IMPORTANT: Change to Rent/Trade Boards Rules

[Bugeye]

Guess after all these years I'll have to get off my lazy butt and start logging in. Oh well. I agree with this move and anything else that discourages the fly-by-nighters.

 

[saphyre]

I think that is is a shame that this board has taken away a valuable asset by forcing people to add at least 50 posts before offering points for rent. This not only hurts the people who want to rent their points but also the people that need points to make their Disney trip a reality. I can post 50 times but if I am only trying to rent my points is that really needed? Would love some feedback.

 

[hakepb]

I'm guessing that in an Internet with a bunch of fraud, this is a small measure to help protect those wanting to rent a reservation. I do not think this is a measure that seasoned posters wanted to protect their "business" from being undercut by newbies.

I suppose you could say the same thing about e-bay. Who buys stuff from someone that is selling their first item?

 

[LisaS]

I think that is is a shame that this board has taken away a valuable asset by forcing people to add at least 50 posts before offering points for rent. This not only hurts the people who want to rent their points but also the people that need points to make their Disney trip a reality. I can post 50 times but if I am only trying to rent my points is that really needed? Would love some feedback.

The DVC Rent/Trade board is provided as a free service to the DIS community. We had a number of people selling points/reservations on the R/T board who never posted anywhere else on the DIS. The changes were put in place to return the R/T board to its original purpose, namely as a resource for the DIS community.

We encourage potential renters to read past posts made by those offering their points on the R/T board to get some idea of the person they are considering doing business with. For example, does that person come across as patient and helpful? Are they knowledgeable about DVC? Posting on other DIS forums to share your knowledge, experience and enthusiasm could actually help you rent out your points.

 

[saphyre]

I have been posting here for quite a few years and have many people who are more than happy to let me use them as a referral. Isn't that worth more than me adding a few comments here and there? I appreciate that this is a free service and I understand some rules but 50 posts that have nothing to do with renting?

 

[Sammie]

I am sorry but some of these posts sound like sour grapes to me.

We all have jobs, so don't even go there. But you know this is a free service offered by the DIS to Rent/Trade and there are reasons behind their rules.

If the rules do not fit your lifestyle there are other avenues to rent your points.

For one David's service and for another ebay and other forums

 

[Chuck S]

...have many people who are more than happy to let me use them as a referral. Isn't that worth more than me adding a few comments here and there?

Referrals, while helpful, could also be Uncle Billy and Cousin Zeke, in other words easily falsified. Posting style, over the course of 50 posts, can also tell someone a lot about character.

 

[LisaS]

I have been posting here for quite a few years and have many people who are more than happy to let me use them as a referral. Isn't that worth more than me adding a few comments here and there? I appreciate that this is a free service and I understand some rules but 50 posts that have nothing to do with renting?

I understand what you are saying but in a way you are viewing things from the wrong perspective. The DIS isn't a renting board. It is not a free alternative to ebay. The DIS is a place where people can get together to share information about planning Disney vacations. For our DVC members we also provide a place where they can rent any excess points they may have. It's offered as a service to members who post on the other forums here.

There are some people who came to the DIS for the sole purpose of using the Rent/Trade board and nothing else. That is not the way things were intended to work so we've put some rules in place to get people to come in the front door (all the other forums on the DIS) rather than slip through the back door straight into the Rent/Trade board.

 

[vicki_c]

Personally, I don't get the entitled attitude that the DISboards somehow owe people a place to rent their points. It's a nice avenue intended for DISboard members to be able to get rid of extra points, and is offered by the site owners as a courtesy.

I don't think anyone who only posts on the Rental board is much of a "member" and I agree, I wouldn't rent from someone where that was the case.

As mentioned numerous times, there are other avenues to rent your points if you don't want to participate on the DIS in the way which is required by the site.

I hardly think the DIS has any culpability for people who may have to give up their membership because they can't rent their points here. And rude comments about those who do post a lot here really aren't helping anyone's case - someone who posts like that would be the LAST person I would rent from.

 

[saphyre]

I am sorry but some of these posts sound like sour grapes to me.

We all have jobs, so don't even go there. But you know this is a free service offered by the DIS to Rent/Trade and there are reasons behind their rules.

If the rules do not fit your lifestyle there are other avenues to rent your points.

For one David's service and for another ebay and other forums

I never said I had a job nor did I imply that it was my right to post here. I know this is a free service and I believe I have the right to my opinion just like everyone else. It is very sad that the people belonging to this board are so untrusting now. I have been a member since 2001, have always rented my points here to very happy renters but and I guess the newer members aren't trustworthy so need to somehow find false proof of someones integrity through postings that do not relate to renting.

 

[LisaS]

It is very sad that the people belonging to this board are so untrusting now. I have been a member since 2001, have always rented my points here to very happy renters but and I guess the newer members aren't trustworthy so need to somehow find false proof of someones integrity through postings that do not relate to renting.

You are missing a very important point about the rule change. We determined that many people had joined the DIS just to sell points/reservations on the Rent/Trade board and never (or seldom) contributed to any of the discussion forums. The DIS does not charge any fees to use the R/T board but the moderators want to see some participation in the other forums. It is the active participation of the members that makes boards like this work. If everyone just posted "Points for Rent" threads and nothing else we wouldn't have much of a community here, we would be a classified ad site.

 

[asouthernbelle]

I think that is is a shame that this board has taken away a valuable asset by forcing people to add at least 50 posts before offering points for rent. This not only hurts the people who want to rent their points but also the people that need points to make their Disney trip a reality. I can post 50 times but if I am only trying to rent my points is that really needed? Would love some feedback.

look at it this way. we are a bunch of friends with lollipops. why would we want someone to spend just a week with us to get one of our lollipops and leave. They weren't really a friend, they just used us.

There are plenty of sites to sell points on, i know of four just because i typed it into google. so as for the sob stories(not related to your post), you dont have to post here. I post here because I really really enjoy Disney, and I would rather share my points with good old fashioned Disney-a-holics than to some guy who just wants to shut his kids up. Thats the MAGIC of Disney. To go to Disney is wonderful, but the boards allow us to get that same magical feeling by talking about it too. Disney is about family and community.


And no, I am not ashamed that I will be "The Belle of the Ball" for my wedding. Could you really appreciate that from just a renting points post? No.

 

[DisneyBill]

I post here because I really really enjoy Disney, and I would rather share my points with good old fashioned Disney-a-holics than to some guy who just wants to shut his kids up.

Guilty too of being a Disneyholic, but to adhere to this statement the DIS should also restrict those who reply to points for rent threads to the same 50 posts guideline. Which FWIW I truly disagree with the way the R/T boards are being allowed to function.

 

[dvcmember777]

I've been a member of this board for over five years and don't have 50 post points. How can I accumulate more points? Simply by posting to other discussions? Thanks for this wonderful forum!

 

[dzorn]

I've been a member of this board for over five years and don't have 50 post points. How can I accumulate more points? Simply by posting to other discussions? Thanks for this wonderful forum!

Yep though I would skip "I agree" or smaller similar posts. Check out the other boards and just join an active discussion or start a thread yourself.

Denise in MI

 

[UConnJack]

Most people I see getting all bent about this must be people who are speculative renting anyway, otherwise why would they be so upset? I feel no sympathy for them as this is not what the R/T board was intended for and is exactly why this rule (and the 30-day rule) was put into place.

These rules may affect a few people that are looking into unloading a reservation they can't use, but there is nothing to stop people from cancelling their reservation within 30 days and then renting the points out of holding. Sure they may be "distressed" and may require a discount, but you'll probably get them sold and will recoup a fair amount. If you are someone who on a rare occasion just happened to get stuck with a reservation you couldn't use, you should just be thankful the the DIS R/T board is here at all to give you an opportunity not to let the points go totally to waste. If you insist on getting a premium for the points, and/or are someone who is speculative renting, then go to eBay or Craigslist.

Funny how people are getting upset about a free service that they frankly have no "right" to, and obviously have no vested interest in the community that is providing the service. Cry me a river.....

 

[Memories2make]

I origianlly joined when looking for information on a cruise we took and was able to meet some great people. I did start posting and don't have the 50 posts needed to rent but have enjoyed the forum. There are guidelines for everything and I personally agree... I've started looking around and have been able to give some advice and insight on some of the threads which is great. Have actually asked a couple of questions my self.
This might have been answered but how do I find out how many posts do I have?

 

[Chuck S]

I origianlly joined when looking for information on a cruise we took and was able to meet some great people. I did start posting and don't have the 50 posts needed to rent but have enjoyed the forum. There are guidelines for everything and I personally agree... I've started looking around and have been able to give some advice and insight on some of the threads which is great. Have actually asked a couple of questions my self.
This might have been answered but how do I find out how many posts do I have?

You can use the DIS Board search function. Do a search for posts, not threads, for your user name, for Any Date.

Then select the Rent/Trade board from the forums on the right. That will give you the total Rent/Trade posts. and the total number of posts appear under our user name on the left side of the screen in any post that you've made.

For instance for you, I am showing 88 total posts, with 45 of those made on the Rent/Trade board...meaning that you would need 7 more non-Rent/Trade posts to be able to submit a Rent/Trade thread (88-45=43 non R/T posts and 50-43=7).

Remember that our rules are changing on February 1st, and that those 50 non R/T posts will need to be made during the preceding 6 months, and be spread somewhat throughout those 6 months...we are looking for a trend of participation on the boards during that time, not just a bunch of posts made at the last minute to reach the total.

 

[jolia]

I dont feel like a 2nd class citizen but do feel "discriminated" in some ways. I truly use the DVC rent to help others. Now that my kids are in different stage in their life (college), there are some years where we cant benefit from our DVC ownership (and I know its hard to believe with all the options) so I feel extremely good about being able to provide the DVC experience to others by renting my points so they can experience it. Thru that process, I have actually made new friends. "Earning" say $2,000 once every 2 years because I rent my points certainly does not change my life (so unlike what some have hinted to.. this is not done for a financial GAIN). So in the end I feel the 50 posts in 6 months might be hard to comply with at times. Its like a catch 22- when I decide to rent my points its because I have a temporary hiatus from Disney so asking for my 50 posts during such time is counterintuitive.

 

[Chuck S]

I dont feel like a 2nd class citizen but do feel "discriminated" in some ways. I truly use the DVC rent to help others. Now that my kids are in different stage in their life (college), there are some years where we cant benefit from our DVC ownership (and I know its hard to believe with all the options) so I feel extremely good about being able to provide the DVC experience to others by renting my points so they can experience it. Thru that process, I have actually made new friends. "Earning" say $2,000 once every 2 years because I rent my points certainly does not change my life (so unlike what some have hinted to.. this is not done for a financial GAIN). So in the end I feel the 50 posts in 6 months might be hard to comply with at times. Its like a catch 22- when I decide to rent my points its because I have a temporary hiatus from Disney so asking for my 50 posts during such time is counterintuitive.

But it is a financial gain. If you rent at $10 per point, that offsets not only the dues on those points, but a small bit of the principal or the dues on another 200 points.

No matter what justification you may use, it is still an income that offsets an expense, thus a net gain.

But even renting solely for the price of dues, it would be more $ than if you let the points expire or gave a trip to friends/family for no charge. So it could still be considered a gain over no income at all for those points.

And still, no one here is saying don't rent your points, all we are asking is for you to be an active part of our posting community in order for you to use the Rent/Trade board here. If you find that to be a hardship, there are plenty of other venues available, including ebay, craigslist, other fansites, or our board sponsor. The DIS R/T board is not the only outlet available for your rental.