MS claims no availability when there is plenty of cash availability?

[RobDoc]

Webmasterdoc - the fact that they are reserved for a trade within II doesn't change the original question of how DVC (DVD) decides which week to reserve to put for trade to II...

The "original question" was about availability of cash reservations when MS indicates nothing is available using points.

II exchanges have NOTHING to do with cash availability as that is a separate category of DVC reservations.

 

[Dean]

Webmasterdoc - the fact that they are reserved for a trade within II doesn't change the original question of how DVC (DVD) decides which week to reserve to put for trade to II...

Dean partially answered it - or at least indicated that an answer may not be available outside of the DVD offices. If DVD were taking points from high demand seasons to transfer to II or CRO I would expect that we would notice a significant lack of availability during those times of year so I suspect that Dean's submission that they use lesser times of the year would appear to be accurate based on what I have seen. I was just curious if someone knew for certain how this was done...

Thanks for the responses all.
Scott

While those rooms aren't available with cash, in many ways they are the same. They are part of the pool of points that have been shunted elsewhere and are going to non members (to benefit the member though) and may are may not be available at that moment. Just like one may see cash rooms available when points rooms are not, likewise one may see rooms through II when nothing else is available. I've seen a number of weeks available through II when the reports here and my personal experience suggested nothing else was or I knew it was a time that was traditionally difficult.

I have discussed this issue with several upper level people at DVC over the years. Their stated approach is to reserve lower demand resort options as much as possible and to avoid the highest demand times unless they were stuck. From what I see through II, I believe that is still the approach they are taking. Most units showing up are at SSR & OKW and most are in lower seasons (Jan, May, Sept, Oct). But you ser all resorts (AKV isn't with II formally yet) and all times of the year. This approach has a positive and negative side but is likely the best overall approach. The positive is that it has the least impact on the rest of the members trying to reserve. The negative part includes that the trade power in II is lower than it could be as a result and that the cash returned to the program for cash equivalent options is less. That means it takes more points and thus more rooms to satisfy the cash options.

Many points systems allow the member to reserve the week first then trade it, use it personally or offer it for rent. This is the approach I wish DVC would take because it would give better trading power, allow one to offer the unit for exchange request first but still have the unit for personal use if needed and would allow one to space the unit reserved as far out as possible thus giving you more time.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Oh there is...and it's easy, legal, and quick to do. You just eliminate the ability to exchange out.

However, if we want to continue to exchange out -- and I'm sure we do -- we just have to put on our big-kid pants and deal with the fact that there is no such thing as a free lunch.

If we want to spend a week in Hawaii, we have to pay for it. DVC is not going to pay for our vacation, and it's beyond silly to suggest they return exchanged inventory to us.

The rooms that are sitting empty (if, in fact, any do) are not leaving the owners of that inventory "high and dry." The owners of that inventory are basking in the sun in Maui, and they are quite satisfied with their exchange.

It is also silly to suggest that DVC give us inventory they own outright. They do make that inventory available to us, and they offer us a 25% discount on it. I'm just glad they do that, and I certainly don't expect them to give it to us for nothing.

This is possibly the BEST post on this topic I have seen so far! Jim, I am sure you get as tired of answering this querry as we all do, but THAT was a GREAT response!

 

[JimMIA]

This is possibly the BEST post on this topic I have seen so far! Jim, I am sure you get as tired of answering this querry as we all do, but THAT was a GREAT response!

Thanks Diane, but I don't think any of us get tired of answering legitimate questions and this question is one that you probably won't find the answer to anywhere but the DIS.

The questions I get tired of are the ones where the poster has obviously done zero research, doesn't intend to do any, and just wants to be spoon-fed (e.g. "Soooooo...tell me ALL about DVC!!!!! " or "Can someone explain this 'points' thing to me? ). I don't respond to those.

 

[CarolMN]

....(snip).....Many points systems allow the member to reserve the week first then trade it, use it personally or offer it for rent. This is the approach I wish DVC would take because it would give better trading power, allow one to offer the unit for exchange request first but still have the unit for personal use if needed and would allow one to space the unit reserved as far out as possible thus giving you more time.

Those of us who don't trade out prefer the system as is, LOL. If it were changed as you prefer, it would only create more competition for high demand times - I suspect getting Christmas or New Year's week or one of the weeks surrounding Easter anywhere but a home resort would be virtually impossible.

Saavy traders like yourself would surely book those high demand weeks to make it easier to get the week they want at high demand II resorts.

I like that DVC's priority is to allow members to book the more popular times at DVC resorts over getting better trades elsewhere - even if that means less trade out options or more fees to trade. My opinion. Others may or may not agree.

 

[Dean]

Those of us who don't trade out prefer the system as is, LOL. If it were changed as you prefer, it would only create more competition for high demand times - I suspect getting Christmas or New Year's week or one of the weeks surrounding Easter anywhere but a home resort would be virtually impossible.

Saavy traders like yourself would surely book those high demand weeks to make it easier to get the week they want at high demand II resorts.

I like that DVC's priority is to allow members to book the more popular times at DVC resorts over getting better trades elsewhere - even if that means less trade out options or more fees to trade. My opinion. Others may or may not agree.

Exactly, it is a trade off.