Is DRI Really Improving?

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

Over the last year and a half, I have been paying close attention to DRI as it relates to customer service and its product. I have reading the complaints on this forum and on TUG. I have noticed that over the last year that the complaints about DRI have centered mainly on maintenance fees increases and availability. However, these items are ones that I see for all timeshares. What is interesting is that there are not many posts for complaints on this forum, TUG or the DRI website. The Europeans have more complaints than us and they are vocal about it. Their complaints are mostly about maintenance fees, availability and being able to resell their points. The Europeans are more vocal about their opinions and voice it on the DRI website and they have a yahoo account that the communite on.

However, overall there has not been the outcry about DRI and its points system that there have been in the past. The properties are being refurbished, the new website enhancements have been a plus, and I like the locations of some of the new additions.

Could it be that DRI has improved? Are we starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel? Or is it that I just want to believe my 30000 points are worth it?

[wilson22447 Member Find all posts View Profile Close wilson22447]

I believe it is improving. I am not especially happy with the maintenance fees. I have 10,000 points and belong to the US Collection. My fees for next year aree $1544. That's about $500 more than 3 years ago when Sunterra still owned it.

However, DRI has added many affiliates which has saved me from having to trade so much. In addition, they have made some visible improvements that you mentioned.

If I had to do it over, would I buy from the same company? Maybe not. In fact I would seriously consider Bluegreen and envy owners whose company has many of the places I like to go. But, I have DRI, see improvements, and can live with what I have.

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

DRI has made considerable improvements over this time last year. The online system is very user friendly at this point in time. I have no problems searching online, making reservations, checking on reservations, making periodic payments on my accounts or even looking up the rules of THE Club.

When I have had a problem or question I've recieved a responce and a follow up phone call to make sure all my concerns/questions have been adressed.

We could go into MF's but, I said a long time ago that DRI had a vision of the quality they wanted the resorts to be and that MF's would go up to accomplish those improvements. Sunterra left some resorts in disrepair and, from what I've read, it sounds as if DRI has made the necessary repairs.

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

What is interesting is that there are not many posts for complaints on this forum, TUG or the DRI website. The Europeans have more complaints than us and they are vocal about it.

I think that as far as the DRI Forums go, the European moderators allow more complaint postings than the US moderators. I have attempted many postings on the DRI Forums, and none of the posts that even came close to resembling a complaint would be posted on the North America section, although I have had complaint posts allowed onto both the Global and the Europe sections.

[wilson22447 Member Find all posts View Profile Close wilson22447]

Now that you mention it, I have noticed that, too.

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

Why Can't We Complain?

I have had complaints posted and not posted on the DRI website. Does anyone have any idea why the Europeans would be given the latitude that we in the US are not given? Does Europe have a stranglehold on freedom of speech/complaint that we don't have?

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

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

I don't think the constitution provided that you can say what you want, when you want, wherever you want. The constitution only allows that congress shall pass no law abridging the freedom of speech.

On privately owned sites such as this one, you can't say anything you want without the risk of being censored. Try posting SPAM here and see how fast it disappears. Break the rules enough and you could even have your account closed. It's not a violation of freedom of speech for DRI to censor or moderate it's site.

Why the Eurpoean forums might be allowed more lattitude to complain I can only guess. It could be the moderator allows more freedom. It could be a cultural thing where heavy handed censorship could make matters worse for DRI's public image. But I doubt seriously that it has anything to do with your constitutional right to freedom of speech.

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

Ever-improving website, no more hard-to-understand phone reps (well, I can at least understand our English friends), above average experiences at San Luis Bay Inn, Kaanapali, and Lake Tahoe...(hope our upcoming Powhattan experience is of the same level or better), alternative options to use points (although of not great value, this does give point owners options rather than lose othewise unused points altogether)...it's all good.

The MF increases have seem out of whack, but this is the world we live in. We are not happy about this especially in these financially challenging times.

This said, as a two-year THE Club member, so far, we are happy we did not sell our deeded shares right about the time DRI took over Sunterra. We have had quite a few family vacations (short and long) courtesy of DRI over this period of time, and will continue as long as we can financially and physically able.