If they were smart, they would highly, and I mean HIGHLY, discount DVC gear for members. Think about all the effort they put into advertising DVC, and yet their BEST advertisements are the satisfied customers. In fact, there should be a shirt sitting on your bed when you arrive!
If I were considering DVC and saw a guy sitting across from me on the bus wearing a DVC shirt, I would undoubtedly strike up a conversation.
I realize that Disney has to make money on their merchandise. But when the merchandise is a marketing tool, they can forgo the crazy mark-up. If every DVC member was walking around in a DVC shirt, the ripple effect across the property would be significant.
I just bought a DVC ladies t-shirt at OKW the other day, but I am returning it tomorrow. Most of the t-shirts at WDW are either the very thin cotton ones that stretch a lot or the recycled cotton and recycled poly shirts. Also very thin and stretchy. Tiny, short sleeves that are the same size whether you get a Small or XXLarge.
In fact, I am also returning a shirt I bought at AK because I liked the design, but it also is the crappy cotton/poly blend.
I'll have to stick to all my old shirts that I bought years ago. I have found zero merchandise that I like anymore. None of the "confections" are to my taste either. I refuse to pay $6 for a tiny bag of caramel corn that has been sitting on the shelf for a few days. Not when I can still recall the freshly made caramel corn from Sleepy Hollow for about $4 in a large bucket (bigger than the buckets they have now for popcorn).
I guess I am going to save a bunch of money from here forward.
How funny we were just looking through our photopass pics, and there is this beautiful photo of Cinderella in blue striking up a conversation with my husband wearing the blue DVC tee at a meet & greet. It's the most amazing picture. I remember she asked what realm he was from & he said the realm of Beach Club Villas. Now I have to get the photo so I can post.