I wanted to add my rambling thoughts to this thread as I'm an owner at WKORV. I got the email a couple of days ago and even though I have never done a 3rd party booking and don't expect to, I immediately was outraged.
I picked up the phone and called OS to voice my displeasure. I asked the rep if she could explain what the "resources" were required to simply input a name other than the name of the owner on the deed? She couldn't answer the question as she explained those on the front lines (who have to deal with irate owners like us) had not been told what those resources were. Most likely because there aren't any---it's exactly what we all suspect. It's a money grab plain and simple.
She said that 3rd Party Bookings tend to take units out of the system that owners want to rent, and this was one way Vistana was attempting to control that. When I called BS on that because an occupant is an occupant whether renting or vacationing as an owner, she really didn't have a comeback.
After watching them tack on a $99 fee to bank, and a $129 fee (maybe it's $149) to convert options to star points this new fee just makes me sick. As I said to the rep on the phone.....these are all "clerical" functions. They cost ZERO to implement.
And....as I told her, when you go into the sales pitch, the staff sells you on how versatile the program is---how you can RENT, or BANK or CONVERT....so I asked, how does it BENEFIT me when I have to pay for all of these so called benefits? When you charge me, it ceases to be a benefit. Perhaps these resources are them asking me for my NAME, ADDRESS, ZIP CODE and EMAIL every single time I call. If you've ever had to call more than once in a day you know what a supreme hassle this is. Maybe those are the resources they are speaking of....because for the life of me I can't fathom what else they would be.
Then i asked if on the next email I get describing their contest where I can win resort credits or star points by simply giving them email addresses of the people I know who might be "interested" in their fabulous program.......how about if I charge them $100 for each potential lead? She got quiet in a big hurry.
I can tell you this......I don't typically go to the owner updates because I don't want to waste my time for a few thousand star points...I get enough traveling and converting over the course of a year anyway. But I'm going to start going....and I'm going to take their points, and when they are done with their presentation I'm going to tell them that until they decide to eliminate all of these worthless fees that are just there to drive revenue I wouldn't consider buying anything from the developer.
As I suggested to the OS Rep, why not take the 99, 59 and 129 fees and give owners the option to buy all 3 of them at a dramatically reduced price. Or...how about allowing immediate family members with the same last name to be on the reservation without cost? There are so many better solutions to this situation than simply sticking it to the owners again.
Escalating MF's, unnecessary charges for things that should be included etc.....for the first time in the 10 years I've owned....it makes me consider getting rid of this noose around my neck.
The rep also told me that there is a cost to banking and converting because banking ties up future inventory. But when I suggested that banking does not tie up actual inventory....it ties up theoretical inventory because nothing is truly tied up until a reservation is made. Moreover, there's probably a good percentage of owners who forget to even use their options before they expire. She had no comeback to that.....its almost as if the people manning the phones don't even believe in the product they have to support.
In so far as these being costs being standard in the industry, I have to call B*#!S?@t....I also own a Disney timeshare and it has NO cost for banking or borrowing or for 3rd party reservations.
If Vistana truly wants to get in on some of the money they claim is lost by 3rd party booking....then why not create a rental division and take a cut of the proceeds from the rental. If you want my money....then EARN it. This is simply flat out robbery.
I'm going to calm down and send Suzanne Clark an email......but if all i'm going to get in return is the same form letter that everyone else is getting I think I'll just engage with the general managers at the properties themselves and let them carry the message up the food chain.
As I said at the beginning, I don't believe I'd do a 3rd party booking; nonetheless, I find this whole situation reprehensible. I hope we can do something to reverse it!!