Have you actually rented points to a stranger?

[lizanne]

There is a thread on the DVC Operations Board concerning renting points. I was curious as to how many DISers actually rent points and if it is as big a problem as perceived by some.

By "rented points" I mean charged the person money - not used your points for a DVC vacation for someone else at no charge to them.

 

[LocustPoint]

I never have any points left over to rent! I have too much fun using them to rent them to anyone else.

 

[AKV707]

I don't see me ever owning enough points to have any to spare to rent!

 

[Cruelladeville]

I have rented to strangers, but they became friends later on! A couple have ended up buying points, too! It's so much fun hearing about their trips, too! And they are usually more appreciative than some family members, who simply complain about DVC.

 

[Dean]

I have rented to strangers, but they became friends later on! A couple have ended up buying points, too! It's so much fun hearing about their trips, too! And they are usually more appreciative than some family members, who simply complain about DVC.

I whole heartedly agree. They have been universally nice and appreciative. The ONLY ones I've had any problems with that went to an actual rental were already members, including a member of this board. Several have bought, a number have rented again, some several times (DVC and Marriott). That's why I cringe when people talk about renters like they are second class citizens, as a rule they are more appreciative and have more understanding of what DVC is about than most members. I've gotten countless contacts post trip from renters who wanted to thank me for a once in a lifetime trip. Likely the one with the most meaning was from a renter that send me a gift post trip, nothing big but it truely was the thought that counted.

 

[castleri]

I whole heartedly agree. They have been universally nice and appreciative. The ONLY ones I've had any problems with that went to an actual rental were already members, including a member of this board. Several have bought, a number have rented again, some several times (DVC and Marriott). That's why I cringe when people talk about renters like they are second class citizens, as a rule they are more appreciative and have more understanding of what DVC is about than most members. I've gotten countless contacts post trip from renters who wanted to thank me for a once in a lifetime trip. Likely the one with the most meaning was from a renter that send me a gift post trip, nothing big but it truely was the thought that counted.

Have had much the same experience - one sends pictures as her child grows and we have had discussions about her parent's health issues and family job difficulties. Another was very thankful for being able to get accomodations at a late date to add room for a GG group. I have only had one issue and that with someone who said they wanted a rental and then backed out after it was made and before I even got the confirmation due to job issues. I have had more family members cancel on me and put points in holding or cause me to have a bigger (more points needed) room than was needed than problems with renters.

 

[Inkmahm]

Oops, I messed up. I said I never rent points but I did rent a studio at VWL last December for 1 night to friends of ours who were staying there just the one night before a cruise. The WL was booked solid but I could get a studio through DVC for them. It's their favorite resort so I got the reservation for them and they gave me a check to cover the points. That was so easy I didn't even think about it as having been a rental transaction when I opened this thread.

 

[DVC Grandpa]

I have rented to strangers, but they became friends later on! A couple have ended up buying points, too! It's so much fun hearing about their trips, too! And they are usually more appreciative than some family members, who simply complain about DVC.

I consider myself one of those friends and also one who acquired extra point after renting from Cruelladeville.

 

[dianeschlicht]

No, I have never rented out points to anyone, much less a stranger. Our guests always travel with us.

 

[roadtripper]

I cringe when people talk about renters like they are second class citizens, as a rule they are more appreciative and have more understanding of what DVC is about than most members.

Yup, we started as renters, because I never thought I could convince DH to join DVC. Two days into a studio at OKW, he wanted to go check out the models. An initial contract and 100 pt add-on later, we still say it's the best thing we ever did. We have rented twice due to family members cancelling, and rented to friends once, who were incredibly grateful! I have also helped colleagues who used to let their points expire by introducing them to the DVC rent/trade board. I think renting is a great thing for all of us; we never would have joined DVC if we hadn't rented first.

 

[DisDaydreamer]

I deal a fair amount on eBay so I'm not so concerned about dealing with a stranger, but we just don't have enough points to even consider it.

Gave a 100 points (half our cache) as a wedding present to our niece last summer since they couldn't afford a honeymoon. Gave them the planner and 3 months to to let us know what reservations to make. At 3 months and 1 day we sent them a check for $100 and took back our points. Phew...

Voted "Never".

 

[I'mNoPrince]

I Take DM and DsF . This trip got them their own studio for when they come down as I didn't have the points and didn't have the 2bdrm where we wanted to stay . She pays me $10 perpoint as I will for 09 have to get a transfer in to replace that points I have used for them on our last 3 trips they went on.

I did not charge them for our first SSR stay as we got the Points as an insentive and thought it would be nice to take them along. I wish I had the points to do it all the time but we just don't right now and this is our best option for them to come with us and us still be able to go when we want to.

I think the entire Renting problem is is a lot hype the more I research and look into it.

I think the Spec renting needs to be looked at but in the end they will stop no one from profiting off it if they want to. Just to many factors that they can't stop without ruining it for everyone.

 

[kimberh]

I have had all wonderful experiences! I have received Christmas cards, pictures of children, phone calls, pictures of trips, these people have become my friends. Some refer their family, some join DVC, some are on additional vacations. Never have I had a bad experience!!!

 

[Mickey'sApprentice]

We planned a big trip with both of my sisters and their families. I had originally hoped that we could all stay in a 2 bdrm villa together. My sisters had no part of that. We eventually paid $10/point or $700 to have the points transferred into our account so that we could get a 2 bedroom AND a studio. We put my smoking sister's family in the studio. We agreed to pay the $700 and they complained the entire time. Technically though, we did rent them the reservation even though we were there the entire time.

As for the complaining, we requested to be close together but Disney said it wasn't possible because of the smoking. Sis didn't get close to us or the smoking room either.

 

[starbox]

We rented part of our developer points that the DP restrictions made impossible for us to use. We just used the $$ to underwrite the add-on .

We found great renters that became friends.

 

[JVL1018]

Just once-I think we skipped vacation a whole use year due to the birth of our son so we had a surplus, so I rented them to another DVC member, just transferred them to his account. No idea who he was, but it worked out well.
I can't see us having a surplus again, though.

 

[ACDSNY]

We've rented points (our cost only) for the studio portion of a 2 bedroom unit to my husband's cousin. The trip was just the 4 of us adults so having the 2 bedroom unit was great for visiting.

 

[isyt]

I have rented only to strangers. I have met some really nice people. Several of them have now come back to me more than once. It has been a great experience and no problems.

 

[RLRDA]

We're with all the previous posters who never have any points left over to rent. If we ever skipped a year at WDW we'd bank them and take a longer trip the next time. Too many points to use? What's THAT all about?

Seriously, the idea of renting doesn't appeal to us in the least. We'd give the points to family members to use before we'd rent them. But, as I said, we don't have an abundance of points in the first place.

 

[magicmama]

We've never rented our points. We seem to use them all!!