Trouble with RCI Exchange

[CarmenPeteron]

I have been a member since 1998 and I never had a problem making an exchange with Interval International. Disney has since switched over to RCI and it has been a nightmare for me to try to find anything available with them. I am always being told that nothing is available. An employee with DVC did tell me that there are a lot of complaints but there is nothing that can be done since they signed a long contract with them. Is anyone else experiencing the same problem as me?

 

[goofystitchfan]

I have been able to make a few exchanges, however they were off times of the year (ex: spring in New Hampshire) and also mid week. What I don't like about the "exchange" is that you can't get on any type of wait list unless you are going for a week.

 

[Brian Noble]

What exactly are you looking for? We could give you some idea of your chances.

An employee with DVC did tell me that there are a lot of complaints but there is nothing that can be done since they signed a long contract with them.

At last year's annual meeting, it was claimed that exchanges are being satisfied more quickly/often with RCI than with II.

http://www.dvcnews.com/index.php/ne...163/1134-2009-condo-association-meeting-recap

 

[famgel]

We got lucky last year and got a 2 BR at the Jordan Grand, Maine. I've been trying to do the same or anywhere else on the East Coast for the past 3 mos and it's been a horrible experience. Most of the time the reviews of RCI resorts are not good and if they're good then there is a problems of the sleeping configurations. Every resort is different but I'm noticing that a 2 BR could be 1 studios and a 1BR put together or they use regular rooms in the set up. Usually comprising of 1 actual bed along with Murphy pull downs and sleeper sofas or double beds. You could not fit 6 people in a 1 BR unit comfortably. This is not my idea of a vacation. You are better off calling the resort directly and asking them how the chances look for your time of vacation. Everyone I talked to has been honest and will tell me upfront dont even try, like today in Lake George, NY. This resort has had maybe 3 exchanges with RCI in the past 10 yrs they've been opened. Now why is this even on our list of possible resorts? This has been a very frustrating experience and will not be adding on DVC points any time soon. DVC is basically a Disney resort timeshare only. You shouldn't join if you're looking to go somewhere in what they say could be 500 destinations, it's all crap. I'm going to email DVC tomorrow but I know it'll go no where. Just disgusted at this point, sorry for ranting!

 

[CarmenPeteron]

I don't believe what Disney is saying about RCI exchanges. We have been members for over 10 years and we had many exchanges with Interval International. We had no problem getting accommodations in Kauia, Palm Springs, Williamsburg, Lake Tahoe, and Palm Springs. Nowadays anytime I inquire I am always told that there is nothing available. I ask MS if anything is available in the next 12 months and the answer is almost always "no". This makes no sense to me since you would think that there must be some RCI members that want to exchange into Disney. It is totally illogical!!!!!! I tried to get into Casa Ybel on Sanibel Island, Florida. They told me that there is absolutely nothing available in 2010. When I called the resort directly, I had no problem getting in for cash.

I am convinced that timeshare resorts are holding back inventory so that they can rent them out for cash. Disney does this too. I have been told that everything is booked in the middle of November at the Animal Kingdom Lodge even when I call many months in advance. If you happen to be there at that time you will see that it is not that busy. There are many things that are going on behind the scenes that we timeshare owners do not know about.

 

[rentayenta]

We didn't have a problem exchanging for Cabo in March of 2009. I put it the resort we wanted with 3 different week options. I think we waited a couple of weeks. I have no experience with Interval International so I can't compare.

 

[bwvBound]

I tried to get into Casa Ybel on Sanibel Island, Florida. They told me that there is absolutely nothing available in 2010.

I'm not arguing with your premise re: cash inventory vs exchange. However, it is my basic understanding that Sanibel Island is a "high demand" area and could, quite possible, be a very difficult exchange. Just for fun, I tried searching RCI using my strongest trader (a SoCal Summer unit that usually performs quite well in TUG trade tests) and found only 1 unit between "now" and Aug 2013:

Surfrider Beach Club (#3276)
555 E. Gulf Drive
Sanibel Island, FL 33957
USA
239/472-2161
www.surfriderbeachclub.com

Unit Type Max Occup
(Privacy) Kitchen Check-In Date Check-Out Date Price
1 BR 4 (2) Full 23-Jun-2012 30-Jun-2012 Exchange Fee Only

Given DVC's additional restriction on "hand picked resorts," I think it is very possible that no inventory was available.

 

[Brian Noble]

I tried to get into Casa Ybel on Sanibel Island, Florida. They told me that there is absolutely nothing available in 2010.

It's getting very (very!) late for a 2010 exchange anywhere, let alone Sanibel Island---as bwvBound notes, that's a very high-demand area nearly any time of year. What's more, calling periodically will not be as useful as placing an ongoing search for what you want---and some do speculate that this is something that is different between II and RCI.

The best way to improve your chances of success in RCI is to plan farther in advance, and place an ongoing search being as flexible as possible about destinations, dates, or both.

As for renting from the resort vs. exchanging---just as with DVC, most resorts own some of their inventory directly; foreclosed intervals, deedbacks, that sort of thing. Those resorts have a duty to their other owners to try to get as much revenue for those intervals as they can, and that means renting them out for cash rather than depositing them to an exchange pool. Some resorts also manage rental pools for their owners who which to monetize their time rather than exchange it---one of mine does this.

Finally, if I were in your shoes, I'd simply rent out my points (perhaps using David's "broker" service) and use the proceeds to rent the unit on Sanibel that I wanted. I bet you'll have money left over.

 

[CandyMandy]

It's been said before but is worth stating again: the best strategy to secure a "good" trade (defined as a desired property in the time period you want) is to follow two cardinal rules:

1. Cast as large a net as possible: come up with a prioritized list of 1st, 2nd and 3rd choice locations and dates. MS will do searches based on such multiple criteria.

2. Make your request as far in advance as possible: at least a year out and even more if we are looking at getting into someplace during prime periods.

I do know that back under II there was also a benefit in putting your request in at the beginning of December, since that was when a lot of inventory opened up. I think it had had something to do with an annual deadline for when owners had to decide whether to hold onto inventory or put it up for trade; whatever, the handful of MS exchange specialists I worked through all emphasized that "there's a brief window of better than average availability then."

I don't know if there's anything analogous in the RCI program.

 

[edith76]

I think more owners might be renting out their weeks also to offset their own dues rather than depositing them in RCI and II. I know I'm getting more calls from RCI than usual asking me to bank my weeks.

 

[Dean]

I have been a member since 1998 and I never had a problem making an exchange with Interval International. Disney has since switched over to RCI and it has been a nightmare for me to try to find anything available with them. I am always being told that nothing is available. An employee with DVC did tell me that there are a lot of complaints but there is nothing that can be done since they signed a long contract with them. Is anyone else experiencing the same problem as me?

It sounds like you have the habit of calling and checking availability. RCI does more with ongoing searches and further out than II, in addition to having more resorts but overall less top quality resorts.

 

[CarmenPeteron]

I agree that Sanibel Island is a high demand area. Keep in mind that we had the Gulf Oil Spill and there were many cancelations on the West Coast of Florida. It was not in high demand this past summer! It does not make any sense to me that there was no one wanting to exchange their timeshare for a Disney Resort. I even ask the DVC employee if anything in Florida was available and he told me that there was nothing.

 

[dvc_john]

I tried to get into Casa Ybel on Sanibel Island, Florida. They told me that there is absolutely nothing available in 2010. When I called the resort directly, I had no problem getting in for cash.

I own at Casa Ybel. A little info, fwiw:

All the resorts on Sanibel Island tend to be small. Casa Ybel has 72 2-br timeshare units and 40 1-br wholey owned units. The timeshare units are mutli-affiliated with II, RCI, and HGVC (Hilton Grand Vacations). If an owner gives up their week, it could go to any of the 3, so if it goes to II or HGVC, it is not available to DVC. The 1-br units are generally available for rental. I also own at Sanibel Cottages, and in 24 years of ownership, I have never given it up for exchange.

 

[Dean]

I agree that Sanibel Island is a high demand area. Keep in mind that we had the Gulf Oil Spill and there were many cancelations on the West Coast of Florida. It was not in high demand this past summer! It does not make any sense to me that there was no one wanting to exchange their timeshare for a Disney Resort. I even ask the DVC employee if anything in Florida was available and he told me that there was nothing.

Given the way RCI (and II) work, it's doesn't matter whether a given owner or those who own at a given location request DVC. What matters is whether they give up their unit to RCI (or II), how well other RCI members plan and use the system and for weeks trades, the trade power (and resort quality) of the person trying to trade to a given location. High resort quality and low trade power is likely the worst case to be in for weeks exchanges. DVC has relatively low trade power comparatively though maybe a little better in RCI than II. Trade power doesn't come into play for trades using points to other RCI points resorts though but those are first come first served and the best options normally go away quickly at exactly 10 months out for the high demand options. Sanibel is in high demand and I doubt the recent issues made any difference.

 

[dblr]

We tried to get an exchange to try to get a palce in New England for a ski week but had no luck at all, I even thought it would not be hard as it was for a week in March but nothing was available. We did end up banking the week with RCI( hope it was a good choice as the points would run out) so we have till 2012 to use it wish me luck.

 

[Dean]

We tried to get an exchange to try to get a palce in New England for a ski week but had no luck at all, I even thought it would not be hard as it was for a week in March but nothing was available. We did end up banking the week with RCI( hope it was a good choice as the points would run out) so we have till 2012 to use it wish me luck.

Plan now and put in an ongoing request for the options you would prefer.

 

[Brian Noble]

It does not make any sense to me

Unfortunately, that's not going to make inventory magically appear. There simply isn't anything there.

Rent your points, and use the proceeds to rent what you want.

 

[CarmenPeteron]

Unfortunately, that's not going to make inventory magically appear. There simply isn't anything there.

Rent your points, and use the proceeds to rent what you want.

You are right. That is what I have to do.