Exchange Companies Selling Deposited Weeks

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

OK, here's the other side of the coin. Let's see if I can do this without messing it up.

Again, please, no rhetoric, so as not to influence others.

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

My answer depends on many factors.

1) I believe that exchangers should ALWAYS be able to rent out their exchanged weeks. They put something in of value and they are taking out what is supposed to be an equal trade. If the trades are even, then the profiteers won't come in because they are paying an exchange fee for an equal trade. Even trades means no profit. If the trades are uneven, then it is a flaw in the exchange system and it must be fixed. The ability for entrepreneurs to rent weeks puts accountability on the exchange company to truly create a like for like exchange system. Restricting rentals by depositers makes exchange companies lazy.

2) Exchange companies should NOT be able to rent weeks for profit at all unless they pay cash or equivalent for the week upfront. They should rent the weeks at whatever the market will bear, take out their exchange fee and use the rest to buy weeks to put back into exchange system. That should start at the 60-day mark and the weeks should be auctioned off on eBay and advertised actively. Those advertisement fees can be taken out of rental fees.

3) Exchange companies should be able to rent weeks for anything they want if they pay for the weeks upfront with cash.

[Jya-Ning Silver Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close Jya-Ning]

I will wait until you close the poll then try to influence the result. Since I will be in OLCC at that week, so will try to do it after I come back, since I hear the resort treat exchanger so bad that there will be no internet access. Actually, I believe the resort have internet access and will treat the exchanger fairly, but I remember someone once told me that when I take vacation, all the world has to leave behind, and I do think that is a great idea.

Jya-Ning

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

I don't think that the exchange companies should ever be able to rent out weeks in the exchange pool. At the 45, 60 or 90 point exchangers should be able to get a better exchange not have the exchange company profit from weeks in the pool, but people who put the weeks in there should be able to get the deals if they are available. If you are willing or able to travel at the last minute then you get a deal, but the companies should in my opinion ever be able to rape the pool for their own profit.

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

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - EXCHANGE COMPANY RENTALS - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Sunterra has a VERY interesting concept in their SunOptions Club Select Program. A SunOptions member can deposit one of their resort weeks (Gold Crown Resort only) into Sunterra for SunOptions Points.

SunOptions members can use these points through Sunterra AND Interval International (II).

Sunterra then OFFERS these deposits as RENTALS - to the Public as Rentals . . . . AND to Sunterra members AT A REASONABLY REDUCED RENTAL PRICE.

Sunterra WINS - II WINS because they have access to Sunterra inventory - Timeshare owner gets a FAIR exchange for his Gold Crown Deposits - Sunterra gets Rental Income with an UPFRONT ADVERTISED RENTAL. - Sunterra Members have an opportunity to RENT a Gold Crown Resort at a VERY Fair Price. EVERYONE WINS! GREAT CONCEPT!

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

BocaBum99 says:
My answer depends on many factors.

GREAT POST BOCA - I AGREE TO #1 AND #2 AND #3. Take a look at what Sunterra is doing above. I NEVER EVER imagined looking favorably upon Sunterra.

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

Well that's only 'part of the story' with Sunterra Select (www.sunterraselect.com) and only part of Sunterra's rentals. Anyone can go to the website above and rent as opk says, I think the prices are pretty high maybe not. The prices for Club Sunterra members are much lower and you need to sign in with Club Sunterra signin to see those. Club Sunterra members can also book this inventory with SunOptions commensurate with any Club Sunterra or II reservation and they do go to half price SunOtions at less than 60days. Club Select will not allow a Club Sunterra member to put a guest's name on a Club Select reservation, so you can't book for friends, family, or others!

Sunterra also has www.sunterragetaways.com where they book many Sunterra resorts to the general public. They also have a significant presence on www.expedia.com. So Sunterra is renting whatever they can.

As with any exchange company that offers you other 'stuff' like plane tickets, airline miles, cruises, maintenance fees, car rentals, Disney tickets, etc. Sunterra has to 'monetize' some reservations to pay for the members that use these options.

RCI HAS to do the same thing. It conveniently provides 'cover' for a much more extensive renting operation than is really required to pay for the options.

[zdxlc9p6 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close zdxlc9p6]

My answer depends on many factors.

1) I believe that exchangers should ALWAYS be able to rent out their exchanged weeks. They put something in of value and they are taking out what is supposed to be an equal trade. If the trades are even, then the profiteers won't come in because they are paying an exchange fee for an equal trade. Even trades means no profit. If the trades are uneven, then it is a flaw in the exchange system and it must be fixed. The ability for entrepreneurs to rent weeks puts accountability on the exchange company to truly create a like for like exchange system. Restricting rentals by depositers makes exchange companies lazy.

2) Exchange companies should NOT be able to rent weeks for profit at all unless they pay cash or equivalent for the week upfront. They should rent the weeks at whatever the market will bear, take out their exchange fee and use the rest to buy weeks to put back into exchange system. That should start at the 60-day mark and the weeks should be auctioned off on eBay and advertised actively. Those advertisement fees can be taken out of rental fees.

3) Exchange companies should be able to rent weeks for anything they want if they pay for the weeks upfront with cash.

I agree! An owner deposited the week. RCI has no investment in the purchase or maintenance fees. When the owner exchanged into another resort, they paid >$150 to RCI. THAT'S where they have the right to make money. The deposited week should remain available for any other owner to trade into right up to check-in date, again, earning RCI the exchange fee. If I paid the purchase, maintenance fees, and exchange fees, I should have the right to use it, rent it, give it away, or whatever. I would only assume the responsibility for any damages caused by me or others I "allow" to use the exchange.

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

My answer:

Only verifyable surplus weeks (open to members' scrutiny)...

only if weeks advertised for rent are simultaneously available for exchange...

and only if all income from such rentals is used to reduce members' exchange fees and all other fees.

Theoretically more income into our exchange company should benefit us members. Imagine if an exchange company functioned like a good HOA, rather than a greedy corporation. I think the word "member" can be misleading.

I agree with BocaBum otherwise.