DVC owners: Is renting points from another owner or swapping too risky?

[TenThousandVolts]

This is a question for DVC owners. One reason I bought into DVC was that I was considering doing a point rental and realized I just didn't have the guts to let someone else control my reservation. If it was just me it would be one thing- but even the miniscule chance of showing up at WDW and being let down and LETTING DOWN EVERYONE IN MY PARTY at check-in was too much stress for me.
I have to be able to call MS and talk to them about my reservation or I would be so stressed out.

There is a thread on the operations board about home resort swaps, which is pretty interesting, but in the end it is just as risky as renting as each home resort owner will make and hold the rservation for the other party.

SO just a quick poll- curious to see how many would be willing to take the risk in order to secure an 11 month booking at a resort that is NOT their home or to rent points.

 

[spiceycat]

most of the renters you will get here on the dis really want a good trip to WDW.

are honest people.

besides as the owner of the points you control it.

to make them feel better before I receive any money from them, send my contract and the reservation confirmation. as soon as I receive back in the mail from them the first check and the bank says it is good. there isn't a problem. (the other one is 90 days before they leave - so still have time to cancel - only one person was late and she send me a email explaining it and the check was delivered the date she say)

now since I don't have a great amount of points - not renting a GV or 2-bedroom for a week. just don't have the points plus don't like one person to receive all my points - just in case something happens. Now others do.

but every one is different.

some people get upset when asked questions about WDW - but hey won't post here if I didn't like (love) disney. so give them a bunch of sites to look at and if any other questions just ask - rarely do they.

 

[TenThousandVolts]

most of the renters you will get here on the dis really want a good trip to WDW.
are honest people.
besides as the owner of the points you control it.

Oh I think I was unclear- I was asking WOULD YOU RENT SOMEONE ELSE'S POINTS FOR YOUR VACATION- I am wondering how many DVC owners would be willing to give up control over their vacation reservation if they needed extra points- or wanted to participate in a reservation swap.

This thread was what got me wondering:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1838020

 

[spiceycat]

done it twice.

rented from others. not a problem. when you rent from others you have to go with their rules. some require a money order, others require paypal, others want something else.

 

[WelcomeHome]

Dear TenThousandVolts,

I'm the OP of the thread you referenced. I've been a DVC owner since 2004 and did my first rental in 2006 from the Rent/Trade Boards. Yes, there was due diligence and I felt very comfortable with the renter. We talked over the phone several times, we had a contract, we had each other's address and telephone numbers and there was no question in our minds that we could trust each other.

My 2nd and only other rental was to the same family because we had established a relationship. Things went so smoothly that I even sent flowers to their room for both rentals.

Personally, I would feel much more comfortable doing an "exchange" or "swap" with someone I know is a fellow DVC member compared to renting to a total stranger.

As long as you've established a comfort level that you can trust each other, you should have no problems and a potential exchange relationship for life!

Best wishes,
Dave

 

[BEASLYBOO]

I've never rented! Like you I have control issues. I have, however, purchased points and had them transferred into my DVC account and then made my own reservations. I solicited on the rent/trade boards for a point transfer and hooked up with a very nice fellow DVC'r and she transferred me the points over the phone, I fedexed check put and then called and made my reservation. A 15 minute breeze. The second time the payment went through paypal, again no problem, points transferred immediately and then I called MS and made my reservation.

 

[TenThousandVolts]

I think your idea is interesting- It could definately take-off. It would hurt those, like me, too nervous to swap, but hoping for a resort switch at 7 months. But I think the idea of making 1 or 2 connections that you can trust and using each other's 11 month window over and over has a nice symbiosis to it. If the 7 month window becomes impossible for switching, I may just have to get over my fear and jump on your bandwagon! Of course, only my HHI points would be of much value- as I suspect nobody will want to swap for SSR.

 

[TenThousandVolts]

I've never rented! Like you I have control issues. I have, however, purchased points and had them transferred into my DVC account and then made my own reservations. I solicited on the rent/trade boards for a point transfer and hooked up with a very nice fellow DVC'r and she transferred me the points over the phone, I fedexed check put and then called and made my reservation. A 15 minute breeze. The second time the payment went through paypal, again no problem, points transferred immediately and then I called MS and made my reservation.

I would be comfortable with this also. If they allowed 2 transfers instead of 1then the swap idea from the other thread would really take-off.

 

[Alexander]

We rented points many times before we became members. I was always very comfortable with the people I rented from. Most gave me home, work, and cell phone numbers to contact them in case anything went wrong. I did the same when I rented points to a lovely lady in England.

I am a control freak too, ask anyone who knows me...Oh, I'm never wrong either And there always was the tinge of worry when checking in that they would say "We don't have a reservation for you." But it never happened and I felt better having the owners phone numbers handy.

 

[BEASLYBOO]

I would be comfortable with this also. If they allowed 2 transfers instead of 1then the swap idea from the other thread would really take-off.

Apparently they do allow more than one transfer in as long as it's from two different use years, p/ Chuck S.

 

[Chuck S]

Apparently they do allow more than one transfer in as long as it's from two different use years, p/ Chuck S.

Yes, but a 2007 use year (for example) has to transfer into a 2007 use year, it can then be banked, and a 2008 use year can trasfer into a 2008 use year.
But, I don't think you can accept or give a transfer until your use year actually starts. So the process could take several months to complete.

If, however, you are allowed to accept or transfer out before your use year actually starts, then it would be fairly simple.

 

[spiceycat]

her's 11 month window over and over has a nice symbiosis to it. If the 7 month window becomes impossible for switching, I may just have to get over my fear and jump on your bandwagon! Of course, only my HHI points would be of much value- as I suspect nobody will want to swap for SSR.

when Hawaii and Cal - not to mention the one they hint about but have not named come on line - the one in the West somewhere?

you probably can - but since DVC only allows one transfer these days - I would go with switching reservations with your SSR points.

you switch with someone in Hawaii, then switch again to what you really want.

besides the GV at SSR are pretty popular - someone might be willing to switch with you for one of those.

 

[CarolMN]

I think crisi said it best in the thread over on the Ops board - there isn't any reason for me to swap because I can pretty much get what I want at 7 months.

FWIW, I really don't have much desire to stay anywhere but my home resort of BWV. The Grand Villas at OKW might be an option someday, but that would be it as far as I can imagine right now.

It's unlikely that I'll ever rent - we have the right amount of points for us and plenty of family who would gladly use our points if we can't. If we ever do have "extra", I'd consider transferring points to another member, but do not want the extra work associated with renting.

 

[starbox]

I marked other. There are Disers I would trade with - but I've run the chair swap so the pool of Disboard folk I've had "real world" contact with is somewhat larger than it would be otherwise.

But I'd be comfortable with trading reservations with anyone that's been a good swapper. I would not do it with someone I knew nothing about.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

I marked "Probably not". Because I do want to have control of the points, but I guess there could be an occasion that warranted it.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

Yes, but a 2007 use year (for example) has to transfer into a 2007 use year, it can then be banked, and a 2008 use year can trasfer into a 2008 use year.
But, I don't think you can accept or give a transfer until your use year actually starts. So the process could take several months to complete.

If, however, you are allowed to accept or transfer out before your use year actually starts, then it would be fairly simple.

Actually you can transfer into a UY before it begins. I received April 08UY points in Sept 07, no problem.

I think the problem is at the other end: a member with a Feb UY cannot receive an 07UY transfer, since that year has already passed for them. So the person holding Dec UY points will need to transfer 08 or 09 points to the Feb UY member. Because transferred points can't be borrowed, these Dec UY points can't be used for a vacation earlier than that date. -- Suzanne

 

[crisi]

I think crisi said it best in the thread over on the Ops board - there isn't any reason for me to swap because I can pretty much get what I want at 7 months.

I responded "never say never."

We also own BWV and like the resort a lot.

We are about to switch from October (which has involved some convoluted eleven month bookings) to late August for our vacations - I'm figuring if I want to switch at seven months it won't be an issue.

But who knows what the future will bring.

We also like cash and don't have very many points - so we have a lot of flexibility to just book cash trips. Can't use our points for DVC Hawaii, oh well, guess we will book a cash hotel and bank those points for a WDW trip - or send my sister and her boys.

 

[Deb & Bill]

Actually, we did a rental several years ago from someone with distressed points and they were reservation points. We thought we might like to try the CR, so we worked out the reservation over the internet, they made the reservation, I sent a check. We added a few nights through CRO and had a nice week's stay. It was very spur of the moment. We helped them and they helped us.

 

[Tamar]

I hope to be renting points in the next couple of weeks for an AKV stay in May 2009. I'd first hoped to find someone to transfer enough points to me so that I could make the ressie myself, but a couple of posts requesting this back a few months got NO responses, even though I was willing to pay a premium. I did, however, find someone willing to make the ressie for me as soon as the window opened, so I'm going this route.

I only needed 60 points, which might have discouraged folks from transferring to me. I briefly considered buying a 30 point add-on and using it every other year, but figured I would just pay the premium this year (we have 500 points at BWV & OKW, just want to try AKV at least once).

fingers crossed that this works out for us!

 

[Harley-Mouse]

Yes we rented point 3 times now. All partys were great. Spoke to them on the phone got my reservation letter. Had a contract all whent well. You can alway ask for a list of past renters from that person. Look for some body with high post count. And last go with your gut.
I did rent point for a friend once because that didn't know what to do. The only thing bad about that was I was in the midle of the renter and rente. If thay had any guestions it always was thru me. But they will check in Tomrow and spoke to resort last week the reservation is just as i booked it. So even that when well.
If you would like to go to HHI renting point is one of the only way you can get a room in the summer.