Sapphire Resorts - Upgrading Membership to Ownership

[TrailTraveler]

I bought into Sapphire's Right-to-use level 12 months ago. Now they are offering me Full/Ownership level:

$7000.00 additional buy-in
35,000 biennial credits
This amount of credits gives 7 weeks every two years
$2152 biennial dues, so $1076 per year
I'm not sure yet what I would 'own' with this plan

The owner credits seem to have much higher value than right-to-use points. For example, 1 week at the Jockey club for the right-to-use would cost 20,000 to 30,000 credits - almost all of my 33,000 credits I get in the 3-year triennial. One week at ANY Sapphire or RCI property with the Ownership level costs 4950 credits. So it appears (and they confirm) that 7 weeks of actual vacation can be had with the 35,000 credits, no matter where I want to go. Actually, when I do the math, it looks like 7.63 weeks.

They also say that Owners get privileged booking, meaning no blackouts, way better availability even after dates are open to the 'public'. Properties are "held for you", not "from you".

This sounds TOO good to be true. Does anyone else have experience with this Sapphire plan?

 

[rickandcindy23]

I would never fall for that. It's a club and not worth the $$ you are paying for it. A lot of really average and below average legacy timeshares in that system. Doesn't appeal to me at all.

Someone has to pay the maintenance fees, so what are they?

 

[gravityrules]

I would never fall for that. It's a club and not worth the $$ you are paying for it. A lot of really average and below average legacy timeshares in that system. Doesn't appeal to me at all.

Someone has to pay the maintenance fees, so what are they?

Discussion point .. what characteristics make a timeshare average?

 

[TrailTraveler]

Yep... as suspected, the "upgrade" wasn't worth it. It is a clever scheme to get current members to pay $7000 for the right to pay a higher annual fee for additional credits - and anyone that has poked around on the TUG site at all, knows that this right can be had for $1.00 "upgrade fee" right now. There are no other benefits such as preferred booking or the ability to book the Sapphire properties for only 2490 credits. The Sapphire properties are still subject to their points matrix. And depending when/where you want to go, it takes typically 20,000 credits to book, not the 4950 points we were told. Unfortunately, the contract says it is the only agreement - no verbal promises are valid.

The salesperson mentioned often that we would be 'owners' of something with the upgraded plan. The contract that the closer 'ran us through quickly' still stipulates a 'right-to-use' membership.

Our upgrade cancellation is in the mail today. We plan to get the most out of our triennial membership that is a year old.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Discussion point .. what characteristics make a timeshare average?

Average, not in a system that has internal exchanges, legacy, older resorts.

 

[kckaren21]

Yep... as suspected, the "upgrade" wasn't worth it. It is a clever scheme to get current members to pay $7000 for the right to pay a higher annual fee for additional credits - and anyone that has poked around on the TUG site at all, knows that this right can be had for $1.00 "upgrade fee" right now. There are no other benefits such as preferred booking or the ability to book the Sapphire properties for only 2490 credits. The Sapphire properties are still subject to their points matrix. And depending when/where you want to go, it takes typically 20,000 credits to book, not the 4950 points we were told. Unfortunately, the contract says it is the only agreement - no verbal promises are valid.

The salesperson mentioned often that we would be 'owners' of something with the upgraded plan. The contract that the closer 'ran us through quickly' still stipulates a 'right-to-use' membership.

Our upgrade cancellation is in the mail today. We plan to get the most out of our triennial membership that is a year old.

I just got out of their TS presentation at Jockey Club, and they said there was NO upgrade, they 'wd not try to sell us anything else' bc our access was 'Unlimited', so it's amusing that they are telling you something else. It just goes to prove that old adage: "How do you tell when a TS salesman is lying? Their lips are moving!"

The "unlimited" aspect is the ability to buy as many getaways on RCI as you want, as can every other member of RCI.

It sounded like you DO get free RCI membership for life from Sapphire membership, is that your experience? For the buy-in price (my term) of $5995 + annual fees of $492 (they started at $9995) I could get 24,000 points every 3 years, which would get me "1-4 weeks" at Sapphire properties, plus the ability to rent their properties "unlimited", but didn't note the prices as being particularly good. You make it sound like you get ONE good week with those points, tho.

They said the annual fee of $492 was NOT a maintenance fee (like other TS), so I asked how then do they pay for maintenance, staff, insurance, etc for the properties? They had no answer. I pointed out that the 3 years of "not-maintenance-fees" would be almost $1500, to get 1-4 weeks in their properties, or $250-1500 per week... They were not impressed with my math skills.

I did take a photo of offers for JC points for sale for $1 or free on the TUG website, in case they tried to pressure me, but there was no pressure.

I DO like Jockey Club for its location on the Strip and access to Cosmopolitan Casino and pool. (The rooftop pool is closed right now for renovation, tho). The rooftop pool has a delicious rum drink made with Pineapple Dole Whip, and I'm so disappointed not to get it this time!

The Jockey club room we are in is clean and in good condition, but dated looking.

I got 3 nights free plus 2 lunch tix to Pampas and 4 tix to a comedy show at the Strat, to attend the presentation. Ok trade for my time.