RCI's last call, WM's Monday Madness, Bonus Time, are all specials that are offered to the members owners, not in addition to their discounted room.
That is no different than
DVC or AP discounts, or 30% off on rooms. Most of the above are last minute and depends on inventory.
Just for readers who don't know what we are talking about,
FULL RCI (or II) membership is available to owners of most timeshare systems -- certainly all of the better ones with the exception of DVC. Some systems provide both RCI and II exchange opportunities. In many cases, it is provided with your maintenance fees, in others you may obtain an individual membership. DVC owners cannot get individual RCI memberships...either for "free" or by purchase.
In addition to their 3,242 exchange options, RCI offers two types of discounted cash rentals.
Extra Vacations are discounted cash rentals that can be booked far in advance. Sometimes the discounts are substantial, other times not so much. One of our frequent posters here got a full week in a 2 BR Deluxe at Wyndham Bonnet Creek this February for less than $400 via RCI Extra Vacations.
(DVC is also available on RCI Extra Vacations for just about all resorts, and it would be an interesting exercise to see if RCI's price is higher or lower than the DVC Member cash rental discount.)
Last Calls are deeply discounted cash rentals with reservations made within 45 days of checkin. Last Call base prices range from about $250-$300 for an entire week, depending on whether you book a hotel room/studio, 1 BR, or 2 BR. All units of the same size are the same price, regardless of resort. RCI frequently runs specials off those base prices.
I'll start my pretend whining. Oh why do I have to pay an extra $39 for changing my reservation. What? I'm out of RT? I'm out of HK credits? But, but, but, with DVC I can change my mind anytime and book and rebook and cancel anytime! What? I need to stay a minimum of 3, 4 or 7 days? But, I can stay 1 day at DVC? Oh, and why oh why must I pay an extra $99 for each extra rooms I'm booking for my family? Sooo frustrated with all these fees!!!! Why don't they value us owners? *throws a temper tantrum*
Yeah...and I know you're joking!
For others who don't know what we're talking about, you have to consider those aggravating nickle/dime charges in the context of your MFs. Our Wyndham contract is the rough equivalent of 600-700 DVC points and we pay $2.200 per year in MFs.
Make no mistake, every DVC owner pays for every single call to MS. It's just all lumped into your annual "dues." MS costs whatever it costs and that expense, as well as other common expenses like transportation, is shared by the DVC owners. There is no real incentive -- either for DVC or owners -- to keep those costs down...which is one reason why DVC dues are so high.
At Wyndham, they have a base Program Fee which provides a certain number of Guest Confirmations, Reservation Transactions, Housekeeping Credits, etc, etc, etc. I personally have never exceeded any of my allowances, but if I did, I would gladly pay the extra miniscule fee.
Guest Confirmations, frankly, are something DVC would do well to look at if they ever become seriously concerned about commercial rentals. Let the people who are benefiting financially pay for it.
To be fair, there was a lot of angst after WBC started charging $12/day for their shuttle.
Yes there was, for a variety of reasons. Although to be completely fair, the "bad guys" in that stupid decision were the WBC HOA...NOT Wyndham management.
I think for the most part, it is because most other owners understand what they bought into. There really is a big number of DVC owners that don't understand what they bought.
Agree. I think that's true across the industry, but may be more widespread with DVC. How many times have we seen someone post (in disbelief!
),
"But my GUIDE specifically told me so!!!" 
And really not a fan of the Moderate hotels either. 
Bill
