Waiting for the "Best" Incentives

[islandtimect]

I've seen it posted here that for the past 3-4 years, prices per point have gone up $3 about every 8-10 months. When was the last price increase? The reason I ask is that we're planning on completing our DVC purchase tomorrow, Sept 15, but am not happy about the meager incentives ($8 off or DDP) and was thinking of waiting for something better. It burns me that there are periodic "big" incentives like $500 from Disney Visa, free APs in DL, or triple developer points that I've missed. But then maybe a per point price increase would wipe out any additional incentive. Any personal experience or comments from the veterans on this would be great!

 

[AKV707]

When we bought, we took the $8. We figured that the price per point would only go up over time and we wanted to begin to enjoy membership sooner than later. If I had held out for a better incentive, we still would not have joined and wouldn't have the 2 great DVC trips planned that we have.

If you are ready to buy in, go fot it!

 

[jennib5426]

I bought yesterday and got the $10 per piont at SSR and the $500 Disney Visa dollars that will post after I close. Since I purchased a March UY and had to bank in the next 45 days, it is almost like I am starting off next year with double pionts. Since I can't take another trip until spring 2008 I banked my pionts for 2007 and booked my April 2008 trip today. After all that I still have enought pionts for another week in a 2 bedroom in 2008.

I now it is not technically double pionts but it feels like it is.

My tour guide said yesterday SSR was 80% sold and they expect to be sold out by early 2008.

 

[ChelleinNC]

I've seen it posted here that for the past 3-4 years, prices per point have gone up $3 about every 8-10 months. When was the last price increase? The reason I ask is that we're planning on completing our DVC purchase tomorrow, Sept 15, but am not happy about the meager incentives ($8 off or DDP) and was thinking of waiting for something better. It burns me that there are periodic "big" incentives like $500 from Disney Visa, free APs in DL, or triple developer points that I've missed. But then maybe a per point price increase would wipe out any additional incentive. Any personal experience or comments from the veterans on this would be great!

I believe it was June 1st that the price went up, right before we bought of course I think that was the 2nd price increase since August of 06. Single developers points were offered last August when we looked, but we got double points when we bought in June ( or $10 off SSR/ $8 AKV).

 

[Granny]

I've seen it posted here that for the past 3-4 years, prices per point have gone up $3 about every 8-10 months. When was the last price increase? The reason I ask is that we're planning on completing our DVC purchase tomorrow, Sept 15, but am not happy about the meager incentives ($8 off or DDP) and was thinking of waiting for something better. It burns me that there are periodic "big" incentives like $500 from Disney Visa, free APs in DL, or triple developer points that I've missed. But then maybe a per point price increase would wipe out any additional incentive. Any personal experience or comments from the veterans on this would be great!

Marie...I'm not sure I understand. You are upset that you "only" get offered $8 per point incentive instead of $500 Disney Visa? If you buy the minimum 160 points you are saving $1,280 if I am calculating correctly. That's a much better deal than either the $500 or a couple of DL AP's.

Of course, when I purchased there were no incentives at all. No point discounts, no developer points, no APs, no nothing. And I am glad I purchased then, even at the lofty Disney price of $75 per point.

 

[islandtimect]

Granny,
Yes, I'm upset that I've missed out on really good added incentives that you could get IN ADDITION TO the $8 pp. I'd like to time my purchase to take advantage of them. A poster indicated that June 1 was the last price increase, so maybe another one is coming after January? I have to decide if I want to gamble that in the next few months a better offer becomes available, vs just paying $98 today and being done. (It's in situations like this that my over-analyzing personality drives me crazy!) I appreciate the other poster's comment that if we just buy today, I can book my next trip immediately.

 

[Granny]

Yes, I'm upset that I've missed out on really good added incentives that you could get IN ADDITION TO the $8 pp. I'd like to time my purchase to take advantage of them.

Oh, I get it. Since we haven't been in the DVC sales market for a bit, I didn't understand that the incentives were in addition to the point discount.

The point I was trying to make was that DVC was a great deal for us with no incentives of any kind. While it is nice that Disney sweetens the pot from time to time, there is no guarantee that they will do so forever.

I guess it's like trying to time the stock market so you don't "leave money on the table", so to speak. I'd say you are looking at a similar risk in trying to beat the next price increase while waiting for additional incentives. It might work for you, it might not. Guess it depends on how much of a risk taker you are, and how upset you'd be to "lose" if you wait and don't get the additional incentives or end up paying more.

I agree that it probably wouldn't make sense to take another trip or more on cash if you are planning on buying DVC anyway. Good luck in your decision!

 

[CarolAnnC]

Having watched this over many years, I can only say the longer one waits the more one pays. Whether through higher interest rates, higher points cost, etc. You may wait for an "incentive" that gives you a couple of hundred dollars in perks, and the price or interest may increase and cost thousands more.

I am of the mindset that there is no time like the present. JMHO.

 

[islandtimect]

Thanks to eveyone who gave their input. We bit the bullet and bought today, getting DDP instead of the reduced price. Paid $104 per point but am getting 160 points to use during the next year, 160 points from our April 07 UY, and no maintenance fees at AKL until December. Tomorrow we call to try and change our current reservation at Marriott in St Thomas to one of the II vacation clubs at Marrriott or Westin St John.

 

[AKV707]

Home! And welcome to the AKV family!

 

[Granny]

Congratulations on your purchase, and WELCOME HOME!!!

 

[Mr Man]

Granny,
Yes, I'm upset that I've missed out on really good added incentives that you could get IN ADDITION TO the $8 pp. I'd like to time my purchase to take advantage of them. A poster indicated that June 1 was the last price increase, so maybe another one is coming after January? I have to decide if I want to gamble that in the next few months a better offer becomes available, vs just paying $98 today and being done. (It's in situations like this that my over-analyzing personality drives me crazy!) I appreciate the other poster's comment that if we just buy today, I can book my next trip immediately.

I can sympathize. I had an opportunity to get the double incentive points instead of the single incentive points I ended up with. All I had to do was to make the 10% deposit sight unseen.
I just couldn't do this.....had to kick the tires.....hem and haw etc etc. Sure would have been nice to have the extra points; however, on balance I am happy to have finally made the plunge.

Not sure how many points you were planning on buying but my DVC guide was quick to offer add-ons........ No really, the idea being that he would call me when a super cool incentive comes up (or I find it on this board). With this in the back of our minds, we actually bought less points on our master contract than we originally intended and will likely purchase a 2nd contract when a good incentive comes along.

This way we were able to book our Grand Gathering for Spring Break '08, while still leaving open the "nail biting waiting for a great incentive so we can spend a bunch of $" thing......

Just a thought & not one for the weak of heart.