Referrals

[liljb]

Hello everyone!
Does anyone know what we get for referring somebody to become a DVC member? Thanks

 

[supersnoop]

Nothing. There use to be a referral program, but it was shut down. They seemed to say that a new one was coming, but I imagine all the various state laws cause problems.

 

[southerngirl528]

I think it's kind of crazy that DVC no longer has a referral program. In the world of sales, referrals are they icing on the cake and much coveted. Like Supersnoop mentioned, there are some states that would not allow participation in DVC's past referral programs but at least DVC had it out there. It seems to me that if they were REALLY going to launch a new referral program it would have already been ready to launch before the old one was put to rest....

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Nada.

 

[heynowirv]

I remember it was 250.00 for the first sale that a referral brought.

 

[BillPA]

If it's a good friend or family, I would refer them to the Timeshare Store. Have them stay away from Direct. Or when they find out about the money they could have saved on resale and you didn't fill them in, you may be in the DOG HOUSE.

 

[erionm]

I think it's kind of crazy that DVC no longer has a referral program.

It's easier to not offer a referral than trying to keep up with the ever changing laws in 50 states.

 

[southerngirl528]

It's easier to not offer a referral than trying to keep up with the ever changing laws in 50 states.

That could play into DVC's decision to do away with any kind of referral program but the truth is that referral sales are "lay-downs" comparatively and DVC gets new members that actually may have a decent working knowledge of the program. IOW, happier campers. And happy campers tell others. DVC has to keep up with all sorts of state to state, and international TS laws. Keeping up with what U.S. states will and won't allow referral programs is a very minor part of the DVC legal duties. Bottom line is that the culture of DVC has changed greatly since the beginning on both the inside workings and the actual membership. And I don't think all those changes are good ones.....JMHO.

 

[jerseyduke]

That could play into DVC's decision to do away with any kind of referral program but the truth is that referral sales are "lay-downs" comparatively and DVC gets new members that actually may have a decent working knowledge of the program. IOW, happier campers. And happy campers tell others. DVC has to keep up with all sorts of state to state, and international TS laws. Keeping up with what U.S. states will and won't allow referral programs is a very minor part of the DVC legal duties. Bottom line is that the culture of DVC has changed greatly since the beginning on both the inside workings and the actual membership. And I don't think all those changes are good ones.....JMHO.

Interesting. For these reasons I would assume it was related to legal!

A referral program creates an unofficial sales force of 100,000 people.

I have always wondered what the cost per sale was to operate the kiosks around the park. With benefits and everything, I would think it is probably more than they would be paying for a referral.

 

[southerngirl528]

Jerseyduke, living right here near the mouse I have a lot of friends, neighbors and acquaintances that work for DVC. I can promise you it costs a truckload more to operate just one of those kiosks for one day than it would to give away one very nice referral "reward" to a referring member.

And just to clarify, the referral program is for when someone a DVC Member has referred actually purchases and closes. The rewards were never just for referring. And of course that falls in line with about any other referral program out there.

 

[jerseyduke]

Jerseyduke, living right here near the mouse I have a lot of friends, neighbors and acquaintances that work for DVC. I can promise you it costs a truckload more to operate just one of those kiosks for one day than it would to give away one very nice referral "reward" to a referring member.

And just to clarify, the referral program is for when someone a DVC Member has referred actually purchases and closes. The rewards were never just for referring. And of course that falls in line with about any other referral program out there.

This I knew, 250 for the first, and I think it went up to 1000 if you did 4 within a calendar year or something like that. And purchase, not just referral. (and of course if no one ever refers a someone that closes, they never pay anyone, so that 100,000 person semi-sales force is free)

But that is my point...if referrals(for a sale) are cheaper, why would the business NOT do it? Unless it was a legal PITA. If getting a sale from a referral is both cheaper, and creates happy campers, there has to be A reason it is not being done.

I have a hard time finding a reason why they would not pay me 250$ to help them make a 20K sale; which points to non business factors (legal).

Then again, I must admit, they are better at making money than I am, so there reason is probably sound

 

[southerngirl528]

I agree entirely, Jerseyduke. I agree. It just doesn't make much sense. Other TS's have referral programs. And any marketing company knows that positive word-of-mouth referrals are gravy. The very best sort of marketing.

I remember having a referral back in the glory days of DVC and got a very nice perk for it!

 

[KingRichard]

Ha, sold about 750 points on DCL.

Tried to talk 3 families into resale to save thousands, but they won't listen. lol

Live in Michigan so I got NOTHING!

Yes this was a few years ago when they handed out referral cards.