But, on other threads it appears that Legacy owners only have access to the Legacy owner points or units in foreclosure. This is what is making it so confusing. Will Legacy owners have access to the inventory Marriott Corp. owns and is depositing?
I am sorry if my question is very confusing. That is my current state of mind.
It is an important question, do Legacy owners (who've redeemed their weeks for points) have the ability to access the Trust inventory?
I personally believe that we will have enough access to get what we want most of the time, even if there is separation (legally) in the inventory pools.
The reason I believe this is due to Trading Power, which we are all accustomed to from working with II. Our (skimmed) points represent a certain trading power, which I assume is average.
I view the high-quantity inventory (Ko Olina, TimberLodge, Kauai Lagoons) that Marriott has deposited into the Trust as "weak traders" -- because there are so many of them available.
Accordingly, if I put in an Exchange Request with the Marriott Exchange Company, and offer 3,725 points for a 1BR Ko Olina, I think Marriott will make one of their Ko Olina weeks available and match the trade from the Trust Inventory (they are the owner of the week, and I believe they know it's in their best interest for people to get their trades).
Now, assume that I put in an Exchange Request with the Marriott Exchange Company and offer 4,125 points for a 2BR at Frenchman's Cove, of which there are few weeks available in the Trust Inventory (because its only delinquent weeks and MRP trades, apparently), and therefore MFC is a "strong trader" from the Trust. Marriott
may hold that week back and not trade for my (skimmed) Legacy Points in case the new Trust Points wants that same MFC trade, and therefore I have to wait until either 1) the MFC week becomes available in II (and Marriott goes out and snatches it, offering a weak trading Ko Olina week from the Trust) or 2) another skimmed points owner (like me) redeems their MFC week for points, making the week available to Legacy Points owners and allowing the match for my trade.
The second scenario is not that different from the II exchange marketplace as it stands today. Frankly, I thought we all assumed that Marriott would be making the Trust Inventory available to legacy points, kind of like a permanent bulk deposit, but the legal separation suggests that they might not be, and they will still be determining when to release that Trust Inventory.
As Puck has said, Legacy Points < Trust Points. And no surprise to anybody here, I resent that the Legacy Points have been skimmed in the first place.
First, the legacy point owners has to get over the principle of receiving skimmed points. In any points system, it is critical to have as many points to work with as possible.
Second, the legacy point owners has to accept that they may have to wait in line until the week desired appears, especially if it is a strong trading week. And the ability of that week to appear is influenced by lots of other people getting over Point #1, and accepting the skim.
I think as long as weeks people remain committed to II as the trading vehicle of choice, then Marriott will be able to match the points trades, because they can go in and make trades for those requested weeks. This may be a reason why they offered the free trades/free II membership is to ensure that deposited weeks are deposited into II.
Interesting stuff.
Best to all,
Greg