II vs RCI Experience

[AnnaO]

After utilizing our own resorts for over a decade of ski family vacations, time came to start exchanging; granddaughter going to school and her vacation will not coincide with our ski weeks. I tried to join RCI but the experience was way below par: misinformed reps and endless hours on the phone being passed from one rep to another created a nightmare of the customer service. I ended up canceling RCI and joined II. First I used the TUG dedicated email listed in above sticky by Denise (thank you). Response answering all of my questions came almost immediately, along with the proper phone number to call to join. The rep on the phone was super friendly and (unlike the RCI experience) if she did not know something, she went to check and came back with the information, rather than passing me on to someone else. She resolved all with one call and I hang up with the membership number. Very happy with II.

 

[SteelerGal]

I have both and only use web. II was a nightmare for me because our account is a cluster. Finally used the dedicated email after an exchange went South and now it has been corrected. Hoping I won’t have anymore issues.

 

[Shankilicious]

Welk is dual affiliated but only recently joined RCI. I have limited experience booking through RCI but I have booked dozens of stays with II using mostly bonus certificates (midwesterner hello Branson lol).
I have called RCI twice and both times got a non-english first speaker on the other end, which, although I think I have a talent for understanding people and accents, makes it very difficult and frustrating.
The one time I called II, I had a good experience but it was quite a while ago.
The thing I like about RCI over II is that, at least for Welk owners, I can see all available inventory without having to actually deposit points into RCI. Whereas with II, once I deposit points, only then can I see available inventory and once deposited they're stuck there.
I feel II has nicer resorts in general, or at least does a better job of updating resort photos whereas RCIs resort pics are often from the 80s/90s whenever the resort fist took pictures....
I will maintain my II membership paying it out of pocket because of the bonus certificates that randomly appear in my account and for the extra flexibility of having both exchange companies to work with.