dvc vs other timeshares

[Brian Noble]

Wyndham is supposed going the same route also

We've been hearing "soon" for years with no date specified. Then, it was supposed to happen this March, but didn't. Now, it's apparently supposed to happen in late July.

Let's just say I'm not holding my breath.

I'm not sure why it's so hard, though---in principle, it would be trivial to do. In the old RCI search interface, in fact, it *was* possible, but not supported---someone reverse-engineered the URL request format so that you could search with any deposit in your account once you knew the relation number, whether it was a visible or a generic. And, the relation number was (and still is) published for generic deposits.

I'm not aware of anyone who has done the same thing with the new interface, but it's possible I'm no longer one of the cool kids who gets the notes that are passed behind the teacher's back in class.

 

[phyllisnnj]

The HGVC email only stated the following.

Exciting Online Resource Coming Your Way... Soon
"While it's not really fair to allude to benefits and not tell you what they are, let's just say, the world will soon be at your fingertips.
Here's a hint – It starts with an "R" and ends with an "I" and you can "see" the middle. Any guesses? More to come this June!"

Today, HGVC members have access to RCI weeks, RCI points and RCI Extra Vacation via a phone call. It will be interesting to see what we get via online access. It would be ideal if we could search first without making a deposit. Hopefully once online access becomes available to HGVC and Wyndham, DVC members will get online access too.

 

[culli]

We've been hearing "soon" for years with no date specified. Then, it was supposed to happen this March, but didn't. Now, it's apparently supposed to happen in late July.

Let's just say I'm not holding my breath.

I'm not sure why it's so hard, though---in principle, it would be trivial to do. In the old RCI search interface, in fact, it *was* possible, but not supported---someone reverse-engineered the URL request format so that you could search with any deposit in your account once you knew the relation number, whether it was a visible or a generic. And, the relation number was (and still is) published for generic deposits.

I'm not aware of anyone who has done the same thing with the new interface, but it's possible I'm no longer one of the cool kids who gets the notes that are passed behind the teacher's back in class.

The parent Wyndham owns RCI so I find it frustrating that Wyndham owner cannot do this items online.

 

[Slakk]

Just out of curiosity,
we are DVC owners, but we never did look into other timeshares like Marriott, etc. How does DVC stack up against the others in terms of price, taking into account the initial buying per point and then the annual dues?
Jim

I own a EOY Marriott in Aruba and for me the dues seem about the same. Same for the price. But I have found the two systems similar, probably why I am comfortable with them both. LOL.

I am not someone who feels comfortable doing the trades with II or RCI. I got bit BAD when I traded a DVC for II a few years ago which is why I bought MVC - now the inflexibility of DVC exchanges is not an issue.

 

[Brian Noble]

The parent Wyndham owns RCI so I find it frustrating that Wyndham owner cannot do this items online.

They may be under the same corporate umbrella, but they are run as entirely separate companies---and I think that's probably for the best.

 

[Dean]

The HGVC email only stated the following.


Today, HGVC members have access to RCI weeks, RCI points and RCI Extra Vacation via a phone call. It will be interesting to see what we get via online access. It would be ideal if we could search first without making a deposit. Hopefully once online access becomes available to HGVC and Wyndham, DVC members will get online access too.

I doubt DVC will give up control plus the limitation of which resorts you can trade to make direct access a much more difficult issue. That's not to say it couldn't happen, just that it would be far more complicated and IMO, unlikely to happen.

 

[culli]

They may be under the same corporate umbrella, but they are run as entirely separate companies---and I think that's probably for the best.

I understand the seperate company thing, I was thinking more about possibly trying to provide ease and some service to a sister company. I would think if RCI treated Wyndham owners better that it could possible enhance the perceived value of Wyndham? But on the other hand Wyndham doesn't do a good job of this for their company so why should a sister company

 

[Dean]

I understand the seperate company thing, I was thinking more about possibly trying to provide ease and some service to a sister company. I would think if RCI treated Wyndham owners better that it could possible enhance the perceived value of Wyndham? But on the other hand Wyndham doesn't do a good job of this for their company so why should a sister company

If RCI gave Wyndham or Worldmark actual general favoritism, their credibility would be shot. IF Wyndham gave RCI better weeks and resorts than they do now, it would be to RCI's advantage and to the advantage of the Wyndham members that trade out. It would be to the detriment of those members that don't trade out which is why many state they deposit as they do.

 

[phyllisnnj]

I doubt DVC will give up control plus the limitation of which resorts you can trade to make direct access a much more difficult issue. That's not to say it couldn't happen, just that it would be far more complicated and IMO, unlikely to happen.

I would be surprised if HGVC gives up any control too. We also have limitation (quality filter) on which RCI resorts we can trade into. It will be interesting to see what RCI comes up with. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

I'm assuming that RCI will give us a generic HGVC deposit to search. Today HGVC members can call up and request an ongoing search. They pay the exchange fee and when a match is accepted, the points are taken out of their account. HGVC members never get to pick or choose which points to use for a reservation or exchange. For HGVC members, all HGVC points are the same except during the home resort booking window.

 

[Dean]

I would be surprised if HGVC gives up any control too. We also have limitation (quality filter) on which RCI resorts we can trade into. It will be interesting to see what RCI comes up with. I guess we'll have to wait and see.

I'm assuming that RCI will give us a generic HGVC deposit to search. Today HGVC members can call up and request an ongoing search. They pay the exchange fee and when a match is accepted, the points are taken out of their account. HGVC members never get to pick or choose which points to use for a reservation or exchange. For HGVC members, all HGVC points are the same except during the home resort booking window.

IMO, this is far different. I don't think Hilton institutes the filter but rather RCI has a VEP filter that comes into play with resorts like DVC and Hilton. II had one too and was even more strict in this area than is RCI. This type of filter is one of the reasons i've argued DVC has no need to pick and chose, IMO, it's unnecessary micromanagement and inappropriately decreases members options if they chose to exchange.

 

[Starr W.]

I understand the seperate company thing, I was thinking more about possibly trying to provide ease and some service to a sister company. I would think if RCI treated Wyndham owners better that it could possible enhance the perceived value of Wyndham? But on the other hand Wyndham doesn't do a good job of this for their company so why should a sister company

The two probably dislike each other.

When I was working in the forest products industry, a few of our suppliers had distribution divisions. They in most cases never worked to well together. Being a customer to one and a supplier to the other, was sometimes amusing for an outside to what large coroporate culture at work at such a close level.