New DAE-Redweek Partnership

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

Hi, Fermin!

The new Redweek exchange is generating a fair amount of interest here and on TUG. According to Redweek, this exchange is "powered by DAE."

I'm wondering how this affects weeks that owners deposit into DAE. There seems to be quite a bit of DAE inventory already in the Redweek exchange system. Am I correct in thinking that those are weeks that DAE received directly from resorts with which it has an affiliation, rather than from individual timeshare owners? Will any weeks deposited by owners into DAE be committed to the Redweek exchange?

[infousadae Industry Representative Find all posts View Profile Close infousadae]

Hi Judy,

We are indeed providing the backend services to Redweek's exchange program. We provide a set services to Redweek enabling them them to add a valuable benefit for their members.

In answer to your question, we will not be assigning weeks to RedWeek from our pool of inventory. We will be sharing selected inventory with Redweek and they will be sharing selected inventory with us.

The shared inventory benefits both of our respective member bases, in that we have a wider reach to a large base of members from whom we can accept inventory deposits, opening up the availability of a larger and more diverse inventory for both groups of members.

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

Thanks very much for the reply!

I still have some questions -- hope that's OK.

Does DAE still plan to continue with its current exchange system (any week deposited can receive any week in exchange, first come/first served) on its own website, or wll it be moving to a points-based system similar to that used by Redweek?

Also, I'm sure you're aware that many RCI members are unhappy because they suspect RCI is taking desirable exchange inventory and renting it out, making it unavailable for exchange. If DAE makes its inventory available to Redweek, and Redweek allows people to pay cash for part of the cost of the trade, what safeguards are in place to make sure that inventory deposited by individual owners remains available for exchanges, rather than being rented out to generate cash for Redweek?

I'm actually quite happy to see that DAE is partnered with Redweek, and I think this new exchange system is a good idea. I'm just hoping that we don't lose what's good about DAE!

[infousadae Industry Representative Find all posts View Profile Close infousadae]

DAE is not changing the way we do business. We are not working under a points system, exchanges will hold the same policy as they have for DAE members.

We are extremely sensitive to the problems caused by distributing resort inventory to the general public as rentals (especially at discounted prices to non-timeshare owners). We know this not only causes inventory availability problems for members, but also creates pricing problems for the resorts. We have had these very frank discussion with our partners.

In all actuality the model simply doesn't work for us. While it might reap short term revenue it hurts more long term with the loss of members.

RedWeek is taking deposits for every exchange and is making the acquired inventory available for exchange, keeping their rental pool separate (they post peer to peer rentals). They are committed to creating a first class online exchange service. We believe in their integrity and look forward to a long and prosperous relationship with them!

Thanks for the well wishes.

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

Thanks for the reply!

I'm glad to hear that DAE isn't changing its current model. Also, I'm glad DAE is aware of the problems with renting out weeks that were supposed to be used for exchanging. I agree that any exchange company that "raids" the exchange inventory is hurting itself in the long run.

I just hope Redweek doesn't get too tempted by the prospect of rental income! I trust DAE, but I don't know much about Redweek.

[infousadae Industry Representative Find all posts View Profile Close infousadae]

Thanks for the input - we will keep it clean!