Per Point Charge Plus Additional Fees?

cabobber

Earning My Ears
Joined
Mar 17, 2005
Messages
54
When a DVC owner lists his/her points available for rental a certain price per point (let's say $10), it is common to add an additional $1 per point for maintence fees (because the owner isn't using the points -- and selling)?

I could really use some insight from any renters or rentees. Thanks in advance for assistance.
 
cabobber said:
When a DVC owner lists his/her points available for rental a certain price per point (let's say $10), it is common to add an additional $1 per point for maintence fees (because the owner isn't using the points -- and selling)?

I could really use some insight from any renters or rentees. Thanks in advance for assistance.
Sounds ridiculous to me. If someone wants $11/point they should just advertise it that way. This has more of a bait and switch feel to it.

What's not to keep someone from just saying they'll rent for $5/point, and then saying there's also an additional $6/point to cover maintenance fees, shipping and handling, or whatever else they want to throw in..

If someone is trying to rent you points, and then trying to add another $1/point with that flimsy excuse, I'd run away....fast!
 
Caskbill said:
Sounds ridiculous to me. If someone wants $11/point they should just advertise it that way. This has more of a bait and switch feel to it.

What's not to keep someone from just saying they'll rent for $5/point, and then saying there's also an additional $6/point to cover maintenance fees, shipping and handling, or whatever else they want to throw in..


Not knowing anything about the points rental routine, I wasn't sure what was legit or not. It sounded a little unusual to me too. Thanks for your input... Any other comments?
 
I have never heard of that before! The price per point listed should be the price you pay. There are no fees, taxes, or other charges. There are plenty of other very honest people renting their points on this board who would never dream of upping the cost of their points like what you described. Find another member to rent from and you will have a much better experience! Good luck!
Charlotte
 

The only additional fees you might be asked to pay are some or all of the PayPal or other escrow fee if you choose to use those for payment. $1 for maintenance? That doesn't sound right.
 
Actually, the owner can make the price anything he/she wants as long as he/she gets someone to buy them. If they want to sell them for $6 a point, plus $5/point for handling, etc., and someone wants to buy them at that point, what's stopping them?
 
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Deb & Bill said:
Actually, the owner can make the price anything he/she wants as long as he/she gets someone to buy them. If they want to sell them for $6 a point, plus $5/point for handling, etc., and someone wants to buy them at that point, what's stopping them?

I agree that DVC owners can/should price their points however they choose.

As a buyer/renter of points, however, I am looking to to work with someone who discloses up front the rental cost along with any other relevant fees.

In my particular situation, I would be willing to pay $11 per point, but I get a little skittish when extra fees pop up. I'm new to this way of doing travel arrangements (online points rentals) and it's nerve wracking because I don't want to be taken. Call me over-cautious.
 
Deb & Bill said:
Actually, the owner can make the price anything he/she wants as long as he/she gets someone to buy them. If they want to sell them for $6 a point, plus $5/point for handling, etc., and someone wants to buy them at that point, what's stopping them?

As long as that fee is disclosed upfront. If this fee was added after the original price was agreed to - that is just wrong. If it was in the original price then why not just ask for that price outright? This would be a red flag to me and I would move on to another member.
 
We have had a %age added on, but only because we paid by credit card and made up the difference that the owner lost to the bank. It was something like 2.3% so it was really no big deal, and it was my choice to pay by credit card rather than check.

Truly honest people will give you a set price and any "fees", etc up front. If not, they are not honest enough for you to do business with. Renting requires trust on both parts, and if you have any question about something being legit, then there is already enough doubt to not rent from or to that person.
 
While it's true that the point owner can structure their fees however they want to, I feel that the "5 + 6" approach to be somewhat misleading. I see it a lot on eBay; someone will offer something at a much lower price than others are charging, yet will charge 3 or 4 (!!!) times as much for "shipping & handling".

If I were a newbie renter, something like this would probably send me looking for someone else to rent from....
 
It's hard to make a judgement based on the very limited info you gave us. If the 10+1 price was disclosed at the outset, I'd say it was unusual but not necessarily wrong. Points typically rent for $10, but you often see $10.50, 11, 12, so the price itself is not out of line.

If the person originally advertised $10, but then told you 10 + 1 when they found out you were making arrangements last minute (which means much more risk for them), I could possibly understand that. Many savvy renters wouldn't rent at all under those circumstances.

If they advertised $10, got your info, made the ressie, and then came back and said,"Oh by the way...did I mention the $1 maintenance offset charge?" they are just trying to gouge you because you are all fired up that the rental you wanted was available. I would take Caskbill's original advice. Run, don't walk, away. Point rentals are based on trust, and the renter controls the reservation throughout the proces, so I sure would not rent from anyone who had given me cause not to trust.

Or...you could have hooked up with a newbie renter who just doesn't know what they are doing. Everybody has a learning curve, and they may be in the middle of theirs.

Just to be clear on maintenance, it ranges between $3.83 per point and $4.87 per point - depending on where the renter owns their points, not where you stay. From that it's clear that an extra charge of $1 per point is just an extra charge - it's nowhere near the actual maintenance cost.

If you haven't already done so, go back to the Rent/Trade board and read the FAQ and "A Word to the Wise," so that you understand the mechanics of the rental process.
 
The set up is strange. If the fee was up front, you must decide if it's worth it overall or not. $11 pp (10+1) is reasonable.
 
$11 per point total is not bad and in the normal renting range. But if they listed $10 and then later added the $1 I would say go to someone else. There are many people who rent and are trust worthy. Only way I see adding on later is to maybe cover fees like paypal charges. I have rented before and did add fees. I did also state upfront that fee would be added if they choose credit card instead of bank transfer.
 
Below is the scenario that prompted this thread. You'll note that the seller involved did not do anything wrong. He/she asked for the extra $1pp before any reservations were made.

1. I respond to a thread indicating points available for rental @ $10 per point
2. The seller notes points still available and agrees to check availability w/ guest services
3. I confirm my serious intention to move forward with the transaction. I also confirm the dates I'm looking for, type of room and verify the $10pp charge. As a newbie, I ask if there are any other taxes or fees associated with the rental of points.
4. At this point the seller responds that an additional $1pp would be charged for maintenance-type fees (can't remember exactly the description).
5. I ask the seller not to proceed.
 
cabobber said:
Below is the scenario that prompted this thread. You'll note that the seller involved did not do anything wrong. He/she asked for the extra $1pp before any reservations were made.

1. I respond to a thread indicating points available for rental @ $10 per point
2. The seller notes points still available and agrees to check availability w/ guest services
3. I confirm my serious intention to move forward with the transaction. I also confirm the dates I'm looking for, type of room and verify the $10pp charge. As a newbie, I ask if there are any other taxes or fees associated with the rental of points.
4. At this point the seller responds that an additional $1pp would be charged for maintenance-type fees (can't remember exactly the description).
5. I ask the seller not to proceed.

I wouldn't say the seller didn't do anything wrong. I think this is very deceptive. Why not just advertise $11/pt?!?!? I would never do business with anyone that tried to pull this. It sounds like the seller picked up on the fact that you were a newbie and when you asked the question about if there are any other fees, they saw their chance to take advantage.
 
Agree 100% with Mike it sounds like they saw a chance to get more out of a newbie and added it on. Very deceptive and underhanded attempt at getting more money from you.
 
In this case (and IMO), the member offered the points at $10 per point. No mention was made in the post of any additional charges. The extra $1 was made much later in the process and (IMO) should have been disclosed in the original offer posted. Since MS is not open over the weekend, no reservation inquiry can even be made until Monday.

I think you were wise to walk (or RUN) from this rental. There are plenty of others who can assist with your reservation - just be patient.

Enjoy! :)
 
cabobber said:
Below is the scenario that prompted this thread. You'll note that the seller involved did not do anything wrong. He/she asked for the extra $1pp before any reservations were made.

1. I respond to a thread indicating points available for rental @ $10 per point
2. The seller notes points still available and agrees to check availability w/ guest services
3. I confirm my serious intention to move forward with the transaction. I also confirm the dates I'm looking for, type of room and verify the $10pp charge. As a newbie, I ask if there are any other taxes or fees associated with the rental of points.
4. At this point the seller responds that an additional $1pp would be charged for maintenance-type fees (can't remember exactly the description).
5. I ask the seller not to proceed.
With that scenario, I think you did exactly the right thing.

Whether you pay $10, $11, $12, or $15, you will get one heck of a great value. But there are a LOT of people who rent points, and from the responses you can see that not many here have heard of a sequence of events like you describe.

Go read the FAQ and "A Word to the Wise," and then find another renter. You will have no trouble finding one you are comfortable with.
 
The person I believe you were trying to rent from looks clueless to me - rather than dishonest.

Of course, clueless is dangerous too. In fact, in renting points, clueless may be more dangerous than malicious. If that fastball bounces off your head, it doesn't really matter whether it was intentional or not. Hurts just the same.

I still maintain that, if both parties know what they are doing and understand their agreement, renting points should go very smoothly.

If a rental went badly, we'd hear about it. I personally have heard a lot of questions (good questions) and some understandable anxiety, but I've never heard of anyone getting ripped off.
 



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