Important changes to Rent/Trade Posting Rules

[Chuck S]

Some people have more time to contribute than others...I have been around since 2005 and show 600+ posts.

This month I have had some extra time and I am worried about the quality of service with DVC and how it's gone down.

I have made "30 non-Rent/Trade posts and 24 ot those have been in the past month." So, I lose the right to post on Rent board with new rules.

But, I am not the one who loses as I have many happy prior renters that contact me throughout the year. I will just have to stay in touch with them directly regarding future rentals rather than being forced to contribute when I am busy...however, new renters lose the chance to deal with someone who has been around a while and rented without incident.

Nothing but pure nonsense...

Bear in mind that the DIS is not the only website that allows renting. If someone feels that the posting requirements here are too restrictive, they are certainly welcome to explore alternatives, like ebay, craigslist, www.DVCRequest.com, and other Disney fan sites.

We tried a 50 post minimum to encourage participation. What we saw prior to Feb. 1, were owners posting 50 posts in a short time period solely to qualify to use Rent/Trade board, then disappear from our community until they once again wanted to profit from it. This requirement helps insure their continuing participation, and creating a posting history.

 

[jcf]

What constitutes a minimum of 50 posts
"distributed evenly over the past 6 months"

10 5 20 5 0 10 ?

10 5 0 20 5 10 ?

Not to mention what if my contributions are too brief?

 

[Chuck S]

What constitutes a minimum of 50 posts
"distributed evenly over the past 6 months"

10 5 20 5 0 10 ?

10 5 0 20 5 10 ?

Not to mention what if my contributions are too brief?

If you were to read through this thread, you would see that we are looking for a pattern of consistent posting that contributes to the discussion of their threads. No posts solely to "bump" a thread, no posts of just "smilies" and no posts like "Thanks for Posting" or "That's Interesting."

20 or 25 posts in a single month, without a consistent pattern of several posts throughout the 6 months do not meet the criteria of "distributed evenly."

You'll also see noted that the moderator have agreed to a minimum posting requirement as to the distribution of those 50 posts, but we will not post that requirement, as then we will surely see people once again posting solely to meet our minimums who will again disappear as soon as their Rent/Trade post is approved.

 

[jcf]

While there has to be a better solution - I submitted a poll for ideas...

 

[Deb & Bill]

While there has to be a better solution - I submitted a poll for ideas...

Well, when you run your own board, you get to make the rules.

 

[jcf]

While apparently my contribution was not wanted and the poll thread has been closed...

To get ideas or suggestions from other people apparently is not considered a positive contribution...

 

[vicki_c]

While apparently my contribution was not wanted and the poll thread has been closed...

To get ideas or suggestions from other people apparently is not considered a positive contribution...

As Deb said, it is Pete and his moderators that get to make the decisions, so they are apparently not soliciting ideas, since they have already made a decision. Either work with it or rent your points somewhere else. I just think it's ironic that your post a few weeks ago said it "I think the minimum posts should be higher", but now that it affects you personally, it's nonsense.

 

[jcf]

I thought is was just 50 lifetime posts as I just skimmed it...that's why I wrote minimum higher...but it never hurts to get other people's idea's...

 

[yitbos96bb]

What you are asking for is called "Price Fixing" and that is illegal.

Actually no it's not. Whomever told you setting a minimum price on a secondary market is just plain wrong. Please let that myth die because it's no truer now than when the first person claimed it was years ago.


Now, that being said, Dis provides the space and its an open market. If you don't like the pricing there are other forums where they tend to go for higher, although fees usually are involved.

 

[Chuck S]

While apparently my contribution was not wanted and the poll thread has been closed...

To get ideas or suggestions from other people apparently is not considered a positive contribution...

If you read through this thread, you will see that similar comments as those on the poll were answered by the Rent/Trade moderators and webmaster during the course of this thread. To simply continue to the discussion by spreading it over several different threads, since the requirements are not being revisited at this time, serves no purpose.

 

[mousefan1972]

Hello. I am a new DVC owner (bought in April 2010) and started reading the Dis DVC section religiously once we purchased DVC. Like many DVC owners (? all), I love Disney, especially trip planning. I enjoy answering questions and helping "newbies" when it comes to things like making dining reservations, developing touring plans, etc. I contribute to the Dis because I like to, not because I'm trying to reach a certain # of posts. I was recently in the position where I was seeking a point transfer, and I posted my request on the Rent/Trade board. I was able to find the points I needed, and am very grateful to the Dis for offering the R/T section as a perk to its contributing members. Perhaps those who are angry about the changes to the R/T board should seek out another method of renting their points...

 

[rhettreaux]

Hello DIS Community,

I genuinely appreciate the openness of the Moderators of this site to discuss the changes that were made to the Rent/Trade board. Moderators of other websites might have just deleted or blocked any dissenting posts rather than respond to them. While I have a difference of opinion regarding the changes, I appreciate the fact that WebmasterDoc, Chuck S, and CarolAnnC (and others) are willing to have an open discussion about the changes.

Also, I appreciate the effort that the moderators expend on their work. I didn’t realize that they were volunteers. (I read that in a post in this thread, but I have not confirmed it; Are they actually not compensated in any way?) Volunteering for a job like moderating a site as large and popular as DISboards is a real commitment. I know I couldn’t do it myself. In addition to not being able to devote the time required in addition to my family, work, and church commitments, I can see how it could be a real joycrusher. I like to think of Disney as a place where my family is carefree and relaxed. I wouldn’t want to associate Disney with a responsibility I had to listen to people’s gripes and make sure they don’t get too offensive. In short, thank you, moderators!

While I was thinking this weekend about my appreciation for all that the moderators on this site do (I’m being serious!), it made me reflect on the history that brought the Rent/Trade board rules change about. There is plenty that I don’t know about this history, but I will tell you what I have gathered. I know that the Rent/Trade board grew like a downhill snowball for a long time. It grew far beyond the point that one person could manage the board single-handedly. As a result, successive sets of rules were put into place. Rules were set up involving posting requirements, what kinds of posts could be made, and what could be sold/traded. I understood the necessity of these rules, and felt that they reasonably controlled the growth and civility of the board.

The rules controlled the growth, but they did not stop it, because the Rent/Trade board is a GREAT idea. Personally, I didn’t join DISboards to trade DVC points, but I have encouraged plenty of people to join the site because renting points was an inexpensive way to make a WDW vacation possible. I’m confident that lots of people like me passed the website on to friends and family. As this happened, the Rent/Trade board continued to grow within the reasonable bounds placed upon it.

Unfortunately, as the Rent/Trade board grew, new users, avaricious posters seeking profit, and scammers were creating regular problems for the board. The moderators certainly spent a significant amount of time dealing with these problems, and the problems likely increased far beyond the “moderator manpower” available to correct them on a sustained basis.

Enter the new rules. The number of inaccurate, greedy, and thieving posts dropped to zero. This is mostly the case because new users posted most of the mistakes, greedy people never posted anywhere other than the Rent/Trade board, and the scams are perpetuated by people who have to constantly open up new membership accounts to hide their theiving ways. However, while the “bad” posts dropped to zero, the overall Rent/Trade post numbers dropped precipitously too.

In the context of this history (which, truth be told, I have largely surmised rather than accurately investigated), I understand this rules change better. And while I understand that “the rules aren’t being reconsidered at this time”, I have a suggestion for when they are reconsidered.

Could the rules be revised to the following?
1) Posters to the Rent/Trade board must have been members of DISboards for a minimum of 6 months (or one year, whatever seems necessary).
2) Posters to the Rent/Trade board without a minimum of 50 non-Rent/Trade board posts over a six-month period are limited to one post per six months (or one year, again whatever seems necessary).

This would eliminate the inaccurate, inexperienced posts of the new users, the purely-for-profit posts of the greedy posters, and the scam posts by the dishonest. While doing that, it would allow the quieter members of DISboards (who post only when they have something beneficial, helpful, or unique to say, like myself) to occasionally post to the Rent/Trade board when they have extra points or want to trade for home resort points at another DVC resort.

I hope this change to the rules is considered, but regardless of whether it is or not, I want to genuinely thank the moderators for both their open-mindedness and effort. You have expressed more patience than I might have myself in dealing with the dissent against the rules change. The work that you do makes DISboards the great forum that it is. I hope that DISboards keeps growing, no matter what the outcome of the rules change may be.

Thank you,

Rhett

 

[Sandisw]

I think the fact that the number of posts has decreased so much tells you that there simply are not that many DIS member/DVC owners who have extra points to rent out at this time.

It also shows that, in fact, the Rent/Trade board become something it was not supposed to be--a free way for any and all DVC owners to unload points.

While I do think your suggestion of limiting those not active in the DIS to one post per 6 months would lesson what had been happening, it still would provide DVC owners, who have no interest in the DIS community as a whole, a free place to unload points.

And, from all that I have read, that is not the purpose of having that thread.

 

[jcf]

Just curious as to how long the Rent board's been around...if it has been around a long long time then that would call into question the "not for that purpose rationale" being raised to justify the change...

Then again since it's a privately run site...the they "can do with as they please" rationale generally trumps everything...

So, in the end getting hung on the "why" is a waste of time...the "effect" and whether that will ultimately lead to some "modification" in the future is more important IMHO

 

[Deb & Bill]

When some of you moaning about the changes to the R/T board finally get your 50 posts in, all a potential non-member looking to rent a reservation is going to see is your moaning about how unfair it all is. Why not post on the dining board about the places you like to eat? On the Theme Park Board about your favorite attractions? On the Resorts Board about your favorite resorts?

 

[jcf]

I have plenty of posts over the years...

BTW, I have no extra points to rent at this time nor this year though I just cancelled a waitlist for April (not going to happen at Easter)...I will bank those points which I would have rented but have decided to sell those contracts after realizing the restrictions are only just beginning...

 

[ccgirl]

As someone who just rented points for the first time and is a constant contributor to the boards I can tell you the the total number of posts mattered a great deal to me. I actually went and read some of the posts my renter posted to help me feel a little more comfortable. Perhaps the moderators are also looking out for the best interest of the renters too? Just trying to shine the light on another side of this.

 

[CarolAnnC]

When some of you moaning about the changes to the R/T board finally get your 50 posts in, all a potential non-member looking to rent a reservation is going to see is your moaning about how unfair it all is. Why not post on the dining board about the places you like to eat? On the Theme Park Board about your favorite attractions? On the Resorts Board about your favorite resorts?

Posts complaining about the DVC Rent/Trade board rules, etc. will not count toward the 50 post requirement. Just fyi...

 

[jcf]

That is true, but what about the posters who have rented repeatedly without incident and also have posted several hundred times over the years (just infrequently)...the answer seems to be good - don't want non-regular contributions which is fine since this is a private site but the result may be that prospective renters now have to choose from people with little or no track record...

 

[RobDoc]

Just curious as to how long the Rent board's been around...if it has been around a long long time then that would call into question the "not for that purpose rationale" being raised to justify the change...

The Rent/Trade Board has been around since before I found the DIS.

It sounds as though you are challenging the veracity of the explanation offered?

The intent of the Rent/Trade Board was an honorable one, to provide an opportunity for active members of the DIS community to get rid of points they would otherwise be unable to use themselves. Over the years, it became apparent that many were using the board in ways contrary to that purpose and changes have evolved to address that misuse.

Certainly someone like yourself, with almost half of their total posts over the years on the Rent/Trade would be able to discern whether the board offers enough value to make it worthwhile being an active participant in the community?

...the result may be that prospective renters now have to choose from people with little or no track record...

Renters should still perform their due diligence with any rental. At least those offering to rent will have participated in the Community for at least the last 6 months and most of those in the past 5 weeks have been part of the DIS for years.