Wanting to buy direct and optimize use year

[Rulanna411]

Hello,
I'm new to the forum and have been thinking about DVC for a couple of months. Thank you for reading this post. I'm a complete noob still regarding the process but I am trying to learn more by lurking a bit on forums and reading a ton of blogs but there are so many intricacies to the process that it feels a little intimidating. Any helpful tips are much appreciated!

I'm considering Aulani direct @300 points sometime this month before the price hike in February and end of March incentives but I feel like the agent I'm working is not being very transparent and is not trying to be as helpful as I would hope. I have been reading about use year and I was hoping to get a use year of January or February but my agent initially made it sound as though only August was available. Then when I questioned him about the implications of use years and stated that I would like the earliest use year possible then he restated his position to make it sound more like a choice I have, but stated something to the effect of:

Only existing members can add on points a month or so before their upcoming Use Year since it is already existing memberships and Use year cannot be changed. A new Member has to stay at least 4 month out from a Use year for Banking guidelines which needs to happen 4 month prior to Use year. That being said the Use years that COULD be available for you at this time would be June, August, September, October and December.

I just didn't get a sense that he was trying to be transparent or helpful since he was initially trying to push out the use year to August and minimizing the implications of specific use years. His wording was also a bit strange in using the word COULD. I have also read of others getting use years very close to their purchase time so I'm not sure if this is a recent policy change?
Have you had any experience with trying to get a use year close to your purchase date to get points as quickly as possible and not being allowed to do so?
I'm wondering if this agent is being truthful or if he is giving me half truths or just being deceptive? Should I just get another agent since I don't feel good rapport and am less trustful of this one?

Rulanna

 

[Sandisw]

The guides will always push a particular UY so that is nothing new. BTW, there is no January, May, July, or November UY.

In terms of the banking comment, again, I think it’s something they use to persuade people to buy what they want to sell.

However, if you want a particular one, push for it. Now, there is always a chance that they don’t have particular points in stock to sell all UYs. People have had to wait. Even though they can change UY, they’d still have to have some that when changed still work. So yes, people have been denied trying to buy late in a UY..new owners and current owners.

Pick a UY that works for you and push for it. Banking beyond the window has always been allowed, even for new buyers, but they don’t have to let you and if they really won’t, they’ll let you walk away.

Good luck!

 

[Rulanna411]

The guides will always push a particular UY so that is nothing new. BTW, there is no January, May, July, or November UY.

In terms of the banking comment, again, I think it’s something they use to persuade people to buy what they want to sell.

However, if you want a particular one, push for it. Now, there is always a chance that they don’t have particular points in stock to sell all UYs. People have had to wait. Even though they can change UY, they’d still have to have some that when changed still work. So yes, people have been denied trying to buy late in a UY..new owners and current owners.

Pick a UY that works for you and push for it. Banking beyond the window has always been allowed, even for new buyers, but they don’t have to let you and if they really won’t, they’ll let you walk away.

Good luck!

Thanks Sandisw, its reassuring to know that it is not just my particular agent. Do you happen to know, if you want to buy direct and they don't have the UY you want, can they put you on a waiting list of some sort? Can you put down 10% to hold on to the incentives and lock in the price per point before the price hike? I definitely have FOMO. I wish I had purchased years ago but also just recently before the 12/15 incentives ran out .

 

[Lunchbox66]

Thanks Sandisw, its reassuring to know that it is not just my particular agent. Do you happen to know, if you want to buy direct and they don't have the UY you want, can they put you on a waiting list of some sort? Can you put down 10% to hold on to the incentives and lock in the price per point before the price hike? I definitely have FOMO. I wish I had purchased years ago but also just recently before the 12/15 incentives ran out .

I believe you can get on a wait list for the use year you want, although I have no idea how long you'd be on it. I've also heard that if you play hardball you can sometimes get the use year you want. Maybe try contacting a different guide, the one I worked with was great and very transparent. I personally would not take a use year that was opposite of what made sense for my vacation schedule.

 

[Sandisw]

Thanks Sandisw, its reassuring to know that it is not just my particular agent. Do you happen to know, if you want to buy direct and they don't have the UY you want, can they put you on a waiting list of some sort? Can you put down 10% to hold on to the incentives and lock in the price per point before the price hike? I definitely have FOMO. I wish I had purchased years ago but also just recently before the 12/15 incentives ran out .

As long as they have points to sell, they won’t lock you into incentives for a waitlist. Unfortunately, with AUL, if they won’t sell you any UY right now because they don’t want or don’t have 2021 points, it will change when that UY hits its 2022 one.

So, if a Feb UY is what you are wanting because it works for your travel times, you can push this month for those and even say give you a call when they can sell them to you.

But, be sure that the UY you choose is based on your needs, and not just to get extra points.

 

[dvc lover 1970]

If buying AUL have you considered resale?

 

[Brian Noble]

But, be sure that the UY you choose is based on your needs, and not just to get extra points.

Quoted for truth.

 

[Wedgeout]

The Guide sounds pretty good. The UY’s listed are the ones still within banking windows without the MS courtesy transfer banking. Making the purchase real easy for you. On UY’s try to have one that you don’t plan on traveling very often or at all in the last three months of it. Also think about paying the extra in closing and breaking up that 300. 150 is the minimum for new members. Two 150’s is good in case of any future selling of a contract.

 

[Rulanna411]

As long as they have points to sell, they won’t lock you into incentives for a waitlist. Unfortunately, with AUL, if they won’t sell you any UY right now because they don’t want or don’t have 2021 points, it will change when that UY hits its 2022 one.

So, if a Feb UY is what you are wanting because it works for your travel times, you can push this month for those and even say give you a call when they can sell them to you.

But, be sure that the UY you choose is based on your needs, and not just to get extra points.

Thanks for the info. I get the sense that you think there is something negative about about wanting the get more points as soon as possible or maybe I'm misconstruing your comment? I just think it makes sense to try and maximize the points you get. Can you give your viewpoint on this? I also would like to get my travel done in the off season in April and May and Sept and Oct so a February or April use year would be great for travel this year.

 

[Rulanna411]

The Guide sounds pretty good. The UY’s listed are the ones still within banking windows without the MS courtesy transfer banking. Making the purchase real easy for you. On UY’s try to have one that you don’t plan on traveling very often or at all in the last three months of it. Also think about paying the extra in closing and breaking up that 300. 150 is the minimum for new members. Two 150’s is good in case of any future selling of a contract.

Thanks for the suggestion Wedgeout. I was even considering three 100 point contracts but the agents is quoting $600-700 per contract so I'm thinking 150 might be fine.

 

[Wedgeout]

April would be a great one for you. You would still have November and December in a good spot in the UY for any holiday trips.

 

[Wedgeout]

If you don’t plan on booking any trips this year prior to September, the September UY is as good as April for your travel plans.

 

[Sandisw]

Thanks for the info. I get the sense that you think there is something negative about about wanting the get more points as soon as possible or maybe I'm misconstruing your comment? I just think it makes sense to try and maximize the points you get. Can you give your viewpoint on this? I also would like to get my travel done in the off season in April and May and Sept and Oct so a February or April use year would be great for travel this year.

Nothing wrong with it if it fits into your plans, But, if you choose a UY in which you will always be traveling outside your banking window, you risk losing points if something happened,

For example, if someone knows they want to travel in November to January every year, a Feb UY is the worst one to own.

If you had to cancel or even change one of those trips, you’d have very little time to use up the points as they would expire and you’d be beyond the banking window.

While no UY is perfect, choose one that works best to help limit risk. An extra years of points upfront is a nice incentive so if you can get both, it’s great,

I just think you need to first think about times of travel and then pick the one that might also give you those extra points.

Given what you mention, a September UY also works very well and was one mentioned as a choice.

Be aware, though, if going to WDW, October is a very busy DVC time.

 

[Rulanna411]

Thank you

If buying AUL have you considered resale?

I think I tend to be a more anxious person and I think I could get a little obsessive with checking, looking, and taking the time to research a good AUL contract on resale. I don't want to go down that particular rabbit hole for myself but I know that decision is definitely costing me thousands of dollars. I think I have to go the direct route for my peace of mind though.

 

[Rulanna411]

I just spent about an hour talking with the agent, who is actually a nice guy. I was trying to do email as much as possible because I tend to work nights 7on/7off and being on night 5of 7 I'm not very lucid and my cognitive abilities have taken a big hit but he went through everything very patiently which I greatly appreciated. I was very tempted to say Michael Scott style "Explain it to me like I'm 6" multiple times as he was talking about use years. I'm still trying to decide between June and December use years. He said I won't have to pay any annual dues for 2021 and that I will get the 2022 bill in a couple of months. I just need to figure out when I want to try to vacation this year to make a decision by Tuesday at 1pm PST, my appointment time . Thank you very much for your help!

 

[Rulanna411]

Nothing wrong with it if it fits into your plans, But, if you choose a UY in which you will always be traveling outside your banking window, you risk losing points if something happened,

For example, if someone knows they want to travel in November to January every year, a Feb UY is the worst one to own.

If you had to cancel or even change one of those trips, you’d have very little time to use up the points as they would expire and you’d be beyond the banking window.

While no UY is perfect, choose one that works best to help limit risk. An extra years of points upfront is a nice incentive so if you can get both, it’s great,

I just think you need to first think about times of travel and then pick the one that might also give you those extra points.

Given what you mention, a September UY also works very well and was one mentioned as a choice.

Be aware, though, if going to WDW, October is a very busy DVC time.

Can you explain this like I'm 5? Just kidding. My brain is operating at like 50% capacity . Thanks for explaining this. That makes a lot of sense. It is helpful to learn about October, I will definitely steer clear of travel that month if I can help it.

 

[Sandisw]

Can you explain this like I'm 5? Just kidding. My brain is operating at like 50% capacity . Thanks for explaining this. That makes a lot of sense. It is helpful to learn about October, I will definitely steer clear of travel that month if I can help it.

To add, you can bank points within the first 8 months of travel. As long as you cancel 31 days in advance, points are returned to your account in the same status they were in the trip.

So, by keeping trips within that window, you have options if something happens. For example, I have a trip in March booked with my Dec UY points. Some that are borrowed. If that trip doesn’t happen at least I have until November 30th to use those borrowed points and still bank some of regular points.

Now, if I had a June UY, all I would have to use those would be April and May to use.

 

[Wedgeout]

When look at UY’s. December for example can be a tricky one to mentally manage. January through November of 2022 are in the 2021 UY. Have fun these next days deciding. Will be a Member soon!!

 

[Jwaire]

February is a very popular use year. It's probable and possible they don't have the points for it at the moment. After all, you would be getting 600 points (300 points for 2021 with no dues and 300 points for 2022 beginning Feb 1).

Guides sell based on inventory. Last May, I wanted to go ahead and purchase my direct contract and match my pending resale contract with a February use year before the price hikes. He tried, but they couldn't make it happen until my resale contract closed. However, I did end up getting to keep the expired pricing and it ended up saving me even more money in the long-run anyway (with member add-on incentives).

 

[Rulanna411]

Thanks for your input Jwaire. I ended getting 300 Aulani direct split into 2X150 with an October use year. I was trying to include the major holidays and spring time as I think we will be doing most of our travel during that time. Thank you everyone for helping a fellow member out !