Change to Redweek process and all those extra fees... And not in a good way....

[jp10558]

The assumption on the LMR wanted board is that anything they ask for should be $800 or less, if you have something to offer for the dates they are requesting. If you offer something that is their dates but at a higher price via PM, then I believe they should just be polite and say, "No thank you." Sending a nasty PM back is not what I would expect.

Do you know that you cannot add into your LMR request that you are willing to pay more than $800? I think you should be able to say that. I was edited/ moderated for saying that, when we needed another 2 bedroom unit at Sheraton Broadway for a specific week. You should be able to say that in your request. Maybe that could change?

This is what the TUG2 wishes section is for. Maybe we could add to the headers - if you want to charge/pay more than the $800 limit, go to TUG2.

My point is that I don't think everyone is as unrealistic about what a Hawaii/ Myrtle Beach/Orlando/Disneyland (whatever it is) 2 bedroom is going to cost. Some may be hoping for $800, but I think some might be wanting the week badly enough to pay more. For example, a resort cancels all RCI exchanges (that just happened to a friend of mine) to a resort because of overbooking, or an outbreak of bed bags.

Well, I would hope there's at least some sort of compensation from the resort or RCI!

Here you are with airfare, car rental and no accommodations and nothing to be found on RW or TUG Classifieds? What are you going to do but make a plea to get anything, so you aren't booking multiple hotel rooms.

This seems pretty unlikely given my experience, and the normal answer would probably be some sort of trip insurance right? But also TUG2 has the wishes section.

 

[jeffox]

Do you know that you cannot add into your LMR request that you are willing to pay more than $800? I think you should be able to say that. I was edited/ moderated for saying that, when we needed another 2 bedroom unit at Sheraton Broadway for a specific week. You should be able to say that in your request. Maybe that could change?

This makes sense, a request shouldn't come with the restrictions. Maybe someone could pull a last minute 2 bedroom in Orlando. but it will cost them $1200 of points. Should the last minute requester just be out when this could have really helped them out? Also, the LMR requester has to realize their request will probably go un-filled, even for a higher amount.

 

[sng85]

however if im just browsing the LMR section, ill likely take an entire vacation I had not previously planned to simply because a good deal popped up.

This exactly! However, a “good deal” may not be limited to $800 or even $1,000. To me, a Four Seasons Aviara or a prime ski week for $2,000 is a great deal. LMR doesn’t allow that today. What if there was a filter by price? Could be as simple as two radio buttons - <$1,000 and >$1,000

Everyone wins

I get that TUG classifieds is the place for higher price rentals, but the workflow is not the same as LMR. LMR is a flat list of deals, so you can just scroll through them until something catches your eye. TUG classifieds is for when you’re looking for something specific.

 

[TUGBrian]

you can save queries on rentals for the forum if you want, it can be limited by price.

for instance this is all last minute rentals under 1k

TUG Timeshare Marketplace Search Results - For Rent Last Minute Price 0 - 1000

TUG Timeshare Marketplace Search, For Rent Last Minute Price 0 - 1000

www.tug2.com

 

[TUGBrian]

and here is all last minute rentals under 2500

https://www.tug2.com/timesharemarketplace/search?ForRent=True&LastMinute=True&PriceMin=0&PriceMax=2500&OrderBy=Price

 

[JustynaC]

Use go-koala.com with no fees to list, and hopefully with more people renting on that site, renters will find Koala over RW.

I cannot believe RW has gone this direction. I get a lot of rentals through RW, but many of mine have been DIY. I am very disappointed in RW taking away the DIY.

My Resort Network is still a DIY option, also TUG. I rented two on TUG for next month. I was thrilled with that one because they know my reputation on TUG.

Perhaps I made a mistake, but I just checked go-koala for a 2BR in Aruba and they are charging a $315 Service Charge for the listing I checked.

 

[jp10558]

and here is all last minute rentals under 2500

https://www.tug2.com/timesharemarketplace/search?ForRent=True&LastMinute=True&PriceMin=0&PriceMax=2500&OrderBy=Price

Bizarrely it seems like many posting here just aren't familiar with TUG2 - and TBH, I don't spend anywhere near as much time there - but it does seem like I'd calculate 90% of this complaint series is trying to poorly re-make TUG2 in the LMR forums. IDK if it'd be possible to just link to some example searches (like get rid of the LMR forum entirely at an extreme end) for a pre-saved search on TUG2? Though I guess that limits it to paid subscribers in terms of posting for rent or request?

 

[rickandcindy23]

Perhaps I made a mistake, but I just checked go-koala for a 2BR in Aruba and they are charging a $315 Service Charge for the listing I checked.

They don't charge a listing fee of $99 like RW, which you never get back, if your week doesn't rent. I should know, as I have lost a lot of money this past year with RW. I also reduced a price so low on a 4th of July week that I am regretting not cancelling it way ahead of time to get my points back.

RW charges about 10% to the person who rents your week + listing fee of $59-99)+ $99 for a successful rental.

 

[TUGBrian]

Bizarrely it seems like many posting here just aren't familiar with TUG2 - and TBH, I don't spend anywhere near as much time there - but it does seem like I'd calculate 90% of this complaint series is trying to poorly re-make TUG2 in the LMR forums. IDK if it'd be possible to just link to some example searches (like get rid of the LMR forum entirely at an extreme end) for a pre-saved search on TUG2? Though I guess that limits it to paid subscribers in terms of posting for rent or request?

the entire point of the LMR forum from its beginning was a simple/easy/free/quick/etc place for owners to post a listing they were going to lose 100% of their money on at a really low price to attract someone to take a vacation at the last minute and allow them to recover something.

its obviously morphed from that over the years as point systems and such now allow for partial week stays, and far more convenient cancellation options for owners to recover or rebook their reservations without losing all (or even any) of their maintenance fees.

I feel that many of the listings posted do not fall in the category of "im stuck with this week, id just like to get something back" these days, but im not going to force a moderator or admin to try to police that (or even know how that distinction could be made)...thus if its priced cheaply enough...it still attracts plenty of potential renters looking for a bargain.

there are far more rentals in the TUG marketplace where there are no limitations on time/money.

 

[TravelJoy]

Bizarrely it seems like many posting here just aren't familiar with TUG2 - and TBH, I don't spend anywhere near as much time there - but it does seem like I'd calculate 90% of this complaint series is trying to poorly re-make TUG2 in the LMR forums. IDK if it'd be possible to just link to some example searches (like get rid of the LMR forum entirely at an extreme end) for a pre-saved search on TUG2? Though I guess that limits it to paid subscribers in terms of posting for rent or request?

This is very true. Tug2 goes unnoticed. Maybe moving the LMR there may increase traffic for better utilization. You can then have tiers that show up 0-1000; 1001-2000, 2001-3000... This would then allow tugbbs to strictly be a discussion forum completely separating the rental aspect.

 

[andre10056]

I haven't been following this thread lately and I'm not going to meticulously review all its posts. But I did notice that there was a debate about how low the TUG rental prices have to be to entice a TUG member to become a renter.

But here's my take on the matter.

I believe TUG members know how to act. By that I mean that they would be least likely to trash the timeshare unit. I say that after having heard about an owner who listed with his/my Key West resort's management company. The deal is that an owner gets 65% of the net rental proceeds (net of Expedia fees and taxes) but Expedia does NOT provide the management company with any insurance if damage is done. By extension, the owner gets no insurance. And that owner's timeshare tenants, found not by him but by the management company using Expedia, just completely trashed the place causing $20,000 in damage which the resort is now saying is the responsibility of the timeshare owner.

My understanding is that the owner told them to go F themselves. The resort entity will now foreclose on his unit after having already not paid him a dime on his rental (obviously).

So there's a value in getting a guest/tenant whose hundreds of posts allows you to see that they'll likely take good care of your timeshare unit, especially since you may not get much more via the "65% of net rental proceeds and only if we find a tenant which is not guaranteed" resort rental agreement BS (if that's the rental option that someone chooses)..

 

[dioxide45]

I haven't been following this thread lately and I'm not going to meticulously review all its posts. But I did notice that there was a debate about how low the TUG rental prices have to be to entice a TUG member to become a renter.

But here's my take on the matter.

I believe TUG members know how to act. By that I mean that they would be least likely to trash the timeshare unit. I say that after having heard about an owner who listed with his/my Key West resort's management company. The deal is that an owner gets 65% of the net rental proceeds (net of Expedia fees and taxes) but Expedia does NOT provide the management company with any insurance if damage is done. By extension, the owner gets no insurance. And that owner's timeshare tenants, found not by him but by the management company using Expedia, just completely trashed the place causing $20,000 in damage which the resort is now saying is the responsibility of the timeshare owner.

My understanding is that the owner told them to go F themselves. The resort entity will now foreclose on his unit after having already not paid him a dime on his rental (obviously).

So there's a value in getting a guest/tenant whose hundreds of posts allows you to see that they'll likely take good care of your timeshare unit, especially since you may not get much more via the "65% of net rental proceeds and only if we find a tenant which is not guaranteed" resort rental agreement BS (if that's the rental option that someone chooses)..

But I don't think many of the rentals in the LMR forum are being rented by members with thousands of posts. Many replies I see are from guests with a handful of posts.

 

[andre10056]

But I don't think many of the rentals in the LMR forum are being rented by members with thousands of posts. Many replies I see are from guests with a handful of posts.

If that's the case, let the buyer beware. But I tend to think that even newbies who have made their way to TUG would likely be more responsible than the types of people who are strictly looking for and/or fine with a place for wild parties or fights or whatever. In any case, even their few posts might tell you a lot about their nature.

 

[rickandcindy23]

But I don't think many of the rentals in the LMR forum are being rented by members with thousands of posts. Many replies I see are from guests with a handful of posts.

This is true.

 

[TUGBrian]

This is very true. Tug2 goes unnoticed. Maybe moving the LMR there may increase traffic for better utilization. You can then have tiers that show up 0-1000; 1001-2000, 2001-3000... This would then allow tugbbs to strictly be a discussion forum completely separating the rental aspect.

far more people browse the marketplace than the LMR forums.

 

[dioxide45]

far more people browse the marketplace than the LMR forums.

I think forum users have a skewed vision of what the forums vs. marketplace are like. We use the forums every day and think far more people will see ads or listings here when the facts really seem to indicate otherwise.

 

[TUGBrian]

do also admittedly have a large % of people who browse the marketplace are only interested in buying or selling...vs renting.

just based on observations on TUG memberships, half the people who join TUG are looking to sell or exit a timeshare. Its a fun catch 22 too as either they are successful...and thus dont need to continue their membership. or they arent, and "tug didnt help me" and wont continue their membership.

 

[dlferree]

Enjoying the conversation regarding LMR. I'm not a big time poster, but I do read the forums regularly. With that stated, I also qualify as someone who is looking for bargains. A lot of times, we choose our vacation destinations based on where I can find inexpensive lodging. My first option is usually my DRI points. After that I check LMR listings, II AC's and II Getaways. Those last three could easily give someone not familiar with timeshares that it is easy to acquire an inexpensive timeshare. It is not, one has to be flexible with both the time of year and the location.

When we choose a location like our recent Disneyland trip, I realized the chances of a bargain basement price was going to be difficult, but I still looked. Ultimately, I rented a timeshare from a Tug member and it resulted in a great vacation. I would like to think that many others are like this. Initially searching for a inexpensive lodging and if unable to find one, then willing to pay what the market will bear, or cancel the trip.

I enjoy LMR the way it currently is. My biggest issue is that living in Arizona I don't find many that are derivable for us and short time airfare is usually too expensive. With that said, I am seeing a lot of LMR postings in places I have never seen before.

 

[dioxide45]

So another listing website popped across Facebook today. This one called VakayMood. They all seem to have the same format and use photos taken from the hotel company websites. How does, what seems to be a relatively new site, have so many listings?

 

[rickandcindy23]

Enjoying the conversation regarding LMR. I'm not a big time poster, but I do read the forums regularly. With that stated, I also qualify as someone who is looking for bargains. A lot of times, we choose our vacation destinations based on where I can find inexpensive lodging. My first option is usually my DRI points. After that I check LMR listings, II AC's and II Getaways. Those last three could easily give someone not familiar with timeshares that it is easy to acquire an inexpensive timeshare. It is not, one has to be flexible with both the time of year and the location.

When we choose a location like our recent Disneyland trip, I realized the chances of a bargain basement price was going to be difficult, but I still looked. Ultimately, I rented a timeshare from a Tug member and it resulted in a great vacation. I would like to think that many others are like this. Initially searching for a inexpensive lodging and if unable to find one, then willing to pay what the market will bear, or cancel the trip.

I enjoy LMR the way it currently is. My biggest issue is that living in Arizona I don't find many that are derivable for us and short time airfare is usually too expensive. With that said, I am seeing a lot of LMR postings in places I have never seen before.

Yeah, it was me.

 

[TUGBrian]

makes a good point. getaways and last calls are likely even cheaper than the majority of whats offered in the LMR section and there are far more of those!

 

[dioxide45]

makes a good point. getaways and last calls are likely even cheaper than the majority of whats offered in the LMR section and there are far more of those!

This is why we haven't really taken advantage of LMR. The cost is more than we often pay for II getaways and accommodation certificates.

 

[TUGBrian]

for studios and 1brs, its sure hard to beat those!

i notice the price goes up a good bit for 2brs, and i cant recall the last time I even saw a 3br pop up (well for anywhere i was looking anyway) and im never cramming kids into a 1br or studio again =D

 

[chapjim]

do also admittedly have a large % of people who browse the marketplace are only interested in buying or selling...vs renting.

just based on observations on TUG memberships, half the people who join TUG are looking to sell or exit a timeshare. Its a fun catch 22 too as either they are successful...and thus dont need to continue their membership. or they arent, and "tug didnt help me" and wont continue their membership.

Ointment or suppositories.

 

[andre10056]

So another listing website popped across Facebook today. This one called VakayMood. They all seem to have the same format and use photos taken from the hotel company websites. How does, what seems to be a relatively new site, have so many listings?

This vakaymood seems pretty interesting. Very well engineered. Has tons of listings. But here's something I don't understand and it pertains to getting loyalty points:

From the FAQ:

"Do my reservations count toward my hotel loyalty program?

In most cases, yes! Since a VakayMood reservation originates from an owner’s confirmed booking, it generally counts toward your loyalty account. Just provide your membership number when booking."

I read and re-read that answer and don't really understand what they're saying. Can anyone explain it to me?