Rental Activity on R/T Board After Feb. 1 Changes

[OrangeCountyCommuter]

It is possible that the goal is to drive us to a for profit renting agency. After all, someone has to pay the bills for this site and it's the "advertisers" I have no problem with that.... Allowing us to provide a "free" competition with them might not be the long term goal?

 

[Chuck S]

Hello Everyone,

As any economist will tell you, any attempt to influence a free market will result in unintended consequences. Up to this point, the Rent/Trade board has been a relatively free market, with sellers offering rents or trades from 10 points to 500 points to a large amount of buyers.

As of February 1, though, the Rent/Trade board has created a barrier to entry in this formerly free market. There is now a toll to pay if you want to post. One must have an evenly-spread 6-month history of posts on DISboards if one wants to post to the Rent/Trade board.

First, I’ll comment on the changes that you can already see. One, the volume of posts on the site has dropped precipitously. Before Feburary 1 you could find twenty-five people offering points for any given resort, now you will find five. Two, the number of individuals making posts on the site has dropped as members lacking the requisite posting history have been weeded out of the eligible posting pool. Three, the prices of points has gone up because the number of sellers has decreased as the numbers of buyers has stayed the same. Supply has shrunk while demand has stayed constant, creating a seller’s market.

These are the effects that are immediately observed. In addition to those changes, you will see the two following changes in the near future:

Consequence # 1: Post increases: More Quantity, Less Quality

As a result of creating a “50 posts in 6 months” tariff for the privilege of posting on the Rent/Trade board, the number of inane, useless, repetitive, and inaccurate posts sitewide will rise exponentially. So as not to be insulting, I will use myself as an example. In the past, I have not done a lot of posting. Socially, I am the type of person who does not speak unless I have something beneficial, helpful, or unique to say. As I have perused the HUGE volume of information on DISboards, I have almost always found information to answer my Disney-related questions, and thus have not posted questions that I could answer through a simple search.

My posting habits changed once I realized the Rent/Trade board’s mandate to post over 50 times within six months. I want to sell points for the first time since I joined DISboards in 2009, and I need to have 50 posts to do so! The change to the posting rules increased my posting activity on DISboards, and I stopped searching for information before posting. Now, my posts might repeat another person’s question or information, reducing the value of both duplicate posts to the membership and creating a glut of information to choke up DISboard’s already taxed search engine.

Consquence # 2: Restricted Marketplace: The fat cats take over

As low-point-number sellers are thinned out of the Rent/Trade board, it will become increasingly dominated by members who trade large volumes of points on a regular basis. These members are profiting from their relationship with DISboards, and thus will do what they need to do in order to keep their posting privileges live. (Is it possible that some members got advance notice of these changes?) This takes away a benefit from members who are infrequent point traders and drives down competition.

This change benefits two groups of people, though. The members who are still able to post are benefitted as prices rise and competition drops. Also, the sponsors and advertisers on DISboards benefit as frustrated buyers turn to other markets in their search for points. This is the most insidious part of this rules change, as the benefits to the advertisers suggest a deliberate collaboration between the advertisers and the moderators of the Rent/Trade board.

This means that the board is not truly serving the needs of the members.

Please reply to this post and share your thoughts with the community. Personally, I LOVE all of the user-generated information on DISboards, and I valued the option of trading DVC points as a side benefit. Hopefully we can restore the fair and equitable market that the Rent/Trade board used to be.

Rhett

First off, NO ONE, not one single poster, received advanced notice over another, all posters were informed of the changes in NOVEMBER through posts on each of the DVC boards and the Rent/Trade board. The Rent/Trade post was a sticky, the others were constantly bumped to remain on the first page.

Second, there are some sites in the DIS filter, but they were there long before any Rent/Trade changes were discussed. So the Rent/Trade changes had nothing to do with the reasons sites may be in the filter.

The DIS is a privately owned web site and we reserve the right to restrict any outside commercial ventures at our discretion. We will not discuss the reasons behind why specific websites are filtered and any discussion regarding the word filter may be deleted. If you have questions or comments about this or any other DISboards policy, you can address with the webmasters at admin@wdwinfo.com

 

[chalee94]

For those interested solely in profit, there are sites available, but many of those sites charge fees. like ebay...or a membership fee to post, like TUG2.

just a clarification, there's no member fee required to post at TUG. just a member fee that allows access to certain premium features.

but there's not really much DVC activity at TUG either...

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Wow, this is the most comprehensive reply I have read to this particular situation since the notice of the rule changes. Obviously an economics major!

The question I have, will this reduce the overall future activity to Disboards as a whole? Any way to measure the reduction in activity as it relates to total post history of Disboards?

Hello Everyone,

As any economist will tell you, any attempt to influence a free market will result in unintended consequences. Up to this point, the Rent/Trade board has been a relatively free market, with sellers offering rents or trades from 10 points to 500 points to a large amount of buyers.

As of February 1, though, the Rent/Trade board has created a barrier to entry in this formerly free market. There is now a toll to pay if you want to post. One must have an evenly-spread 6-month history of posts on DISboards if one wants to post to the Rent/Trade board.

First, I’ll comment on the changes that you can already see. One, the volume of posts on the site has dropped precipitously. Before Feburary 1 you could find twenty-five people offering points for any given resort, now you will find five. Two, the number of individuals making posts on the site has dropped as members lacking the requisite posting history have been weeded out of the eligible posting pool. Three, the prices of points has gone up because the number of sellers has decreased as the numbers of buyers has stayed the same. Supply has shrunk while demand has stayed constant, creating a seller’s market.

These are the effects that are immediately observed. In addition to those changes, you will see the two following changes in the near future:

Consequence # 1: Post increases: More Quantity, Less Quality

As a result of creating a “50 posts in 6 months” tariff for the privilege of posting on the Rent/Trade board, the number of inane, useless, repetitive, and inaccurate posts sitewide will rise exponentially. So as not to be insulting, I will use myself as an example. In the past, I have not done a lot of posting. Socially, I am the type of person who does not speak unless I have something beneficial, helpful, or unique to say. As I have perused the HUGE volume of information on DISboards, I have almost always found information to answer my Disney-related questions, and thus have not posted questions that I could answer through a simple search.

My posting habits changed once I realized the Rent/Trade board’s mandate to post over 50 times within six months. I want to sell points for the first time since I joined DISboards in 2009, and I need to have 50 posts to do so! The change to the posting rules increased my posting activity on DISboards, and I stopped searching for information before posting. Now, my posts might repeat another person’s question or information, reducing the value of both duplicate posts to the membership and creating a glut of information to choke up DISboard’s already taxed search engine.

Consquence # 2: Restricted Marketplace: The fat cats take over

As low-point-number sellers are thinned out of the Rent/Trade board, it will become increasingly dominated by members who trade large volumes of points on a regular basis. These members are profiting from their relationship with DISboards, and thus will do what they need to do in order to keep their posting privileges live. (Is it possible that some members got advance notice of these changes?) This takes away a benefit from members who are infrequent point traders and drives down competition.

This change benefits two groups of people, though. The members who are still able to post are benefitted as prices rise and competition drops. Also, the sponsors and advertisers on DISboards benefit as frustrated buyers turn to other markets in their search for points. This is the most insidious part of this rules change, as the benefits to the advertisers suggest a deliberate collaboration between the advertisers and the moderators of the Rent/Trade board.

This means that the board is not truly serving the needs of the members.

Please reply to this post and share your thoughts with the community. Personally, I LOVE all of the user-generated information on DISboards, and I valued the option of trading DVC points as a side benefit. Hopefully we can restore the fair and equitable market that the Rent/Trade board used to be.

Rhett

 

[browniemtb]

I haven't visited the rent/trade forum that much recently. Today I went over there because one of our friends may want to travel with us in November. I was very surprised at the amount of closed posts and so few actives. Wasn't sure what was going on until I read up on the matter.

I hope I'm active enough to be able to utilize the board.......

 

[KPOP]

count me in as someone 'not active enough'...
it seems like I can always find something interesting to read - but never feel like I have much to contribute by way of posting.
In the past I have used the R/T board when I've had extra points to rent. I am trying to get my post count up..but it'll be difficult for me under the new rules. Oh well.

 

[Chuck S]

The new rules require an average of 2 non-Rent/Trade posts per week or 8 posts per month over the previous 6 months. What we've seen, since even before the new rules went into effect, is that there is a group of posters that didn't have time to participate in the the non-Rent/Trade boards, but somehow found the time to post continually on the Rent/Trade board, often several hundred posts over the years only on the Rent/Trade board.

Last year, the moderators instituted a minimum of 50 non-Rent/Trade posts to be able to post a thread to the Rent/Trade Board. What we saw from many was a flurry of postings a few days before they'd submit a Rent/Trade thread, and then nothing once their Rent/Trade thread was approved. This new criteria requires a pattern of consistent activity before being allowed to start a thread and rent out points. In other words, many, if not most, of the folks that were using the Rent/Trade board were not contributing to the discussion boards in any way, but were coming here solely to profit from a community in which they had no interest at all. That was not the original intent of the Rent/Trade board, and this new rule provides a verifiable criteria for posting.

No one has explained why owners that have no interest at all in posting on the DIS should be allowed to use the DIS board resources to profit.

 

[KPOP]

hey chuck,

I totally agree with the new rules. I don't have a problem with them at all. I'm sorry if it sounded like I might. I just need to be find a way to be a more active a member before I can use the R/T board...no worries.

Ken

 

[Chuck S]

hey chuck,

I totally agree with the new rules. I don't have a problem with them at all. I'm sorry if it sounded like I might. I just need to be find a way to be a more active a member before I can use the R/T board...no worries.

Ken

My comments were not addressed to you, or any other specific poster. It was a general explanation as to why we instituted the changes. I'm sorry if you took it as a specific reply to your post, it was not intended as such.

 

[parlay]

[Consequence # 1: Post increases: More Quantity, Less Quality

As a result of creating a “50 posts in 6 months” tariff for the privilege of posting on the Rent/Trade board, the number of inane, useless, repetitive, and inaccurate posts sitewide will rise exponentially. So as not to be insulting, I will use myself as an example. In the past, I have not done a lot of posting. Socially, I am the type of person who does not speak unless I have something beneficial, helpful, or unique to say. As I have perused the HUGE volume of information on DISboards, I have almost always found information to answer my Disney-related questions, and thus have not posted questions that I could answer through a simple search.

My posting habits changed once I realized the Rent/Trade board’s mandate to post over 50 times within six months. I want to sell points for the first time since I joined DISboards in 2009, and I need to have 50 posts to do so! The change to the posting rules increased my posting activity on DISboards, and I stopped searching for information before posting. Now, my posts might repeat another person’s question or information, reducing the value of both duplicate posts to the membership and creating a glut of information to choke up DISboard’s already taxed search engine

I completely agree. I believe myself to be an active "reader" but not as active a "contributor". When a question has been answered by other disboarders, I don't see the need to repeat their answers. I can see the quantity overtaking the quality.

 

[Sandisw]

I think that that new rule will have a positive effect on the owners that are DIS members in making it easier to rent points. I have not yet needed to use the board (only been a member of DVC for 2 years) but do look it over a lot just to see.

What I have noticed is that it seemed with so many points being offered that there was a lot of haggling by renters in what to pay and I think that impacted the price.

Now, with less competition, there is a higher percentage of chance that points can go for a little bit more or rent faster.

I know that some will say that this is playing with the free market, but as someone who may want to use the board at some point, I am glad that I get a "leg up" on someone who isn't here to participate. It's like running a race and winning a prize. Someone who decides to come in and just cross the finish line without actually doing the race should not be eligible to win the prize for that race.

I spend a lot of time here becaue I LOVE Disney and DVC. It is my hobby (as evidenced by my 6000+ posts!!) and helps me to relieve stress from my jobs.

At some point I may choose to seek a transfer or be in need to rent points and I am happy to know that the person I could end up dealing with is someone thatl I "know" because they are around here on a regular basis.

I certainly could see being very comfortable with other posters who I interact with on a regular basis so I for one, am glad of that.

As far as renters, I think that they may find that the prices here start to creep up as with less competition, owners may be willing to hold out for a higher price.

 

[zebsterama]

No one has explained why owners that have no interest at all in posting on the DIS should be allowed to use the DIS board resources to profit.

I'm guessing it's because it draws eyeballs to the site -- isn't that the ultimate goal of a website?

For sponsors like The Timeshare Store and David's Vacation Club Rentals I'm assuming that they would prefer to have as many NEW eyeballs click on their respective banners, thus providing them with exposure and the DIS site with more $$ to continue its practice - unless the DISboards.com has some kind of other agreement going on.

I can't believe it's the cost of server space ... which nowadays is pretty cheap.

This logic, as far as I know, pretty much breaks every Digital Media business model.

This might not work out that well.

Cheers,
Zebsterama

 

[jcf]

I have been around for 6 years and contribute when I can. I have a lot of points but also work a lot more (in the last 3 years).

So, by the time I get clarity on my work schedule the point rooms are all gone but the cash rooms for the same time are almost always still there...so my solution when this happens is to rent out my points and use the cash to book the room...

There is no "profit" as I am still left with empty pockets after I get home from Disney...

I am not running a business here...it actually is nice helping out people as well as myself...

I have started to sell down my points as I think the possibilty of future resale restrictions by DVC is likely and my son is getting older...

 

[BWV Dreamin]

This was exactly my thought. By creating a situation that decreases exposure to the general website, not just the R/T thread, I wonder if those lost "eyeballs" will prove detrimental to the site as a whole.

I'm guessing it's because it draws eyeballs to the site -- isn't that the ultimate goal of a website?

For sponsors like The Timeshare Store and David's Vacation Club Rentals I'm assuming that they would prefer to have as many NEW eyeballs click on their respective banners, thus providing them with exposure and the DIS site with more $$ to continue its practice - unless the DISboards.com has some kind of other agreement going on.

I can't believe it's the cost of server space ... which nowadays is pretty cheap.

This logic, as far as I know, pretty much breaks every Digital Media business model.

This might not work out that well.

Cheers,
Zebsterama

 

[zebsterama]

Hello Everyone,

As any economist will tell you, any attempt to influence a free market will result in unintended consequences. Up to this point, the Rent/Trade board has been a relatively free market, with sellers offering rents or trades from 10 points to 500 points to a large amount of buyers.

As of February 1, though, the Rent/Trade board has created a barrier to entry in this formerly free market. There is now a toll to pay if you want to post. One must have an evenly-spread 6-month history of posts on DISboards if one wants to post to the Rent/Trade board.

First, I’ll comment on the changes that you can already see. One, the volume of posts on the site has dropped precipitously. Before Feburary 1 you could find twenty-five people offering points for any given resort, now you will find five. Two, the number of individuals making posts on the site has dropped as members lacking the requisite posting history have been weeded out of the eligible posting pool. Three, the prices of points has gone up because the number of sellers has decreased as the numbers of buyers has stayed the same. Supply has shrunk while demand has stayed constant, creating a seller’s market.

These are the effects that are immediately observed. In addition to those changes, you will see the two following changes in the near future:

Consequence # 1: Post increases: More Quantity, Less Quality

As a result of creating a “50 posts in 6 months” tariff for the privilege of posting on the Rent/Trade board, the number of inane, useless, repetitive, and inaccurate posts sitewide will rise exponentially. So as not to be insulting, I will use myself as an example. In the past, I have not done a lot of posting. Socially, I am the type of person who does not speak unless I have something beneficial, helpful, or unique to say. As I have perused the HUGE volume of information on DISboards, I have almost always found information to answer my Disney-related questions, and thus have not posted questions that I could answer through a simple search.

My posting habits changed once I realized the Rent/Trade board’s mandate to post over 50 times within six months. I want to sell points for the first time since I joined DISboards in 2009, and I need to have 50 posts to do so! The change to the posting rules increased my posting activity on DISboards, and I stopped searching for information before posting. Now, my posts might repeat another person’s question or information, reducing the value of both duplicate posts to the membership and creating a glut of information to choke up DISboard’s already taxed search engine.

Consquence # 2: Restricted Marketplace: The fat cats take over

As low-point-number sellers are thinned out of the Rent/Trade board, it will become increasingly dominated by members who trade large volumes of points on a regular basis. These members are profiting from their relationship with DISboards, and thus will do what they need to do in order to keep their posting privileges live. (Is it possible that some members got advance notice of these changes?) This takes away a benefit from members who are infrequent point traders and drives down competition.

This change benefits two groups of people, though. The members who are still able to post are benefitted as prices rise and competition drops. Also, the sponsors and advertisers on DISboards benefit as frustrated buyers turn to other markets in their search for points. This is the most insidious part of this rules change, as the benefits to the advertisers suggest a deliberate collaboration between the advertisers and the moderators of the Rent/Trade board.

This means that the board is not truly serving the needs of the members.

Please reply to this post and share your thoughts with the community. Personally, I LOVE all of the user-generated information on DISboards, and I valued the option of trading DVC points as a side benefit. Hopefully we can restore the fair and equitable market that the Rent/Trade board used to be.

Rhett

Nice post Rhett; all that you say is logical. I agree with you 100%.
Unfortunately as we've been finding out as of late, logic is becoming somewhat passé.

Well - I guess that's post number 2 for March.

Very insightful wasn't it? --- only 6 more to go to meet my quota for this month!



Cheers,
Zebsterama

 

[Chuck S]

By the same line of thought, a person who never posts, except to rent their points on the Rent/Trade board, really isn't contributing to the overall health of the discussion board community, the same community to whom they wish to rent.

Again, there are other fansites to which you do not need to post if you find it difficult to do so, but there are also sites that would require a financial contribution in other ways...like pay a percentage of the rental (ebay), or a membership fee for access to advanced services. We ask for neither, only participation.

But, let me repeat what I've stated in other threads to be perfectly clear. The current requirements are NOT being reconsidered at this time.

 

[zebsterama]

This was exactly my thought. By creating a situation that decreases exposure to the general website, not just the R/T thread, I wonder if those lost "eyeballs" will prove detrimental to the site as a whole.

It depends on what your ultimate goal is.

Is your goal to -

a) create an exclusive club where only a few persons can post? Only allowing diehard DIS "posters" to participate.

That's OK I guess, if this is one's pet project ... but I would say be careful because you may have a good mousetrap today, but if there's enough pent up frustration then people will just go somewhere else -- just ask Netscape how they dealt with that silly little start-up ... what was it called??? ... hmmm ... Google or something like that.
_____________

or
_____________

b) a site that attracts as many NEW people and posters as possible?

If I was paying to hang my banner at the top of this page ... I'm guessing I'd be more attracted to B.


What's funny to me is that -- DISboard.com was both A & B and is now just A?

Why did they do that? I'm wondering if the business model changed or if there's some new incentive for them to move to A only?

Cheers,
Zebsterama


PS .... that's 3 posts for March!! ... but who’s counting?

 

[Mjkre]

1) I wish to proclaim myself to be a newbie to this site.
2) I really, really, like this website.
3) I didn't start it. I have no ownership interest in it. I don't pay any membership fees. I do not do the work to maintain it.
4) This site was not my idea.
5) While I think some rules in life are stupid, not productive and otherwise cause more problems then those they are meant to fix, the reality is I always have the option of not posting or reading here. I cannot say the same for all of life's rules I may be forced to deal with.
6) I always have the option of starting another site if I think there is a better way of doing things.

Just some thoughts (that, by the way, while not particularly useful, qualify as a non rent trade post).

 

[BWV Dreamin]

No one is asking for changes. The discussion is about the effects of the changes. Ultimately that data is beyond your control. It remains to be seen to what degree the lack of activity negatively impacts Disboards. I suspect this impact will be reviewed. If it is significant enough, I'm sure we will see some modifications. Time will tell.

 

[zebsterama]

By the same line of thought, a person who never posts, except to rent their points on the Rent/Trade board, really isn't contributing to the overall health of the discussion board community, the same community to whom they wish to rent. The current requirements are NOT being reconsidered at this time.

Point well made Chuck.

Let's pretend for a second that I'm Dave from Dave's Vacation Club Rental (I can make that connection because I'm also Canadian! ... we’re generally not that patriotic so you have to cut me some slack )

Anyway - I digress - (back to if I’m Dave) those that only hung out on the rent board to rent or get a rental were going to do that anyway, and as result they weren't likely not going to contribute to the other forums regardless. For argument's sake - SO WHAT!? – DISboards.com gets exposure - at pretty much the cost of some server space (i.e. nothing) - and potential renters ... especially NEW eyeballs might (I would actually argue - more than you think) click on Dave's banner to check it out – and the odd one rents.

Disboards.com may also pick up the odd new Diehard contributing member. How do I know this ---- I'M LIVING PROOF.

I came to this site - you know why? - to rent points ... and I did .... and guess what ... I stuck around ... I now read it often & I post every now and again (although I will admit Carol finds some of my posts to be too sarcastic - so I've had the odd warning )

What else has that lead to you ask?
I've been to Dave's site - exchanged emails with Dave about rentals --- I've had thread correspondence with Jason from the TimeShare Store ... thinking of buying points in near future -WHY?- all because I came here to RENT POINTS a couple of years ago. Seriously!

But what I think is really short-sighted - is now DISboards.com is locking out this group (people that stuck), potential new eyeballs, and long-time lurkers (as many have noted).

In my opinion - I have to admit - I'd love to know the REAL motivation? (I know, I know, it's none of my business)

I just for the life of me, can't understand why/how this makes sense??

Just my 2 cents.

Cheers,
Zebsterama