Why are points treated like a Commodity instead of something special?

[bullpup12564]

Just some thoughts. Last night I was looking at something on EBAY and the price went up while I was watching it. Nothing surprising with that. I was also on the rent board and saw a lot of posts asking for 10/point. Many of these had replies saying I will give you 9. I saw one poster and she went down the list of posts saying I will give you 8. I wonder how often points go rented for these prices. Probably more then we know about through Pm’s.



Are there really more sellers then buyers. The posts looked like it was more buyers. Do you think maybe some renters are actually a business and the low selling price is being made up through a high volume? If so have would it be an overstatement to say the points are now commoditized.

 

[Plutofan]

A lot of people do not even cover their costs when they rent out points. Most of the time they are trying to unload them quickly which is great for renters. I actually have talked to someone that said they knew someone that bought the maxmium number of points at each resort and only rents them out. That is a lot of points.

 

[Chuck S]

I know the value of my points, but I don't rent them, I use them most of the time, or I give them to friends and family. They make great wedding gifts...I'm giving some friends their honeymoon in June.

 

[tmt martins]

Well I hope they keep undervalueing them because I bought what I could afford for now .
However taking DM and DsF down for 2 bdrm.(we will do studio) will spoil them and us so I know I will need to rent or transfer some points in .

 

[Dean]

Just some thoughts. Last night I was looking at something on EBAY and the price went up while I was watching it. Nothing surprising with that. I was also on the rent board and saw a lot of posts asking for 10/point. Many of these had replies saying I will give you 9. I saw one poster and she went down the list of posts saying I will give you 8. I wonder how often points go rented for these prices. Probably more then we know about through Pm’s.



Are there really more sellers then buyers. The posts looked like it was more buyers. Do you think maybe some renters are actually a business and the low selling price is being made up through a high volume? If so have would it be an overstatement to say the points are now commoditized.

I'm always amused at the emotional attachment that many seem to have for this situation. It's certainly fine but not the way I am put together. I'm sure some rent out points for less, but I think there are many more potential rentee's than renters. I don't rent as much as I used to but had two people I previously rented to contact me this week and I couldn't help either of them. And this is simply an example of similar things that have happened over the past few years.

 

[Beca]

Ooohh....don't EVEN get me started on this one!!!



Beca

 

[calypso*a*go-go]

I think a lot of the time it's because people are hesitant to bank their points and then get in a situation where they realize too late that they won't be able to use them themselves and have gone past the banking window. Panic sets in at the thought of possibly losing the points and they list them on the Rent/Trade Board with too much info. posted about the status of the points.

How many times have we seen posts like "Must Use Points By X-Date or I Will Lose Them", etc. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that these are the type of people that will just about take any price per point. I posted something about this previously and referred to the people that take advantage of this situation as "bottom-feeders". They are going to jump at the chance. Can we fault them? Heck no...they're just using good business sense because so many DVC owners allow them to.

I personally would rather let a friend or family member use the points for free instead of letting a stranger make money off my investment.

 

[Plutofan]

Renters need to be careful of renting points that expire soon since there is little that the person can do to help them out if they have to cancel their trip and re-book.

 

[JVL1018]

I had 155 points that were left over--we bank every single year(bought more than we need because we will want a 2 bedroom eventually) and they just kept adding up, we couldn't use them so for thie first time since 1999 I rented them asked $10/point.

Someone told me they'd give me $9 for all of them..I'd rather rent all of them to another DVC member and lose the $155 than have to deal with renting them to various people, and maybe non DVC members..it was very easy I just sent an email to member services and that was it. Easiest money I ever made.

I can't see myself renting points again but if I did, I would do the same thing.

 

[Maria395712]

I prefer to rent as price per night and not per point. a studio at a DVC resort for 150-175 per night is a great price, and I do get it .it's better to charge per night just like any other hotel. I can't see the BWV studio going for 90.00 a night, that's crazy
maria

 

[CarolA]

Are there really more sellers then buyers. The posts looked like it was more buyers. Do you think maybe some renters are actually a business and the low selling price is being made up through a high volume? If so have would it be an overstatement to say the points are now commoditized.

Yes, there are posters over there getting those $9 points transferred into thier account and running over to EBAY to list them.


I just don't rent points....I use mine LOL!

 

[Dis13]

It doesn't seem very fair that I would be making a substantial investment in DVC and may/may not be able to book the resort of my choice because a room was not available because it was booked by someone who "bought" points on Ebay. (Hope I'm making sense.) I guess you can argue that the owner could have used it at that time... but it just doesn't seem right...

 

[Dean]

It doesn't seem very fair that I would be making a substantial investment in DVC and may/may not be able to book the resort of my choice because a room was not available because it was booked by someone who "bought" points on Ebay. (Hope I'm making sense.) I guess you can argue that the owner could have used it at that time... but it just doesn't seem right...

This is not directed at you, but at the general issue that comes up on this BBS from time to time. And I know some people look at this issue emotionally and some more from a factual standpoint. Remember that anyone who rents also made a substantial investment, followed the rules and made a reservation. They may have owned a lot longer or shorter than you. Other than special season preference lists and lottery's, where not everyone had the same potential access, a rentee (even from ebay) is no different in my book than the owner themselves using it. Not everyone bought with the exact same purpose and expectations. The question is what is legal and what is within the rules. ASAMOF, I'd put the usage by a rentee at the renter's home resort as higher up the ladder than a DVC member from a different resort.

The question of fair is whether DVC is following the laws of the state and the contractual rules spelled out in the POS. If so, it is totally fair. And in this situation, they are following the rules. Remember that Disney also has rooms to rent out and at times those rooms are available for cash but not points.

 

[snowbunny]

There are a fixed number of DVC points for each resort, which never changes. It really makes no difference "who" is staying on said points.

 

[jimmytammy]

We havent rented our points before and I hope we never have too. With that said, I can understand why some DVCers do rent out pts. If it came down to crunch time, and Im gonna lose pts., then yes I would rent them or more likely try to give them to a friend or family member whom I feel would appreciate them. And like another poster put it, I would prefer to rent them to someone on this forum who truly understands and appreciates the value of points.

But your question seemed to ask are their more sellers/renters than true DVCers? Not to ruffle feathers but what I mean by true DVCers, is those who purchased with intent to use those pts. for themselves, not for profit, not for investment, etc., but their own personal enjoyment.

IMO, the answer to that question would be, considering there are nearly 100,000 DVC owners, the majority of those are true DVCers, those who use the pts. for themselves, not rentees, not sellers, not profit seekers.

And I see no wrong in the few who do sell for profit or rent. Look at all who post on these DVC forums in comparison to the contracts for sell/rent on other venues and the numbers here outweigh the numbers elsewhere. Bear in mind, we here on the DVC forums are pretty passionate about our beloved DVC and our home resorts. And I think we are a small fraction of so many others out there who for one reason or another havent joined our little band of Lime Green neckers (as LauraBearz calls us)

 

[Maria395712]

I for one don't make any profit except I rent points and pay my dues off for the year next. since I own at BWV, VB, HH and SSR and I only want to stay at the Boardwalk I rent all the other points and buy Boardwalk points from other owners so I an have the 11 month window for myself .I go in march , oct, dec, and jan .I try for 4 times per year and don't like any where else. it is a lot of work . it goes to show you only buy where you want to stay .had I found this board in 96 and knew that, I would only rent to pay my dues and I don't use ebay ,never did
maria