Would you rent to a Co-Worker?

[tinker_me_happy]

I am a new DVC owner and have some points available in 09. A friend at work is interested in going in Sept 09. I am trying to decide if I should offer to rent points to her. If I do, I would want to get the "going rate" which from what I have read seems to be between $9 and $14 per point. At $12/pt she would still come out at less than half of what it would cost to pay cash for the same room, same time frame. I don't want to over charge her, but definately want to make it worth MY while to give up some potential vacation time. Another concern is doing a contract with someone you work with. After reading many posts here, it seems many people who have had good luck with renting have a "no refund" policy.
So for those who have had success in renting: Would you rent to a co worker? Or do you think it could potentially cause unwanted problems?

 

[tomandrobin]

I would charge the going rate. By extending the use of your points to them, you are already bring generous.

Since they are thinking about going in Sept 09, she would be paying Disney rate. This is before you are going to be offering the points for them to use.

Also, once you extend DVC at a discount rate.....everyone else will expect the same from you.

 

[ruzer28]

Gosh, I don't think I would. I'm not an owner, by the way, but I rent all the time. I guess it depends on the coworker herself. Would she try to get you to give her a price that's unfair to you just because you know one another? Would she adhere to the "no-cancellation" policy? If you're dealing with a stranger, you can be firm about enforcing these issues, but would you feel uncomfortable trying to enforce them with a coworker? I probably would not want to deal with the potential problems of renting to someone that I knew.

 

[TisBit]

One thing to consider is value of DVC during September. Usually it is free dining month, which they couldn't get at DVC, so if that would influence them....it might not be such a good deal.

I personally wouldn't....but I am not inclined to rent unless I am going to lose the points. I wouldn't give up points as a favor, when I COULD use them....and it sounds like you could.

 

[SSRFred]

Do your own scheduling first. I know that if I were to rent any points, I'd be looking at calling CRO for all of our 2011 reservations.

You can certainly rent to your coworker. Don't treat them any differently than you would treat me, at $9 for 09 points I'm tempted to buy them and resell them myself. Don't sell your coworker on the concept. Any promises left unfilled will ruin your relationship.
Use a written contract with a cancellation policy that won't leave you without points to use. If you keep it smart, cool and non-aggressive, there's no reason why it wouldn't work.

 

[crisi]

I wouldn't give up vacation points you might use for the sake of a coworker. If I had points that I wasn't going to use that I needed to find someone, maybe then. But MAYBE. It would depend on the coworker.

Think about renting DVC points to a friend a little like selling them your old car. There are some people who you could make this arrangement with and it would be fine - everyone would be happy. There would be others who would expect the "friend's discount" and be hurt when they found out they paid blue book. There are others that would back out on the deal the moment they needed to give you a check - even if it put you in a tight spot. There are still others who would come back a year later telling you the car needs new brakes and expecting you to chip in. And then there are those that would buy your car from you, and then start hinting around about when you are going to buy another car, cause they could really use the car you are driving now.

 

[spiceycat]

are we talking 'friend' or 'co-worker'

definitely give friend a discount.

co-worker - no they paid what I charge.

have done both - rented to a friend and rented to a co-worker - both were happy.

 

[Muushka]

I don't want to over charge her, but definately want to make it worth MY while to give up some potential vacation time.

I guess I don't understand this mentality. People usually rent out points because they can't use them or perhaps going on a cruise and renting their points would help to finance it. If you are making a sacrifice to rent these points to a co-worker, I wouldn't do it.

And with people I know, I always say, yeah, you can rent points. Not mine, but you can rent them!

 

[tinker_me_happy]

I guess I don't understand this mentality. People usually rent out points because they can't use them or perhaps going on a cruise and renting their points would help to finance it. If you are making a sacrifice to rent these points to a co-worker, I wouldn't do it.

And with people I know, I always say, yeah, you can rent points. Not mine, but you can rent them!

I guess what I mean is I don't have plans for them right now. I COULD use them, but I can still get all the vacation plans in that I WANT right now and have some extra points for 2009 use year. I COULD bank them into the future so as to always be "rolling forward" (using 2007 points in 2008, 2009 points in 2010 etc...) Maybe it is just better to bank whatever points I don't have plans for. My reasoning for renting would be 1) To help a "friendly coworker" (more co worker than friend) and 2) It would pay the dues for the year, helping me pay down my loan faster. I don't NEED option 2, but that is how I would use the money if I didn't bank the points.

 

[Crispy21]

I have rented 2 times to a co worker. Each time I told them to call and get the very lowest price they could, and told them I would beat that price by 15%.

They were happy, I was happy, we were all happy.

 

[franco]

I have rented to both friends (at a discount) and co-workers (regular price) without a problem but I always make sure they understand the rules no refunds.

 

[RLRDA]

OP, you mentioned that you COULD bank the points in question. I would just bank them and use them for a longer trip or larger accomodations for your family on a future visit. The only way I'd consider renting points (just my opinion) is if I wasn't able to use them before they would expire. We don't have points to spare....we use every last one

 

[PSC]

You didn't say what your use year is, but be sure to consider the new banking rules. With a friend or co-worker it might be more difficult to stand firm on a no refund for cancellation policy. I would have to think long and hard about renting points that I couldn't bank if the reservation was canceled during the last 4 months of my use year.

 

[DVC Mary]

I have rented 2 times to a co worker. Each time I told them to call and get the very lowest price they could, and told them I would beat that price by 15%.

They were happy, I was happy, we were all happy.

We've done what Crispy has done. I learned my lesson by doing a lot of legwork for someone who wound up not wanting to rent. I've told people to figure out what type of resort they want, price the best deal out there, & then I can let them know what price I can get them. I don't explain the whole point system to them, going rates, etc. I just tell them the price I can get them at the various DVC resorts. I've rented to co-workers at about $10 a point & family or close friends closer to $9.

For my last rental, my co worker was VERY happy. They were planning to stay at a moderate w/ 2 rooms. I gave them the choice of a 2 bedroom or 2 studios at a Deluxe. They chose 2 connecting studios at VWL.

Good luck & trust your gut w/ your coworker if they are the type to be troublesome or not. I should've done that w/ the last person who wasted way too much of my time.

Good luck!

 

[castleri]

I rented to a co worker and we both ended up happy witht he deal. I got my MFs paid for for the year and his family had a great time in a 2BR at OKW. We did talk about it and I made certain he understood exactly what the rules were about no refunds etc. I actually found it a better way to rent than having to use a listing on a board. You need to be certain everyone understands the way it will work and be comfortable that your co-worker is reliable and will in fact keep their end of the agreement. I also set a payment in full date that would keep my points within the then current banking time just in case.