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Flex....needing advice

striker008

newbie
Joined
Aug 29, 2019
Messages
1
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Resorts Owned
Sheraton Broadway Plantation
Had our owners update today at Vistana Villages. We own 81K staroptions at Sheraton Broadway Plantation and have been owners for 13 years. Pay roughly $1K in maintenance fees annually.

Our kids our home-schooled and I can book vacations exactly at 8 months in advance, so we most always travel during the low season, which is fine for us. We actually prefer the low seasons. We always get what we want for vacation 8 months out and frankly, haven't been in myrtle beach in 6 years (mostly go to Harborside).

The high pressured sales chick at vistana basically told us today we will never be able to book outside our home resort as everyone is going to sheraton flex. After many questions from me, I figured out that nothing is changing with the program I am currently in, what she means is that flex will own ALL the inventory and they will all book 12 months out and I can only book 8. Also, my maintenance fees will double over the next 10 years.

The offer was to take back my current ownership (which they will never offer to do so again), which was about $27K, then for $11K more they will give me 110K flex options.

I declined the offer for four reasons:
1. I don't think EVERYONE is buying the flex programs
2. I don't think EVERYONE books 12 months in advance. From what I see it's more like 5-6 months out for the average family.
3. I travel during the low seasons. Most of the time harborside is a ghost town when I am there.
4. If the new program is so flexible, won't there be more inventory as people trade for bonvoy points?

Am I totally off-base here? To me it seems like some slick sales guy came up with some sneaky plan to try and get people to buy the same timeshare for more money.
 

CPNY

TUG Member
Joined
Jun 18, 2019
Messages
7,508
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4,393
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349
Resorts Owned
Harborside Resort at Atlantis
SVV - Key West/Bella
WKV
Regal Vista at Massanutten
Had our owners update today at Vistana Villages. We own 81K staroptions at Sheraton Broadway Plantation and have been owners for 13 years. Pay roughly $1K in maintenance fees annually.

Our kids our home-schooled and I can book vacations exactly at 8 months in advance, so we most always travel during the low season, which is fine for us. We actually prefer the low seasons. We always get what we want for vacation 8 months out and frankly, haven't been in myrtle beach in 6 years (mostly go to Harborside).

The high pressured sales chick at vistana basically told us today we will never be able to book outside our home resort as everyone is going to sheraton flex. After many questions from me, I figured out that nothing is changing with the program I am currently in, what she means is that flex will own ALL the inventory and they will all book 12 months out and I can only book 8. Also, my maintenance fees will double over the next 10 years.

The offer was to take back my current ownership (which they will never offer to do so again), which was about $27K, then for $11K more they will give me 110K flex options.

I declined the offer for four reasons:
1. I don't think EVERYONE is buying the flex programs
2. I don't think EVERYONE books 12 months in advance. From what I see it's more like 5-6 months out for the average family.
3. I travel during the low seasons. Most of the time harborside is a ghost town when I am there.
4. If the new program is so flexible, won't there be more inventory as people trade for bonvoy points?

Am I totally off-base here? To me it seems like some slick sales guy came up with some sneaky plan to try and get people to buy the same timeshare for more money.
You answered your own question with how you travel. Harborside is not part of any flex plan. So the inventory will be in the VSN which you currently own on. You must have purchased your SBP from the developer since you’re enrolled in the network. I think you made the right choice. If anything, maybe look to pick up a mandatory deed with more star options.
 

pchung6

TUG Member
Joined
Mar 16, 2015
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571
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223
Location
Carlsbad, CA
Resorts Owned
WKORVN-OF, SVVx3, SBP, MKO-OV, MWR
No, you are good. Keep your SBP and never trade in. You will have no issues to book at 8 months for any low season reservation. They created Flex just to repackage all unsold inventory to make it like something new.
 

jabberwocky

TUG Review Crew
TUG Member
Joined
Apr 30, 2016
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2,829
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2,583
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348
Resorts Owned
SVR, SDO, WKORV-N, Westin Flex, HGVC (BLVD)
No, you are good. Keep your SBP and never trade in. You will have no issues to book at 8 months for any low season reservation. They created Flex just to repackage all unsold inventory to make it like something new.

Perhaps the following video featuring the late Anthony Bourdain will help explain the product. Just replace the words "CDO" with "Flex" and "fish" with "timeshare" and you'll be well on your way to understanding Sheraton Flex.

 
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