I found an LLC that is taking all of the SSR RCI listings and selling them on Ebay

[cbyrne1174]

https://www.vacationstrategy.com/so I figured out why even SSR has been harder to find on RCI. This LLC manages people's Wyndham accounts, books SSR and sells them on Ebay. VacationstrategyLLC. I filed a complaint with the BBB and looked at their feedback history. They have positive feedback from 42 SSR listings on their feedback page on Ebay. I complained to both RCI and Ebay, so hopefully the availability should be a little better for owners who actually want to exchange into SSR for themself. What's really messed up is that the owners that are using this LLC are probably unaware this company is using their account to violate RCI's terms of service. The owner will have their RCI account revoked while the LLC has no repercussion. They have 6 listings right now:



They mention a "Magical Express Fee" of $199 and a "Guest Certificate Fee". That's how you can tell it's through RCI.

 

[Brian Noble]

Interesting. There was a company by the same name that used to act as a points manager for Platinum VIP accounts. When Wyndham closed the cancel-rebook loophole (which allowed VIP owners to reliably get high-demand units at a discount) the financial model got a lot harder. Looks like this is the way they've decided to deal with it.

 

[NoTime42]

Really tells you what RCI trades are worth. A David’s rental in Feb would cost 2.5x more than that.

 

[MickyLynn]

Forgive my ignorance, but huh?
This is people who own RCI renting out their points at SSR through a broker?
(The Wyndham timeshare people assured me the points were toooootally worth $200k for 4 weeks of vacation. I'm shocked.)

 

[cbyrne1174]

RCI is an exchange company and these people are taking Wyndham accounts and booking SSR via an exchange then renting it out. If you own DVC it is ethical to rent out your points because you own them. An exchange is someone else's ownership. This company is renting out DVC exchanges without the consent of the Wyndham owner or the DVC owner. You simply cant rent out RCI reservations because you dont own the property or the right to use it. Wyndham is ownership and DVC is right to use. That's why it is against RCI policy.

 

[Madame]

And look at that... all 1 bds.... Thought DVC said they were more in demand than 2 bds....

 

[starry_solo]

How do you know this company is renting without consent of the owner? Perhaps the company told the owners of the Wyndham points to get a SSR room as it would be easier to rent DVC than Wyndham points?

 

[cbyrne1174]

usually points management companies do 100% of the work.

 

[cbyrne1174]

Even the BBB won't let me register my complaint... such BS

 

[crvetter]

I believe if I am not mistaken RCI trades into DVC aren't supposed to be rented/sold. The easiest solution to this problem would be simply to inform DVC and/or RCI of the sales on e-bay. I know DVC has asked in the past that certain listing of reservations be removed from the site.

 

[cbyrne1174]

I contacted RCI and Ebay. Do you think DVC actually cares?

 

[crvetter]

I contacted RCI and Ebay. Do you think DVC actually cares?

I believe the actual rules are the RCI members aren't supposed to rent out their reservations and DVC will opt not to honor the reservation if that is true. But I'm not 100% sure but based on the rules on the DISBoards leads me to believe that.

 

[SarahInMN]

What on earth is a magical express fee? That has got to a scam right?

 

[crvetter]

What on earth is a magical express fee? That has got to a scam right?

It’s not really that. It’s just the resort fee that RCI members have to pay for the “extra” amenities that Disney provides. So this company is reframing the fee to pass it along.

 

[cbyrne1174]

I found 2 more Ebay sellers that are doing the same thing. Both have dozens of positive feedback for SSR. Why doesn't RCI just block guest certificates for DVC exchanges!?!?!? I can see why having guest certs is needed for some of the harder to push inventory, but this is prime inventory. It just annoys me that non owners are filling up these rooms when there are so many DVC/Hilton/Wyndham/BlueGreen/HolidayInn owners that PAID FOR THEIR MEMBERSHIP that would love a cheap week in a SSR room. SSR points bought resale are $9.4 per point per year. Using that number, it's an $1,800 room (Choice season). It's cheaper to RCI exchange into SSR than to use points by about $800. Even if I was a DVC owner, I would still exchange into SSR before I would use my points. I know a lot of DVC use to love to do the same thing, but it's been getting harder because these companies have ongoing auto-confirming searches going 24/7.

https://www.ebay.com/usr/itsmethemominator
https://www.ebay.com/usr/thehappytravelist

 

[cbyrne1174]

Does anyone know how to get in touch with the DIS unplugged team? At least if they included this in the show it would make more people aware of RCI reservations and how so many people are violating the terms of service. I bet a lot of people taking these reservations think they are renting from an owner.

 

[SarahInMN]

It’s not really that. It’s just the resort fee that RCI members have to pay for the “extra” amenities that Disney provides. So this company is reframing the fee to pass it along.

huh. I had no idea.

 

[cbyrne1174]

It's the RCI exchange fee. Normally you have to pay $239 to exchange via RCI, but DVC members get it for free and the person exchanging into DVC pays $239 + $190

 

[Chuck S]

If there are enough complaints to DVC from members about these rented out RCI exchanges, something will likely be done. RCI wants to keep DVC in their offerings, they don't want DVC to switch trading companies again.

 

[cbyrne1174]

I complained and they didn't even know where to xfer me to.