Declining Availability

[johnsorg Member Find all posts View Profile Close johnsorg]

I have been a member of the Club for over 2 years. After joining I had no problem staying in St Maarten in January, South Beach in February, and Avila Beach in August. These reservations were made anywhere from 3 months to 10 months out. Now I can not find any available reservations for these periods at any of these places. Has anyone else noticed declining availabilty? All of these places have availability if you are willing to rent through a web site like travelocity. Something does not seem right.

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

I have seen more weeks available both in Diamond and II during shoulder seasons. Never travel during high peaks, so can't tell if there is a decline.

[sb1070 Member Find all posts View Profile Close sb1070]

Now realizing that rental is part of the business I have trouble seeing the value or benefit in membership to a club that allows somebody with a credit card, a phone and/or internet connection to make a reservation that as a club member I should be able to but can't because more and more inventory is being assigned to rental.

How can their response be "Sorry No Availability For Dates Requested" when I can get those same dates if I'm paying cash.

HGVC plays this game also and I hate it.


Scott

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

Now realizing that rental is part of the business I have trouble seeing the value or benefit in membership to a club that allows somebody with a credit card, a phone and/or internet connection to make a reservation that as a club member I should be able to but can't because more and more inventory is being assigned to rental.

How can their response be "Sorry No Availability For Dates Requested" when I can get those same dates if I'm paying cash.

HGVC plays this game also and I hate it.


Scott

In theory that inventory isn't in the owners pool but is under control of Diamond thus they can do as they please with it. You have to decide if you believe they are limiting rentals to that inventory and if they are or are not using their control of the Club to grab the best times. It's the same with RCI, II, Wyndham et al. If you think they are skimming the owners deposits its not the group for you.

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

In theory that inventory isn't in the owners pool but is under control of Diamond thus they can do as they please with it. You have to decide if you believe they are limiting rentals to that inventory and if they are or are not using their control of the Club to grab the best times. It's the same with RCI, II, Wyndham et al. If you think they are skimming the owners deposits its not the group for you.

This is exactly the issue. DRI has plenty of unsold inventory, how are they using it and 'competing' with Club members, they want to make money. Additionally as alluded to, they have inventory(points) that comes to them from members who cash in for air miles, airline tickets, maintenance fees, etc. They have to rent that time out to pay for those 'benefits,' so the question is, how do they do this, do they take the very best time to be more assured of rentals???

[sb1070 Member Find all posts View Profile Close sb1070]

In theory that inventory isn't in the owners pool but is under control of Diamond thus they can do as they please with it. You have to decide if you believe they are limiting rentals to that inventory and if they are or are not using their control of the Club to grab the best times. It's the same with RCI, II, Wyndham et al. If you think they are skimming the owners deposits its not the group for you.

So What Are DRI Resorts, Timeshares Or Hotels? If They're Timeshares Then As A Timeshare Owner/Points Holder I Should Have Access To Inventory Over and Above A Non-Member/Owner Otherwise It Sound Alot Like A Hotel And Not An Exclusive Arrangement With No Real Benefit Over Booking Through A Rental.

I Disagree With Your Suggestion That DRI Isn't The Right Group For Me. They All Skim Inventory For Rentals Or At Least The Ones I Own With Do, And I Realize Why They Do It But I Don't Have To Like It.


Scott

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

So What Are DRI Resorts, Timeshares Or Hotels? If They're Timeshares Then As A Timeshare Owner/Points Holder I Should Have Access To Inventory Over and Above A Non-Member/Owner Otherwise It Sound Alot Like A Hotel And Not An Exclusive Arrangement With No Real Benefit Over Booking Through A Rental.

I Disagree With Your Suggestion That DRI Isn't The Right Group For Me. They All Skim Inventory For Rentals Or At Least The Ones I Own With Do, And I Realize Why They Do It But I Don't Have To Like It.


Scott

Members / owners have no say over any inventory in developer hands. They can make it available to owners, outsiders, renters or give it away - the buyers have no rights to that inventory. Now we also, in many cases, have to trust the developer to equally and fairly distribute use dates if they are the management. And we have to trust that they play fair on deposited inventory as well.

I'm not saying DRI (or RCI/II/Wyndham/whoever) isn't the group for you. I'm saying if you don't trust whoever it is running the system chances are you will not be happy with the outcome. It's one strike before the game even begins.

And it could be worse. What if you bought a fixed week, fixed unit yet the developer, still in the management seat, unilaterally decides to give you whatever they want if you deposit rather than use your time? Seems impossible but Wastegate has pulled that and II has backed them up! Now there's a couple of owner/member bashing groups you have to really wonder about. Both deserve to be blacklisted. So every system can be spoiled with the wrong management or exchange company. Its up to us to use the ones we like and support those that play it closest to straight.