If we were first buying in to
DVC as new members I would, however we aren't in that situation.
Really? What is DVC's bottom line? And, there isn't another guy in line or every DVC property would be sold out, no marketing would be necessary, and no incentives of any sort would be necessary. DVC counts on folks like you with that kind of mindset.
Actually, considering the market, such anecdotal talk of playing hardball, and everything else you mention means very little right now. Just like home builders said for the better part of two years that they were doing fine and had their way with buyers, and there was no slowdown coming, each and every one of them is now teetering on financial ruin, they are slashing prices all over the place because of the inventory they're carrying and buyers are having their way with them. I assure you, Disney/DVC is holding a lot of low-quality loans, and we are in a recession. DVC sales are not as strong as you'd like to believe. But again, Disney/DVC is very happy you think this way - it's all about perception, and you are doing a fine job of guzzling the Kool-Aid.
On the contrary, I understand the market better than most...
You can negotiate when you are in some position of "power". When you have some ground to negotiate FROM.
With DVC purchases, the fact is: You don't. Disney holds all the cards. Period. End of story.
They don't want to sell to YOU, specifically, as badly as YOU, specifically, want to buy in. Their list of prospects is such, and their marketing is such, they don't need to be as concerned with a single buyer at this point. Again, you can disagree...but looking at what we have to go on, it seems a tenuous, unfounded position.
At present, this is nothing like the housing market you compare to, where supply and demand is VASTLY different, as are the mechanics of the sale (a buyer selling to a buyer, or a builder selling to a buyer). Sales are seemingly brisk enough that they don't have to make any concessions to an individual...else they would. They're also seemingly brisk enough to start construction on 2 confirmed (GCV and Hawaii), and one basically confirmed (KT or CRV..your pick of name), new project. The incentives they're offering to the group are "enough", from their standpoint, to propel sales and keep margins where they're comfortable. Maybe, in the future, if the economy really hits the skids and sales slow down to the point of actually having an effect on their contribution margin and ROIC (which, at each stockholders meeting, looks more and more robust), that will change. So far, it hasn't. So what's the benefit to Disney in negotiation?
You can point to the "horde" mentality all you want, but the truth is that the mass market is propelling sales enough so that any individual trying to "break away" from the mass market and make their own deal are few enough, and far enough in between, that DVC/DVD can simply ignore them. Simple as that.
You can disagree all you want, but the reality is: They don't haggle. They just don't. In principle, they might be ABLE to. As I said: You try it. Buy in with a new master contract....you certainly have that within your rights whether you're a current DVC owner or not...and try to haggle a better deal. Let us know how it goes.
While you can argue theory, I can point to reality and history. Feel free to disagree...more power to you...but I think my "opinion" seems better founded at this point.
As for Disney holding lots of sub-prime loans....while it may technically be true, I have news for you: They're practically no risk loans. "Repossession" is VERY simple, as it involves no physical property, they can resell the points they repossess almost instantly..and you can't use the points if you're in arrears on your payments or dues. Where's the risk?
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