Resale Experts,??? for you(long,sorry)

[TravelMommy]

Ok, so friends of ours own a gazillion points, well really like 800 (AKL), but to me it's a gazillion. They have been having trouble getting access to anywhere, even their home resort with reservations. They contacted their sales rep and were complaining and stated they were just going to purchase resale points at the resorts they want to stay at (which is what they should of done, but I digress). They feel that the ability to get reservations at all DVC resorts was oversold to them and it is not happening. He felt that the resorts are not selling and so availability is lacking...(they have tried to get into Aulani for instance--no go)..I guess their rep did say something about an upcoming moderate level DVC coming at CBR. So, according to their rep, they were told Disney does not have to recognize those points, they may not be able to make reservations???? (WTH???). I told him this was total hog wash and I have never heard of people who bought resales having any trouble making reservations, just that within the last few years resales can only book at WDW, not an issue with them, that is only where they go. Did he get confused??? I told them Disney has ROFR and he said no, he knew that and that was not what the rep said. Ok, so is this just a scare tactic by an over zealous rep, has anyone ever heard of this??? TIA

 

[chalee94]

Ok, so friends of ours own a gazillion points, well really like 800 (AKL), but to me it's a gazillion. They have been having trouble getting access to anywhere, even their home resort with reservations.

if they plan ahead, this would not be an issue. AKV is an extremely large resort. if they call to book a standard or savanna view room at 8-10 months out, they should have no problem at all.

if they are counting on booking only club level or value rooms...or are consistently trying to book on short notice (4-5 months out), then sure, they might run into problems.

They contacted their sales rep and were complaining and stated they were just going to purchase resale points at the resorts they want to stay at (which is what they should of done, but I digress). They feel that the ability to get reservations at all DVC resorts was oversold to them and it is not happening. He felt that the resorts are not selling and so availability is lacking...(they have tried to get into Aulani for instance--no go)..

i try to discourage people from going on wdw tours, and instead doing their homework on this site because of these kinds of reports. you will get better info here.

but again, i suspect some of it is delays by your friends. if they were trying to book other DVC resorts at exactly 7 months out (the morning of the very day their booking window opens - and waitlisting if needed), then they should have better results. (maybe occasional disappointment rather than consistent disappointment.)

I guess their rep did say something about an upcoming moderate level DVC coming at CBR. So, according to their rep, they were told Disney does not have to recognize those points, they may not be able to make reservations???? (WTH???).

no one at all knows whether there will be a moderate-class of DVC and what that would mean with point usage.

if you mean that resales cannot make reservations outside their home resort, that is a lie. there is an old joke: "how do you know if a timeshare salesperson is lying? their lips are moving." sadly, that is getting more common among DVC salespeople as well.

just that within the last few years resales can only book at WDW,

this is not true, as resales can still book other timeshares through RCI (not to mention booking DVC resorts in HHI, hawaii and vero beach. again, though, you need to plan ahead and make requests with a lot of lead time.)

but people should know going in that DVC works best if you can book well in advance (10-11 months out). if you are flexible, booking at exactly 7 months out will get you good results but risks some disappointment with specific resorts and villa types. but i am not concerned that DVC is over-sold or that resales will be restricted from booking other DVC resorts or RCI resorts...

 

[disneynutz]

DVC works best booking DVC resorts that you own at 11 months prior to check in. You can also expect success prior to 7 months for most bookings.

At 7 months all DVC owners can book so inventory for the popular resorts and room categories is up for grabs.

DVC/DVD/Disney is in the business to sell timeshares and they will do and say what's necessary to stay profitable and increase sales. That may include telling a story or changing the DVC rules and policies to make resale seem less of a deal than buying direct.

Bill

 

[Dean]

Ok, so friends of ours own a gazillion points, well really like 800 (AKL), but to me it's a gazillion. They have been having trouble getting access to anywhere, even their home resort with reservations. They contacted their sales rep and were complaining and stated they were just going to purchase resale points at the resorts they want to stay at (which is what they should of done, but I digress). They feel that the ability to get reservations at all DVC resorts was oversold to them and it is not happening. He felt that the resorts are not selling and so availability is lacking...(they have tried to get into Aulani for instance--no go)..I guess their rep did say something about an upcoming moderate level DVC coming at CBR. So, according to their rep, they were told Disney does not have to recognize those points, they may not be able to make reservations???? (WTH???). I told him this was total hog wash and I have never heard of people who bought resales having any trouble making reservations, just that within the last few years resales can only book at WDW, not an issue with them, that is only where they go. Did he get confused??? I told them Disney has ROFR and he said no, he knew that and that was not what the rep said. Ok, so is this just a scare tactic by an over zealous rep, has anyone ever heard of this??? TIA

I would bet they are making multiple mistakes that is the cause of their difficulty. Here are a few possible mistakes.

• Not planning at least 7 months out.
• Trying for difficult to get reservations like BLT MK view, VGF, BCV and 3 BR villas.
• Not using the Wait List reasonably.

If they will learn the system and use the available options appropriately, they should have plenty of success with reasonable expectations. If they can't do this then they should just sell and use cash.

 

[paults]

I can't believe they have 800 pts and can't figure out when to book. How many contracts do they have or is it just one 800 pt contract? They most likely didn't read enough before they bought.
Do you know any of the times they tried to book? 1 wk 3 wks 2 months out date and resorts?
with 800 pts there should not be any problems if you book early.

 

[TravelMommy]

Thanks everyone, that is exactly what I thought and I did think there might be some of that last minute booking going on.... I figured they would say whatever in order to get them to buy more points.... Thanks all!! I told them to buy multiple contracts at the resorts they wanted to stay at most often and to buy resale, oh well....They are there now and staying at Saratoga Springs treehouses....so they are getting some type of reservations, just not their first choice, will remind them about all the points made above, Thanks!

 

[TravelMommy]

DVC works best booking DVC resorts that you own at 11 months prior to check in. You can also expect success prior to 7 months for most bookings.

At 7 months all DVC owners can book so inventory for the popular resorts and room categories is up for grabs.

DVC/DVD/Disney is in the business to sell timeshares and they will do and say what's necessary to stay profitable and increase sales. That may include telling a story or changing the DVC rules and policies to make resale seem less of a deal than buying direct.

Bill

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I have to laugh as I did tell them and close family members to buy resale, however they just wanted to listen to what the Disney reps had to say, they both bought before they left, and we are talking professional "business" people, who succumbed to the time share high pressure sales tactics. Lol!!!! Thanks Bill!

 

[TravelMommy]

if they plan ahead, this would not be an issue. AKV is an extremely large resort. if they call to book a standard or savanna view room at 8-10 months out, they should have no problem at all.

if they are counting on booking only club level or value rooms...or are consistently trying to book on short notice (4-5 months out), then sure, they might run into problems.



i try to discourage people from going on wdw tours, and instead doing their homework on this site because of these kinds of reports. you will get better info here.

but again, i suspect some of it is delays by your friends. if they were trying to book other DVC resorts at exactly 7 months out (the morning of the very day their booking window opens - and waitlisting if needed), then they should have better results. (maybe occasional disappointment rather than consistent disappointment.)



no one at all knows whether there will be a moderate-class of DVC and what that would mean with point usage.

if you mean that resales cannot make reservations outside their home resort, that is a lie. there is an old joke: "how do you know if a timeshare salesperson is lying? their lips are moving." sadly, that is getting more common among DVC salespeople as well.



this is not true, as resales can still book other timeshares through RCI (not to mention booking DVC resorts in HHI, hawaii and vero beach. again, though, you need to plan ahead and make requests with a lot of lead time.)

but people should know going in that DVC works best if you can book well in advance (10-11 months out). if you are flexible, booking at exactly 7 months out will get you good results but risks some disappointment with specific resorts and villa types. but i am not concerned that DVC is over-sold or that resales will be restricted from booking other DVC resorts or RCI resorts...

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Loved that about the time share sales people "old joke" and I think you are exactly right about they are waiting to long to book. Thanks I didn't know about RCI, I will pass that along as I think they are going to buy more points. Thanks for the info!

 

[JimMIA]

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Loved that about the time share sales people "old joke"

In fairness, that old joke does not usually apply to DVC salespeople, nor does it usually apply to timeshare sales personnel from some other systems. DVC sales personnel will not usually tell outright lies.

It certainly DOES apply to the Wyndham sales weasels, and also certainly applies to Westgate and some others. They lie when the truth would serve them better. If their lips are moving, they really ARE lying.

Whether you're buying a timeshare, or a new car, or any other major purchase, you have to have the right perspective about the salesperson you are dealing with. They have no obligation to tell you everything they know, or have heard, about their product. They have no obligation to point out the weak parts of their product, or to mention that it is grossly overpriced. It's your job as a consumer to recognize those things.

They will present their product in the best possible light, and they will minimize any objections and redirect the conversation to benefits. That's what sales people do.

Anyone who expects anything else -- especially from a timeshare salesman! -- is a very naive consumer, regardless of how much education or business experience they may have.

 

[CarolMN]

PLEASE TELL THEM NOT TO BUY MORE POINTS, RESALE OR OTHERWISE!

More points will not get them the dates and resort(s) they want UNLESS they start planning in advance.

They need to learn how to use the system before they make any changes.

If they cannot plan in advance, they are better off selling their contract.

 

[disneynutz]

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I have to laugh as I did tell them and close family members to buy resale, however they just wanted to listen to what the Disney reps had to say, they both bought before they left, and we are talking professional "business" people, who succumbed to the time share high pressure sales tactics. Lol!!!! Thanks Bill!

I wouldn't call Disney DVC sales as "high pressure", more of a mind game. Disney has a billion year history of being special, magical, full of precious memories. They use our positive feelings of Disney as a tool to sell us a timeshare. They show you pictures of families having a wonderful time at Disney, and all of the ways that you can use your points to vacation all around the world. They tell you that you will save money and that you can use your points to book at all of the DVC resorts.

What they fail to mention is that using points outside of the DVC resorts is expensive compared to cash, that availability is limited and that booking DVC resorts at 7 months and less may not get you what you want, when you want it.

By the time that the sales presentation is finished, you feel guilty for not buying years ago and most people sign up without thinking twice about it. Your Guide may even help you make your first reservation because they know that there is less of a chance of you backing out if you are thinking about your next vacation.

Bill