RCI Points Program changes - some details off the website

[djyamyam Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close djyamyam]

Here's some info RCIs new changes to the Points program.

® - Going Farther Than Ever!BOLDER SAVINGS
with up to 50% off through RCI Points® Deals
The farther you stretch your RCI Points, the more options you have to use them. We know that. That’s why we’ll be periodically reducing the RCI Points value of some of our inventory — not just 45 days out, but up to 10 months in advance.

What does that mean for you? With up to 50% off the published RCI Points value, you can use fewer RCI Points for a first-rate resort vacation — leaving you with more to play with. You can find out about these deals in the following ways:

Email Notifications: We’ll send you an email to let you know about our current resorts and deals; please call an RCI® Guide at 1-877-968-7476 to verify that we have your email address on file.
Web Announcements: We’ll post updates about our latest deals at RCI.com.
Member Mailings: As we offer new deals, we may send you a note on what’s available and how you can book.

[djyamyam Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close djyamyam]

More:

BROADER WAYS
to use your RCI Points® with RCI Points Partners
You’ve always had the freedom to use your RCI Points for airfare, hotel stays and more. Now you’ll have even more ways to use your RCI Points — both at the resort and at home.

Over the coming months, we’ll be expanding our RCI Points Partners program to include activity and entertainment-based partners — giving you new options to help you make the most of your RCI Points. Here’s an example of what we’re planning:

Resort Activities: Ski passes, golf packages and off-site excursions are just a few possibilities we’re putting together.
Theater Tickets: From theatrical performances to big, Broadway-style shows, your RCI Points have never been so entertaining.
Amusement & Theme Parks: Fun for the whole family? That’s the RCI® way. Especially when you exchange your RCI Points for park tickets, attractions and more

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

More points partners really means more ways to take advantage of the mathmatically challenged people who combine the lack of that skill with the basic lack of understanding of how to use their timeshares effectively. These "new" ways to spend points will mean new inventory to rent out and new income avenues for RCI. I'm quite sure the dollar cost of the points required to purchase from these new points partners will be an advantage to RCI and bad for the consumer.

IMO, this is not good news for those wishing to exchange through RCI's points program.

This is definately an enhancement all right. It will change money from members hance (hands) to theirs.

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

Well, it does look like RCI is adding an element of dynamic points assignments to help balance supply and demand. The problem with the discounts is that those points need to be given back by RCI in some way. Unfortunately, it will be through points that RCI acquires back through points partners. So, when an owner exchanges for these products, they must pay for the product, for RCI's costs and profits AND for the discounts they are giving everyone else. So, the products will be significantly overpriced. But, if an owner trades for them, it's really their choice.

[dougp26364 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dougp26364]

I guess one way of looking at it is RCI is offering some amount of compensation or way for a couple to use RCI points when they buy a timeshare from the developer at list price, then can't figure out how to use it. One plus might be that it slows down the post card companies business as the people who might sell out to them will now have an avenue to spend points and not feel that they have wasted their money on a timeshare they can't get out from under.

It could also inadvertantly drive up resale prices if fewer people decided to dump their timeshares and there are fewer auctions on E-bay or other outlets. Depending on whether you're buying or selling would determine if that's good news or bad news.