Actually, there is a 10% off coupon going around right now (not everybody is eligible). So they may not be as stupid as you think.

I have always found Bonus Bucks to be a better deal on eBay. I have paid for my entire stays at time with them. ^

What going price for those on ebay?

Last year bonus bucks usually sold at 20% of their nominal value but lately the price went up as they are much less offered. There is no way that somebody could buy them at more than 90%.

buy Premium Pounds or Bonus Bucks on ebay, which is better
 

I find both US$100 bonus bucks and 100 Pounds Premium Pounds coupons on ebay, along with US$50 Bonus bucks and 50 pounds premium pounds coupon, which is better and can save more?

is premium pounds coupon better than bonus bucks?
 

As of end of October 2005 Marriott Vacation Clubs are NOT included in the Bonus Buck/Premium Pound Promotions! This is the answer I get direct from Marriott. If anyone knows different please let me know! (sometimes the folks at Marriott don't know for sure)

How did you do that? You can use one per 2-night stay. Unless you are getting rates below $50/night (including taxes), then you can't be following the rules and paying for your whole stay with Bonus Bucks. Of course, Marriott Checques are a whole different animal. No limit on them.

Bruce

Since the pound is worth more than the dollar, you can save more with the Premium Pound certificates. However, be aware that when using them in the US, you may not get as favorable a rate as that posted on the site UpgradeMe mentions. Each hotel seems to have its own policy. There was a thread on this; try doing a search and you should find it. At the Seattle Waterfront last summer, I got only $1.43 per pound, when the interbank rate was something like $1.75. Of course, if you use them in the UK, you will get full value.

Bonus bucks vs. Premium pounds
 

I am trying to manage my cost with Marriott, I am seeing one bonus bucks of US$100 costs about $25-$35 on ebay, let's average it as $30, I should save $70 per 2 nights, I am also seeing one premium pounds coupon costs about $50, if the rate is 1.43 per pound, I can still save $97, it seems almost like I get a US$100 bonus bucks for free!

my question is: are all US Full Service Marriott Hotels accept the premium pounds coupon? I saw the term of the premium pounds coupon on ebay, they state they can be used worldwide, so I think that should include US hotels. But if the premium pounds is that good ( it seems to me like that I can save US$100 per 2 nights by using this kind of coupon), and then who need those US$100 bonus bucks? unless it is free but not most likely to me.

Every FS Marriott hotel will accept the premium pounds just like if you gave them 100 pounds in cash. The big question, as others have mentioned, is the exchange rate that you will get for them. You might want to contact the hotels you stay at to make sure the spread is reasonable (IMHO anything around 10 % less than the interbank rate) between their exchange rate and the interbank rate. Otherwise, you might end up paying a lot more for your stay than expected.

People acquire bonus bucks through various means, either through promotional hotel stays, incentives from buying electronic products, or promotions from other companies (i.e. credit cards or airlines). In these cases, the marginal cost for the bonus buck is zero. Personally, I have gotten all of my bonus bucks through the M11 promotional rate at Marriott hotels in Virginia for weekend stays. This promotional rate is available at FS Marriott hotels in the Northeast for weekend stays through 2006.

premium pounds vs bonus bucks
 

thanks for the response.
I am somehow clear now. Most people use bonus bucks while they acquire them for free, it is not wise to spend $30 to buy the US$100 bonus bucks on ebay because you save less money than premium pounds. If I have to buy the coupons, premium pounds coupon is the choice over the bonus bucks even though the rate in some US hotels somehow could be unfairly low, but still save more than bonus bucks counting the buying cost.

premium pounds and bonus coupon have changed the term
 

I just bought a Premium Pounds coupon through ebay, from the back of the certs, the terms have changed a little bit:

9) This coupon is not valid toward any rate that requires ID or membership. This coupon is valid only toward publicly listed rates through the 800 numbers listed,. Excludes catering, group, and other contract rates. This coupon cannot be used in conjunction with any other certificate stay or reservations made using a travel agency

so I doubt if AAA or xml rate can be used or not, according to the person that I got the coupon from, Marriott has changed the terms for all the certs expiration date after Nov. 1st

I believe these have always been the rules