Renting an RCI reservation at a DVC Resort?

[TiggersBuddy]

Hi all, not sure if this topic has come up before, my appologies if it has. I realize the topic of RCI may be sensitive to some, it is not my intention to ruffle anyone's feathers or step on toes.

I came across a couple reservations for sale/rent at DVC resorts on eBay, and noticed that they were 'RCI reservations' at DVC resorts, through (I assume) a broker/timeshare exchange.

What caught my attention is that the reservations are for 7-nights in 1 BR Units (VWL and AKV), and there were winning bids of $699, and also a couple active listings currently below that price. The auction details mention a $95 transportation fee as well as Occupancy Tax to be paid at check-in, and there is no Timeshare Presentation to attend. The reservations are for fixed weeks in August 2011, no changes or refunds.

Doing some quick math, this is a heck of a bargin. I am not a DVC or RCI owner, but I have rented DVC points before but have never seen deals this good.

My questions are, is this too good to be true? Is there something the seller isn't mentioning? Is it simply a desparate RCI owner with expiring points and/or multiple non-refundable reservations on their hands? As a 'renter' is it cheaper to rent an RCI reservations at DVC resorts than renting through an Owner with DVC points? Thanks in advance to all replies.

 

[utahkennedys]

It may be cheaper, but it is extremely risky. Renting RCI confirmations is against RCI rules, and RC and/orDVC can cancel the exchange leaving the eBay buyer without a reservation at check in. I wouldn't even touch this type of purchase as my vacation time is too valuable and you won't have any recourse with eBay or PayPal. I know from other boards there are members who actively "turn in" eBay sellers doing this to RCI and DVC. It undermines the timeshare system if you ask me. I have no issue with someone trading their timeshare to use a week at DVC, and we have done it with II and RCI. However, selling exchanged weeks is a different story which is why RCI prohibits it.

 

[3Minnies1Mickey]

It kind of sounds too good to be true. With RCI they can cancel and get most of their points back (though they'd loose their trade fee). The only thing I can think of is that those points HAVE to be used (or they are lost) and a DVC vacation is easy to sell.

Price breakdown: I own in WorldMark and can trade into RCI. If I rented RCI points outright from RCI a week in a 1BR would cost around $1350 plus a $139-179 trade fee. I'd also have a guest certificate fee if I didn't use the week and gave it to someone else. If I rented MY timeshare points from another member it would cost me around $450 for the number of points I'd need for a 1BR plus the trade fee and guest cert fee ($720 if I rented them from WorldMark directly).

 

[Brian Noble]

Renting RCI confirmations is against RCI rules, and RC and/orDVC can cancel the exchange leaving the eBay buyer without a reservation at check in.

Not only can they, they have. RCI sometimes looks for this sort of thing, and some RCI Members also actively report it when they see it. If RCI gets wind of it, and can figure out who is doing the renting, they will cancel the exchanges in question and suspend or terminate the RCI Member's account. RCI takes a "shoot first, ask questions later" approach. (And if they have more than one reservation out of the same RCI account, it won't be that hard to figure out who it is.)

Not worth it in my book.

 

[JimMIA]

Not only can they, they have. RCI sometimes looks for this sort of thing, and some RCI Members also actively report it when they see it. If RCI gets wind of it, and can figure out who is doing the renting, they will cancel the exchanges in question and suspend or terminate the RCI Member's account. RCI takes a "shoot first, ask questions later" approach. (And if they have more than one reservation out of the same RCI account, it won't be that hard to figure out who it is.)

Not worth it in my book.

In addition to the risk of cancellation, anyone who is a member of RCI knows darn well that renting exchanges is prohibited and risks cancellation.

That should tell you something about the ethics of the person you would be renting from.

Play it safe and rent a reservation from a DVC owner.

 

[Brian Noble]

Perhaps. But, they would have to be active at TUG etc., or have read the fine print of the disclosure guide. Many people do not...

Napoleon put it best: "Never ascribe to malice that which can be explained by incompetence."

 

[Sammie]

Not only can they, they have. RCI sometimes looks for this sort of thing, and some RCI Members also actively report it when they see it. If RCI gets wind of it, and can figure out who is doing the renting, they will cancel the exchanges in question and suspend or terminate the RCI Member's account. RCI takes a "shoot first, ask questions later" approach. (And if they have more than one reservation out of the same RCI account, it won't be that hard to figure out who it is.)

Not worth it in my book.

Not only does RCI check Ebay and other internet sites for these listings so does DVC.

Not worth it in my book either.

 

[Lil' Grumpy]

very simple but solid advice.

was this reported by the op to dvc?

 

[Dean]

very simple but solid advice.

was this reported by the op to dvc?

RCI is the proper authority to report it as only they have the opportunity to figure out who and to enforce the rule.