Something "BIG" at RCI

When I got onto RCI's website today there is a banner that reads "Something BIG is coming" with the date of this August 19th.

Sorry but I can't wait to see what is in store for a lot of us. Does anyone know what this is about?

No, but why does my credit card feel hot?

Something New

Maybe they will be implementing the pay extra for some better inventory! It seems they were playing with that concept last year on the web site, then it suddenly disappeared. Want to bet almost all trades will be classified as premium inventory?! My credit card feels hot too!

Let's hope it will be something users want to see.

Let's hope it is not "Something Big" that appears in the road after an elephant parade passes by.

Cheers

No one knows. There are threads on other BBS boards. I am hoping for an improved search engine. I know they discontinued MY RCI.

At least they didn't call it an ''enhancement''. That is airline corporate speak for hosing the customers, while telling us that is really something customers asked for!

Something BIG

OK, I will tell you a BIG secret: to beat the competition RCI plans to reduce exchange fees by 50% !

K.

Kozman said:

Maybe they will be implementing the pay extra for some better inventory! It seems they were playing with that concept last year on the web site, then it suddenly disappeared. Want to bet almost all trades will be classified as premium inventory?! My credit card feels hot too!

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I vote for this idea. Miles plus cash or Exchange plus cash to be able to get the exchange that right out of your reach.

Better yet would be a disclosed value assigned to each deposit so you can combine or mix and match to get your dream exchange. Something like a Redweek exchange value system.

Short

Better yet would be a disclosed value assigned to each deposit so you can combine or mix and match to get your dream exchange.

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It's called "RCI Points".

Carolinian said:

At least they didn't call it an ''enhancement''. That is airline corporate speak for hosing the customers, while telling us that is really something customers asked for!

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RCI already "enhanced" their points product, which was laughable, because they said owners wanted it (just as you said), but all we ended up with was devalued points.

short said:

I vote for this idea. Miles plus cash or Exchange plus cash to be able to get the exchange that right out of your reach.

Better yet would be a disclosed value assigned to each deposit so you can combine or mix and match to get your dream exchange. Something like a Redweek exchange value system.

Short

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Dream exchanges have 1-in-4 rules, so maybe they are getting rid of those limts.

There are many great weeks that will exchange into most anything outside of priority periods for various systems, and cheaply. My powerful exchangers have maintenance fees of $460 per week.

So is it the "First ever 40% Off Sale" on Extra Vacations that starts tomorrow?

Is that BIG?

I just received an e-mail from RCI, stating that for tomorrow only, they are reducing Extra Vacations...to selected areas in the US and Caribbean... by 40%. It will be interesting to see this list!

Dori

Dori said:

I just received an e-mail from RCI, stating that for tomorrow only, they are reducing Extra Vacations...to selected areas in the US and Caribbean... by 40%. It will be interesting to see this list!

Dori

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Same here!!! They will probably double the usual price and then give 40% off.

Dori said:

I just received an e-mail from RCI, stating that for tomorrow only, they are reducing Extra Vacations...to selected areas in the US and Caribbean... by 40%. It will be interesting to see this list!

Dori

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Hmmm, I read that and thought it meant that there will be 40% less Extra Vacations. Not that they will cost 40% less.

I mistakenly thought this might have something to do with exhanges... isn't that the business they are supposed to be in? Seems all they care about now is renting out weeks.

Born2Travel said:

I mistakenly thought this might have something to do with exhanges... isn't that the business they are supposed to be in? Seems all they care about now is renting out weeks.

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I guess that will mean even less going into the last-minute exchange inventory. I guess now, it will only go into the exchange pool if it fails to rent at a 40% discount.

Born2Travel said:

I mistakenly thought this might have something to do with exhanges... isn't that the business they are supposed to be in? Seems all they care about now is renting out weeks.

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Ever since I got involved with timeshares about nine years ago, and figured out the overall process, I concluded that general rentals would likely be a part of the business plan for any rental company - certainly any company that I would start.

There's just too big a gap in value between vacation condos and hotel rooms - savvy entrepreneurs will take advantage of that spread, and exchange companies are better positioned to do that for timeshares than any other entity.

In the whole ownership market, ResortQuest is a major player. I think Wyndham is moving to try to compete with ResortQuest - one thing Wyndham is doing is allowing FairShare owners to put up theur units for rental on Expedia.com and Hotels.com. If that works out, owners should come out money ahead on rental even after giving up 35% of the gross because they should be able to get rates that are closer to resort general rental rates.

*****

Over time the gap in value between condo and hotel rooms is going to shrink; IMHO fighting that is simply tilting at windmills. If you don't like exchange companies trying to fill some of that gap, it would be good to consider whom else you might end up battling.

Prices Seem Different

The discount doesn't appear online if you try to make a reservation. I was looking at Massanutten in October. The Gold Crown's are more expensive. The full kitchen (as opposed to the partial) is now more expensive. I hadn't checked for awhile so I don't know if that price increase for Gold Crown resorts is new or not. Some weeks are also more expensive but it might be a reflection of resort activities those weekends.

Funny, but I noticed some more desirable inventory that was previously in Last Calls was missing during the 40% off sale and now that the sale is over, the inventory has returned to Last Calls. Specifically where 1br full kitchens were available, only studio partial kitchens were available during the sale.

Vacation travel is way off this year (especially the carribbean) due to high fuel costs and high air fares. What a surprise that RCI is discounting inventory that they are having a hard time renting.

Kozman said:

Funny, but I noticed some more desirable inventory that was previously in Last Calls was missing during the 40% off sale and now that the sale is over, the inventory has returned to Last Calls. Specifically where 1br full kitchens were available, only studio partial kitchens were available during the sale.

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They downsized Last Call units from 1 br to studio size and had the nerve to promote it as "Something BIG"?!!! :rofl:

The only thing "BIG" with RCI is that they are a "BIG" JOKE !!! They sure do have nerve though !!

Mark

Kozman said:

Funny, but I noticed some more desirable inventory that was previously in Last Calls was missing during the 40% off sale and now that the sale is over, the inventory has returned to Last Calls. Specifically where 1br full kitchens were available, only studio partial kitchens were available during the sale.

Click to expand...

Good catch! Those rascals!