Small Contract Blues

[Victoriasmom98]

I'm sad. We've made an offer on two small 25 point contracts and both have been scooped up before we could finalize a deal......We don't even care which property and we are bidding anywhere from $80 to $100 per point. It's just so sad as I have all these big plans in my head (these would be additional points to our already purchased contract from Disney) but cannot execute them....

Anyone else feel my pain or have any suggestions???

 

[Disney Dad ADL]

I'm sad. We've made an offer on two small 25 point contracts and both have been scooped up before we could finalize a deal......We don't even care which property and we are bidding anywhere from $80 to $100 per point. It's just so sad as I have all these big plans in my head (these would be additional points to our already purchased contract from Disney) but cannot execute them....

Anyone else feel my pain or have any suggestions???

For small point contracts like 25 points, I think buying direct from Disney becomes a more attractive proposition. I hear that closing costs are lower direct, which is a bigger deal with smaller contracts (even if it's $100 difference, that's $4 per point). And the price gap between resale and direct is also lower for small contracts. Also, you get the points right away, since it sounds like you already have some plans in mind, and you can often choose your use year. Have you looked into direct at all?

 

[disneynutz]

Just buy direct, pay more and get it over with.

Bill

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

With the small points there usually isn't going to be much if any room to negotiate as it sounds like you might be trying? I'd just decide on prices I was willing to pay and make full price offers.

 

[ktmo]

Yep, I am right there with you, except, I haven't been able to find any for my June UY for the resorts I am looking at adding.

I am thinking direct will be the way to go. I know that it will be more money, but at least I will know I will get points.

 

[Dean]

Yep, I am right there with you, except, I haven't been able to find any for my June UY for the resorts I am looking at adding.

I am thinking direct will be the way to go. I know that it will be more money, but at least I will know I will get points.

For 25 points its not much more and you'll have more choices. The only time I think it makes sense to go resale over retail for 25 is when retail is not available, esp if the waitlist is closed. Or even better for some, go a little larger and go resale.

 

[mustinjourney]

For 25 points its not much more and you'll have more choices. The only time I think it makes sense to go resale over retail for 25 is when retail is not available, esp if the waitlist is closed. Or even better for some, go a little larger and go resale.

Totally agree -- no reason to buy resale on these 25 point contracts if you can buy them direct. The difference in price is really not that much, and you get a fully loaded contract practically immediately. The only reason I would buy resale on these is if it was to get a resort that isn't available direct (e.g., VGF, VGC, BCV).

 

[Dean]

Totally agree -- no reason to buy resale on these 25 point contracts if you can buy them direct. The difference in price is really not that much, and you get a fully loaded contract practically immediately. The only reason I would buy resale on these is if it was to get a resort that isn't available direct (e.g., VGF, VGC, BCV).

One point of clarification. One can't get a fully loaded contract retail but you can avoid a stripped one. About the closest you can come is to buy late in the UY and be able to bank the points. A fully loaded contract would come with this years points AND last years points banked and be early enough in the UY to actually use the points. The total difference in value between a fully loaded contract and a retail contract (all else equal otherwise) would vary with the time to use the points but roughly $5 a point is a good round number that is the same as I use to value them when comparing different resales and looking at banked or shorter notice points but it does assume the points will be usable (personally or rental) when the resale is closed.

To add, retail is reasonable dollar wise up to around 50 points but as I've noted there are other variables like availability. The one justification I often see that I don't think is a reasonable choice when the price difference is significant, is the speed of the available points. It's not that getting your points immediately doesn't have value, it does, it's just that the difference between retail and resale almost always outstrips the benefit.

 

[Victoriasmom98]

Thanks for everyone's advice. I did contact DVC directly and was only given the option of adding-on 50 points or above. We don't want to add 50 points. We just want 25 because with the 24 one time use points you can buy, we would have enough. The guide at DVC sent me to a website which only listed 50 points and above. Am I doing something wrong? And I honestly don't care which resort because we always go during the slow times (May or Sept) and never have an issue booking.

 

[Sandisw]

Are you paying cash or financing? For cash, unless the rules have changed, you should be allowed to purchase 25 to 49 points. If you need to finance, then it's 50 or above. I'd call back and say that you want to get 25 and if it's still no, ask them to share with you when that rule changed...

 

[CMNJ]

Thanks for everyone's advice. I did contact DVC directly and was only given the option of adding-on 50 points or above. We don't want to add 50 points. We just want 25 because with the 24 one time use points you can buy, we would have enough. The guide at DVC sent me to a website which only listed 50 points and above. Am I doing something wrong? And I honestly don't care which resort because we always go during the slow times (May or Sept) and never have an issue booking.

Unless something has changed current members can by as little as 25 points as long as they purchase the same use year as it is considered an add on to your current contract. If you were looking to get a different use year then yes 50 points is supposed to be the minimum for a new membership (which is how a different UY is treated)

 

[Victoriasmom98]

nope, it doesn't matter what the use year is......I'd love for it to be the same ---- easier to organize that way. Maybe the guide just didn't understand what I wanted???

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

nope, it doesn't matter what the use year is......I'd love for it to be the same ---- easier to organize that way. Maybe the guide just didn't understand what I wanted???

A DVC guide sent you to a website for resales? That's pretty odd. Actually it's really odd. But that resale broker still would only have whatever contracts people were offering for sale so it having nothing smaller than 50 points would just be timing and nobody is selling anything smaller.

Small contracts take time and luck to buy resale.

If you are paying cash you can buy 25 points direct but it would likely have to be the same UY. I don't think you've shared what resort but if it's not Poly or Aulani then it's just going to depend on if they have the points to sell in that UY. If they told you 50 points then that would be because you want to finance or for a different UY. At least it's usual for them to require you to buy as if you were a new purchaser if you were getting a different UY.

 

[Victoriasmom98]

Well, I sent a fax over to our original Guide this morning who sold us our current points. I haven't heard anything back yet. I'll let you guys know what I find out.

 

[Dean]

Well, I sent a fax over to our original Guide this morning who sold us our current points. I haven't heard anything back yet. I'll let you guys know what I find out.

I'd call back this doesn't make any sense. I wouldn't be surprised if they changed the min to 50 but I think we'd have heard something and doubt it'd be this soon. I'm assuming you're not financing but paying cash. I'd push for the same UY as that's the only way it'll flow well and the only way you'll be able to book online in all likelihood at least unless there are IT changes. For only 25, I'd also push for the same home resort unless you have a plan for the 25 points that involves a specific resort.

 

[Perelandra]

Well, I sent a fax over to our original Guide this morning who sold us our current points. I haven't heard anything back yet. I'll let you guys know what I find out.

I am in the process of doing a 25 point add on direct. I'm currently on a wait list for my home resort with same UY. 50 is minimum for new purchases and 25 for add ons. They will try to push at least 50, but if you insist they will sell one to you. At least my guide is.

 

[jmassey1samchi]

How about offering the resale contract seller a price that is about $5 or even $10 per point higher than the list price? Still a lot cheaper than buying direct.

 

[Chrisvee]

I just added on 25 points to BWV with Sep UY this week. I called Member Admin, was assigned a Guide, waited about two weeks since the points weren't immediately available, and voila. Closing costs were $103.

My original contract was purchased via resale and there was never any question that I could get that amount of points or match my UY -- they even told me my position on the wait list.