Interesting thread - how people feel about RCI

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

Where are the RCI availability posts? Come on guys & gals. - Timeshare Users Group Online Community Forums

The thread has been moved to the "Exchanging" forum where it belongs - general unhappiness with RCI abounds!

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

Thanks for the link, I would have loved to add my 2 cents (I am a registered member) but I cannot access the sightings board as I refuse to pay them any money for membership.

But if I could post there, I would add that RCI's rental policies and "rewards" programs and "points" programs have made RCI so profitable for the corporation that timesharing is just the bait and switch to get members into RCI. Once you are in the system, you are bilked for fees, fees, and more fees. The price of membership in RCI is NOT worth the aggravation.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

So many people are unhappy with RCI - does ANYONE (other then Lawren ) get a decent trade anymore?

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

Thanks for the link, I would have loved to add my 2 cents (I am a registered member) but I cannot access the sightings board as I refuse to pay them any money for membership.

But if I could post there, I would add that RCI's rental policies and "rewards" programs and "points" programs have made RCI so profitable for the corporation that timesharing is just the bait and switch to get members into RCI. Once you are in the system, you are bilked for fees, fees, and more fees. The price of membership in RCI is NOT worth the aggravation.

This particular post isn't 'secret' and should really be moved to the general RCI forum OY - if it is, I will repost the link.

My reason for posting is to point out that MANY people - not just here in our 'smaller' community - are dissatisfied with RCI - and if more people voted with their pocketbook - maybe they would 'get' the message!

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

Only seems like within a very short window...like the 45 day...or in the very long window, with help from friends or sightings, does anyone manage to find a good trade, no less a great one. Trading is not what RCI sells anymore....just look at their language on the home page, the word exchange is very small, but the largest flashing advert is for GETAWAYS and EXTRA VACATIONS.....sell, sell, sell, sell....and EV's are really expensive now. RCI is a joke as a trading company for vacations.

[Maggie Member Find all posts View Profile Close Maggie]

The guides on RCI don't even try to be polite. I've had a week on deposit for a year now and I've tried at least 5 different possible times and vactions and haven't been able to pull anything I want. I would never deposit with RCI again unless I had points that just had to be used and that was the only way I could use them. Many years ago. Around 1999 and 2000 I did get some usuable trades through RCI but that was ages ago.

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

When I had a strong trader in RCI, I was still pulling nice exchanges. I tried to deposit my Summer IPV with them 3 times this year and the guides kept screwing it up so I deposited with II and got an AC to boot.

I have one last week with them that expires at the end of the year (it is a dog)& DS wants to go skiing at Pagosa springs in Dec and the week is seeing what I want, just wrong check in day.

When I finish with that exchange it will be bye bye RCI

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

So many people are unhappy with RCI - does ANYONE (other then Lawren ) get a decent trade anymore?

Well this year we got a week at the Coronado Beach Resort in San Diego, and a week in Whistler during the summer. Last year we got a week in La Jolla. I've also usually managed to pull summer weeks in Hawaii (Kona Coast, Paniolo Greens, Bay Club among them). And all of this with a one-bedroom at San Diego Country Estates, which I don't think is that great a trader.

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

I still am getting excellent trades with RCI, just not quite as many as I used to. And I am always requesting high demand resorts and areas , in prime season . Definitely enough to keep me happy. I am also a happy II customer for the same reasons.

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

Well this year we got a week at the Coronado Beach Resort in San Diego, and a week in Whistler during the summer. Last year we got a week in La Jolla. I've also usually managed to pull summer weeks in Hawaii (Kona Coast, Paniolo Greens, Bay Club among them). And all of this with a one-bedroom at San Diego Country Estates, which I don't think is that great a trader.

These sound pretty great....do you do it thru an ongoing requests, or with help from sightings?
or are you just lucky?

[funtime2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close funtime2]

My trades have not been what they were at one time and I own a gold crown red week The jury is still out on if I will continue my membership. Guess I am still hoping that it will change back.

[dboy1 Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close dboy1]

We can trade a studio in Waikiki for a 2 bedroom on Kauai or the big island for just about anytime if we plan far enough ahead. That being said a lot of people will complain that you have to book 18 months ahead. My reply to that is--if we want the best weeks at our home resort we have to book 18--24 months ahead, so whats the big deal about doing the same if you want to trade?? I just joined DAE and HTSE to open up more possibilities for exchanging in Hawaii which is our main holiday destination. We will however still stay with RCI since we have done well with them up till now.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

Thanks for the link, I would have loved to add my 2 cents (I am a registered member) but I cannot access the sightings board as I refuse to pay them any money for membership.

But if I could post there, I would add that RCI's rental policies and "rewards" programs and "points" programs have made RCI so profitable for the corporation that timesharing is just the bait and switch to get members into RCI. Once you are in the system, you are bilked for fees, fees, and more fees. The price of membership in RCI is NOT worth the aggravation.

The thread has been moved from a members only board to a public exchange board - post away

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

The thread has been moved from a members only board to a public exchange board - post away

Thanks! ooooo, I love it....see ya later!

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

My personal feelings about RCI. Not that I'm ever shy about sharing my feelings.

I had been a member for 15 years. 10 of which I have spent fine-tuning and sharing what I can find and what I can guess about them. 8 of those have been on-line.

I have had unbelieveable luck exchanging thru them.

I have adjusted to the 15 to 24 month window.

I have learned about tigers.

I have learned about bulk spacebanks.

I have learned witching.

I have learned the loopholes.

There are times when I believe I know more about RCI than RCI knows itself.

I have learned about over rides.

Are some fabulous trades still available? Can we make dreams come true using them? Are there still some tricks that work? Are they the only vehicle in certain areas? Yes. Take a look at the "Have we helped you get an exchange thread". Some great stuff shows up.

To the average Joe who is not willing to put the time into the system, trusts in their on-going searches or take advantage of others willing to do the grunt work, they cannot remain as the answer for exchanging.

IMHO if we use companies that are more forthright and user friendly and deposit weeks that others will see as having value; we will break the chains that bind us to a company that has no interest in the continuing support of it's paying membership and chief supplier.