Is RCI pulling a fast one?

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

I have spoken to an RCI supervisor and gotten a tap dance...but please tell me if this just sounds wrong.

I just banked 2 2009 weeks, a studio and 1 bedroom (I split a lock-off), Scottsdale, Arizona (Villa Mirage), Gold Crown for the week including Presidents Day. It is pulling up virtually nothing in exchange.

I did a test on a 2007 week I have a search going (Feb 23rd check in)...October 2008 - Hawaii and got 13 responses. The 2009 week pulled up nothing on the exact same search.

The supervisor tried to tell me it's because RCI doesn't yet know what the demand for these units will be (yeah, right. February in Scottsdale) and as time goes on, the trading power of them will grow.

I've been using RCI for 10 years and trading with this resort and have never seen this or heard what seems to be such a pile.

Any thoughts? What is going on and how do I resolve it?

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

Sometimes new deposits pick up power as time goes on, sometimes they lose it. On the other hand, I tend to think that RCI gives all their VCs extensive courses in bullshit, while they rent out the good deposits and give their members access to the crap they can't rent. If I am at all confusing here, let me make it clear - RCI sucks ! Don't give them good stuff to rent - go to the independents.

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

It may not be too late to get the one-bedroom unit back from RCI - talk to that same supervisor - and then deposit it with SFX.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

This is not the first time I have heard of prime deposits performing at new world lows in RCI. It's happened to me and others.

Get them back from RCI if you can and use one of the independents especially if you are looking for Hawaii. SFX, TPI & HTSE can all get you what you want there.

[Pat H Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Pat H]

If you only deposited the units in the last few days, RCI may not have received verification from the resort yet. They do make the deposits available for searching but don't give them full trading power until they are verified.

[I-DE-HO Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close I-DE-HO]

RCI, via "Ask Madge", has always said that trading power is set at time of deposit & doesn't change. I have personally found this to be true but others have seen changes. I wouldn't hold my breath that things will improve. Pull the 1BR and deposit it with SFX, Trading Places or someone else. Most of the independents will also take the studio.

Phil

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

I agree with Lawren, call RCI, tell them the MFs haven't been paid so the week(s) won't clear, and pull it/them out. The one-bedroom is a no-brainer, the studio depends on what you'd settle for in exchange -- SFX won't take it, not sure about the others. II might even be worthwhile for the studio, if you'd be willing to take a one-bedroom or studio in exchange for it.

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

As mentioned previously, until RCI completes it's verification with the resort the deposit will have no trade power. Prior to verification, the week will show in your account and you can do searches with it, but it won't pull anything. Madge's comment that trade power is set at time of deposit applies only after the deposit is verified with the resort.

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

As mentioned previously, until RCI completes it's verification with the resort the deposit will have no trade power. Prior to verification, the week will show in your account and you can do searches with it, but it won't pull anything. Madge's comment that trade power is set at time of deposit applies only after the deposit is verified with the resort.

Not with my last experience.... and it WILL be my last experience for a while.

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

Not with my last experience.... and it WILL be my last experience for a while.

Oh - I wasn't backing up Madge's statement. In referring to Madge's statement I was trying to point out that the statement would only apply to verified deposits.

More importantly, before charging off in any direction on this thread based on the OP's comments we need to know if the OP's has allowed sufficient time for the deposit to be verifed.

'Cause if the deposit hasn't been verified, there's nothing in the OP to suggest that RCI might be pulling a fast one.

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

I deposited a week back in Nov. that RCI had trouble verifying paid MF. I could not do any searches or anything with that week until it was verified. So I don't think that would be the problem with the OP week.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

I deposited a week back in Nov. that RCI had trouble verifying paid MF. I could not do any searches or anything with that week until it was verified. So I don't think that would be the problem with the OP week.

I have had the same experience. The VGs say they can input the search on their end, but I don't believe them, or at least I don't believe the search is really active no matter what they think they are inputting. The online customer feature is definitely not available until the week is verified and cleared.

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

I have had the same experience. The VGs say they can input the search on their end, but I don't believe them, or at least I don't believe the search is really active no matter what they think they are inputting. The online customer feature is definitely not available until the week is verified and cleared.

In the past when I have deposited with RCI the week has shown up in my account immediately. By "immediately", I mean depositing the week over the telephone with a VC, the VC telling me he has completed the transaction on his side, I refresh my RCI account page with RCI, and the week is there. I then immediately use the week to do searches and get results. IOW - doing searches within about ten minutes of talking to a rep.

Now, the week pulled nothing but crap for about a week until the deposit got verified with my resort. But it was in my account and available for use in a matter of minutes.

Maybe it makes a difference if you deposit over the phone??

[timeos2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close timeos2]

I have spoken to an RCI supervisor and gotten a tap dance...but please tell me if this just sounds wrong.

I just banked 2 2009 weeks, a studio and 1 bedroom (I split a lock-off), Scottsdale, Arizona (Villa Mirage), Gold Crown for the week including Presidents Day. It is pulling up virtually nothing in exchange.

This has become my #1 pet peeve with week/week exchanges. So many people are splitting what should be a 2 BR or larger into tiny slices (1 BR/ Studios) that are NOT what I got into timesharing for. If I wanted a tiny hotel room or a 1 BR I can go to a hotel or rent an Embassy Suites far easier than the hassles of a timeshare ownership & exchange.

We bought most of our resorts with 2 or more bedrooms and want that when we travel. It has become almost impossible to get in weeks and is another reason we prefer points. There you decide what size unit you desire and, if you want 2 week, you can CHOOSE to use less points to get 1 BR units or use more points and get 2 or more. Weeks has become useless as the unit sizes are tending to be small, the availability poor and, of course, the fact that RCI and others seem to be more into rentals than actually delivering an exchange.
Too many issues - too little service. Weeks trades are in their death spiral IMO.

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

I understand about the MF being verified but my resort is the one that has to bank my week so I would assume they would tell RCI immediately that the MF have been paid.

I appreciate all the good information. I'm hesitant to pull out the units completely because this experience is what finally pushed me to convert to Diamond/Sunterra Club and, even though the weeks were banked for 2008/09, they are giving us the points as well.

What I ended up doing was calling my resort owner services wonderful person and she is switching them to Spring Break weeks.

Anyway, thanks again for your responses. Once my banked weeks are used, I am done with RCI and what a relief.

PS - Please don't tell me II causes owners the same sort of grief. :-/