SURVEY: Do you know you could swap reservations to any resort with another DVC member

[WelcomeHome]

I think a LOT of people are making this overly complicated.

All that is being asked is to change the name on an already existing board...

FROM: Trade Wanted (or whatever it is called)

TO: Home Resort Swap Wanted.​

Every other argument... value, availability, desireability, finding people, taxes, etc, etc, etc... is simply noise that is clouding the request.

The fact is the mechanism already exists... and the OP is simply making an observation that current naming is ineffective at attracting current members... and that it would be an improvement in marketing if the name was changed.

/Jim

I did send a private message to all 3 "Rent/Trade" Board Moderators (WebmasterDoc, Caskbill and LisaS) yesterday specifically asking them to please review this thread.

These moderators generously devote their time and have always been receptive to us in the past. I suspect they are simply waiting to tally more poll responses and thread feedback and I'm optimistic that they will make a response regarding their position on this thread.

The fact that the volume and intensity of the various opinions on this thread has been so strong tells me that this is an idea who's time has come! Whether it happens today or next week or next month, I sincerely believe this change will be a very natural and inevitable evolution of our beloved DISboards!

So please, please, please keep your opinions coming so we can bring more and more attention to this matter - if your interested in this possiblity, then please let your voice be heard on this thread! OK moderators, we're ready whenever you are!


Best wishes,
Dave

 

[ZekeKelso]

Despite some of the pessimistic remarks by people who prefer to knock down an idea instead of giving it a chance,
<snip>
So please, please, please keep your opinions coming so we can bring more and more attention to this matter

Do you really want all opinions coming?

PS - Expressing an opinion that something will be difficult is not the same thing as "preferring to knock down an idea instead of giving it a chance".

 

[WelcomeHome]

Do you really want all opinions coming?

PS - Expressing an opinion that something will be difficult is not the same thing as "preferring to knock down an idea instead of giving it a chance".

Dear ZeleKelso,

Yes, I definitely want all opinions. But please don't misunderstand me, I didn't consider you to be one of the pessamistic opinions.

As a matter of fact, the intersection of the 2 circles on your Venn Diagram proves that successful matches would definitely be found. Thank you for being one of the many optimistic people supporting this idea by demonstrating an approximately 30% success rate with your Venn Diagram.

Best wishes,
Dave

 

[crisi]

Dear ZeleKelso,

Yes, I definitely want all opinions. But please don't misunderstand me, I didn't consider you to be one of the pessamistic opinions.

As a matter of fact, the intersection of the 2 circles on your Venn Diagram proves that successful matches would definitely be found. Thank you for being one of the many optimistic people supporting this idea by demonstrating an approximately 30% success rate with your Venn Diagram.

Best wishes,
Dave

That Venn proves nothing except ZeleKelso can draw intersecting circles (not that I'm knocking that skill). The likelihood of successful matches will depend on the population that chooses to participate and whether or not that population can successful negotate swaps. If the population is small, the chances of the attributes working out in such a way (use year, resort, availability, comfort and agreement of both parties) to be successful is slimmer than if the population is large. If its too large, then a board won't be a good way to do it because there will be too much data for this format and it will be unsuccessful. There is a definate sweet spot here.

Giving it a try is a worthwhile idea to see if there is enough interest to hit the sweetspot, but it isn't resource free. I'm sure the mods spend a ton of volunteer hours around here keeping the existing rent/trade forum going - adding another forum means more moderator time. There are other considerations (minor in my opinion, but this isn't my board) like more forums means more usability concerns.

 

[TenThousandVolts]

I started a similar but different poll to see how many would be willing to let another DVC member control their reservation. I think a lot of people voted in this poll before they realized that particular logistic.
I know a lot of people on this board are comfortable with the rental process- and others not so much. Curious to see how the polls differ.

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1840236

 

[ScottakaMickey]

I think the 30 day rule was a very well-thought out rule that pretty-much eliminates spec renting on the DIS. I would not want to see that changed.

Disagree

 

[BWV Dreamin]

I think a LOT of people are making this overly complicated.

All that is being asked is to change the name on an already existing board...

FROM: Trade Wanted (or whatever it is called)

TO: Home Resort Swap Wanted.​

Every other argument... value, availability, desireability, finding people, taxes, etc, etc, etc... is simply noise that is clouding the request.

The fact is the mechanism already exists... and the OP is simply making an observation that current naming is ineffective at attracting current members... and that it would be an improvement in marketing if the name was changed.

/Jim

Well said Jim.......should this come to fruition, there will obviously be things that may need to be addressed as the process takes place. How would the members be identified as authentic, could there possibly be some type of way to leave feedback about the swappers for prospective exchangers to check(similar to ebay's feedback system), how far in advance could one request a swap? I'm just throwing out some things that I'm sure are in some posters minds (and mine as well!). Thought out very well, and given an appropriate time trial, this could prove to be very beneficial for DVC owners. I hope others keep coming with their comments!

 

[ZekeKelso]

How would the members be identified as authentic, could there possibly be some type of way to leave feedback about the swappers for prospective exchangers to check(similar to ebay's feedback system),

The DIS board has made it clear it will play no role whatsoever with authenticating, feedback, etc. of rentals and transfers. If they do, they open themselves up to a whole lot of legal problems. All they can do is provide a forum for individuals to meet up and make private transactions.

how far in advance could one request a swap?

Right now the rent/trade boards have no restriction on this (unless I'm missing something). I don't see why they would change that.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

The DIS board has made it clear it will play no role whatsoever with authenticating, feedback, etc. of rentals and transfers. If they do, they open themselves up to a whole lot of legal problems. All they can do is provide a forum for individuals to meet up and make private transactions.



Right now the rent/trade boards have no restriction on this (unless I'm missing something). I don't see why they would change that.

Thank you Zeke for your quick response! We have yet to hear from the mods, so I'm sure if this is entertained, they will spell out all of the rules. Yes, they will have no responsibility other than hosting the forum. But there are rules, we have to wait and see what they would be, assuming this does happen.

 

[Chuck S]

Thank you Zeke for your quick response! We have yet to hear from the mods, so I'm sure if this is entertained, they will spell out all of the rules. Yes, they will have no responsibility other than hosting the forum. But there are rules, we have to wait and see what they would be, assuming this does happen.

Just to be clear, you can post for these type of trades now, in fact, you always could.

If all this thread/poll seeks to do is change the name in the thread title from Trade Wanted to Swap Wanted, what is stopping folks that want a trade/swap from posting now?

 

[BWV Dreamin]

Just to be clear, you can post for these type of trades now, in fact, you always could.

If all this thread/poll seeks to do is change the name in the thread title from Trade Wanted to Swap Wanted, what is stopping folks that want a trade/swap from posting now?

It's not that its not already being done, its the fact that the requests are getting intermingle with rent postings. Since there is no separate forum, they get pushed down in the "queue" so to speak, and it is very hard to find them. If they were held in a separate forum, the requests would all be "viewable", even if you have to go down 2,3,4 pages. They are all still "exchange" requests. I as a viewer, don't have to be bothered with all of the other information I am not interested in. Kind of having all your socks in one drawer, not your socks, bathing suit, last years sweater! Having some fun here....but you get the point.

 

[Chuck S]

But, is the poll to start a new forum, or simply change the terminology? There seems to be conflicting opinion on just what this poll is for. In fact, you even seem to agree it is only a title change in post #67.

 

[BWV Dreamin]

But, is the poll to start a new forum, or simply change the terminology? There seems to be conflicting opinion on just what this poll is for.

Its however the mods want to change it, as long as the requests are SEPARATE from the for rent requests. It could be a sub-forum to the Rent/Trade board, but it needs to have its own area.

 

[WelcomeHome]

If all this thread/poll seeks to do is change the name in the thread title from Trade Wanted to Swap Wanted, what is stopping folks that want a trade/swap from posting now?

Dear ChuckS,

I understand what you're saying, but right now the poll shows that 44% of the respondants didn't even know that this facility exists which means they would never even go to a "Trade Wanted" or "Trade Offered" thread because they don't know what it's used for.

As a result, I feel proper marketing to "get the word out" would be extremely valuable in turning this into a VERY successful and popular forum.

Because of the volume and speed of the "rental" requests on the forum, I strongly agree with BWV Dreamin that a well advertisied new sub-forum would be very successful.

If so many DISboard members are unaware that they have availabilty to this wonderful perk, then why would the even go look on the existing "Rent/Trade" Boards?

Best wishes,
Dave

 

[islandtimect]

We're interested in a home resort swap, but find the rent/transfer threads cumbersome to deal with. Could we have a new method of tracking who would be willing to trade home resort ressies, such as a massive spreadsheet with contact info, home resorts, points, and UYs listed? For example, we've reserved AKV for April 2009 but want VB. I"d love to find out easily who I could contact. Right now we're thinking of contacting only acquaintances who live near us.

 

[CarolMN]

Dear ChuckS,

I understand what you're saying, but right now the poll shows that 44% of the respondants didn't even know that this facility exists which means they would never even go to a "Trade Wanted" or "Trade Offered" thread because they don't know what it's used for.

Then those 44% have never read the STICKY THREADS at the top of the Rent/Trade Forum. The info on Trades is in the Sticky Threads and since those are required reading before you can post anything over there, it's more likely that most of the 44% aren't even interested in renting reservations or transferring points, let alone trading reservations.

As a result, I feel proper marketing to "get the word out" would be extremely valuable in turning this into a VERY successful and popular forum.

Because of the volume and speed of the "rental" requests on the forum, I strongly agree with BWV Dreamin that a well advertised new sub-forum would be very successful.

You and I disagree on this.

I don't think there are very many DVC DIS members interested in trading reservations, and those that are, probably have something to trade that no one really needs (because they can get it with non home resort points).

I agree with crisi's post (#49) which I will repeat:

Here is where I see it as more complicated.

I have BWV points (I do). I don't need to swap with someone to get into SSR, there is usually availability at seven months - so "what's in that swap for me?"

Maybe, I might be willing to trade my window for the same number of points at VWL in Early December, but there aren't a lot of even trade deals for BWV/BCV over Food and Wine or in December - which is the point in time its difficult to book seven or less months out. Face it, no one is looking to trade so they can stay in September. And I can't see many people wanting to go through the risk and hassle to trade for any resort easily booked with your own points seven months out.

I suppose that an SSR owner and myself could negotiate some cash thrown in, or a longer SSR stay - but that gets complicated - seems easier for them to rent the BWV points for cash and then rent out their SSR points to a third party for cash than to negotiate an exchange rate.

Finding two members in agreement on what their points are worth may be a challenge. But I've been wrong plenty of times before.

As far as the "speed" of the R/T Forum, anyone who posts an offer or request is free to bump it back to the first page when it slips off.

FWIW, it would be a lot of work to set up a new R/T forum. I personally don't think it is worth it when the capability asked for already exists. But I won't be the one stuck with the work and it's not my decision.

 

[SuzanneSLO]

I can see the point of some posters who want a separate sub-forum becuase it looks to me like the best chance to make a swap happen through a back-to-back point transfer would be if you start looking for your trade partner more than 2 years out. That is obviously a much different time frame than usually found on the Rent/Trade Board, where 12 months out is pretty early.

I suggest starting more than 2 years out because of the need to do transfers in and out of 2 different UY and the prohibition on borrowing transferred points. For example, let's say a member with a Feb UY at BCV wants to stay at Christmas at VWL for 7 nights in 2010. They need to find a VWL member who 1) has enough points with out banking or borrowing; 2) has those points in the 09UY or 10UY (any month); 3) wants a reservation at BCV for a similar amount of points and 4) the reservation the VWL member wants is bookable with either Feb 09UY (Feb 09 - Jan 11, with banking) or Feb 10UY (Feb 10 -Jan12, with banking) points.

Presumably, the VWL member would want to book more than 7 months in advance or why do the swap? To have the largest pool of VWL owners who might be interested in the swap, the BCV owner should try to find a match before at least 7 months -- and preferably 11 months -- in advance of the earliest possible reservation. In the case of a Feb UY owner, that would be as early as before March 08 and no later than July 08. Any later and our BCV onwer may be eliminating a possible match with a VWL owner interested in a Feb 09 reservation.

Unfortunately, this timeline makes it likely that a member wanting to make a swap as an equivalent transfer of points will never find a match, no matter how many post they make on how many sub-forums. I would guess that by the time most members decide they want to do a swap, they are only about 12 -18 months out from their desired vacation date. So I would concur that a swap forum would be unlikely to lead to many actual swaps.

Sorry for the length of this thread but I hope it was of help to some of you. -- Suzanne

 

[jade1]

I'm thinking "buy where you want to stay" and move on.

 

[bobbiwoz]

I just mentioned this idea to DH. I'm interested, DH is concerned about fraud. We may just be taking our chances at 7 months.

I would like to see data on just what people went for at 7 months and didn't get.

If this idea takes off, could the non-Disboarder DVCer be hurt? Someone mentioned that TUG already has something in place. Is it well used?

We do own at 5 resorts, we do own where we usually want to stay.

Bobbi

 

[WelcomeHome]

Dear CarolMN,

It's definitely fine to disagree with me and I'm the first to admit that some DVC members will have no interest in a reservation exchange at all. I'm not even suggesting a new forum because I agree that would be a lot more work for our beloved moderators (you included) who we are very grateful for!

All I'm suggesting is that we look at the possibility of a few simple marketing changes on the EXISTING FORUM so that more DISboard members find out that this facility that the poll shows the majority are interested in exists.

When only 7% of the poll respondents believe that the "Trade Offered" and "Trade Wanted" treads are fine the way they are, it think it's time for some simple marketing improvements.

Best wishes,
Dave