Why not resale?

[Sarabi's Cubs]

We want to add some points before the prices go up significantly this month. We bought our existing contract at AKV directly so we will still get the member perks and benefits through that contract. Is there any reason not to buy the additional points through resale? Looking at some listings, we would save $30-$70 per point buying through resale. Am I missing something?

TIA

Laurie

 

[JETSDAD]

The only way I can see it maybe making sense to buy direct is if you're only looking to add on a small amount, like 25 points. In that case the resale prices are typically much closer to direct and the closing costs add much more per point to that cost in resale.

Edited for clarity.

 

[DduzDis]

The only way I can see it maybe making sense is if you're only looking to add on a small amount, like 25 points. In that case the resale prices are typically much closer to direct and the closing costs add much more per point to that cost in resale.

It looks like your response might be as if OP were adding 'direct'... They are looking to add on 'resale' as far as I can tell.

If you can take the time the resale process takes (months vs days) and can find a contract that meets your needs for a price you are comfortable with, I would say resale can save you save you a lot (unless you are adding a small contract in which resale prices do tend to correlate closer to direct prices). I bought my original BLT contract resale and added on 25 points direct to get the benefits.

 

[Ben E N]

The only reason that I can think of is if you cannot find a contract that perfectly, or close to it, fits your needs in terms of home resort, UY, total yearly points, and current points available. If you can find a contract that matches all of that, then it is almost certainly worth the 2-3 month process to save all of that money.
Some people just skip the process and spend more money because they don't want to put in the work of searching and then placing an offer.

 

[_auroraborealis_]

It can be harder to find a small contract that matches UY via resale, and they tend to be priced fairly high for 50 point or lower contracts.

 

[Sarabi's Cubs]

Thanks for the feedback! I didn't think about needing to keep the use year the same, so that's very helpful.

Laurie

 

[frabjous]

The only reason that I can think of is if you cannot find a contract that perfectly, or close to it, fits your needs in terms of home resort, UY, total yearly points, and current points available. If you can find a contract that matches all of that, then it is almost certainly worth the 2-3 month process to save all of that money.
Some people just skip the process and spend more money because they don't want to put in the work of searching and then placing an offer.

Yeah it's hard to beat the experience of buying direct (assuming no waiting list). No uncertainty, no waiting, just pay with a credit card (woo! more FF/reward points!) and nearly right way get your DVC points and a booking. I would have greatly preferred this option if there wasn't a chasm in price difference and the official WL wasn't closed for adding on more VGF points.

 

[Ben E N]

Yeah it's hard to beat the experience of buying direct (assuming no waiting list). No uncertainty, no waiting, just pay with a credit card (woo! more FF/reward points!) and nearly right way get your DVC points and a booking. I would have greatly preferred this option if there wasn't a chasm in price difference and the official WL wasn't closed for adding on more VGF points.

To me, any contract over 50 points is worth the extra hassle. Everybody views the value of a couple thousand dollars, and their time, differently, though.

 

[frabjous]

To me, any contract over 50 points is worth the extra hassle. Everybody views the value of a couple thousand dollars, and their time, differently, though.

IMO its the uncertainty thats the hardest part with resale. I cringe every time I see a horror story posted here with people retrying their 3rd time after waiting yet another 90 days. Of course my view might change once the points are in my account (knock on wood!)

 

[ScubaCat]

Resales have been moving a LOT faster these days. Regardless, even with the long wait for our initial contract, the price difference can be pretty drastic. I think the hassle is fairly minimal considering everything is done by mail. The wait seems long, but 2-3 months for something you're not going to use right away anyhow is pretty insignificant over the course of decades of ownership.

I would have spent nearly $28,000 more for what we own had I bought direct. Even if I were wealthy, I'd probably still buy resale just on principle!

 

[frabjous]

Regardless, even with the long wait for our initial contract, the price difference can be pretty drastic. I think the hassle is fairly minimal considering everything is done by mail. The wait seems long, but 2-3 months for something you're not going to use right away anyhow is pretty insignificant over the course of decades of ownership.

I would have spent nearly $28,000 more for what we own had I bought direct. Even if I were wealthy, I'd probably still buy resale just on principle!

Totally agree at those levels. Once its a significant price difference it feels like you are throwing money away for the same thing.

 

[frabjous]

Totally agree at those levels. Once its a significant price difference it feels like you are throwing money away for the same thing.

Let me restate that, you are unquestionably throwing money away Also to be clear, I would never suggest to anyone spending 30-70 more a point to buy anything other than a very small contract just for direct benefits.

 

[Matty B13]

Thanks for the feedback! I didn't think about needing to keep the use year the same, so that's very helpful.

Laurie

Keeping the same UY is very important especially at the 7 month mark. I would also suggest buying at the same resort unless you really want points at another resort.

 

[4luv2cdisney]

You just have to crunch the numbers carefully. Even at $40/pt less via resale, a 50 point direct contract can be a better deal or break even if the resale is stripped once you figure in closing costs. So, at $50/pt less, maybe you're saving $500 but then you have to weigh that against the "less stress" of a direct buy. Another little thing to consider would be the ability to put it on a credit card (and earn rewards) and 6 months at 0% if you have a Chase Disney Visa (which really translates into having 7-8 months to pay if timed right.)

If you are looking for more than 50 points, you'll no doubt find a better deal resale eventually. However, the biggest question would be how long are you / can you wait? If you want points "no matter what" in X amount of time and you don't get them resale, direct pricing will have risen and you essentially "lost". If you can wait, no problem.

 

[Geomom]

ALL our points are resale, but we bought them years ago and are grandfathered in. You have a direct contract already, so why not do resale? Buying direct is mainly to get all the perks, or if you're planning to use those new points quickly--as a resale takes longer to close.

As far as UY, it depends on how you plan on using your contracts. We have 2 contracts at 2 resorts, 2 different UY. Our 1st contract is 250 pts at OKW, Dec UY--that's the one we use every year in the springtime (and are constantly borrowing from). 2nd contract is 100 pts at BWV, APR UY, we use it every other year in the fall. No plans to use the points from both of them at the same time. It works for us!

 

[gharter]

As others have said, resale generally will be less expensive. It all depends on the contract that you find. Resale can be challenging to find the "right contract", right number of points, the use year you want, and whether it is stripped or not.
It also matters as to how soon you want to use that contract. Direct purchase seems to always be much faster. Resale can take 1-3 months, sometimes longer depending on the seller.
For us, the hassle of resale was more than worth the slight wait the first year.
I would watch several resellers until you find a good contract for you. Good luck!

 

[Dean]

We want to add some points before the prices go up significantly this month. We bought our existing contract at AKV directly so we will still get the member perks and benefits through that contract. Is there any reason not to buy the additional points through resale? Looking at some listings, we would save $30-$70 per point buying through resale. Am I missing something?

TIA

Laurie

In general you need to title and UY the same. For AKV you need to look at the $$$ difference but if it's 50 or over, I'd go resale. For 25 I'd likely go retail, in between, just look at the difference. Availability doesn't mean much for AKV, it'll come up in a month or two or three at a "reasonable" price and one could buy more points resale thus opening up to additional contracts that are outside the retail parameters. For something like VGF, VGC or a fixed week retail can make more sense but only if the cost to buy in itself makes sense, often it doesn't