Why do people not use the forum

[gandalf252002 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close gandalf252002]

I was going to make a post to the forum "Timeshare Direct Exchanges Wanted" but noticed there has never been anything posted there. I know people do direct exchanges, so is there a particular reason no one posts in that forum?

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

Great question. Guess for me, I didn't know it was there.

I think a lot of people look to rental (placing to rent or renting from others) rather than exchanges.

It is very rare for me that I would need to do an exchange, so I have not used that feature of the 4M. When the need to go someplace the BG isn't, I will look into that area.

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

The odds of two owners wanting to do a direct exchange (both owners wanting to go to exactly the other owner's place exactly when the other person owns) is fairly limited.

That's why exchange companies exist (or, used to be the reason ), so there is a large pool to select from.

But, it doesn't hurt to post what you have and/or where and when you want to trade it for.

Heck, if you have a 3 bedroom Gold Crown on the beach in January or February in a tropical place, I might be willing to give you my Slimey Slough studio off-season for it.

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

I was going to make a post to the forum "Timeshare Direct Exchanges Wanted" but noticed there has never been anything posted there. I know people do direct exchanges, so is there a particular reason no one posts in that forum?

We're just lazy.

I've done a few direct exchanges on different forums but it's all been privately done with people that I've felt comfortable with after knowing them for a while online or after seeing something that someone posted that they wanted to do. I find an exact one for one exchange with a weeks owner to be difficult but exchanging with another points owner who owns something that they could get me is much easier. For you doing a direct exchange with someone who wanted something hard to get in BG or Shell would probably be easier.

There used to be a direct exchange free forum I think it was called Timex. I tried to do direct exchanges on there when I only owned weeks and almost had an exchange with a Canadian once who wanted to go to my resort in Ft. Lauderdale but of course I own a summer week and they wanted a snowbird week, so we never exchanged but that's the problem trying to trade weeks owners.

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

I would be interested in seeing more activity on the direct exchanging here. I know it may end up being hard to find a match, but when we do, it will be worth it.

[gandalf252002 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close gandalf252002]

Yeah, I can definately see how it would be difficult to trade weeks with a fixed owner, but trading with points and floating weeks should be much easier. I guess for me what I am looking for is not having to pay exchange fees, and put out EXTRA money for renting. Much better to use MF's already paid for. Guess the first step, is to put out my post and see if anyone responds. Maybe if I start using the forum, others will post as well.

The odds of two owners wanting to do a direct exchange (both owners wanting to go to exactly the other owner's place exactly when the other person owns) is fairly limited.

But, it doesn't hurt to post what you have and/or where and when you want to trade it for.

I find an exact one for one exchange with a weeks owner to be difficult but exchanging with another points owner who owns something that they could get me is much easier. For you doing a direct exchange with someone who wanted something hard to get in BG or Shell would probably be easier.

[joycapecod Silver Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close joycapecod]

I've tried it on a different forum using my week 32 ( first full week of August) 3 bedroom Ireland week and was offered:

week 49 Orlando 2 bedroom
week 8 Branson 2 bedroom
week 22 St Martin (not bad, but a studio unit)
various other weeks that were easy exchanges.

I was never offered anything "fair" in exchange, and truthfully I am not difficult to please. My issue is that if you want a resort that is difficult to trade in to, at least try to offer something that is appealing. I would have exchanged with the studio week 22 on St Martin if the "pot" was sweetened.

So now I either rent the unit, use the unit or bank the unit...it gets HUGE points.

Joy

[philsfan Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close philsfan]

There is a recent thread here that gives some information on a company/site that is trying to facilitate direct exchanges. I can't quite figure out how they plan to make any money doing this but so far it is free to sign up and list your unit as available for offers and to make offers on what others have listed.

[brother coony Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close brother coony]

I have exchange Person to person with other timeshare owners for the past 5 years,I don't belong to II or RCI so I only do owner to owner Trade,
has work great for me ,I have traded owner to owner to Half Moon in montego Bay Jamaica,one of the worlds Top Resort,Marriott St Kitts, Marriott Surf watch HH , all Thur Tug and redweek, never had a problem,
you make reservation for the party that wants your resort,and they make your reservation at there resort in your name and you get a conformation from the resort in your name,
right now I am looking to trade into Antigua for a 2bd rm in Oct.7 to 14 2012
I have A 2bd rm villa at Sandals Grande Ocho Rios In Jamaica floats May to Oct, or new years week Dec. 27 to Jan 3 /2011 or 2012 In NYC Manhattan Club,these are weeks you will never see on RCI or II New Years week at Manhattan Club, or Summer at Sandals
so any one here have that week and wotld like mine, please PM me
Thanks
b/c

[JLB Please excuse me, I'm a Dick. Not a moron just a Dick Find all posts View Profile Close JLB]

I've tried it on a different forum using my week 32 ( first full week of August) 3 bedroom Ireland week and was offered:

week 49 Orlando 2 bedroom
week 8 Branson 2 bedroom
week 22 St Martin (not bad, but a studio unit)
various other weeks that were easy exchanges.

I was never offered anything "fair" in exchange, and truthfully I am not difficult to please. My issue is that if you want a resort that is difficult to trade in to, at least try to offer something that is appealing. I would have exchanged with the studio week 22 on St Martin if the "pot" was sweetened.

So now I either rent the unit, use the unit or bank the unit...it gets HUGE points.

Joy

Another issue to be added to my original reply, getting two owners to agree on what is fair and comparable.

Lotsa issues.

But, what-the-hey, give it a try.

I've got two Spring Break Ski week studios (Weeks 10 and 11), near Winter Park, CO, a Week 30 there (Rocky Mountain National Park).

& Weeks 10, 17 and 28 in 2 bedroom Gold Crown gated golf community in Branson.

Anything there you want?

[morevacations Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close morevacations]

[QUOTE=gandalf252002;465301]I was going to make a post to the forum "Timeshare Direct Exchanges Wanted" but noticed there has never been anything posted there. I know people do direct exchanges, so is there a particular reason no one posts in that forum?[/QUOT

I thinks its called "status quo"
I didnt use it because there were no postings there! So if its not active----- there are other places to post. Its a great concept but it would need a "sponsor " to get it going here.


I have done MANY private exchanges and they work out great for many reasons. And you know , timeshares arent the only way to vacation... I started staying at timeshares by trading use of a Vt Mountain Condo that we wholly own . My first trades were week for week or long weekend in Florida, London, Breckenridge , etc. I have done many repeat trades with the same people, and now own timeshares and two other rental properties in fantastic locations.(Golf and city) The possibilities are endless. It does take some work and yes i get some offers that I am not interested in . I just say no politely.
I am listed on a homeexchange network as well and sometimes offer my timeshare time to them as an exchange. I cant be more pleased with the exchanging process itself

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

I was never offered anything "fair" in exchange

I've looked at some of the direct exchange ads on TUG. Very few are even remotely realistic in terms of what they are offering vs. what they want.

Cash (renting out, using the proceeds to rent what you want) solves this problem nicely.

And, to be honest, I find the new TPU-style system to be an improvement in terms of "fair value" as well, though others will disagree.

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

I've looked at some of the direct exchange ads on TUG. Very few are even remotely realistic in terms of what they are offering vs. what they want.

Cash (renting out, using the proceeds to rent what you want) solves this problem nicely.

And, to be honest, I find the new TPU-style system to be an improvement in terms of "fair value" as well, though others will disagree.

I've actually found my exchangers thru PM and not resonding to the ads. When someone asks about doing a direct exchange, I engage them on the thread and see if it's something that I might want to do. So far I've done two trades that way and am going for a third with a Disney owners who wants to go to Maui. I'm working on that one now. The possibilities are endless. Someone else offered me a Harborside week in exchange for a DVC week. I definitely am considering that one.

[wilson22447 Member Find all posts View Profile Close wilson22447]

To breathe some life into it, would featuring a state or group of states periodically help? For example, if there was announcement that for period of time, southeastern states would be featured. Anyone who wanted to exchange theirs could list it, and anyone interested in getting one could look to see if anything interesting was listed. Soon after, another group could be featured.

[gandalf252002 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close gandalf252002]

I am sure direct exchanges are more difficult, obviously because of supply and demand. Of course, the more time you spend on these forums, the more you learn who has what, and who wants what. A database of who owns what, and whom wants to go where would assist in that but could be a lot of work but would facilitate easier direct trades.

Like previously said though, people often make some outrageous and bizarre offers. I have posted ads that clearly stated STARTING rates as low as $28 a night for Hershey Suites in the off-season. When they contact me and I tell them $900 for a week in July they complain that is not what the ad said. There was a recent request for a three bedroom, in the peak of ski season and they wanted $49 a night rates. Came close to telling this customer how offended I was that they even thought they could get that kind of accommodation for that little but I guess it does happen from time to time and of course, if you don't ask you don't get.