DVC to add RCI as trade

[Brian Noble]

I am going to listen to comments from people who are actively involved in RCI and II

You can include me in that set, then.

There have been PLENTY of other posts stating the problems with RCI. The change with Disney is a purely business decision. Not done with the members benefit in mind.

I agree with you completely. This is a business decision. But, just because it's good for Disney, doesn't necessarily mean it's bad for Members.

There are two big knocks on RCI. One: you can't get what you want. Two: they range from incompetent to adequate.

As to one: Before you assume that their experience will be yours, you have to know what those folks own. If they own a mud week in the great plains, or mid-September in an older below-average Orlando resort, or any one of a million other weeks that no one really wants, then naturally their RCI experience is going to be sub-par, because RCI is only going to offer them other weeks that no one wants in return.

That's not going to be the case for DVC owners, just as it isn't for other people who own things that people do want.

As for two: Disney is not the sort of company that likes to cede control of its image to anyone else. So, I'd be shocked if things were arranged such that DVC Members called the "regular" RCI call centers. I'm willing to bet a mickeybar that DVC Members will continue to obtain exchanges the way they always have---by calling Member Services.

So, I'm quite sure that a DVC Member's RCI experience will look nothing like the average RCI member's.

Most of the people here whose opinions I have come to respect (Doc, Dean, Brian) seem to be either optimistic about the change or taking a wait-and-see approach.

For the record, I think that more members will find exchanges that they find "acceptable", but fewer will have exchanges they think of as "great". For the average DVC Member, wanting to take an infrequent trip or two outside of their normal stays in DVC resorts, RCI will likely offer a wider array of options than Interval did, but the average quality of the offerings will probably be a little lower. Whether that's good or bad is in the eye of the beholder.

At the end of the day, I still think that a DVC Member would do better by renting out their points, and using the proceeds to rent what they want rather than exchanging, whether II or RCI is the available exchange company. DVC simply commands better market rental rates than almost any other timeshare resort, anywhere, and that's your leverage as an owner. Use it!

There are a very few exceptions to this rule, but most of them are very difficult to obtain by exchange no matter what you have to trade, because their owners either use or rent their time rather than depositing it. So, in a practical sense, the exceptions are immaterial.

Anyone who thinks that external exchange might be a nontrivial portion of their DVC usage would be wise to buy elsewhere, regardless of external exchange company, becuase there are many options that provide much better exchange value.

 

[Leleluvsdis]

I don't know if this has been mentioned, b/c I haven't gotten to read this entire thread, but My parent's have weeks with RCI and not points. Has anyone seen where they will trade in weeks to DVC?

 

[bwvBound]

I don't know if this has been mentioned, b/c I haven't gotten to read this entire thread, but My parent's have weeks with RCI and not points. Has anyone seen where they will trade in weeks to DVC?

Still unknown. Stay tuned for more info ... early next year.

 

[alldiz]

Gurney's Inn Resort & Spa exchanges through RCI (#0342). You can search RCI's directory online:

• point your web browser to http://www.rci.com
• Click on the [Resort Directory] tab
• Pick from several search tools:
  • Search by LIST
  • Search by MAP
  • Search by RESORT CODE
  • Search by KEYWORD (at the bottom of the page, very useful!)

Resulting Directory Information will tell you resort name, rating, address, web link, seasons, local attractions, etc.

Thanks
If I can trade there.....I will be impressed....of course not January
Kerri

 

[Scotch]

As to one: Before you assume that their experience will be yours, you have to know what those folks own. If they own a mud week in the great plains, or mid-September in an older below-average Orlando resort, or any one of a million other weeks that no one really wants, then naturally their RCI experience is going to be sub-par, because RCI is only going to offer them other weeks that no one wants in return.

That's not going to be the case for DVC owners, just as it isn't for other people who own things that people do want.

I agree with Brian. I have owned timeshares affiliated with both exchange companies for many years (almost ten), and since we sold our Marriotts, we have exchanged exclusively via RCI. I must add that I have had very good experiences with RCI, and part of that I'm sure is due to the fact that I own a powerful trader that gets me into practically any place I want (as long as my desired week is available for exchange). The other part may be due to the fact that I tend to limit my phone interaction and do most of the exchanges online. I have had at least one RCI exchange for each of the past 8 or so years and I have no complaints at all.

As for other poster's reference of European or other foreign country exchanges being never available, I want to add that is simply not true. It depends a lot on the week you own, and with RCI that factor has two parts -- the trade power and VEP (I cannot recall what that stands for -- vacation experience something? -- maybe Dean can chime in here?) The VEP factor tied to your home week can prevent you from trading into certain *lower* quality resorts. For example, when we used to own Hilton Grand Vacations Club (HGVC), HGVC-RCI exchanges would prevent many European weeks from being suitable/allowable because those timeshares tend to be significantly smaller size-wise and more spartan on the amenities -- the attraction for many of those timeshares = location. You can learn about what is available for exchange if you become a member of various online timeshare forums like TUG and Timeshareforums and wmowners (unofficial Worldmark Owners site) -- each has a sightings board with member posts on what they can see with their weeks at a given instant online at II or RCI. Go through several months' worth of sightings and you'll start to get a feel for the types of weeks that are considered powerful traders and the areas/places that come up for exchange. I have definitely seen various European weeks come up in sightings (and of course which sightings get posted depends on what the poster was searching); I have also *seen* them online via my own searches, mostly out of curiosity.

As for RCI's customer service from a corporate membership perspective, my only experience was from back in the days when we owned HGVC. (By corporate I mean you deal with all external exchanges through the timeshare member services, so in this case DVC.) I admit we never actually used HGVC points for an RCI exchange, but I did place a search with them once (which I later canceled) and I recall the posts of many HGVC Tug members relating their RCI exchange experiences. If my memory serves me right, those experiences tend to be all positive with experienced representatives who were either HGVC employees or RCI specially trained employees.

So basically I think folks should stop panicing and take the wait and see approach. While RCI doesn't have the *big guns* like Hyatt, Four Seasons, Marriotts, etc., it does have some nice non-hotel affiliated resorts in many places or fine timeshares in places that II doesn't have. I certainly understand the disappointment of DVC members, particularly those who have been eying potential II exchanges. But maybe RCI affiliation will open up timeshare exchanges in other places that you never considered and those may turn out to be wonderful exchanges. I am sure there will be a limit as to which timeshares would be on DVC's allowable exchanges out of concern for customer satisfaction. Complain if you end up having bad experiences. Maybe DVC will consider adding II back as an additional option after the exclusive contract period (with RCI) ends.

Edited to add: You can still get into the Marriotts, Hyatts, etc. -- just do an owner to owner direct exchange. I think (but I'm not sure) you can post that type of request on the rental board; TUG has an area for direct exchanges and I think the other forums have them too.

 

[kikiV]

II has definately been dropped. All pending searches will still be honored thru II but no new searches can be started. MS at DVC believes that they will still be making the RCI reservations for all DVC members so the fact that the counselors at RCI are incompetent may not be a factor at all. I don't know what fees for trading are involved being a DVC owner but RCI just sent out it's new fee schedule to its resorts and they are increasing quite a bit for 2009. Much more than II exchange fees. They will give you a price break if you swap online and not through a counselor. I think losing Marriotts is huge. I think the biggest downside to RCI is resort quality. Their standards are quite low.

 

[spiceycat]

DVC first tried RCI - it did NOT work.

so why (unless money is involved) go with something that didn't work the first time.

 

[dioxide45]

Well.... I'm pretty happy with this as there are so many more resorts outside the US. It would be great to trade for Africa, Australia, or India - all places on our " to see" list. And with 1300 in Europe against the 300 or so before it gives us a lot more possibilities

But DVC may still only limit you to 500 or so resorts. Many of which will be in the USA.

 

[bwvBound]

But DVC may still only limit you to 500 or so resorts. Many of which will be in the USA.

Agreed. Furthermore, even if DVC doesn't place resort quality restrictions RCI certainly will. It is remarkable playing directly with RCI's website using different deposits. Results from a high quality resort are always fewer than searching the same dates/locations using a mid-quality resort. Turns out the mid-quality resort is permitted to trade up but the high quality resort is protected against trading down. In my searches many non-US destinations are quickly thinned down when searching using my better US properties.

 

[Dean]

Thanks Dean. I didn't mean to suggest that II was discriminating against DVC, rather that DVC just isn't rated as high as many would expect. As such, the top destinations in II's roster are effectively off limits to DVC members. We just don't have the strength to get into those locations.

The issue isn't resort quality but the fact it's Orlando, the fact that trade power is averaged and that II doesn't generally get good weeks at good resorts. IF members were direct members or II and could pick their resort weeks to deposit, that would change dramatically even for an Orlando deposit. Still, the internal trading preference makes Marriott's and Westins very difficult for EVERYONE who is not on the inside. IMO that's fine and it's no different that the fact that DVC members have a trade preference for at least 97 % (non II traded DVC weeks) that no one else has any chance at.

I have II, RCI and RCI points. I think all have their place, benefits and weaknesses. Overall I think DVC members will be far less pleased with RCI than II. The biggest negatives are going to be less quality resorts in some of the more popular exchange destinations for DVC members and the likelihood that we're losing the request first option.

 

[Mamiamjo]

I know I don't represent the majority here but I wouldn't trade my DVC out unless I had no other choice. It's way too expensive of a resort to trade away (and there are much cheaper options).
With DVC even if you have points that you can't use and can't bank, you probably can rent them out for more than enough to rent a week somewhere else.
Or What I have been doing is...

I also own at the Royal Sands in Cancun (used to be 3 weeks, now it's 2) and I would rent out the 1 bedroom portion of one of the weeks I wasn't going to use and then exchange the studio into a DVC studio for a nice add on to one of my points stays. (or you could rent the studio and exchange the 1 bedroom).
This was a much better option for me. First of all I paid less for two -
2bedroom summer weeks at RSD than I did for 200 BCV points (which doesn't even get you a 2 bedroom villa for a week that school's out). The MFs are much less at RSD also.

I guess what I'll have to do now is either, buy more DVC points so I can have longer stays (or larger accomodations). OR I can wait and see how much DVC availability is in RCI (for a trade in) and buy a cheap resort that will trade into DVC.

I'm really not liking this change too much

 

[bwvBound]

My issue is not trading out, it's trading in...
I know I don't represent the majority here but I wouldn't trade my DVC out unless I had no other choice. It's way too expensive of a resort to trade away (and there are much cheaper options).

Or What I have been doing is... <snip> exchange the studio into a DVC studio for a nice add on to one of my points stays. <snip> This was a much better option for me.

I'm with you 96% ... all but the studio part above. We exchanged in regularly as part of our ownership strategy and added nights on either end of the exchange using points. Certainly this game wasn't helpful to DVC sales ... and perhaps one of the reasons behind the switch was to cut the ride short.

 

[Mamiamjo]

I'm with you 96% ... all but the studio part above. We exchanged in regularly as part of our ownership strategy and added nights on either end of the exchange using points. Certainly this game wasn't helpful to DVC sales ... and perhaps one of the reasons behind the switch was to cut the ride short.

I don't see how it would be any different for DVC. Even after the switch you'll still have people able to trade into DVC and then use their points to supplement the trade it's just that it won't be people with II resorts, it will be be RCI resort members. You're just trading one group of exchangers for another. No difference for them, big difference for me

In my opinion it is all about $$. One way or another DVC is saving some cash here and that is why the change was made.

 

[acder12]

[Brian Noble] We both know that's not going to be what happens to DVC owners.

The week I owned was a two bedroom red week. Why was my only trade option pre-season Branson? Will DVC be considered Red?

 

[tidefan]

Even after the switch you'll still have people able to trade into DVC and then use their points to supplement the trade it's just that it won't be people with II resorts, it will be be RCI resort members.

That would be me. My other resort is Royal Palm Beach Club in St Maarten which for us deeded members is an RCI resort. Hopefully I'll now be able to exchange in where I could not before...

That being said, I do feel bad for those who used to trade in via II. I know that one of the sales pitches used by the Diamond people to try to get people to upgrade to their "Club" is that "Club" points deposit with II and they would tell you that you could get into Marriott or Disney where you couldn't before. Guess they'll have to modify their sales pitch...

 

[RobDoc]

DVC first tried RCI - it did NOT work.

so why (unless money is involved) go with something that didn't work the first time.

It DID work, but DVC found a more workable relationship with II. ... and now DVD has found a more workable relationship with RCI.

RCI has FAR more resorts to work with and has FAR more members to work with. Please feel free to provide your statistics that "it did NOT work" with RCI from 13 years ago and feel free to provide your statistics that II is a better match for DVC members. PLEASE do not provide any anectodal or personal opinions about either RCI or II. Any factual information is welcome though ( as long as you provide the actual facts) !

 

[bwvBound]

I don't see how it would be any different for DVC. Even after the switch you'll still have people able to trade into DVC and then use their points to supplement the trade it's just that it won't be people with II resorts, it will be be RCI resort members. You're just trading one group of exchangers for another.

One of RCI's tools is a trick called "1 in 4" (or "1 in 3" or "1 in 5"). This blocks an inbound exchanger from repeating their trade to a given resort or family of resorts until the requisite number of years has past. I think it very likely that DVC will request a 1 in 4 rule blocking the entire DVC collection.

If DVC participates in RCI Points vs RCI Weeks -- it will further limit the number of eligible RCI member exchanges. (It would count me out entirely as I dropped my RCI Points membership years ago.)

 

[kikiV]

RCI has FAR more resorts to work with and has FAR more members to work with. Please feel free to provide your statistics that "it did NOT work" with RCI from 13 years ago and feel free to provide your statistics that II is a better match for DVC members. PLEASE do not provide any anectodal or personal opinions about either RCI or II. Any factual information is welcome though ( as long as you provide the actual facts) !

I can't speak as a DVC owner but I can tell you the difference from 13 years ago to now. I work in this business and have dealt internally with RCI and II for 15 years now. 15 years ago you could get good swaps through RCI. Some locations were hard, and resort quality was good. Once RCI stock went public, things changed. Inventory was taken from exchanges by their marketing dept. (and that came straight from a territory mgr. at RCI ) and was placed into the getaway dept. So when you would call RCI to do an exch. there was no availability, but if you called the getaway dept. to buy a week, there it was. Over the years they found out it was more profitable to sell weeks than exch. them, thus making exchanges very difficult. You can get an RCI membership now without even owning timeshare. A local businessmans club for vets. gets a free RCI membership with or without timeshare ownerhship. Also, the resorts that opened in late 80's early 90's that were good quality, never renovated again. Cape Cod in particular has a lot of disgusting resorts. My rep. won't even let any of my members exchange there because they know how bad they are and that's her territory.
It was a good 18 years before my resort did a renovation so for all that time people traded in to a resort that had bad accomodations. Even members with strong red weeks have difficulty. The suites at Hershey park in Pa. takes a good 1-1 1/2 years to get into. They only get about 3 deposited units each summer. There's a resort in RHode island that has not had a deposited (not even 1) in 9 years. So when RCI says they have more resorts to choose from, not really. II is smaller yes, but they are more knowledgable people, and rarely a disappointment when you arrive at the property.

 

[dianeschlicht]

I can't speak as a DVC owner but I can tell you the difference from 13 years ago to now. I work in this business and have dealt internally with RCI and II for 15 years now. 15 years ago you could get good swaps through RCI. Some locations were hard, and resort quality was good. Once RCI stock went public, things changed. Inventory was taken from exchanges by their marketing dept. (and that came straight from a territory mgr. at RCI ) and was placed into the getaway dept. So when you would call RCI to do an exch. there was no availability, but if you called the getaway dept. to buy a week, there it was. Over the years they found out it was more profitable to sell weeks than exch. them, thus making exchanges very difficult. You can get an RCI membership now without even owning timeshare. A local businessmans club for vets. gets a free RCI membership with or without timeshare ownerhship. Also, the resorts that opened in late 80's early 90's that were good quality, never renovated again. Cape Cod in particular has a lot of disgusting resorts. My rep. won't even let any of my members exchange there because they know how bad they are and that's her territory.
It was a good 18 years before my resort did a renovation so for all that time people traded in to a resort that had bad accomodations. Even members with strong red weeks have difficulty. The suites at Hershey park in Pa. takes a good 1-1 1/2 years to get into. They only get about 3 deposited units each summer. There's a resort in RHode island that has not had a deposited (not even 1) in 9 years. So when RCI says they have more resorts to choose from, not really. II is smaller yes, but they are more knowledgable people, and rarely a disappointment when you arrive at the property.

I have stayed out of this discussion so far, because I didn't have enough information to have a real opinion one way or the other. I don't know about everyone else, but this poster's comments seem pretty real and factual to me, so I'm now starting to worry.

I do have a friend who has been in an RCI resort for 25 plus years. They have had a LOT more trouble trading out in the past 5-6 years, so I tend to thingkabove poster knows of what they speak.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I can't speak as a DVC owner but I can tell you the difference from 13 years ago to now. I work in this business and have dealt internally with RCI and II for 15 years now. 15 years ago you could get good swaps through RCI. Some locations were hard, and resort quality was good. Once RCI stock went public, things changed. Inventory was taken from exchanges by their marketing dept. (and that came straight from a territory mgr. at RCI ) and was placed into the getaway dept. So when you would call RCI to do an exch. there was no availability, but if you called the getaway dept. to buy a week, there it was. Over the years they found out it was more profitable to sell weeks than exch. them, thus making exchanges very difficult. You can get an RCI membership now without even owning timeshare. A local businessmans club for vets. gets a free RCI membership with or without timeshare ownerhship. Also, the resorts that opened in late 80's early 90's that were good quality, never renovated again. Cape Cod in particular has a lot of disgusting resorts. My rep. won't even let any of my members exchange there because they know how bad they are and that's her territory.
It was a good 18 years before my resort did a renovation so for all that time people traded in to a resort that had bad accomodations. Even members with strong red weeks have difficulty. The suites at Hershey park in Pa. takes a good 1-1 1/2 years to get into. They only get about 3 deposited units each summer. There's a resort in RHode island that has not had a deposited (not even 1) in 9 years. So when RCI says they have more resorts to choose from, not really. II is smaller yes, but they are more knowledgable people, and rarely a disappointment when you arrive at the property.

I would like to thank this poster for providing information that will never be disclosed to DVC members. This provides a real insight of the inner workings of RCI as well as previous posts. So just how much information is Disney going to disclose as we get further info? How trained are the MS staff going to be to provide information to members? I have joined TUG, and that has been the best money spent with invaluable info. I encourage others to visit their site, and join if they truely want unbiased information.