Does this happen??

[babsnabbs]

Are people making reservations for prime weeks with the intention of selling / renting their points, only to cancel later when the points don't sell? Are members who would use those weeks themselves being shut out because of this practice? Just curious; I haven't been a victim of this (yet).

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

Yes, and Yes. And, unfortunately, there is nothing anyone can really do about it except hope they will be one of the lucky ones that gets the ressie when it's cancelled. I haven't had to deal with this yet either but know I will be upset when the time comes.

 

[Dean]

I doubt they have to cancel very often. But why would be upset if another member is using the system with their points the same way you can use them with yours. I can see disappointed, but not upset. But how would you know you were a "victim" of this. I don't think one or two postings for rent would make you a victim. And remember that DVC is the biggest renter of units anyway both in terms of numbers and price.

 

[CarolMN]

...(snip)....Are members who would use those weeks themselves being shut out because of this practice? Just curious; I haven't been a victim of this (yet).

IMHO, this is just a case of "the early bird gets the worm" - so no crime involved and no "victim"

If a member wants a "prime week", he/she needs to call as soon as the 11 month booking window opens - sometimes one even needs to call day by day to be sure of getting his/her first choice. Anyone who rents out points has to do the same thing.

The practice of renting "prime weeks", may not sit well with some of us, but as Dean says, the reservations rules are the same for all owners.

Again, it's JMHO, but there are no "victims" here - the "victim" just didn't plan and reserve as early as someone else. It helps to keep that in mind.

Best wishes -

 

[PamOKW]

My concern is that it's not a use of the system as designed. Rather than being an ebb and flow of personal use, the profit motive of tying up prime weeks is thrown in. Currently, it hasn't seemed to have an extreme effect on the system but I would hope DVC will monitor the situation to make sure the "balance" is maintained.

 

[disney junky]

So Disney monitors the system. There is still nothing that can be done concerning people's motives. As stated above, the owners still have to take the time to book these peak seasons which involves some effort on their part. I've never vewed our ownership as an opportunity to take advantage of situations like this, but who of us can look so far into the future and say we'd never take advantage of our ownership to make a buck.....

 

[snowbunny]

All you have to do is go over to Ebay and do a Disney accomodation search to see this is being done a lot. Lots of ads for studios at DVC resorts during Easter week for example. Caveat emptor and all that...the asking prices are maybe 20% lower than rack rate so when members sell these they are definitely turning a profit. Someday when I have more time I will run the numbers and figure out how much profit, but it IMO it's a pain to be running ebay auctions constantly and certainly not the reason I would buy DVC.

 

[Dean]

My concern is that it's not a use of the system as designed. Rather than being an ebb and flow of personal use, the profit motive of tying up prime weeks is thrown in. Currently, it hasn't seemed to have an extreme effect on the system but I would hope DVC will monitor the situation to make sure the "balance" is maintained.

Pam, it may not be the system as you expected but I can tell you that DVC knew up front this would be an issue. They even built it into the system as an option to rent. As for ebay, there are costs involved I'm told. Also not what I'd want to fool with but I'm glad it's an option. I'd also disagree with the idea that renting is not personal use. If I buy points, I would use them either myself, family friends or rentals; I simply don't see the difference.

 

[PamOKW]

I'm not saying that it's not personal use -- I just have a feeling it creates an unnatural demand for the prime weeks. If you have 10 members who are using their points for their own vacations or the vacations of friends & family, they will probably choose 10 different weeks scattered throughout the year. If you have 10 members who are going to rent their points for the year chances are that they will pick many of the same weeks -- Christmas, Spring Break, etc.

 

[babsnabbs]

Certainly I wouldn't object to offering points to rent; that's part of the program we all signed up for. My objection is to the owner who speculatively reserves a prime week and forces me into my second or third choice of weeks. Then when the other owner is unsuccessful in renting the points he cancels the reservation without penalty as far as I know. I'm all for renting points contingent on availability of the rentor's preferred week.

Of course, it may be the case that these speculatively reserved weeks actually result in a successful transaction for the points one hundred percent of the time. But I doubt it.

 

[Dean]

I'm not saying that it's not personal use -- I just have a feeling it creates an unnatural demand for the prime weeks. If you have 10 members who are using their points for their own vacations or the vacations of friends & family, they will probably choose 10 different weeks scattered throughout the year. If you have 10 members who are going to rent their points for the year chances are that they will pick many of the same weeks -- Christmas, Spring Break, etc.

I think the demand is high for those weeks for members and anyone else who wants to go. It may be that members would prefer to go during that time but opt for others due to points costs. I must say that I don't rent very often but I do have people contact me usually at least once a day. They rarely ask for Xmas or spring break, in fact they seem scattered all over the place.

 

[Dean]

Certainly I wouldn't object to offering points to rent; that's part of the program we all signed up for. My objection is to the owner who speculatively reserves a prime week and forces me into my second or third choice of weeks. Then when the other owner is unsuccessful in renting the points he cancels the reservation without penalty as far as I know. I'm all for renting points contingent on availability of the rentor's preferred week.

Of course, it may be the case that these speculatively reserved weeks actually result in a successful transaction for the points one hundred percent of the time. But I doubt it.

I do see the difference. If other members reserve the same time and it forces you to go a time other than your preference, would you feel the same way? If not, why not? while I don't make it a habit of reserving first, I don't see it's any different and if it's the only way I could successfully move any points I need to take care of, I wouldn't hesitate to do so. And I reserve 4th of July at HH for Marriott to use and to rent. When I do so I can call 13 months out because I own multiple weeks where single week owners can only call 12 months out. I'd assume you'd think that's unfair as well.

 

[CarolMN]

Certainly ...(snip)...My objection is to the owner who speculatively reserves a prime week and forces me into my second or third choice of weeks. ......

If you call day by day for what you want at the 11 month window, it is very unlikely that this will happen to you. If you are willing to use the waitlist (in the unlikely chance that you did not get your first choice at the 11 month window), you should always end up with what you want.

It's hard for me to smpathize with anyone who complains about this if they do not call at the 11 month window. IMHO, they are really just upset because for whatever reason they can't (or didn't) call to reserve 11 months in advance and someone else did.

That said, I do understand why some see this particular way of renting as an unethical / mean-spirited practice. ITA. I would not do it myself and wish that no one else would either.



Best wishes -