Exchanging seems too good to be true

[JudiZ]

I was considering the money issue - I do believe that RCI is a pricey trade but I get 30 TPUs from my deposit of a resort that costs $700 a year in m/f. If I get two weeks of trades and I spend $239 per week of trade and $100 a year for RCI, the cost per week becomes $639. If I get three weeks (and I have once or twice), the price becomes $522 per week. I might be missing something in the math, but I always feel if we don't use that week ourselves, we can parlay it into a couple of weeks.

With my pending retirement in July and a husband whose "office" fits in a padded backpack, those "last minute" deals are calling my name already. After years of being an educator, there is great appeal to the very idea that I could take off in the middle of November or March! As long as there is wifi, the DH and I can go virtually anywhere. And living in the northeast, there is much within a two day driving distance.

 

[ski_sierra]

I was considering the money issue - I do believe that RCI is a pricey trade but I get 30 TPUs from my deposit of a resort that costs $700 a year in m/f. If I get two weeks of trades and I spend $239 per week of trade and $100 a year for RCI, the cost per week becomes $639. If I get three weeks (and I have once or twice), the price becomes $522 per week. I might be missing something in the math, but I always feel if we don't use that week ourselves, we can parlay it into a couple of weeks.

With my pending retirement in July and a husband whose "office" fits in a padded backpack, those "last minute" deals are calling my name already. After years of being an educator, there is great appeal to the very idea that I could take off in the middle of November or March! As long as there is wifi, the DH and I can go virtually anywhere. And living in the northeast, there is much within a two day driving distance.

3 weeks for $2000 seems like a great deal. I see that there are economies of scale here. Pretty expensive for the casual exchanger though who will exchange for maybe 1 week per year.

 

[RunCat]

I'm trying to think of a game where no luck is involved. Learning the rules and expending effort increase one's chances of winning but if that's all it took, it wouldn't be a game.

Only game that I know of that does not involve any luck is “Diplomacy”. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diplomacy_(game)

 

[chapjim]

Only game that I know of that does not involve any luck is “Diplomacy”. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diplomacy_(game)

Add chess and checkers. I didn't think hard enough (or, in the immortal words of Curly, "I'm tryin' ta think but nuttin' happens!").

 

[silentg]

How come nobody has mentioned the additional costs of exchanging? On top of your own resort's annual maintenance, don't forget to add the better part of $100 for membership to RCI or II (unless it's included. You're still paying it, it's just not broken out as a separate charge) then there's that ~$300 exchange fee.

So, in many (most) cases, exchanging where you own for somewhere else will cost close you $400 a week more than just staying where you own. And if you're fortunate enough to own enough points or exchange power for multiple exchanges, just double (or more) that number.

Exchanging is not just a 'I'll let you use my week and I'll take yours' kind of deal.

Jim

It can be if you do TUG exchanges

 

[rapmarks]

Only game that I know of that does not involve any luck is “Diplomacy”. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diplomacy_(game)

How about duplicate bridge, there is some luck, but everyone plays the same bridge hands.

 

[ski_sierra]

I think you guys are taking the luck comment too far. I noticed @mdurette posts a lot of sightings and I'm sure he/she gets great exchanges. The definition of winning can be different to different people.

 

[Panina]

I think you guys are taking the luck comment too far. I noticed @mdurette posts a lot of sightings and I'm sure he/she gets great exchanges. The definition of winning can be different to different people.

Luck is necessary for a few exchanges but planning by owning good traders, getting your deposits in early, putting your requests in early and checking online does better then luck.

 

[ski_sierra]

I need to report back my first exchange success. I recently bought a 2 BR Marriott Grand Chateau, made reservation for studio and 1 BR for a 135 TDI week and deposited it ~11 months out.

I just confirmed an exchange into St. Kitt's Beach Club in a 2 BR using the studio portion for Memorial day week 2020. It also happens to be a holiday week for my nephews in England. I know that's not high season for the Carribean islands but I don't plan on going to the Carribean in winter as winter is for skiing . Next year is the last year before my daughter starts school so I am taking advantage of the opportunity to go off season.

I also found a week at Marriott Frenchman's Cove using the studio portion of MGC, but I could not find award flights so we are going to St. Kitts instead. It looks like a nice quiet island for families.

You guys are awesome. I couldn't have done it without all the amazing advice and insight you offer on this board.

 

[TheTimeTraveler]

Nice trades! A Marriott Grande Chateau in Las Vegas is an excellent trader (as you have found out for yourself).




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[GeorgeJ.]

Exchanging allows for a form of arbitrage . When used well you have an opportunity to have the results
you have noticed reading TUG threads .

A historic example was the South African resorts termed” tiger traders “ . For a period of time RCI gave higher TPU’s to these resorts AND the MF cost when paid in USD was quite low due to currency exchange rates .

This history was something I learned reading TUG / as it predates my knowledgeable timesharing .
If you go to the International Forum you will still see occasional posts by TUG members who still own them (and likely have never been there). I believe an average one currently gets about 15 TPU’s for a MF
of $ 300 range .

There were other resorts that were available cheaply back in the 90's that out-traded the South African resorts. I bought my Southern California coastal trader for $2000 in 1999. Under the current system it can get 50 TPU for a July-August week deposited into RCI. The MF in under $500 a year.
I have a lot of TPUs banked with RCI that I keep paying them to extend because I can't use them all (about 200 TPUs banked at the moment). Since I typically use under 40 TPUs a year if I do two RCI trades, my banked points keep building up...