Another Trading RCI into DVC question...

[GoofItUp]

I know there have been a few of these floating around, but now my family is trying to trade 2 RCI weeks (or points or something...I don't know how this works) and I have some questions. A friend of my sisters is letting us use 2 weeks (2, 2-bedroom units, 1 week each) for our family vacation the latter part of June 2011. We got the guest certificates so my sister is calling directly. She called this morning and was told that these will trade for 2 bedroom units and was asked what property she wanted. I had told her we wanted (in order): BCV, BWV, VWL, BLT, AKL, OKW, SSR. She told the agent she was most interested in BCV. The agent said there was nothing available yet, but she would put the info in that that's what we wanted and call her when it came through. The agent left my sister feeling like it wasn't an "if" it comes through, but "when" it comes through. I'm a little skeptical, though. I own at BCV and know it's not the easiest to get into. Should I have my sister call back and see if anything is available right now? Is there a chance this might actually come through? If we were to take another resort, could we waitlist for BCV or BWV if something does open up?

 

[chalee94]

The agent left my sister feeling like it wasn't an "if" it comes through, but "when" it comes through. I'm a little skeptical, though.

i would agree with you, not the agent.

Should I have my sister call back and see if anything is available right now?

i would just look online. aren't online trades cheaper than calling an operator with RCI anyway?

Is there a chance this might actually come through?

<dumb and dumber>one chance in a million.</dumb and dumber>

If we were to take another resort, could we waitlist for BCV or BWV if something does open up?

eh, i think you can keep looking but you'd probably owe another exchange fee.

hopefully dean or bnoble will be along shortly in case i messed up...

 

[Brian Noble]

If you need two 2BR units, you want them at the same resort, and you are particular about check-in dates, you are going to have better luck at the larger resorts: OKW and SSR. I'm not saying it can't happen---I could have gotten as many as three 2BR units at VWL for the late July week we went down for this past summer---but you should be playing the odds at this point. In particular, it's likely that you won't get both of them at the same time. Instead, one might match now, and the other might match a few weeks later. Having the first one be at a larger resort increases your chances of being at the same location.

You also need to know if your sister's friend can see *any* DVC resorts at all---it is possible that she does not have the requisite "trade power" to do this (although it has gotten slightly easier in the past few months.)

If we were to take another resort, could we waitlist for BCV or BWV if something does open up?

Once you accept an exchange, the week used for that exchange is consumed, and it can't be used for a new search. If your sister's friend has *more* deposits that have the requisite trade power, s/he can initiate new searches with those, and then attempt to "switch" you. But, this requires that you purchase cancel protection on the initial exchange.

I think if it were me, I'd set up the searches to match to any DVC resort. Since you need two large units and are particular about dates, you don't have the luxury of also being picky about resorts. Once one matches, if it is at SSR or OKW, constrain the other search to that resort. If it is at one of the smaller resorts, you will have to decide whether you would rather use one of these weeks to stay at *any* other DVC resort (in which case you'd leave it open to match any of them), or if you'd rather take your chances and book on points or with cash if the exchange doesn't happen (in which case you'd constrain it to the same resort).

And, frankly, I would also have a Plan B. Exchange is not one of those things you can count on. It's not at all like booking a hotel room, or even using your DVC points internally. It takes a lot of patience and, for some trades, nerves of steel.

 

[kimberh]

I would check online or have your friend to see what is available. I checked all the time to see. I have never seen a Two Bedroom and I have a Two bedroom to Trade also. I settled for a smaller room at VWL this year and Beach Club next year. I was checking for April and May. Not a Holiday, just a ordinary week. If you get 2 two bedrooms at Beach Club please post it.

 

[Brian Noble]

I have never seen a Two Bedroom and I have a Two bedroom to Trade also.

I suspect you have a trade power problem. There is one at BCV right now in Weeks.


Disney's Beach Club Villas (#DV02)

1900 N Epcot Resort Blvd
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
USA
407/934-8000
www.dvc.disney.go.com/dvc/index

Units that meet your criteria Total Units Available: 2
Unit Type Max Occup
(Privacy) Kitchen Check-In Date Check-Out Date Price
1 BR 4 (4) Full 11-Feb-2011 18-Feb-2011 Exchange Fee Only
2 BR 8 (6) Full 26-Feb-2011 05-Mar-2011 Exchange Fee Only

 

[GoofItUp]

I wish we could check on-line....that would be so much more convenient. The woman we're "renting" from, though, has never set up an on-line account, she only calls in. Can we check on-line if she hasn't done it before?

 

[Dean]

I know there have been a few of these floating around, but now my family is trying to trade 2 RCI weeks (or points or something...I don't know how this works) and I have some questions. A friend of my sisters is letting us use 2 weeks (2, 2-bedroom units, 1 week each) for our family vacation the latter part of June 2011. We got the guest certificates so my sister is calling directly. She called this morning and was told that these will trade for 2 bedroom units and was asked what property she wanted. I had told her we wanted (in order): BCV, BWV, VWL, BLT, AKL, OKW, SSR. She told the agent she was most interested in BCV. The agent said there was nothing available yet, but she would put the info in that that's what we wanted and call her when it came through. The agent left my sister feeling like it wasn't an "if" it comes through, but "when" it comes through. I'm a little skeptical, though. I own at BCV and know it's not the easiest to get into. Should I have my sister call back and see if anything is available right now? Is there a chance this might actually come through? If we were to take another resort, could we waitlist for BCV or BWV if something does open up?

RCI gets paid for the exchange, once they have your money and list, they know most people will end up taking something even if it's not their first choice. I'd list ALL of the on property DVC resorts but as Brian notes, your chances of success are much better at SSR /OKW due to both more deposits but also a slightly lower trade power. Your chances of getting 2 units are infinitely higher. I would call and see if you could get the unit that Brian is seeing and then you could try for a second unit later there or across the way at Boardwalk.

 

[GoofItUp]

Wow. We've run the gammut with RCI customer service. The first agent made my sister think we'd be matched in a few days at BCV. The second agent was suppose to open up our reservation to any Disney resort, but when I talked to the third agent (my sister finally gave me the info so I could start calling -- thank goodness!) we were still only being matched with BCV. I got that changed so if any Disney property is available we'll be matched to it. Also got my sister's phone number added as the contact for this reservation rather than the lady she's "renting" from. The third agent also was slightly negative about the possibility of getting ANY room on Disney property. At least the information is in there...we'll see where it goes from here.

We would be fine with an OKW or SSR match. While I'm hoping for other resorts, I haven't tried these 2 and wouldn't mind it at all!

The BCV unit that BN saw was not available when I called just now. Not surprised that wouldn't last long.

Will it do any good to call back every so often to check availability, or does their matching system work well?

 

[kimberh]

I suspect you have a trade power problem. There is one at BCV right now in Weeks.


Disney's Beach Club Villas (#DV02)

1900 N Epcot Resort Blvd
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
USA
407/934-8000
www.dvc.disney.go.com/dvc/index

Units that meet your criteria Total Units Available: 2
Unit Type Max Occup
(Privacy) Kitchen Check-In Date Check-Out Date Price
1 BR 4 (4) Full 11-Feb-2011 18-Feb-2011 Exchange Fee Only
2 BR 8 (6) Full 26-Feb-2011 05-Mar-2011 Exchange Fee Only

Feb- mar. I was looking at Apr and May. Do you see one for Apr- May? I am a Weeks owner.

 

[Dean]

I wish we could check on-line....that would be so much more convenient. The woman we're "renting" from, though, has never set up an on-line account, she only calls in. Can we check on-line if she hasn't done it before?

The "renting" component about this makes me nervous. Is this something your family owns or are you renting from someone?

 

[Brian Noble]

I was looking at Apr and May. Do you see one for Apr- May? I am a Weeks owner.

Nothing right now, but there have been *several* over the past many weeks. Do you have an ongoing search in place?

 

[kimberh]

I just booked for April. I am going to bank another week and see what I can see. I watched it for months and never saw much at all at WDW. There was a lot for Vero but I didn't want that. Once in a while SSR came up, which I really didn't want. BCV's finally did and I snatched it but it was for a studio. It just for two of us, so it's fine. I was wanting to take my family, I had a search in for a two bedroom for months. Nothing came up, anywhere.

 

[GoofItUp]

The "renting" component about this makes me nervous. Is this something your family owns or are you renting from someone?

The owner is a close friend of my sister's. She is letting us use some of her time that she was not going to be able to use and we are reimbursing associated dues and fees. We did purchase the guest certificates so we'd be on the up-and-up.

 

[Dean]

The owner is a close friend of my sister's. She is letting us use some of her time that she was not going to be able to use and we are reimbursing associated dues and fees. We did purchase the guest certificates so we'd be on the up-and-up.

That's what I was afraid of. While for someone you're close with the risk may be minimal, any rental of an RCI exchange is a violation of their membership agreement and will put both your reservation and the owners membership at risk.

 

[GoofItUp]

That's what I was afraid of. While for someone you're close with the risk may be minimal, any rental of an RCI exchange is a violation of their membership agreement and will put both your reservation and the owners membership at risk.

Ok. I will not call it renting any more. And I won't say we're reimbursing her for associated fees and dues. Just a question: Why do they have guest certificates? If I was an RCI owner and wanted to gift a week to someone, I'd have to pay for a guest certificate? Do you pay for the guest certificate if you're traveling with the people? I thougt purchasing that meant we were truly doing all this in an above-board, legit manner. (Not that I really feel that we aren't, either.)

 

[Dean]

Ok. I will not call it renting any more. And I won't say we're reimbursing her for associated fees and dues. Just a question: Why do they have guest certificates? If I was an RCI owner and wanted to gift a week to someone, I'd have to pay for a guest certificate? Do you pay for the guest certificate if you're traveling with the people? I thougt purchasing that meant we were truly doing all this in an above-board, legit manner. (Not that I really feel that we aren't, either.)

To get the reservation in another's name, you have to pay for the guest cert. Often the destination resort will allow you to add someone else's name to a reservation without the guest certificate but it varies by resort and almost by who you talk to at a given resort. As to why, mainly as a revenue generating tool though they'll give you some song and dance if you ask RCI (or II). There are some costs involved but actually very little now days with the ability to do them online yourself. No, a guest certificate doesn't make a rental legit, no matter how low the price. Technically you couldn't even buy them dinner as a payment. I know they'll generally look the other way if your ONLY paying the exchange fee and in DVC's case, the additional $95 fee due at check in (you know about this right?).

 

[Brian Noble]

RCI allows reimbursement of the exchange fee and the guest certificate fee, but that is all. Anything more violates RCI's terms of service.

 

[GoofItUp]

Yes, I am aware of the $95 fee we'll have to pay upon arrival. And, I don't know how much the exchange fee is but for what's she asked us to reimburse, maybe that is what we're paying. My sister and I actually agreed to pay her a couple hundred more for each room than what she asked just so we didn't feel like we were taking advantage of her or anything. I guess we can just call it a Christmas gift and nothing more. I do appreciate the information on this and my other question, though!

To go back to one of my earlier questions...do you think it will benefit me to call in periodically to see if anything has come available, or does their matching system work well?

 

[kimberh]

I have had searches with RCI in the past( especially before the Internet) where I would call on occasion to see if my room had come available. The answer was always no. I have had them call me when a smaller room became available for my search dates. Once I accepted it, upon check in the resort gave us a Two bedroom ( which was my search) This was in Grand Cayman. Once I had a search in for BWV Two bedroom for Oct, RCI called me for a Two Bedroom OKW Sept. I turned it down. BWV never came through. You have to have the RCI Member number to call and Legal name. Is the member willing to give you that information?

 

[GoofItUp]

I have had searches with RCI in the past( especially before the Internet) where I would call on occasion to see if my room had come available. The answer was always no. I have had them call me when a smaller room became available for my search dates. Once I accepted it, upon check in the resort gave us a Two bedroom ( which was my search) This was in Grand Cayman. Once I had a search in for BWV Two bedroom for Oct, RCI called me for a Two Bedroom OKW Sept. I turned it down. BWV never came through. You have to have the RCI Member number to call and Legal name. Is the member willing to give you that information?

Yes, we have the member name & number and my sister's name as a guest for these 2 reservations, so we can call and have a few times. I guess I might call periodically. I think we got the request in right at the 11-month mark, so I'll give it at least until the 7-month mark before I start getting nervous.

Thanks again for all the advice & information. Very helpful!