Buying Wyndham Timeshare points directly from Wyndham

Wyndham VIP Program

Wyndham Bonus Points

At the time that a retail purchase is being considered by a prospective buyer, a Wyndham sales person, to close the sale, may offer the buyer the opportunity to reserve accommodations through Club Wyndham Plus using Bonus Points. The sales contract should state that the Bonus Points have the same Use Year (start date and end date), as the points purchased. When offered to me, the Bonus Points were available for use over a 24 month period. Do not expect bonus points to be renewed or extended beyond the applicable Use Year end date.

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Wyndham PIC Points

When making a new retail purchase of Wyndham points, a buyer, who has not already enrolled a qualified Vacation Ownership Interval (Week), can enroll up to two qualified weeks in what Wyndham refers to as the Personal Interval Choice (“PIC”) Plus program. To get more information on PIC Plus and how it can help you achieve VIP status see Article - III.

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The Wyndham Sales Presentation

Although, I personally have not experienced a misleading encounter with a Wyndham sales representative; it is possible that your experience may be different. Depending on who you speak with, it may appear that some sales personnel have limited and or inaccurate information, especially regarding re-sale weeks. It is probably not a good idea to get into a confrontation; but be aware that you are dealing with a person who is trying to help you be comfortable with purchasing from him or her. Although you may be able to offer plausible reasons why you should not make a purchase; they are going to have persuasive counters to your objections.

Sometimes when one goes to an “Owner's Update” they may hear things that some would consider questionable. Most, if not all of the sales people you encounter should be well trained; but, sometimes a salesperson may be new or if seasoned may say something that upon reflection is deemed misleading to the prospect. I am not telling you that they tell untruths to get a sale; but, I am saying that on occasion they may say something that is true but only if you understand what is being said in the appropriate context.

In a high pressure sales environment it is not uncommon for a prospect to become confused by the overwhelming amount of information being provided. The salesperson, can gain an advantage when his prospect becomes confused or when the prospect jumps to a conclusion that may not be correct. It is not uncommon for one to end up selling one’s self on the product. It is vital that you understand the facts presented and that you take your time.

Example: When a sales person gets a prospect in front of him and the prospect says I can buy 154,000 Wyndham Points on eBay® for as little as $1 plus closing costs and the transfer fee, the sales person without batting an eye might respond by saying something like: “A person who purchases re-sale cannot use the points to ‘exchange’ into another Wyndham Resort.”

In such a confrontation, a prospect may or may not accept what the sales person says; but if the statement is accepted at face value the prospect may later discover he misunderstood what was said. An unwary prospect might draw the wrong conclusion and state his conclusion much later something like this: “The sales person told us that Wyndham will not let a purchaser of a re-sale deed use their Club Wyndham Plus points to ‘exchange’ into a different Wyndham Resort.”

In many situations, if confronted, the sales person may tell you that the contract governs and if they (the sales person) said what you said they said you either misunderstood or they never said what you said they said. (Now that was a mouth full!) If the sales person is smooth in his response, the re-sale argument may be defused by the statement made by the salesperson although the prospect did not understand the response. The salesperson, as a result of his statement, may have moved the prospect back on track to buy retail.

If, later the sales person is cornered, he may say he did not tell an untruth. In his defense he might say something like: “What I meant was a person who buys a deed on eBay® cannot later make an equity ‘exchange’ for points at another Wyndham resort in conjunction with a new retail purchase of points at the other resort.” It is true that if you buy a Wyndham points product re-sale as opposed to directly from the developer, you cannot later “exchange” the deed for points at a new resort like Wyndham National Harbor when making a new retail purchase at the new resort. But, that very well may not be what the prospect thought he heard.

Note: A wealth of material comes your way if you sign a contract. If, in good faith, you sign a contract with the intent to read it carefully later; remember the admonition made earlier in this article. Make sure you know the state law or the law of the involved country regarding recision because you may want to exercise your right to rescind before the right, if it exists, expires. Whether you purchase from an individual, the developer, a real estate broker, or a seller on eBay® consider the commitment you are making, the cost to you up-front, the on-going maintenance expenses, closing or administrative fees, and how you will eventually dispose of the property.

As with all major decisions, when buying Wyndham points, retail or re-sale get your understanding verified and get the best advice possible. You may want to consider using an experienced real estate broker who can help with your due diligence, negotiations, and closing or you may, depending on the circumstances, want to consult an attorney and/or a tax advisor.

Footnote: Ownership interests eligible to count toward VIP can include points purchased from the developer or its affiliates and then acquired by will, intestate succession or ownership interest acquired by “Immediate Relative” of members (parents, spouses, domestic partners, siblings, children and/or grandchildren.) Source: Club Wyndham SM Plus Directory 2009-2010, page 341.

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The Final Word on Buying Wyndham Points!

View and discuss this article here on the free TUG Wyndham Timeshare owner Discussion forums!

Continue on to Article 3 in this 10 part series: Wyndham Personal Interval Choice PIC Program

Acknowledgement: In doing research for the ten articles in this series, it would not be a stretch to say that all the information was gleaned from RCI® and Wyndham Employees as well as the posts of strangers and friends on the TUG Forums and the Wyndham Resort Forums. If wording describing how the Wyndham point system or the RCI® system works seems familiar it is in part the result of the copious notes and/or the recall of detailed questions and answers obtained from Vacation Counselors and other employees of RCI® and/or Wyndham. Much effort was put into trying my best to get the information right and to verify that information.

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