Message on rciredemption site (checking for SkyAuction)

[Brian Noble]

Unless there is some guarantee that there will be something available, then I don't see that there "has to" be anything.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I'm not arguing that these auctions are based entirely on availability. I agree.

This is basically a scratch-and-dent sale of leftovers that haven't sold. I realize that.

The only point I'm making is that to charge someone to come and take something out of the 'leftover' pile, there needs to at least be 1 leftover thing in that pile.

That is a very good way of saying it and it seems there isn't anything left in the leftover's and they are still selling to take from the pile That is what I don't get, why are they still even selling them. When you go into their inventory, there isn't any.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Yes, but cover the cost in full for what? Nothing specific is every promised---just "what's available." Would you prefer to not have those extra-cost weeks available to you at all?

I would prefer to get a refund since this is not what I purchased.
This is what I purchased.. and this is NOT what they are selling now..
please take the time to read my details fully.. I do not have black out periods and I was not suppose to have to give my certificate number to check for availibility. Only time my certificate would become non transferable was at time of booking.. not when just looking.
this is a cut & past directly from my vactions (from the SkyAuction site)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Skyauction’s Holiday Vacation Blowout Clearance Sale!
7 Night Stay at the Resort of Your Choice
Valid thru APRIL 30, 2009

Description

Take advantage of this limited time offer. Purchase a 7 night Resort Vacation Certificate for only $179

Celebrate the holidays this year by giving someone you care about a week at one of over 3700 worldwide resorts for the low price of $179!! This is an opportunity to take advantage of our vacation rental certificate program at the lowest price ever offered to our valued customers.

The Resort Vacation Certificate is good for a seven-night stay, and valid for use until April 30, 2009. Please note that when searching for a vacation resort the system will only allow you to search approximately 1 year in advance.
A resort condominium provides luxuries and flexibility not available in a hotel stay. Whether you are traveling with a spouse, with friends or with children, a condominium accommodates all your vacation needs.

Book spacious condominiums ranging in size from studios to three bedrooms. Relax in large living rooms and dining rooms, and prepare food in fully equipped kitchens. Or purchase all-inclusive price plans at selected resorts.

Your choice of destinations lets you stay in tropical paradises, snow-capped mountains, lush countryside, bustling cities and more. Travel the farthest reaches of the world or explore regions close to home. Choose from thousands of resorts worldwide, including international stays in Europe, the Caribbean, Australia and Mexico. Travel the USA and experience the best of Florida, Colorado, California, and more.

What is the Resort Vacation Certificate?
The Resort Vacation Certificate entitles the recipient to a seven-night stay at a participating resort. Vacations in this program are based solely upon availability at the time of booking.
Where can I travel?
The resort Vacation Certificate may be used for all vacations listed at www.getawayweeks.com.

Can I bring someone with me?
You may bring as many people as the unit sleeps.

How do I book my vacation?
First check availability through www.getawayweeks.com. Once your destination is determined simply call the toll-free number indicated on the certificate.

What are the peak or high travel seasons?
The best availability is during off-peak times of the year. Peak times are generally when children are out of school, holiday weeks, spring break and summer months. If space becomes available during these peak times, it will most likely be on short notice, 2-14 days prior to travel.

Can I give my vacation certificate to another person?
Yes. At the time you book your reservation you will provide the name of the traveler. At that time it will become non-transferable.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now here is some info from their site on the payment & refund terms.. and they are not following that..(a copy & paste from their site, caps are not from me)


WHEN YOU BID AND WIN AN AUCTION, YOU ENTER INTO A LEGAL CONTRACT WITH SKYAUCTION TO PURCHASE THE TRAVEL SUBJECT TO SUCH AUCTION. This contract is subject to the terms and conditions in these Terms of Use.

All items are offered subject to availability in specific, contracted classes of service. Once reservations are confirmed or certificates are provided they are NON-REFUNDABLE AND NON-CHANGEABLE. Reservations cannot be changed or endorsed in any way after issuance. After departure, all issues pertaining to routing and carriage are at the sole discretion of the service provider involved.

if they are selling certificates and there is not any availabiltiy, they are not going by their own contract. They are out right taking money from people and not having a unit for them. Yes, it states once reservations or certificates are provided, but what good are certificates when there are no units. Not to mention the fact they are now charging an additional fee and that is not the "contract" I entered into



Payment Terms

SkyAuction.com does not require a deposit, but does require payment in full upon billing. Any person who bids, wins, and does not send payment in a reasonable period of time, will lose the ability to purchase won items. Winning bidders that fail to claim their trips within 72 hours of the conclusion of the auction may also be subject to the Administrative Fee described below.

payment in full means nothing can be added to it months down the road, especially after you have paid in full



No offence Brian.. but if you sell something to someone, and you take their money.. you have to have something to give to them.. and not just an email with a bunch of numbers in it..

 

[grumpy donald]

There are several units available during the time we are traveling. I just booked two.

There are 5 pages of availability for December alone. And they don't guarantee where they will have availability. Your time of year might have plenty for Williamsburg.

 

[Brian Noble]

Yep, I'm sorry, but it's been clear to everyone here on these boards that the certificates are "maybe there is something, maybe there isn't, no promises and good luck." Sometimes they work out, and sometimes not so much.

There have been plenty of people who have posted that there was no availability when they wanted to go---and not always during peak periods. Buying one after that, and then getting upset when you can't find availability for your dates---especially more than 45 days out---strikes me as a bad case of rose-colored glasses.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

No rose colored glasses here. I am upset more than ever because now they are charging an additional fee for units that once were covered under the certificate that was purchased. That is a bait and switch. Of course there is less inventory, they took away most of it and are charging you an additional fee if you want it. They are telling me that Peak time is "blocked out" when I call.. if you read my copy and paste.. mine copy states that there is limited availabilty.. not "blocked" availabilty. That again is bait and switch. I have it in black and white that I can use mine during peak.. the RCI reps are telling me that I cannot. They also state that you can look up to a year in advance, again, I have it in black and white. I cannot do that anymore. It doesn't allow you to do that. It only goes up to January. It will not give inventory for beyond that.. and on the chance that it does, it is for "additional charge".. again. that is not the certificate that I purchased. Had these rules been in place when I purchased, I would not have purchased. I was not new to using them.

For some reason.. again no offence Brian, but there are no rose colored glasses here.. you don't seem to see what we are saying, or at least what I am saying. The new rules were not what were there when I purchsed. Given that, they should refund me my money, this is not what I purchased. Had I recently purchased, yes.. you are correct, but I haven't. My cert's are the older ones. They dont' sell mine anymore, they have changed the cert's a bit. Mine should have been grandfathered in or refunded. You don't just change something that someone has purchased. Maybe I am a different case than others on this board, I don't know. My cert's were purchased back in Dec 2007! We cannot compare apples to apples anymore, more like apples to oranges now. Yes, they are still in the fruit family, but no where near the same flavor or feel.. do you get my point? While SkyAuction is selling certificates and RCI is running the site where you turn in the certificate, if they two don't work hand in hand, it isn't right to the customer that is purchasing the certificates & SkyAuction, who by the way is making the money off of us, is well aware of what RCI is doing. They know, they are not stupid & they do not care. They got their money from us and that is all that matters to them....

 

[spiceycat]

skyauction use to give you back your money in this situation.

but somebody told them to quit it - my guess is RCI is taking firm control of it.

RCI was being sued by RCI members for even having skyauction in the first place. Which is one reason the really nice weeks don't appear in skyauction any longer.

they can't really say that some of the really good ones were left overs - when RCI members did not have a chance at them at all.

brought mind before this latest chance too - one day a bunch of 3 bedrooms were there - the next day - sorry - you can get them if you spend more money.

the bait and switch might not apply - this is a service industry - you are not buying a product but a service. I think the bait and switch is only for a product.

Otherwise insurance and banks would be in trouble - because lots of times you are sold one plan but either your credit rating or your health won't allow you to have that one. So the company switches you to one that you can do. Which most of the time costs more.

these things are not owned by skyauction or RCI - they are exchanges to RCI - which should go to exchangers FIRST. then skyauction in the last 60 days.

so that is what RCI and Skyauction are trying now. You won't get the spring break weeks until 45 to 30 days before hand. You can probably forget easter and palm weeks those will be sold on regular skyauction.

right now they have plenty in Nov and Dec - next month expecting Jan to join it.

remember too in this economy RCI is not getting the exchanges it normally gets.

some people will go to their home resort vs traveling with RCI. Just depends upon where their home resort is. if close to them, then yea they will be traveling to it instead of exchanging. If in a different country or state then they might be using RCI to exchange it.

 

[Brian Noble]

I am upset more than ever because now they are charging an additional fee for units that once were covered under the certificate that was purchased.

There is no guarantee that what you used to get with these, you still can, because supply and demand change all the time.

Mickeyfan, you've been around the boards here long enough to know the score with these certificates. I have no sympathy for you, and I'll just leave it at that. Feel free to have the last word if you must.