Renting Points vs Renting Reservations

[Baggins2007]

Hi. I have been perusing over the board to work out a strategy for renting my points in the near future (700 in total in two different resorts).

I see that there is the option for renting the points and trying to book specific dates for renters, while the other option would involve booking the vacation under my name and then renting the reservation.

Which way is best and easiest?

Thanks

 

[JimMIA]

I think you may be in the dreaded "Erroneous Zone." There is actually no such thing as "renting points." DVC owners can arrange transfers from another owner's account to theirs, and in that sense, are "renting points," but non-owners can't do that.

As a non-owner, your only option is to make arrangements with DVC owners (and you'll probably need more than one for a 700-point vacation) to rent reservations those owners make for you. That may sound like hair-splitting, but it's not. When you rent a reservation, only the owner can make arrangements, get confirmations, etc, for your party, and the reservation remains in their complete control until you check in to the resort.

You should probably go over to the DIS DVC Rent/Trade Board and read all the FAQ at the top of the page as a starting point.

 

[Deb & Bill]

You'll get hate mail from members if you book premium times and rent them out to non-members. You won't be as despised if you advertise your points OR respond to a non-member's request on an occasional basis.

As Jim said, points are totally worthless to a non-member. Only a member can make a reservation for a non-member. And you are supposed to tell MS that you are making a reservation for a person renting it from you. Versus telling MS that you are gifting a trip to a friend or relative.

 

[Baggins2007]

Thanks for the information.

JimMIA, maybe I did not understand well, but I am the DVC owner who is considering renting out the points. I understand that it is me who has to get the reservation for the non-member. I have used all my points for the past 8 years, no renting. However, there are times in which I have lost part of the points in a particular use year because I did not have the time for a full vacation.

My real question was, if it is reasonable to book a vacation knowing that I will probably not use it, and then renting it or transfering it. I do recall that no monetary transactions should occur when dealing with other members. I would also understand that this would upset other members, but it may be necessary.

 

[dianeschlicht]

Thanks for the information.

JimMIA, maybe I did not understand well, but I am the DVC owner who is considering renting out the points. I understand that it is me who has to get the reservation for the non-member. I have used all my points for the past 8 years, no renting. However, there are times in which I have lost part of the points in a particular use year because I did not have the time for a full vacation.

My real question was, if it is reasonable to book a vacation knowing that I will probably not use it, and then renting it or transfering it. I do recall that no monetary transactions should occur when dealing with other members. I would also understand that this would upset other members, but it may be necessary.

Situations like the one you mention is exactly why renting is allowed. It is certainly better to rent out your points than lose them. Which way you choose to do that is yoru decision, but the point is that some ways will be easier than others. The thing that gets folks on this board upset is when someone reserves a popular week at the 11 month window specifically for renting it out in the future. Actually, you do have the right to do that if you choose, but it does get folks here riled up. It's a lot of work to offer rentals on the rent trade board, because folk tend to shop a number of members, and that means you would go through all the work of checking for them and making a reservation, only to have them drop you and rent from someone else who happens to be offering points at a lower price. It's human nature to get the most for the least.

I have never rented out points, and don't see doing it in the near future, but if I was ever to NEED to rent, I'd probably find renting a specific reservation a lot less work and hassle than playing travel agent.

 

[Baggins2007]

Situations like the one you mention is exactly why renting is allowed. It is certainly better to rent out your points than lose them. Which way you choose to do that is yoru decision, but the point is that some ways will be easier than others. The thing that gets folks on this board upset is when someone reserves a popular week at the 11 month window specifically for renting it out in the future. Actually, you do have the right to do that if you choose, but it does get folks here riled up. It's a lot of work to offer rentals on the rent trade board, because folk tend to shop a number of members, and that means you would go through all the work of checking for them and making a reservation, only to have them drop you and rent from someone else who happens to be offering points at a lower price. It's human nature to get the most for the least.

I have never rented out points, and don't see doing it in the near future, but if I was ever to NEED to rent, I'd probably find renting a specific reservation a lot less work and hassle than playing travel agent.

Thank you very much for this excellent clarification. It is beginning to make sense to me now. Like I said before, I have lost points because I did not know what to do in the past.

One particular time, I had a great reservation for a peak period, which I ended up dropping due to an unexpected schedule conflict. It happened during the 30 days prior to check-in. I almost lost all the points. Now, in cases like those, why would it be wrong to shop for a renter??

Here is another question which may be alreadu answered in another thread (please feel free to let me know). What about DONATING unused points, such as for the Make-A-Wish Foundation? Is there an established procedure to do this? I would rather take that road than try to make a buck.

Thanks

 

[rinkwide]

...you may be in the dreaded "Erroneous Zone"...

For example: back of the knee, between the toes, earlobes, etc.

 

[CarolAnnC]

Here is another question which may be alreadu answered in another thread (please feel free to let me know). What about DONATING unused points, such as for the Make-A-Wish Foundation? Is there an established procedure to do this? I would rather take that road than try to make a buck.

Thanks

Donations of points are not tax deductible. Only if you donate your entire DVC membership, would it be legally tax deductible. This is according to the IRS...

 

[bobbiwoz]

...


Here is another question which may be alreadu answered in another thread (please feel free to let me know). What about DONATING unused points, such as for the Make-A-Wish Foundation? Is there an established procedure to do this? I would rather take that road than try to make a buck.

Thanks

We have in the past and would do it again. We offered Give the Kids the World a weekend at OKW, and it was used to reward a volunteer. No tax deduction, but we do support that organization financially, and we had some points that were "lose or use" and we chose to use them that way.

Bobbi

 

[Baggins2007]

We have in the past and would do it again. We offered Give the Kids the World a weekend at OKW, and it was used to reward a volunteer. No tax deduction, but we do support that organization financially, and we had some points that were "lose or use" and we chose to use them that way.

Bobbi

Thanks. Would you PM-me with other details on how to do this (or if you can share this in the board)? I don't care about the tax deduction either.

Mr. Baggins (Frodo)

 

[bobbiwoz]

This is the note that I had received in response to my offer. The "deadline" was one that I had given them because I just wanted to get the deed done, and I was reaching the end of the points use year:


Hello Barbara,

I apologize for missing your deadline yesterday. Your message was forwarded to me for reply, and unfortunately, I was out of the office. It was a very kind offer, and we truly appreciate your efforts to support the mission of Give Kids The World (GKTW). For your consideration in the future, we normally need a block of five nights to host one of our Wish families so we don't have to disturb their fun by moving them during their stay. However, if you are willing to allow alternate uses, we have been able (with the agreement of the donor) to accept one or two nights stays for special situations such as volunteer and staff recognition (we have more than 3,000 volunteer "Angels" who fulfill 950+ shifts/week at the Village). Of course, the volunteers and staff never expect any rewards - other than the true joy of serving children with life-threatening illnesses and families at GKTW Village. They are genuinely dedicated to pampering and protecting the children and families, and so it's sometimes nice to treat the volunteers or staff to a couple of nights away. If you have any additional questions, please call me directly at 407-396-1114 ext. 225. And, whenever you are able to make it back to Orlando, I would love to take you on a tour of the Village. Until then, please check out our website at www.gktw.org Thank you again!



Best wishes to you!
Bobbi

 

[CarolMN]

...(snip).....One particular time, I had a great reservation for a peak period, which I ended up dropping due to an unexpected schedule conflict. It happened during the 30 days prior to check-in. I almost lost all the points. Now, in cases like those, why would it be wrong to shop for a renter??.....

It's not wrong.

If that happens to you again and you want to rent the reservation, feel free to post on our Rent/Trade Forum. Be sure to read all of the information in the "STICKY" threads at the top of the forum before you post anything there.

 

[JimMIA]

JimMIA, maybe I did not understand well, but I am the DVC owner who is considering renting out the points. I understand that it is me who has to get the reservation for the non-member.

My bad. I simply misread your post. I'm the one in the Erroneous Zone.

BTW...does anyone want to guess what Rinkwide means by "...etc." ???

 

[AnneMT]

I would anticipate that if you try and sell all 700 points in one big trip/reservation you may limit the number of people who would be interested (given an approximate cost of $10/point).

 

[dianeschlicht]

We also have donated "points" to a charity fund raiser. In that case, it was a five night stay at OKW, and we limited the seasons they could book to Adventure, Choice and Dream. It was very easy to accomplish, and the "winners" had a GREAT trip! In fact, I think they purchased DVC afterwards!

 

[crisi]

I don't rent, but my understanding is that there are pretty much three ways to do it here (and some number of other ways).

Post that you have points for rent. You'll probably have to wade through a bunch of people who want to know if they can get a BWV Standard View for early December now, and will you take $8 a point.

Make some reservations and post the reservations - there are rules about doing this on the board, and there is some risk since you won't have flexibility to change the reservation. But someone once posted that this was a good way to do it and he'd never been left holding the bag.

Respond to points wanted requests - if I were in the "needed to rent points" place, that is probably what I would do. You can kind of cherrypick the postings for situations where its likely there will be a room available for the person and the renter sounds like they know what they are asking for.

 

[Baggins2007]

Thanks for all the very informative replies, both for the renting and donating options. It is too bad (but not too late) that I had not encountered this board before. I see replies from a lot of veterans.

I guess it would also be more reasonable to rent from/to other DVC members, since they would know the inner works of dealing with MS.

I have always been successful in booking my vacations even during peak periods because I plan well in advance, but of course the risk is to have a change in plans.

Thanks again

 

[mikesmom]

I don't rent, but my understanding is that there are pretty much three ways to do it here (and some number of other ways).

Post that you have points for rent. You'll probably have to wade through a bunch of people who want to know if they can get a BWV Standard View for early December now, and will you take $8 a point.

Make some reservations and post the reservations - there are rules about doing this on the board, and there is some risk since you won't have flexibility to change the reservation. But someone once posted that this was a good way to do it and he'd never been left holding the bag.

Respond to points wanted requests - if I were in the "needed to rent points" place, that is probably what I would do. You can kind of cherrypick the postings for situations where its likely there will be a room available for the person and the renter sounds like they know what they are asking for.

Actually the last two scenarios don't work the way they used to on these Boards.
The new rules:

Effective 7/4/2007 threads offering existing DVC-resort reservations for rent may not be submitted and posted more than 30 days prior to the reservation's existing check-in date. This includes soliciting the rental of existing reservations by contacting potential renters by PM or email.

That pretty much puts you into a distress situation with an existing ressie if you use the Rent/Trade Board here. Within 30 days you are pretty much going to lose the points and lots of potential renters know it - definitely biases any transaction in the non-members favor. Better to just post the points if you need the money.

 

[Deb & Bill]

But, the easiest way is probably to check with people that you work with or family members who you know might want to take a Disney vacation. You can offer them a deal, get rid of your points, and they will love you forever (plus ask you later on can they get more points from you).

These would be people you know (and you'd know if they were good for the money or not), you could take a personal check and know where to find them if it wasn't good, and you would be able to make sure they wouldn't trash the place and leave you with the damage bill.