Push for trading out to RCI, adventures, Etc?

[luckyman_apd]

Has anyone seen a recent push for members to trade out to RCI or other uses for your points? I've gotten two mailers about RCI recently and a few emails about the other Disney collections.....and I'm a resale buyer so only RCI is really an option. Just curious if maybe they've taken on a lot of trade ins recently and need some points to be shifted out or something.

 

[bobbiwoz]

RCI was very present on last year's DVC's Members Cruise. I had not gone to any of their presentations so I do not know how well they were received.

What a difference a year makes. On this year's Members Cruise, DH wants to go to presentations if there are any. The recent mailing has him wondering about them. He was not with me last MC, but will be with me this year.

 

[chicagoshannon]

It has been almost possible to get anything except a 1 bedroom through RCI. I bet they need more people to deposit so they can fulfill their commitment to RCI.

 

[papertraveller]

It has been almost possible to get anything except a 1 bedroom through RCI. I bet they need more people to deposit so they can fulfill their commitment to RCI.

This is what I suspected, that they were falling short on some requirement in the contract.

 

[JessLCH]

I check RCI listings regularly but always seem to find I can get a much nicer timeshare by renting out my points for cash, even if using a broker, and then renting a unit off of VRBO or one of the timeshare rental sites, or sometimes even through a resort directly.

 

[Dean]

I check RCI listings regularly but always seem to find I can get a much nicer timeshare by renting out my points for cash, even if using a broker, and then renting a unit off of VRBO or one of the timeshare rental sites, or sometimes even through a resort directly.

I look periodically and have seen many options, mostly 1 BR and a few studios though. Less 2 BR than a year or 2 but that may be related to requests rather than availability. Much of the inventory is in RCI points not RCI weeks though and then bleeds over to the weeks side if it's not picked up right away.

 

[udflyer00]

It was interesting to see this thread regarding RCI, as we've never traded out but did just get a mailer Wednesday with RCI on the oudside of it from DVC. I haven't opened it yet to see exactly what it talks about because we really don't have a desire to transfer out of our DVC options yet... Maybe down the road, but right now we have too much going to Disney. I do agree though that it's more beneficial to rent out and pay cash that it is to use at non-dvc resorts.

 

[Dean]

I check RCI listings regularly but always seem to find I can get a much nicer timeshare by renting out my points for cash, even if using a broker, and then renting a unit off of VRBO or one of the timeshare rental sites, or sometimes even through a resort directly.

There are currently several 1 BR units at OKW & SSR for April through August. There is far more in RCI points than RCI weeks right now as usually seems to be the case.

 

[Dean]

I reviewed the mailing and it's really not much new information other than it lists the exchange costs related to various options in RCI. I've always been curious that DVC actively promotes the exchanges of any type, esp since I've been told in the past they are zero sum and DVC nor DVD doesn't make any money on them though other parts of Disney might (CRO, ABD, DCL, etc). I would assume that there are no requirements for exchange through RCI from he contract but there may be incentives. Normally RCI charges for each account so it may be that DVD has to pony up money if a certain number of exchanges don't occur. Otherwise marketing the other options to existing members doesn't make sense because every time a member exchanges they run the risk of that member having a bad experience and/or realizing they didn't get the value they'd hoped for with those points. For example, one of my other timeshares used to pay RCI $50 for each membership but now they don't pay anything up front and get credit based on exchanges, developer deposits, or when they help RCI out in some way such as finding a place when someone is stuck such as the resort they were booked at couldn't accommodate them.

 

[disneynutz]

DVC has recently made and is continuing to make changes. IMO it's the new DVC management pushing DVC in a new direction. SVP Potrock has DVD/DVC and ABD.

Bill

 

[Dean]

DVC has recently made and is continuing to make changes. IMO it's the new DVC management pushing DVC in a new direction. SVP Potrock has DVD/DVC and ABD.

Bill

DVC has always promoted the exchange options to a degree though it seems to go in waves. I don't really see anything that is new and different in principle or volume so far. In all likelihood they'll send out this mailer and then we won't see as much for a year or 2 outside of an occasional email and related to the sales process. If DVC starts to allow members to join RCI directly and to select units for deposit on the weeks side, DVC instantly becomes a viable RCI exchange option.

 

[drusba]

I got the RCI mailer also. It is the first time I ever got a mailer just promoting the exchange company in the 18 years I have been a member. Possibly I will get around to reading it someday.