For Those that make Reservations by Email!

[Dean]

For those that use email to make reservations, there has been a slight change in MS procedures. If you submit a request by email, expect to get back instructions to use the website instead. If you read through the process on this page of the website, there are some obvious problems with it. You will not have a documentation for your records as there is no way to send yourself a copy. You could save the page but you will not have all the info in many cases. You do not have access to your points accounting which could present a problem. There is no way to link reservations. You see the big red disclaimer about the banking and borrowing being final transactions.

I made several suggestions to Jackie to make this workable. One is to add the ability to send yourself a copy. The second is to make this undoeable if you have "linked" or dependent reservations. The other is already there. That is that you can use the "other" box to add freeform text. While the box is small, it will hold a lot of data. Jackie says 17K characters.

Jackie said the counselors had instructions to direct members to this site instead of email but that they would handle the requests by email also. I will just add a disclaimer when I email them to avoid the problem. She also said that with obvious multipart reservations done at the same time, they will fix any issues that arrise due to the design. For example if you have 2 reservations for one stay and get one and not the other, they will fix it, unborrow, etc if need be.

I hope this helps and I haven't been too confusing.

 

[CarolMN]

Thanks for posting all that, Dean.

Sure doesn't make me want to use the website - an offer to fix something just makes me believe the chances of it happening are too high (to say nothing of the hassle and extra time to fix it later). Bet you'd have to call and talk real-time to make sure the fix got done anyway, LOL. Easier and faster to just call in the first place!

As far as I'm concerned, right now DVC email is good for confirming point status, sending compliments or complaints to MS, and receiving newsletters. The website is good for getting a list of current member offers and refreshing my memory when I'm not at home and don't have access to the Guidebook. That's about it for me.

 

[Lew]

Originally posted by CarolMN
As far as I'm concerned, right now DVC email is good for confirming point status, sending compliments or complaints to MS, and receiving newsletters.

I wholeheartedly agree!!

I tried making a reservation by email a few years ago. The results were so out of whack that it took an act of congress to get my points (banking and borrowing) corrected.

Until real-time banking, borrowing, and reservations are available online the best and most accurate route is on the phone with a live MS CM.

 

[Dean]

I actually prefer doing reservations by email. It allows me to keep a record and I can specify all aspects of the transaction including points this year, points next year, points used, balance after reservation, etc. Of course it doens't work well for those that you need to call at exactly 11 monthts to get.

 

[zulaya]

Dean, thanks for posting what you know.

This sounds like a first draft of a website for members to use to book reservations, that it got rushed through with minimum features, because members have been pestering MS that they want to make reservations this way.

I understand your desire to use email, for a copy for yourself. I just don't feel that making reservations by email is effective yet, especially if you are needing to reserve right at 11 months.

If members want immediate confirmation, you should be able to call, and have MS email you a confirmation as soon as your transaction is completed. Then those of us with e-mail would have instant confirmation of our points usage, dates, villa size, room request...the whole nine yards.

Hopefully this is the first step towards something more reliable and user friendly. I will continue to e-mail MS only for banking, non-emergency queries and comments on stays and policies.

 

[Happy Birthday Cat]

Thanks Dean. It sounds like a step in the right direction by DVC. I think this bodes well for the future of a true on-line point tracking and reservation system. It shows they are listening. I will still call for now though.

HBC

 

[dianeschlicht]

I have had to do the phone evaluation the last couple of times I have called. One of the questions they ask is if you prefer making reservations by phone, email or web site. I thought it was a question that would get skewed results because they are asking folks who have already phoned in. Not very scientific at all!

 

[poohj80]

With all us new SSR members who will be calling on Dec 1, would you vets rcommend email as an alternative if we can't get through on the phones or should I get my redial finger warmed up?

 

[zulaya]

I would definitely call if you want to make sure you have what you want. They can take (I think) up to 48 business hours to respond to an e-mail request. So if you are far back in the e-mail queue, you may be taking your chances.

I'd call and just wait till you get an MS person if you have inflexible plans.

 

[Bill K]

I have used the email service to make a reservation. I never had a problem. They email you back promptly with your info (point use, room availability, the need to borrow or bank, your confirmtion #, etc). You also get your confirmation letter in the mail a week later. I think it is very convieniant! I am not a phone person anyway.