Pricing of Rental Points

[Dean]

Originally posted by FredS
No, I guess you didn't read my post. I won't repeat the excerpts from the POS, etc. but "expressly allowed" as a legal term means clear and unequivocal. Since there are statements that no owner should purchase with the belief that renting either CAN or MAY be allowed, and also references to "extensive restrictions" which affect rentability it definitely is not "expressly allowed" except perhaps as a layperson might misunderstand that term. Contracts which expressly allow something will usually use those specific words e.g., "Owners are expressly allowed to rent their vacation time..." Again, I don't think that Disney will interfere with renting as most owners might choose to do, but their attorneys certainly worded things such that it is not clear, unequivocal, unlimited, etc.!

And I think your vague reference to Florida law relates to the fact that Disney can't sell points to you and to me, but let you rent and not let me rent under the same situation. As the developer, they can have an entirely different set of rules, however.

As usual, we disagree.

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by WDWMom
Go Doc, Go Rich
Go doc, Go Rich

Ebay may do what it wants but I see what Rich is proposing as buyer education. If Ebay chooses to stop it that tells me something of Ebays true motives.

If you walk on to a car lot and start giving someone a buyers education that sends them elsewhere, expect to be escorted from the premises. With ebay it's called bidder interferrence and they do take it seriously from what I understand. It's not illegal but it is against their rules which Rich would have agreed to if he has signed up with them. You cannot send email to bidders unless you are a registered member of ebay. Whether it's unethical depends to a large extent on the situation. Discussing this with your friend at lunch is far different than emailing a total stranger. If the auction itself were a scam, that would be different than a somewhat higher price for DVC rentals than another might find it for. One could always do an ad on ebay that directs people to this site.

 

[CaptainMidnight]

Originally posted by Richyams
I've got an e-mail drafted, I will post it later for opinions.

I plan to send it to every bidder on every Ebay auction. It briefly explains DVC, states that the going rate is $10 or less per point, has a link to the point calculator and a link to the rent/trade board here.

I know, there will still be scalping of highly desirable reservations, but it may hurt a deal or two.

Is your e-mail finished? Have you sent it to anyone?

 

[CaptainMidnight]

I agree that Disney seems to not have an objection to the occasional renting of points. However, I think that by their references to renting they are not actually waiving any future objections, but are actually REPEATEDLY pointing out that there ARE restrictions on any rental (which may or may not be more heavily enforced in the future) and that you should neither assume that you MAY rent, or CAN rent, to third parties. (I think the use of both may and can indicate that not only might there not be availability, but also that you may not necessarily have the permission to rent.)

This is a pretty good statement. It is pretty clear that DVC is not inteded to be rental income, it's a vacation investment. Those regularly renting points are not helping fellow DVC members, and are distorting DVC's intent. I hope the practice remains very small, and my preference would be that it is just those families/owners that are not able to take a vacation for that year do to some occurance, etc. and want to recoup some of the $$ from not using points.

 

[DGuiltinan]

I am finding this thread unusual, in that first I was arguing with a DVC owner that his points are worth more than he thought, and now I find myself supporting a DVC owner who has sold points on Ebay for high rates per point.

Dean, as far as I am concerned, as long as you do not make any fraudulent representations on Ebay, and as long as you don't "drum up" the bidding with fake bids, you have every right to get $13 per point and up, whatever the bidder is willing to pay.

The fact is, they are happy with $13 per point, because they are still getting the studio at a huge discount over what WDW charges.. You deserve a higher return from uninformed bidders, because there will be an increased likelihood that they will cause problems you wouldn't get from the regular DIS board reader...

Richyams, why don't you turn your attention to the true overchargers, the true rapists, The Walt Disney Company. They are the ones that are successfully marketing their hotel rooms at exorbitant rates, way above what the DVC point rental board regular, or the BiddingforTravel.com frequenter like myself know to be good rates. They are the ones selling DVC memberships, and financing them at rip-off interest rates (12% in today's market for a fully secured loan??)....

Here, on St. Patty's Day, I am reminded of the time Sinead O'Connor tore up a picture of the Pope on Saturday Night Live, uttering the infamous words "Fight the real enemy"...

Well, Richy, I am figuratively holding a picture of Mike Eisner in my hand right now... Here we go...."Fight the Real Enemy!!!"... Hmmm, that felt pretty good....

 

[Dean]

Originally posted by DGuiltinan
Dean, as far as I am concerned, as long as you do not make any fraudulent representations on Ebay, and as long as you don't "drum up" the bidding with fake bids, you have every right to get $13 per point and up, whatever the bidder is willing to pay.

Just to be clear, I am not renting on ebay. We are simply discussing the principle's involved. While I wouldn't mind getting more for the occasional rentals I've done, it's not a big deal to me. We are not talking enough money for me to lose sleep worrying with ebay.