!!! PLEASE READ!!! Important News Regarding Swaps & Shares!!!

[Kaler131]

I feel I DO have a vested interest. My interest lies in a few places. With photopass shares my interest lies in not wanting my name (even my internet name) sullied by being a part of a forum which condones and enables illegal behaviour. Really a photopass share is no different than saying that the newest Disney movie is being released on DVD Tuesday why don't a group of us get together and buy just one copy and burn several more so we can all pay only 2 bucks?! It is copy right infringement nad illegal (even if you give it away I am pretty sure it is illegal). Secondally, because it is illegal I ahve an interest because I really enjoy the DIS and I think (just hitnk do not know at all) that Disney could have the DIS shut down for such activities if Disney has enough and wants to jsut stop it all together.

I checked the Disney Photopass site AND my copyright release and NOWHERE does it say anything about it being illegal to PAY for a photo cd and make copies. It does NOT say that there is a specific person or number of persons are to be in the pictures. It also gives me the RIGHT to print and/or make copies of the pictures that my group has PAID FOR (hence the "photo release")
Why would Disne care if a group of people go in together and PAY for a photo cd....they are making the $100-$125 from the sale of the cd. Most people who go in on a photopass cd would not otherwise buy ANY of the photopass pics if it wern't for the photopass share....I know I wouldn't. If someone does choose to buy it on their own, great....but I sure wouldn't!

 

[JLKennedy]

Actually from what I saw there has been 8 strollers and it originally -till just recently- was $10 for the length of your stay. Many folks had it for way more than a week. Also she just had a stroller that was brand new, only used for 3 weeks totally destroyed by a Dis'er, the front forks broke, seat backs broken and wheel bent. She has had strollers overnighted to WDW when a stroller has gone missing and the Dis'er there had no stroller to use as well as she has had parts overnighted so a user did not lose use of their $10/$20 stroller. Money maker it was not.....

If you do the math, it is a moneymaker. The sticky states its $20 for a week.

Again, assuming all 5 are rented out, you have $100 times 52 weeks per year, is $5,200.00

IF I had purchased one where the seat backs were broken and the forks too, I think I'd be calling instep and demanding a replacement due to manufacturer's defect. I'm sorry, strollers are really hard to break. I've had a Maclaren that my son was way too heavy for. I gave it away to a co-worker 2 months ago. I had every intention on renting a double from Disney, until I saw they have "upgraded" them (actually looks like a downgrade to me), so my husband said to go and spend another $100+ on another Maclaren, with a higher weight limit.

I'm not against swaps either, provided they are free. BUT when someone wants me to paypal their personal account, I've got a problem, show me the money trail, I am a skeptic, no way do I believe that no one is making a profit, sorry, it's just my opinion, like it or not.

 

[sherabby]

I'm going to put myself out there. I'm the dis'er you are speaking of. I do NOT run a business. Up to this point, in the rules that were posted in the sticky we were allowed to do everything that has been done in our swap. A BUSINESS is to make a profit. I have never made a profit of any kind. Since January, we have had to buy 3 new strollers out of the 5 that are in the swap. One was lost and two that was in dire need of needing replaced. Today, another mass quanity of replacement parts arrived and will be shipped to Disney to provide our swappers with safe strollers for their children.

I can't actually see any difference in maintaining a swap than to close one swap down to start another one. Which I could have done because at the point of strollers going bad...they were allowed on the boards. If I was trying to make a profit, I would have cared less on how run in the ground the strollers became for the swappers. Instead, out of the goodness of my heart, my love for DISBOARDS, and my friendship with the swappers.

BUSINESSES could care about friendships and communities...a BUSINESS worries about the bottom line. The almighty dollar!! A BUSINESS gets paid for their time and effort...Ours goes in the hole trying to keep the strollers safe and sound for the children riding in them. A BUSINESS under the new rules would fold up shop and run for the hills taking the strollers with them and forget the ppl who depend on that BUSINESS. We're not, we are going to abide by the rules and move forward for the benefit of the swap and each swapper who has an emotional/financial investment in the swap.

Our swap is OWNED by no one person. Any reference to the me in the thread as 90% of the time been WE...as I feel this is a community. I could go on and on but I won't even bother. I know, as do the DIS'ers in our swap, know what lengths each of us have went to keep the swap going. And it will still be going as long as they want it too.

But I do resent being told I am violating rules that weren't in place at the time. Being a CARING DEDICATED DIS'ER, I will as I always have, abide by DISBOARDS rules.

Nicely said.
I'm wondering if Disney is going to catch on to all of the loss of profits with the photo shares and the DIS doesn't want to be involved. I can see that as a good reason for stopping them.

 

[DisneyTravels]

So who gets paid? (where does one make payment?) Whose name is the bank account in? (Dis boards 5 royal carriage swap?) Do you offer "transparency" on all payments to the "swap" as well as all repairs/maintenance costs public to those in the "swap"?

Wow who woke up on the wrong side of the bed... why don't you get it?
These are DISer who love disney and love helping other moms and families go on a budget so they may be able to go more than once in a lifetime.

I know how many hours it takes to put one of these together. The countless emails, phone calls, and replacing strollers that should have laster longer at a moments notice.

Please sit back and just think about orgainzing it all. Haven't you ever helped a PTO or PTA, Little league or anything and not got paid for it?
That is what they do, volunteer.
Volunteers don't get paid.

Everyone should thank these ladies for trying ot help another family save money.

Thank you for all the hard work all Swap ladies in charge of any swap - I know the work has been long and hard but very appriciated by many.

If you are wanting to join the yahoo group - PM me.

 

[JLKennedy]

Yes she did, we on the swap thread always knew what she had ordered in parts, how they were sent to the stroller swapper who needed it and she even posted pics of the strollers that were in dire repair being dropped by truck to her home so her DH could fix them. She also would tell us how much was left in the stroller fund and what the money was going to be used for as far as new strollers or whatever. Also the swappers would post on the thread the repairs needed to strollers and then the next swapper would respond as far as what repairs they made etc....

You didn't answer my 1st question. WHO GETS PAID? Did you all get copies of bank statements, or was it just verbalized in the thread how much was in the fund?

I'm not trying to slam anyone, b/c I don't know any of you, I'm just the skeptic that will point out where the potential lies for someone to get scammed.

 

[nelep]

If you do the math, it is a moneymaker. The sticky states its $20 for a week.

Again, assuming all 5 are rented out, you have $100 times 52 weeks per year, is $5,200.00

IF I had purchased one where the seat backs were broken and the forks too, I think I'd be calling instep and demanding a replacement due to manufacturer's defect. I'm sorry, strollers are really hard to break. I've had a Maclaren that my son was way too heavy for. I gave it away to a co-worker 2 months ago. I had every intention on renting a double from Disney, until I saw they have "upgraded" them (actually looks like a downgrade to me), so my husband said to go and spend another $100+ on another Maclaren, with a higher weight limit.

I'm not against swaps either, provided they are free. BUT when someone wants me to paypal their personal account, I've got a problem, show me the money trail, I am a skeptic, no way do I believe that no one is making a profit, sorry, it's just my opinion, like it or not.

I think you shoud read the entire swap thread for the swap you are referring to before you start making accusations. It's the least you could do. Please base your opinions on facts and not assumptions. (For example, if you had taken the time to read the thread, you would know that the price had been $10 and was only very recently increased to $20 after an extensive discussion with swap members.)

 

[Mouse House Mama]

If you do the math, it is a moneymaker. The sticky states its $20 for a week.

Again, assuming all 5 are rented out, you have $100 times 52 weeks per year, is $5,200.00

IF I had purchased one where the seat backs were broken and the forks too, I think I'd be calling instep and demanding a replacement due to manufacturer's defect. I'm sorry, strollers are really hard to break. I've had a Maclaren that my son was way too heavy for. I gave it away to a co-worker 2 months ago. I had every intention on renting a double from Disney, until I saw they have "upgraded" them (actually looks like a downgrade to me), so my husband said to go and spend another $100+ on another Maclaren, with a higher weight limit.

I'm not against swaps either, provided they are free. BUT when someone wants me to paypal their personal account, I've got a problem, show me the money trail, I am a skeptic, no way do I believe that no one is making a profit, sorry, it's just my opinion, like it or not.

I agree. What are people doing that they are breaking new strollers? I put 3 kids- well over the weight limit- in my double on many occassions! The wheels aren't flying off, the axles aren't bent, the forks aren't bent, the seat backs still work etc. You will never convince me that the stroller swap is nothing more than a glorfied business with free advertising here on the DIS.

Once again- THANK YOU MODS for stopping this stuff.

 

[miprender]

ParkersMom rocks and obviously some dont know her very well. She took over the swap after the swap leader went missing and has been very upfront. I wish she was making all this money everyone claims. She deserves it plus more!

But the swap has had many issues lately and as other posters have stated some strollers have gone missing and in some of in need of much repair.

I had never heard of a stroller swap or photoshare until I joined this board and it was the best thing I ever did. Yes I could have brought a double stroller for my two other children, but we were already bringing so much and had a single stroller for DS1 that just the thought of one less thing to worry about was great. (Yes DH was skeptical that a stroller would be there but for $10 what could I loose)

Also to all of you that are so worried about the CMs, I just got back last week and it took less than 2 minutes from the bell service to look for the stroller at POFQ. And when I dropped it off at BV another 3 minutes for him to write the claim ticket and roll it to bell services. So it is not taking them away from their work!!!

 

[DisneyTravels]

If you do the math, it is a moneymaker. The sticky states its $20 for a week.

Again, assuming all 5 are rented out, you have $100 times 52 weeks per year, is $5,200.00

IF I had purchased one where the seat backs were broken and the forks too, I think I'd be calling instep and demanding a replacement due to manufacturer's defect. I'm sorry, strollers are really hard to break. I've had a Maclaren that my son was way too heavy for. I gave it away to a co-worker 2 months ago. I had every intention on renting a double from Disney, until I saw they have "upgraded" them (actually looks like a downgrade to me), so my husband said to go and spend another $100+ on another Maclaren, with a higher weight limit.

I'm not against swaps either, provided they are free. BUT when someone wants me to paypal their personal account, I've got a problem, show me the money trail, I am a skeptic, no way do I believe that no one is making a profit, sorry, it's just my opinion, like it or not.

1 stroller doesn't make it for 52 weeks... a normal use is 8-10 uses...

 

[pweyl36]

What if it rains on the way down?? What if the van doesn't have a roof rack?? There has to be a reason it's not strapped to the roof and it is probably b/c it would not be safe to do it!

What would you have done if their was never a stroller swap or a frigde swap? Never go or just rent them?

 

[suzanna1066@comcast.]

I don't usually post on the BB but bemoaning the loss of Photopass swaps has me shaking my head.

You can buy point and shoot digital cameras for as low as $60. That seems to me a reasonable price and you can store your photos, upload them for free to one of the many photo storage sites and keep the camera for other things.

Digital cameras are small and fit into most pockets. What is the big deal with carrying your own?

 

[Mouse House Mama]

1 stroller doesn't make it for 52 weeks... a normal use is 8-10 uses...

Then you are getting ripped off and buying junky strollers.

 

[JLKennedy]

Wow who woke up on the wrong side of the bed... why don't you get it?
These are DISer who love disney and love helping other moms and families go on a budget so they may be able to go more than once in a lifetime.

I know how many hours it takes to put one of these together. The countless emails, phone calls, and replacing strollers that should have laster longer at a moments notice.

Please sit back and just think about orgainzing it all. Haven't you ever helped a PTO or PTA, Little league or anything and not got paid for it?
That is what they do, volunteer.
Volunteers don't get paid.

Everyone should thank these ladies for trying ot help another family save money.

Thank you for all the hard work all Swap ladies in charge of any swap - I know the work has been long and hard but very appriciated by many.

If you are wanting to join the yahoo group - PM me.

I didn't wake up on the wrong side of the bed. Yes, I have volunteered for many things, cheerleading coach, you name it....the difference is, I never asked any of my girls' parents to send me money, bottom line. When competition time came, we collectively as parents agreed on shoes, socks and hair bows. Then I compared prices, called and got price breaks and written quotes, which was then given to all the parents. They didn't want to pay for each on individually and have s/h charges, so I put it on my credit card. After the transaction was complete, they each (all 21 girls) got a print out of what was ordered and how much was charged to my credit card and we divided that evenly.....so please, I know how much is involved.

If the cost to "rent" would be equal to the amount put out of pocket, then there would be no profit.

 

[Mom2Nick]

If members are not telling Member services that they rented the points and therefore the renter gets member perks and violating the contract they made with Disney to tell them if it is a guest or renter.

When you rent points you do not receive DVC member perks:

from the DIS rental board:

Renters will receive all WDW resort guests’ benefits such as free parking at the WDW theme parks, use of Disney transportation, Magical Express and Extra Magic Hours. DVC Member benefits such as dining discounts, pool hopping and free valet parking are not transferable to renters.[/QUOTE]

Some members have reported that DVC has in error charged them for valet or internet - it doesn't always happen but it has happened on occasion...if the perks were given to everyone this would not be happening to members as no one in the DVC points room would ever get these charges.

my point is Disney does treat renters different from owners and as a result there are things that Disney has to do when you rent out your points.

Renter and guests of member are the same thing in Disney's eyes and they have no way of knowing and no need to know who is going to be staying "for free" and who the member decides to charge. When a reservation is made under a name that is not on the contract DVC knows it's not the member........

 

[msmayor]

1 stroller doesn't make it for 52 weeks... a normal use is 8-10 uses...

If a normal stroller use is 8-10 times, even if EVERY person is using it for two weeks that's about 6 months of life.

That's ridiculous for a $350 stroller. That means its either poorly made or those that are using it aren't taking good care of it.

I paid $200 for my kids' stroller and used it 8 YEARS. It never needed replacing, and we tossed that thing everywhere, including the parking lot trams at Disney for 3 trips during that period.

 

[SeansMom]

If this idea has been posted I appologize...I only made it through the first five and last page of comments.

Obviously, their are only two opionions: agree or disagree.

But what about solutions? Could a new board be opened just for swaps?

What if I said, "Hey, I'll be a mod for the swap board." Would it be possible?

Also, are there other sites people could be directed to? I know somebody mentioned a yahoo share theoretically, but somebody also said TGM has swaps. Why not let people know about this?

Just wondering.

 

[caribear]

I do understand the reasoning behind the ban on "paid" swaps although I am disappointed like many of you. I am in my first photopass share next month and was hoping to join another one for my December trip. As the saying goes...All good things must come to an end.

 

[JLKennedy]

1 stroller doesn't make it for 52 weeks... a normal use is 8-10 uses...

Perhaps an investment in a better quality stroller will yield you more than 8-10 uses. My 1st Maclaren I had for 2 years and just gave away. It has gone through 16 days at Disney, 30 days of Baltimore/Wildwood/Hershey Park/Rutgers and many more cheerleading competitions....oh an entire summer or 2 of Six Flags.....my new Maclaren had better last me the same amount of time (or atleast 1 year until I give this one away too!) Besides, the strollers in the swap are much sturdier than my Mac is.

 

[DisneyTravels]

Then you are getting ripped off and buying junky strollers.

I bought a nice Double stroller back when my older two kids were 2 and 4 ... when we got there is was only 2 months old. When we left - it was the wrose thin I ever did to that stroller... 9 days of use and loading on buses, in resort rooms, shops and wear was a big factor - after that we never took our own stroller again!

If you think they are makin money at it why don't you start one and find out.
If you think they are making so MUCH money - do it.

 

[speedyf]

You didn't answer my 1st question. WHO GETS PAID? Did you all get copies of bank statements, or was it just verbalized in the thread how much was in the fund?

I'm not trying to slam anyone, b/c I don't know any of you, I'm just the skeptic that will point out where the potential lies for someone to get scammed.

I'm not a part of the swap...but, it seems impressive. Nice job, ParkersMomma. Here's the 160 Page Thread:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1992277

What if all the swappers / sharers (is that a word?) pitched in each a $10 to be the sponsor of a swap / share board? Each person gets 1 day of advertising on the sponsored site for their $10....who wants to organize it...lol

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