Hard time deciding how many points we truly need.

[VGCgroupie]

I originally was going to buy a fixed week. After calling member services, I changed my mind. Two man reasons:

I noted they seemed to struggle more on the resale market than regular contracts. I think buyers don’t understand the value proposition.

When I talked with Member Services about the fixed week, they very clearly didn’t understand it. I didn’t want to have to deal with the headache of potentially explaining it to Member Services when I called.

I think the idea of a fixed week is great, but the member service misunderstandings really cooled my excitement to own one.

I did get one guy who was confused when I chatted in. MS is really hit or miss these days.

 

[Wedgeout]

Throwing a FW into your points pool is like getting yourself another UY or membership. (Plus, I’m not a Sunday-Sunday traveler).

 

[tx911]

Throwing a FW into your points pool is like getting yourself another UY or membership. (Plus, I’m not a Sunday-Sunday traveler).

Another hot take

 

[airjay75]

If I were a studio person, I could see having gone with a FW for my RIV points purchases. Feels like a decent hedge for potential future resale purposes. But, that is also something I'd get no use out of personally because I just don't plan to stay in studios. And a FW 1 BR or 2 BR villa? A 300-600 point FW contract? I think those would still be difficult to sell at a restricted resort because that is just so many points that could only be used at that resort. The better hedge for resale purposes there seemed to be making sure I break my points up into smaller point contracts.

 

[tx911]

If I were a studio person, I could see having gone with a FW for my RIV points purchases. Feels like a decent hedge for potential future resale purposes. But, that is also something I'd get no use out of personally because I just don't plan to stay in studios. And a FW 1 BR or 2 BR villa? A 300-600 point FW contract? I think those would still be difficult to sell at a restricted resort because that is just so many points that could only be used at that resort. The better hedge for resale purposes there seemed to be making sure I break my points up into smaller point contracts.

I'm actually often ok with studios, but I never stay Sunday to Sunday, and very often go for 5 or 6 nights instead of 7. So the juice isn't worth the squeeze for me, but I can see the value in it for some. Hopefully it will give them some extra value if they choose to sell as well.

 

[Brian Noble]

I suspect at least some resale buyers don't actually understand that Fixed Weeks are easy to opt out of, and so they are only a value-add. In the worst case, they are identical to a contract at the same resort without fixed week rights. But, if for some reason you think you have to use the week, then the market is limited.

I also have a sneaking suspicion that odd-numbered contracts also have a little bit of a headwind. Things that are not multiples of 25 (or, at the very least multiples of 5) are "odd ducks" on the market.

I bought a fixed week primarily as a hedge against availability problems. I expect to almost never use it as written, but figured it only gave me more options. I did not buy it for potential resale value. If I'd been doing that, I probably would have avoided RIV entirely.