Denise - that is partially true. I do wish make a profit on rentals. But at other times I do not, instead I truly wish to help someone else out in a bind or in need. I know I have been helped that way. And I wish I would have been helped on a recent last-minute trip to the Florida Keys (for family wedding). None of my regular resources could help me find a timeshare to use in the keys. I posted on the last minute and got nothing at all, except a few PMs that said that the low level of $100 per night just would not cut it for the Keys. While I was not asked to offer more, the implication was there. I felt it was inappropriate to offer more, despite my misgivings about the $100 per night limit. But I would rather line the pockets of a fellow timeshare owner than a hotel.
I searched hotels and found that a mid-range hotel (LaQuinta, Marriott Courtyard, Holiday Inn Express, etc.) in the middle keys would cost me over $350 per night once I added the hotel tax, etc. to the cost. And this is for . . . a HOTEL ROOM. So, that is what we did, I rented a hotel room that was supposed to have to two double beds, but only had a king bed; we used an air mattress for our teen daughter to sleep on the floor. The room was not clean, was noisy, and had view of the dumpster (main floor). And I had to pay to park on top of that. . . my wife commented "we have grown accustomed to staying in timeshare units, and I am so disappointed in this stay."
Long story short, I got online and found a last-minute room at Wyndham Sea Gardens for the last two nights of our stay, and commuted the last two days. It was worth it to have a clean room with a separate bedroom (and bath!!) for our daughter and a kitchen, and laundry.
How I wish that I could have requested a true timeshare unit for the Keys for our stay, and paid an appropriate price for it.
Can consideration be given to altering this long-held tradition? Maybe keep at at $100 per night for the studios and one bedroom units. Or maybe allow the posters (such as myself in the Keys situation) to offer to pay a more reasonable cost per night for some of these situations?
Thanks for allowing an opposing viewpoint. I do appreciate this forum and venue.
Wesley