REDWEEKS NEW TIMESHARE EXHANGE PROGRAM

Re. my previous post.

On Saturday last week, I didn't have my reservation # available, so waited till Monday to deposit my week.

The Donatello Resort which I have been watch then was gone. I understand if I missed it, I missed it - no big deal.

After deposting my week, I found the Donatello re-surfaced, both last night and this morning.

I proceeded to book it, but the next page says it is not available.

If it is not available, it should be taken out of the list. This is annoying.

Hi Taty,

I'm sorry about that - I'm not sure what happened. The next time you see this, please e-mail us at support@redweek.com so we can look at it immediately.

Right now, it looks like the Donatello January week is available...

Kylie

taty3 wrote:

Re. my previous post.

On Saturday last week, I didn't have my reservation # available, so waited till Monday to deposit my week.

The Donatello Resort which I have been watch then was gone. I understand if I missed it, I missed it - no big deal.

After deposting my week, I found the Donatello re-surfaced, both last night and this morning.

I proceeded to book it, but the next page says it is not available.

If it is not available, it should be taken out of the list. This is annoying.

Marty, I have my value from Redweek on my Ridge Tahoe Naegle building!

My question now is your list has hotel, one bedroom,two bedroom and more! How would you rate our second unit Tower which is one of top two units with the Naegles at the Ridge!

If you go by one or two bedroom only then that would put rating of Tower with Plaza,Terrace buildings which would not be fair rating!

The fact you don't show top units for trade is expected at this early stage of your program!

Thanks, PHIL

Kylie, I deposited my 3BR Christie Lodge ski week (March) with you guys two weeks ago and it still has not been posted as available. I have looked every day, several times a day.

Please explain.

Terry

Hi Terry,

Please see my e-mail reply for the answer to your question. It should be posted soon.

Kylie

terry314 wrote:

Kylie, I deposited my 3BR Christie Lodge ski week (March) with you guys two weeks ago and it still has not been posted as available. I have looked every day, several times a day.

Please explain.

Terry

phill12 wrote:

marty8084 wrote:

Since finding the exchange inventory seems to be the #1 problem with exchange so far, we are working on a solution. Within a few days, we should have a list that shows all the resorts where we have exchange inventory available, and the corresponding point ranges. This will make it much easier for people to find. We are planning on sending an e-mail with a link to the new list to everyone who has submitted a valuation, as soon as it is ready. We do have several thousand weeks available for exchange, but they are widely spread among resorts in various states and countries. So, it's best, when doing a search, to do a location search for a broad region. You can even do "United States", but it will take awhile to load the list.

Please be patient while we work out the kinks.

Thanks, Marty

Marty, I have my value from Redweek on my Ridge Tahoe Naegle building which is high and I feel right on!

My question now is your list has hotel, one bedroom,two bedroom and more! How would you rate our second unit Tower which is one of top two units with the Naegles at the Ridge! If you go by one or two bedroom only then that would put rating of Tower with Plaza,Terrace buildings which would not be fair rating!

The fact you don't show top units for trade is expected at this early stage of your program!

Thanks, PHIL

Hi Phil,

I apologize for taking so long to respond to your question.

We are just starting up this program and haven't been able to compile enough data to look at buildings within a complex. We are trying to hit pricing that we think best reflects the overall resort. Where there are special situations... like penthouses... special views etc., our exchange is not likely to provide a true market-based value. The best way for people with especially valuable properties to get everything they should is to rent the units through our rental offerings.

Also, if you indicate the unit number on the valuation submission might help, too. Especially as we make our system more sophisticated.

Thanks, Marty

Marty, I would like to know how Redweek comes up with numbers for a resort that are more than doubled the asking price on your Redweek rental site.

You have resort listed for about 2250 points. My understanding is you base your points on a dollar a point.

If this is right how then do you come up with 2250 points =$2250.00 for the week. When on your own Redweek rental site have the same resort renting for $700.00- $1000.00 for the week. You have more than doubled the price for exchange compared to renting it.In one case here you have more than tripled the price to exchange.

Just so I understand.....

Please tell me if I "get it" about all this exchange stuff. My attempts to do a "direct exchange" with several redweek members resulted in many interesting exchanges of e-mails but no actual exchanges. IMO this was because everyone who responded to me did not have an actual unit booked at all, but were wanting to kind of "broker" an exchange! It kind of went like this: The offer to me was not to exchange the 2BR Villa that they had booked for week #10 at Resort A Building B 5th floor garden view, air conditioned, elevator accessible, non-smoking, full kitchen, sleeps 6, furnished screened-in deck, 3 cable TVs, 2 baths with jacuzzi tub, king size bed in master BR, queen size sofa bed, dining room with table seats 6, recently renovated (2007), etc. etc. !! No...not at all! The offer was usually like this: " I want to exchange with you. I want desperately to be in Maui the last week in May. I can book an exchange for you at the Occidental Puerto Plata. I own at the Occidental in Mexico but can claim a room in the DR. Please let me know! Huh? What? What a waste of both of our time! This new approach will be a giant leap forward for redweek members who desire a direct exchange for fair value (and who have not paid membership to any other exchange company). Now here is what I would like to understand further... do not most time share owners own "float" memberships so that they can book a condo unit when they want as opposed to the "fixed" ownership. So, will it not benefit a redweek "float" owner who wants to participate in this new Redweek venture to book his/her unit at the most desired (marketable) week of the year to claim maximum value for it in the exchange valuation process? And if I got this right so far, then will somebody please tell me just when the maximum value of my 2BR Villa in Orlando should be booked so I can get started for 2008? I can book 12 months ahead so I am already behind! Thanks! I look forward to hearing from experienced exchangers as I attempt to "get current" on the time share exchanging "routine" and also try to figure out just what the Redweek Program offers that is not also offered by the many others that are out there. Thanks!

daddyd has asked/ stated, quoted in pertinent part:

>> Now here is what I would like to understand further...do not most time share owners own "float" memberships so that they can book a condo unit when they want as opposed to the "fixed" ownership. <<

======================================= Most of my own weeks are FIXED, not float, but my point is to correct your mistaken statement regarding the booking of float weeks. In truth, there are quite often many restrictions (and/or a near complete lack of availability) on "float" reservations in resorts in some popular geographic areas. At some coastal Florida resorts, for example, "float" week owners are actually outright PROHIBITED from booking ANY winter weeks. So, NO, as a rule float week owners generally CAN'T just book whenever they want, as you've assumed. =======================================

Re; >> So, will it not benefit a redweek "float" owner who wants to participate in this new Redweek venture to book his/her unit at the most desired (marketable) week of the year to claim maximum value for it in the exchange valuation process? <<

======================================= Sure, just as long as they guess correctly about when that maximum value time frame might be......and then hope that there is something that they actually want to exchange for existing within the RedWeek inventory. =======================================

Re; >> And if I got this right so far, then will somebody please tell me just when the maximum value of my 2BR Villa in Orlando should be booked so I can get started for 2008? <<

======================================

I can't answer that particular question knowledgeably. I DO know Orlando is very "overbuilt", with lots and lots of timeshares --- and still more of them being built all the time. I hope that you will hear from someone who knows the Orlando "market" demand and timing, but in the meantime I would recommend not becoming overly optimistic about the valuation you ultimately receive in a truly timeshare-glutted geographic area. Nonetheless, I wish you luck and success in ultimately effecting a satisfactory exchange. ======================================

daddyd stated, quoted in pertinent part:

>>....and also try to figure out just what the Redweek Program offers that is not also offered by the many others that are out there. << =====================================

One GREAT feature of the new RedWeek exchange program ---and a feature NOT offered by some others (....RCI comes immediately to mind...) is being able to search for something you might want to exchange for BEFORE actually having to deposit your booked week. This makes the exchange game both fair and transparent (....fair and/or transparent are apparently both completely foreign concepts to RCI....) since you are able to SEE for yourself what's available in the RedWeek exchange inventory, SEE for yourself what it "costs" (i.e., how many "points") and SEE for yourself IN ADVANCE the valuation of what you are considering depositing. It's all up front and right out in the open --- no mystery "man behind the curtain" knowing (...but never actually telling you, as practiced by RCI...) the actual "trading power" of what you have to offer.

Personally, I LIKE the new RedWeek model and I am hopeful that the available exchange inventory will improve in terms of both quantity and quality with time, as the program solidifies and comes into its own.

daddyd "Just so I understand....."

I own a Marriott Waiohai, which I have yet to trade, and

I own a 3BR 3BA unit at the Christie Lodge in Avon, CO. The Christie Lodge, in general, is not in a very high demand unless it is booked for a prime ski week.

I usually book my week during a spring break period to get the most value possible. I then turn the week in to RCI, use it, or rent it.

The trades I have received have been nice, usually gold crown units, at decent places. When I say decent, I mean Sheraton max, not Marriott or Hilton.

But getting what you want, when you want has always been a problem with exchanging. I have a pending search for South Padre for next March that has been going on for four months no luck yet.

I decided to deposit into Redweek my Christie Lodge spring break week for 2008. They offered me exactly what I was asking for rent on the unit. I had a rental listing on Redweek. I took their offer and now have points waiting to spend.

Hopefully some good deposits will come in well before my three years expires.

The problem with floating weeks system is that everyone wants the same time periods. It has become a major problem that timeshare owners now book all the prime weeks and never have any intention of using them. All the good weeks are used for rental and not deposited regularly enough. Check out nice resorts at Hawaii, Cancun and Aruba – tons of rentals listed. Marriott used to offer us large sums of money UP FRONT for our booked weeks. This was contributing to the problem. That meant other Marriott owners at other locations could never trade in to the most desired locations and weeks because none were deposited. Do to owner backlash, Marriott is now using a more traditional rental system (you don’t know how much or if your unit will be rented).

I think this new Redweek program is fair because you see your offer and can relate it to the asking price of other properties before you deposit. Good luck and Give it a try!!

Terry

Thanks to Ken1193 and to terry314, for your thoughts about my plea for help understanding this "exchange" thing. I guess I see problems for the RedWeek Model if everybody waits to see what is available. Wouldn't that in effect, stop the train in its tracks? I never understood the complications of the Interval International Model either but the mere fact that they claim to have over 2,000 resorts of a better than average class of resort available for exchange at any time would seem to improve the odds of getting a good deal. Or am I missing something with that "assumption" too? Thanks also, Ken, for your point about "float" versus "fixed". I had thought that most purchases of time-shares today purchased float weeks as opposed to fixed weeks since the fixed weeks were so much more expensive. I do understand that many folks decide to purchase fixed weeks in non-red week periods to also keep the purchase price and annual fees down. And I agree that the prime Christmas Week/New Years Week and certain other weeks like Easter Week in the Caribbean and select Spring Break Weeks elsewhere get gobbled up by high-rollers or corporate execs whose only intent is to either rent them or gift them to VIP clients. But my point was that it seems to me that the market for this exchange thing is with those of us who own float weeks. And my further point was that for this Redweek Exchange Model to work, then the float owners must do their homework and book their resorts while the most marketable units are available to be booked. I used the Orlando Market as an example. Believe it or not, some of the resorts in that market claim that some weeks are "redder" than other weeks! I guess only time will tell if RedWeek meets the expectations of time share exchange and carves out a niche for itself that is not now met by the other established players in the field. The Interval International Model is an interesting point to ponder. As I mentioned, I don't know how it actually works, but I do know that their website is fun to browse around in, and RedWeek uses the exact same descriptions of the resorts that are available for inspection at II. I think that the deal involves you paying a membership fee and then paying another fee if you get an exchange that you like. You also pay yet another fee if you choose to change your selection criteria after you have chosen it the 1st time. And every time after that! So it be best to chose the broadest list of acceptable dates and destinations and accomodations the 1st time. You can have them do an exchange for you , sorta "hands-free", which means that you take what they find for you. You trust them to do this as opposed to you doing the searching day after day until you find something you want. My friend and neighbor does this every year, never knowing where he is going, but sorta knowing when he is going! He and his wife are empty nesters now and they enjoy the "mystery" of the process. This probably wouldn't be suitable for families with children. And he often asks for the shoulder seasons, which increases the selection of resorts that come available considerably. Maybe RedWeek should look into this methodology? Another thought is the descriptions of the resorts and the details in the amenities that are offered both on and off site. To me, knowing that the beach is on-site and not "nearby" is often the decision-maker when it comes down to deciding on renting Resort A or Resort B. Ditto for non-smoking. And for a full kitchen with family size frig and stove top. And for elevator access. And for free accessible self-parking. And for having a decent size balcony. And lots of other stuff that we always check-off before deciding on where we want to spend our money. What I am trying to say is that RedWeek already has something that II doesn't have with the Member Reviews section. But it troubles me that so many reviews lack so much detail! Maybe RedWeek could consider some sort of points award as a means of encouraging quality participation by its members and thus moving the desire to exchange by members with members along at a faster pace? Maybe I'm being too cynical? Hmmmm.

daddyd has appropriately wondered:

>> I guess I see problems for the RedWeek Model if everybody waits to see what is available. Wouldn't that in effect, stop the train in its tracks? << ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Time will tell. After experiencing first hand the deterioration of RCI exchange practices over recent years (they are now actually defendants in a class action lawsuit over these allegedly deceitful "exchange" practices), I have personally resolved to NEVER again give up (deposit) a week which I own until or unless I first see -- right there in front of me -- something else of comparable value being offered where I want to go, when I want to go there. No more "deposit and hope" for me, having been offered NOTHING by RCI (in recent years) of even remotely comparable value. That's not an "exchange" --- that's just an unintentional GIFT from me to RCI! No mas....... --------------------------------------------------------------------- Re: >> I never understood the complications of the Interval International Model either but the mere fact that they claim to have over 2,000 resorts of a better than average class of resort available for exchange at any time would seem to improve the odds of getting a good deal. Or am I missing something with that "assumption" too?<< --------------------------------------------------------------------- I have an II membership, but have rarely exchanged through them for the same reason --- not seeing something available worth (to me) "giving up" a week at a time and place of interest to me. At least, however, they do have a "search first" option. Perhaps their affiliated resorts tend to be "better than average", but a "good week" there (just as anywhere else, including RedWeek) always has to first be deposited by someone before it becomes available for exchange. And as another poster has observed, "good weeks" can have higher value as rentals (..one of the reasons RCI is in court is the overt accusation that they are actively renting out prime deposited weeks themselves at top dollar to the public, rather than making those deposited weeks available to other dues paying RCI members for exchange purposes). ---------------------------------------------------------------------

Re; >> But my point was that it seems to me that the market for this exchange thing is with those of us who own float weeks. <<

Not necessarily. As a fixed week owner, I'd still glady exchange --- IF I saw someting that interested me.

Re: >> I used the Orlando Market as an example. Believe it or not, some of the resorts in that market claim that some weeks are "redder" than other weeks!<<

I do believe it and I believe that it's true. There is always SOME interest to see Mickey, Universal, etc., but school vacation periods intensify the demand. Hence the "pink" and "crimson" gradations of red there. --------------------------------------------------------------------- Re: >> I guess only time will tell if RedWeek meets the expectations of time share exchange and carves out a niche for itself that is not now met by the other established players in the field. << ---------------------------------------------------------------------- I agree --- and the quality and quantity of exchange inventory will surely determine the success of the program. In all other respects (transparency, valuation, cost) the RedWeek model certainly appears superior to any and all of the others with which I am familiar. But it's ultimately all about the available INVENTORY. It would be unreasonable to expect that RedWeek would have much (if any) "top tier" inventory in a brand new program which is only a very few weeks old. We'll see how much "migration" there is over time from the other alternatives to the RedWeek program.....

It is true that if everyone waited to deposit their weeks until you saw something you liked, the train would stop dead on the tracks. It is also true that waiting can cost you money (rental), points (Redweek), and trading power (RCI, II). That is the reason that I chose to deposit my week early with Redweek just as I usually do with RCI.

Redweek offers something special, the ability to combine two weeks worth of points, even over a two year period, and find something much nicer. I was offered, and accepted, 1800 points for my Christie Lodge ski week. I was offered 3000 points for my Marriott Waiohai week. If I deposit Christie again next year, I could go to Waiohai and still have points left over. Then I could maybe combine the leftover with the following years points.

Redweek also gives you the ability to buy more points with cash to upgrade if you will. This brings the value of different weeks up to even par.

The only way that this Redweek exchange program will work is if people, LIKE YOU GUYS, actually began to use it, starting with deposits. People waiting till the last minute could render this system useless.

I agree that people need to leave more detailed information about the resorts after use. I use Tripadvisor, as they sometimes have reviews like that. I do leave helpful information both on Redweek and Tripadvisor. Hope you all will do the same.

Good Luck

Terry

<I agree that people need to leave more detailed information about the resorts after use. I use Tripadvisor, as they sometimes have reviews like that. I do leave helpful information both on Redweek and Tripadvisor. Hope you all will do the same.>

Hi Terry!

I thought a good example of all this is how Redweek is marketing the Taino Beach Vacation Resort Club as an "exchange" opportunity. This resort has a Freeport, Bahamas address, and a 1 week stay at this resort from 10-19 to 10-26-07, in a 1BR that sleeps 4 was doable for an exchange of 1,005 Redweek Exchange Points, at least as of 6-29-07. Plus fees, of course! But, alas, there was not 1 review posted by anyone about this place! So you either roll the dice and trust that the resort is actually there and operating and of the quality that you want or you pass. My thought was that if Redweek is going to compete in this market, then they must offer more than their competition, not less, about the resorts that are available for exchange! And on their website. If members must go elsewhere, say to tripadvisor or to intervalworld, for this information, then the opportunity for the exchange may vanish along with the members impulse to do so! So I am marketing my services to Redweek in this regard! I will endure the travel to the Bahamas, stay a week or more at the Taino Beach Vacation Resort Club in Freeport, sample the meals served there, evaluate the beverages, comment on the room amenities emphasizing the kitchens and baths, evaluate the sizes and layouts and views of the various units that are offered at the resort, comment on the staff and how helpful they are, take many photographs from many angles so we know just what the place looks like, inside and out, and I will submit a report back so that anyone considering an exchange at this Resort will have a perfect idea about whether or not it is what they want to exchange for. Hey, it's a tough job, certainly, but somebody has got to do it, and I will do it fairly, accurately, and honestly, and I will even be happy to answer questions from Red Week Registered members when I get back. But as of right now, all I know about this place is that for some reason the zero bedroom layout sleeps 6 yet the 1 BR layout sleeps 4, and the list of Features and Amenities for this resort does not contain such very important things as "beach", "kitchen", "patio/balcony", "safe", "ceiling fans", or "central a.c."! At least to me these features are important! So, in summary, I propose that Redweek dispatch me as soon as possible to report on this resort and get my report and photos posted on redweek.com so the Taino Beach Vacation Resort Club can be exchanged with confidence by and with other Redweek Registered Exchangers. My service will boost the exchange interest of the Taino here on Redweek by 1,000 percent if my report is favorable. If not, it could help this Resort get up to standards that are expected by Red Week participants. But as it stands now, with only 1 not to clear photo and zero reviews, I personally would not chance an exchange of my beautiful 2BR 2Bath Full Kitchen newly renovated villa with screened in spacious and furnished deck for it! Would you? Bottom line- Exchanger beware! And, BTW, Redweek execs can contact me at this thread to arrange for my review and report about the Taino Beach Vacation Resort Club! Oh, and I do a much better job if you send me down for 2 weeks. I'll include comments about the quality of the ice at the nearby casino if you want! Let me know.

Maybe Redweek could work a deal to use Tripadvisor's member comments for the time being. It could probably be worked out that you would never even know that you were on the Tripadvisor page. I do not think that Redweek competes directly with them, do you?.

The Taino Beach Resort as mentioned above has 44 traveler reviews on Tripadvisor.

<Maybe Redweek could work a deal to use Tripadvisor's member comments for the time being. It could probably be worked out that you would never even know that you were on the Tripadvisor page. I do not think that Redweek competes directly with them, do you?.

The Taino Beach Resort as mentioned above has 44 traveler reviews on Tripadvisor.>

Hi again, Terry! Yes, maybe, but doubtful. Trip Advisor has built itself quite the name as the "Beast" to be reckoned with in the travel game and it has done so by attracting so much feedback, good and bad, from "members". However, these "members" often reveal themselves to be only travel imposters after a few hateful postings or reviews. After a while you can separate the fake postings from the actual experiences. Regarding the Taino Beach Vacation Club, and the 44 reviews that you noted as being posted on Trip Advisor, only 2 that I noticed were of recent vintage, and these were lacking much useful information on which to consider an exchange. Many " reviews " were apparently written about a Resort of the same name that has since been torn down! Trip Advisor is actually part of the Expedia.com organization, I believe, and it is interesting that the Taino is not mentioned at all on Expedia.com Travel Packages to the Bahamas. I don't know what to make of that! One very good thing that I noted about The Taino, however, was that in all the descriptions of the available "exchanges", the term "non-smoking" was included and I like that very much! My bags are packed! Oh, and as a "PS".... I should have noted that the Taino Website also is lacking any details whatsoever about the room accomodations. Some great photos are posted there, however, and there is mention of a "lazy-river", a restaurant, and other amenities, and it certainly looks like it has a beach on-site, at least if the photos are true!

Yes, it appears that a hurricane did the old resort in. It also appears that grand plans are in the making for this resort - eventually.

Good luck, and let us know the details!

Does RedWeek make change?

If I give RCI a 2BR but accept a 1BR because that is all that is available where & when I want to go, I trade "even" although it is 2BR for 1BR.

If RedWeek values my offered week at 1000pts and I "buy" something worth only 800 points, would I have a balance on hand with RedWeeks of 200 pts as I would if we were talking dollars (or Fairfield points) ? Or do I lose the excess value, just as I would with RCI?

MD

adahiscout wrote:

Does RedWeek make change?

If I give RCI a 2BR but accept a 1BR because that is all that is available where & when I want to go, I trade "even" although it is 2BR for 1BR.

If RedWeek values my offered week at 1000pts and I "buy" something worth only 800 points, would I have a balance on hand with RedWeeks of 200 pts as I would if we were talking dollars (or Fairfield points) ? Or do I lose the excess value, just as I would with RCI?

MD

Hi MD,

This unique program lets you keep leftover points when exchanging for a lesser-value week. So in your scenerio you would have a balance of 200 points with us.

Thanks, Marty