In return, you get a certificate of trust or something like that which says you have an undefined share of some property. However, the legal protections associated with a deed are gone.

posted 07-08-2003 09:20               

I better hedge my reply a little. For a US timeshare, one has to give up his deed for the conversion to Shell points. Potentially, the rules in Canada may be different.

posted 07-08-2003 19:20               

At Georgian Manor, formerly Vacation Inn Resort, upon the change of ownership, the new management tried to get the owners to purchase the points option and join the "vacation club". $2,000-$3,000. They used the same lines as Shell i.e. you will still have your deed and nothing changes but you will have additional opportunities for trading, etc. Needless to say, I still remain unconvinced. Why give away deeded ownership for shares in a vacation club which could go bankrupt and has lesser protections for a t/s owner?

Thanks for the heads up.

posted 07-17-2003 13:57            

I converted from Suites@Fisherman's Wharf to Shell Vacations last November. I had been a satisfied owner at SFW for several years because we were always able to exchange our week for quality resorts in high-demand places, plus II always gave a bonus week each year. Here's my take.

I've always paid retail for timeshare, and this conversion was no exception. The way I look at it, I might be paying more than wholesale, but timeshare is a lifetime investment and the difference is not very significant when you spread it out over the years. If I like the sales pitch, I don't mind helping the guy (or gal) make a living. I believe buyers get more protection this way also.

Shell Vacations is actually better than I had expected. It is a complete vacations package that gives me the flexibility of how to use my points. I could use them in a conventional timeshare way, or convert to airline miles, rental car values, or MasterCard credits applicable for staying at hotels. Whereas my SFW week was good only for a week's stay at SFW or another resort via exchange, my points now give me the flexibility of applying them on a combination of vacation needs.

posted 07-17-2003 17:09               

quote:

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Originally posted by tcruiser:
I just did a search on "Shell Vacations" over the last 30 days and up came 5 separate threads. I decided to put in my 2 cents' worth here since it's the most recent.

I converted from Suites@Fisherman's Wharf to Shell Vacations last November. I had been a satisfied owner at SFW for several years because we were always able to exchange our week for quality resorts in high-demand places, plus II always gave a bonus week each year. Here's my take.

I've always paid retail for timeshare, and this conversion was no exception. The way I look at it, I might be paying more than wholesale, but timeshare is a lifetime investment and the difference is not very significant when you spread it out over the years. If I like the sales pitch, I don't mind helping the guy (or gal) make a living. I believe buyers get more protection this way also.

Shell Vacations is actually better than I had expected. It is a complete vacations package that gives me the flexibility of how to use my points. I could use them in a conventional timeshare way, or convert to airline miles, rental car values, or MasterCard credits applicable for staying at hotels. Whereas my SFW week was good only for a week's stay at SFW or another resort via exchange, my points now give me the flexibility of applying them on a combination of vacation needs.

One thing I have noticed is that people who bad-mouth Shell Vacations are non-owners (they only seem to be concerned about being "ripped-off" and base their judgement purely from that standpoint: the MO goes like this - there's no way I'm paying retail, and if the salesperson so much as retracts a bit of the friendliness towards me, I'm going to bitch about it. c'mon, they have to make a living just like you), whereas I have not seen any complaints coming from owners themselves. You will not find one in me as well. I think that speaks volume about the Club.

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Like you were we are still a weeks owner at Shell Peacock Anaheim. So, when I saw this thread about Shell I checked it out, naturally.

I also own points at Fairfield so I understand the advantages and disadvantages of points. I also own weeks at Bluegreen so I have an idea how weeks work too.

The original creator of this thread was more ticked off at the sales tactics of the Shell salespeople rather than the value of the points package. It's more an issue of the the way the message was delivered that bothers her.

In terms of the use of points for services and products OTHER THAN vacation time you'll find that eventually the points pricing of these products and services will go up. Fairfield Partners Plus Points owners are now grumbling that what they originally were told -- that they can use their points for cruises, car rentals, hotel reservations, etc., etc. -- are still true but the costs have gone up. Fairfield tacks on service fees for points-to-service conversions. I'm a Fairfield Plus member, not a Partners member. I can use my points only to buy time in other Fairfield resorts.

posted 07-17-2003 20:42            

quote:

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Originally posted by RonaldCol:

In terms of the use of points for services and products OTHER THAN vacation time you'll find that eventually the points pricing of these products and services will go up. Fairfield Partners Plus Points owners are now grumbling that what they originally were told -- that they can use their points for cruises, car rentals, hotel reservations, etc., etc. -- are still true but the costs have gone up. Fairfield tacks on service fees for points-to-service conversions. I'm a Fairfield Plus member, not a Partners member. I can use my points only to buy time in other Fairfield resorts.

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I am convinced also that costs will slowly inch up directly (maintenance dues) or indirectly (more points needed to get the same thing), but in the overall scheme of things, it still pays to own timeshare over the long run. The point values themselves could also appreciate handsomely over time so that today's retail might become tomorrow's wholesale, eventually turning profitable to sell if so desired. In the mean time, we will have spent many a quality vacation time at a reasonable cost.

Unlike Fairfield, Shell does not charge for point-to-service conversions. I have not stayed at any Shell resorts, including SFW, but I believe they are all very nice. Shell Vacations program has so many options to choose from that it is virtually impossible to run out of ways to use the points. I also like the fact that I'm not stuck in any one resort and that I will save a lot just on exchange fees alone by staying with Shell resorts spread out over quite a few desirable locations. For instance, I no longer have to exchange into Hawaii.