Another Diamond Improvement

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

Why do you consider those with more points to be more loyal? Surely whatever your points holding is makes you loyal, some people don't want a large points holding for various reasons. Would it not be better and a positive feature of membership if everyone was treated the same and had the benefit of all the "perks" available ?

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

Why do you consider those with more points to be more loyal? Surely whatever your points holding is makes you loyal, some people don't want a large points holding for various reasons. Would it not be better and a positive feature of membership if everyone was treated the same and had the benefit of all the "perks" available ?

Certainly a socialistic attitude that makes 'everyone' feel good but doesn't help the salesman upsell the bigger plans.

[barndweller Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close barndweller]

Jimbo
I think the only way to use the feature at this time is to call 1.877.DRI.CLUB.

As to this being a perk only for those with 15,000 points or more, this sort of perk is common to all the TS systems such as Marriott and Starwood. The developers encourage purchase of more points (or more expensive weeks/seasons) by rewarding those who have spent more money. Seems fair to me. Not that those with more points are more loyal, just that they would probably tend to use the system more than other exchange avenues since they have more of a financial stake. It's the American way. Those that have the most get all the extra goodies. Those that have the minimum just get the basics.

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

I might just have to call and see

Thanxxx for the recommendation. I will have to call and see. I don't have an immediate need but will certainly give it try the next time I do...

Thanxxx, Jim

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

Certainly a socialistic attitude that makes 'everyone' feel good but doesn't help the salesman upsell the bigger plans.

Ooooh! that's not nice, nothing to do with socialism.....are we here to help the salesman or are they here to help us?

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

Ooooh! that's not nice, nothing to do with socialism.....are we here to help the salesman or are they here to help us?

Everyone's entitled to their own opinion, we are here to help each other understand the whys and wherefores. Sales people are not here to help us, they're here to make a buck for themselves and their company, it's too bad that the timeshare business model is what it is and that many salespeople have to lie or skip the truth to sell their product.

[hercules24 Member Find all posts View Profile Close hercules24]

All new initiatives introduced by DRI seem to be geared to selling more points

I feel that many recent initiatives introduced by DRI are geared to trying to generate new sales, namely;

The advanced booking facility in this thread
The silver, gold and platinum tiers (only new points count towards levels)
The reduction in access rights for second hand points (those second hand points acquired after 1/9/08)
The introduction of affiliated resorts which can only be booked with new points, these affiliated resorts tend to cost more points to book because they are according to DRI in better locations, better quality and in higher demand.
DRI selections which can only be used with new points (not secondhand)

So there goes if you want to maintain access to all areas of the club you need to maintain and build up a healthy quota of new points.

NB : The second hand points I refer to are those registered after 1/9/08 when the rules changed with regards to their stature in the club, those purchased before 1/9/08 count as full new points.

It is all down to marketing and sales expansion, there again all companies try to maximise sales don't they ?

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

Everyone's entitled to their own opinion, we are here to help each other understand the whys and wherefores.

My remarks were meant to be friendly with a touch of humour, I am just putting forward my views as you say.
In my opinion sales people would project a better image and possibly sell more points if they did not promote an image of elitism and promoted a product where everyone was treated the same and valued the same regardless of what level of points they susequently purchased. Trying to cajole prospective buyers to purchase beyond their needs and means by offering perks is a great sales ploy but could be seen as demeaning by those who cannot afford more or indeed do not want more.
That's how I see it, but I accept others do not.

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

My remarks were meant to be friendly with a touch of humour, I am just putting forward my views as you say.
In my opinion sales people would project a better image and possibly sell more points if they did not promote an image of elitism and promoted a product where everyone was treated the same and valued the same regardless of what level of points they susequently purchased. Trying to cajole prospective buyers to purchase beyond their needs and means by offering perks is a great sales ploy but could be seen as demeaning by those who cannot afford more or indeed do not want more.
That's how I see it, but I accept others do not.

Again, that's your opinion and there are a lot of people that earn a lot more than you do at Wyndham, Diamond, Marriott, Hilton, Shell, Starwood, Bluegreen, Royal Holiday, VI, etc. that seem to think different. I think it's a perspective thing.

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

Again, that's your opinion and there are a lot of people that earn a lot more than you do at Wyndham, Diamond, Marriott, Hilton, Shell, Starwood, Bluegreen, Royal Holiday, VI, etc. that seem to think different. I think it's a perspective thing.

before I continue please clarify what you mean by "earn", are you referring to salaries or perks?

[hercules24 Member Find all posts View Profile Close hercules24]

What have earnings to do with how the club is run for all

I think we have gone off the debate a little I thought we were debating DRI and what initiatives that it had introduced in recent years to promote the member having to buy extra points to have equal club benefits. At one time the club benefits were equal to all (apart from the number of holidays you could book because of your points ownership and of course the extra money paid for Premier membership - an elevated membership system which is not now sold from new - existing members can still pay and enjoy those benefits (as much as they are)).

How much you earn has little to do with the debate, or am I wrong in my interpretation or was you talking about the fact that DRI are now more commission paid rather than salaried and thus they have to have these new initiatives in place to promote the new sales in order to earn a living ?

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

before I continue please clarify what you mean by "earn", are you referring to salaries or perks?

I think we have gone off the debate a little I thought we were debating DRI and what initiatives that it had introduced in recent years to promote the member having to buy extra points to have equal club benefits. At one time the club benefits were equal to all (apart from the number of holidays you could book because of your points ownership and of course the extra money paid for Premier membership - an elevated membership system which is not now sold from new - existing members can still pay and enjoy those benefits (as much as they are)).

How much you earn has little to do with the debate, or am I wrong in my interpretation or was you talking about the fact that DRI are now more commission paid rather than salaried and thus they have to have these new initiatives in place to promote the new sales in order to earn a living ?

Sorry, Bulldog seemed to want to discuss the Timeshare business model and was giving us his opinion on how it would work better. The fact is, it wouldn't work at all. The developer could not make the necessary profit margin to even exist in the Bulldog model. If they could they would but they can't.

On the US side of Sunterra/DRI there have always been more benefits at higher levels of ownership. You would know better how the European side has changed in the transition from GVC/Sunterra Europe/DRI.

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

Sorry, Bulldog seemed to want to discuss the Timeshare business model and was giving us his opinion on how it would work better. The fact is, it wouldn't work at all. The developer could not make the necessary profit margin to even exist in the Bulldog model. If they could they would but they can't.

On the US side of Sunterra/DRI there have always been more benefits at higher levels of ownership. You would know better how the European side has changed in the transition from GVC/Sunterra Europe/DRI.

Sorry Spence I disagree entirely but your outright insistence that "it wouldn't work at all" halts any further debate.
Those with a smaller points holding are still just as loyal and should be treated as such. DRI should be looking at boosting their sales with a different approach, basing it on the more you spend the better you are treated is ,as I said, a great sales ploy because it trades on human behaviour. "A fool and his money are easily parted" is the saying I believe.
I would much prefer to see Priveledged membership as an extra and those that want it could pay for it.
As to the devaluation of transferred points ( a term I would rather use than secondhand or dirty) why should the full management fee be charged on them when the full useage is not available? A reduction on fees by the appropriate percentage would be much fairer. I know the answer from the sales point of view, but I am more concerned with the members standpoint.
Again , as I'm sure I will be reminded, just my point of view but I don't believe I alone share this view?

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

Sorry Spence I disagree entirely but your outright insistence that "it wouldn't work at all" halts any further debate.
Those with a smaller points holding are still just as loyal and should be treated as such. DRI should be looking at boosting their sales with a different approach, basing it on the more you spend the better you are treated is ,as I said, a great sales ploy because it trades on human behaviour. "A fool and his money are easily parted" is the saying I believe.
I would much prefer to see Priveledged membership as an extra and those that want it could pay for it.
As to the devaluation of transferred points ( a term I would rather use than secondhand or dirty) why should the full management fee be charged on them when the full useage is not available? A reduction on fees by the appropriate percentage would be much fairer. I know the answer from the sales point of view, but I am more concerned with the members standpoint.
Again , as I'm sure I will be reminded, just my point of view but I don't believe I alone share this view?

Fair is not what this is all about and Privileged membership is 'paid for' by those who want it. I don't disagree with devaluation of transferred memberships and have been telling Sunterra/DRI for years that happy Club members are what they should be striving for, they have a good system that should do well if they could only get over the fact that they shouldn't rape resale owners. The value of their product on both the retail and the resale market would rise.

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

I knew we would agree eventually on something! LOL!