DRI Collections
I currently own 15,000 points, bought over several years, in the California Collection, which makes me a silver member. I am vacationing at the Sedona Summit. I had no intention of purchasing more points. I attended an event and presentation for the freebies and the "update", which actually was informative and low key.
I raised the question myself about the limitations of the California collection, which is no longer sold, but still exists. I was told it only includes a few resorts. The downside is that there are many fewer "home resorts", thus fewer opportunities for the 13 month reservation window. Also, there are fewer members, thus increasing the exposure to increased maintainence fees or assessments.
Should I ever want to sell it, I assume it would be much less attractive to a potential buyer than 15,000 points in the US Collection.
I was shown a form I apparently signed a couple of years ago, declining an opportunity to buy 2,500 points at the then going rate (around $4 a point), which would have also transferred all my points into the US Collection.
I asked if it was still possible for me to do it. At first they said no, then made a big show of getting the document I signed, discovering that it was not done properly, then getting permission from a higher authority to allow me to do it.
The agent had originally intended to try to get me to buy 15,000 more points, at the going rate of about $8 per point, in order to advance me into the exalted realm of gold membership. I did not want any more points, although I do use them every year. Of course, I do not enjoy the maintainence fees, which would rise by about $500 with 2,500 extra points.
My question is, does it seem sensible to buy the extra 2,500 points at $4 per point, primarily to move from the California Collection to the US Collection? Of course, I will also have more points, but that is only a secondary benefit. The down side is the purchase (although it is at a lower price than the current rate), and the increased MF's.
Thanks in advance for prompt answer. I believe I have a few days in which to rescind the contract.