Does Redweek deserve the fees they get?

[Jim McLaren]

Have you heard of Timeshares Only? They advertise on TV.

Timeshares Only is an upfront fee company. They charge $600 for a listing. Not a good value to my way of thinking.

Redweek has so many things going for it. Who is the target audience for a timeshare resale? It is NOT the general public doing a google search. Very few people are going to buy that way. If you're savvy enough to know about the resale market you'll find redweek. It was one of the first sites I found. I certainly found them before I found tug. I will admit I found timeshares only first but their prices were just too high. Redweek has many more tools to help you evaluate your timeshare. Resort reviews are helpful and I haven't found more reviews anywhere. They also have forums which novices can use to learn about timeshares (although I like tug better and don't have enough time to visit both).

 

[rickandcindy23]

Look at the name of the poster and search the deed records for the address of the person(owner). You can then contact them privately w/o paying the fee to be connected to the ad poster.
PS if there is no owner searchable it is probably an illicit trade rental.

This is a lot of work to avoid paying a $15.00 Redweek fee to search listings. I would rather pay the fee, just as I would always want my TUG membership rather than to be a guest. Of course, that is just my opinion.

 

[e.bram]

i don't mind paying the fee if i complete a transaction, But I hate to pay to look at low ball shill ad, put there to entice me to pay to view.

 

[JudyS]

.....
I see sites like Resortime, where, as an example, one could rent a beach week in California for $350/night (and YES, they DO get rented.) In fact, they link up with Travelocity and Expedia to offer many of the same weeks at sometimes higher rates. The average vacationer could spend about $2500 for a week through these sites. Or they could go to Redweek and find the same thing for 1/3 the price. ....

Does Resortime accept listings from individual owners? I thought they only accepted listings from resorts. If they accept listings from individual owners, I want to list my weeks for rent with them! (I own at some of the resorts that they represent.)

If they don't accept weeks from individual owners, then you can't really compare their prices to Redweek's. Resorts tend to get far more for rentals than individual owners do.

 

[skimble]

Does Resortime accept listings from individual owners? I thought they only accepted listings from resorts. If they accept listings from individual owners, I want to list my weeks for rent with them! (I own at some of the resorts that they represent.)

If they don't accept weeks from individual owners, then you can't really compare their prices to Redweek's. Resorts tend to get far more for rentals than individual owners do.

YES, they Do accept owner listings (sort of.) When you put your week up for rent through your resort, the management company for your resort forwards it on to Resortime. But then they take extraordinary fees to do so (between 40%-60%.)

Resortime, through their advertising, reaches a consumer that Redweek has not tapped. THIS is my point. And Resortime gets nearly double the $. Redweek IS a great site. They aren't doing all they can; in fact, it looks as though they are reaching less customers than their Free competitors. Yet, I maintain, Resortime is far more user friendly.
It seems I'm preaching to a choir-- an educated choir that seems to have lost their capacity to see things from the perspective of a timeshare layperson. You all understand thing from a highly informed frame of reference. I found Redweek easily when I searched for a timeshare, but then, I understand the industry. Your average vacationer may seek out a resort; they may seek out a rental week; they may even seek a hotel, but likely they will not search for a "timeshare." If other sites can latch on to this marketing nich, why can't Redweek?

 

[skimble]

Timeshares Only is an upfront fee company. They charge $600 for a listing. Not a good value to my way of thinking.

Redweek has so many things going for it. Who is the target audience for a timeshare resale? It is NOT the general public doing a google search. Very few people are going to buy that way. If you're savvy enough to know about the resale market you'll find redweek. It was one of the first sites I found. I certainly found them before I found tug. I will admit I found timeshares only first but their prices were just too high. Redweek has many more tools to help you evaluate your timeshare. Resort reviews are helpful and I haven't found more reviews anywhere. They also have forums which novices can use to learn about timeshares (although I like tug better and don't have enough time to visit both).

When you list on Redweek, you're not marketing a "timeshare" you're marketing a vacation rental... in the same way a hotel rents a room or a homeowner rents their vacation cabin. This may seem like semantics, but there's a point, one that many here seem to be skimming over or missing altogether. When you list on Redweek (or any of the other sites) you're buying a service. Their service to you (the seller) is their ability to channel your vacation rental to the consumer in the most effective manner.
You all seem to be stuck on the idea that you're selling or renting your "timeshare." Resortime sells vacation time. Travelocity guides you to a vacation. Redweek can be more effective in their marketing. Remember, YOU as the seller are only one half of the equation.

 

[JudyS]

YES, they Do accept owner listings (sort of.) When you put your week up for rent through your resort, the management company for your resort forwards it on to Resortime. But then they take extraordinary fees to do so (between 40%-60%.)...

Thanks for the information. I'm aware of the ability to rent my some of my weeks through the resort, but I've never wanted to pay the fees involved, especially since the resort generally takes no responsibility for actually finding a renter, and just gives you nothing if it doesn't rent. Finding my own renter has always been a more appealing approach; I can step up my marketing or drop my price if the week hasn't rented at the last minute.

I don't think Resortime's prices should be compared to Redweek's. People are willing to spend far more if they have a resort backing up a rental, rather than some anonymous private owner they found on the web. Just to give you an example, I had a week recently listed on eBay with no takers -- I even paid the $35 extra to have my listing "featured". I was asking $700 for the week. The closest I got was an email with an offer of $500 for the week. The resort is charging $313 per night -- and every night that week is sold out!

I agree that Redweek might to do well to try some different approaches to advertising. Why don't you tell them that? I don't see how sending your ideas to them (put Google ads under "vacation rentals," etc.) could hurt, and it would take no more time than posting here. I'd be interested in knowing what they tell you.

 

[wbtimesharer]

I don't see the purpose of your post here. If you don't like their business model, don't use it. It seems to me that you are satisfied enough with the results, but wish you didn't have to pay for them...

If your question is what you get for your money, why not ask them?

Fern

I think the type of question the poster is asking is the reason Tug exists. Open and constructive debate on timesharing topics is what keeps this site active and useful.

What if, we as a group, all decide to start email Redweek about making changes to its pricing schedule and they actually listened. I would love to try that with Ebay as they are becoming not only more costly, but downright abrasive to the people who sell on its site.


Bill

 

[skimble]

Thanks for the information. I'm aware of the ability to rent my some of my weeks through the resort, but I've never wanted to pay the fees involved, especially since the resort generally takes no responsibility for actually finding a renter, and just gives you nothing if it doesn't rent. Finding my own renter has always been a more appealing approach; I can step up my marketing or drop my price if the week hasn't rented at the last minute.

I'm with you on this... I like knowing when where I'm at in the rental process and having the flexibility to adjust, deposit with RCI, or donate.

I don't think Resortime's prices should be compared to Redweek's. People are willing to spend far more if they have a resort backing up a rental, rather than some anonymous private owner they found on the web. Just to give you an example, I had a week recently listed on eBay with no takers -- I even paid the $35 extra to have my listing "featured". I was asking $700 for the week. The closest I got was an email with an offer of $500 for the week. The resort is charging $313 per night -- and every night that week is sold out!

It's not a perfect comparison, but then, aren't we offering the same product-- a vacation. If that's the case, then there's potential for finding a way to streamline our product better to the consumer. THIS is what I think Redweek should tap into more. Yes, there's more security in dealing with Resortime, where there's the facade of having the company backing, but we deal in the same exact market with the same to offer, and we do it for half the cost.

I agree that Redweek might to do well to try some different approaches to advertising. Why don't you tell them that? I don't see how sending your ideas to them (put Google ads under "vacation rentals," etc.) could hurt, and it would take no more time than posting here. I'd be interested in knowing what they tell you.

It's not this simple. I could make a dozen suggestions, but I'm just a simple user of their service. My analysis of their business practice has everything to do with making a better business, building better relations, and improving. There is no malice involved with this post. There's just ideas on how they can change and improve their business model.
Consensus building is a powerful tool. And, so is the rational discourse that goes into building it.

 

[skimble]

I think the type of question the poster is asking is the reason Tug exists. Open and constructive debate on timesharing topics is what keeps this site active and useful.

What if, we as a group, all decide to start email Redweek about making changes to its pricing schedule and they actually listened. I would love to try that with Ebay as they are becoming not only more costly, but downright abrasive to the people who sell on its site.


Bill

Thanks Bill.
Politicians sometimes host town hall meetings just to get input on their job performance or the needs of the community. Large companies will do polling or survey. Constructive discourse among many minds can lead to improvements.
This is not about the pricing structure of Redweek... it's really about whether they are (and potentially could be) providing a service worthy of those fees and more.

 

[Pit]

When you list on Redweek, you're not marketing a "timeshare" you're marketing a vacation rental... in the same way a hotel rents a room or a homeowner rents their vacation cabin.

That depends if you're trying to sell your timeshare, or rent it.

This may seem like semantics, but there's a point, one that many here seem to be skimming over or missing altogether. When you list on Redweek (or any of the other sites) you're buying a service. Their service to you (the seller) is their ability to channel your vacation rental to the consumer in the most effective manner.
You all seem to be stuck on the idea that you're selling or renting your "timeshare."

Redweek is a place to advertise. That is the service they offer. Whether or not the service is worth the cost becomes an individual decision with many variables. It's certainly not the only place to advertise.

This is not about the pricing structure of Redweek... it's really about whether they are (and potentially could be) providing a service worthy of those fees and more.

So, are they? Is their ad service worthy of your business?

 

[geekette]

I agree with Pit. The service is advertising and I know the audience is "closed" and don't mind. There are other ways to reach "the general public" if that is what I wanted to do. But I'll leave that to RCI with their public rentals of timeshares.

Most every lead I get off Redweek turns into a rental so it's worth it to me. I do not want to have to weed thru hundreds of junk offers from fake foreigners wanting to send cashiers checks.

I'm getting what I paid for. If I wanted more and found someone offering it, maybe I would use another service. I don't need touchy-feely "customer service" crap and don't miss it not being part of Redweek. and I certainly don't want to pay for it.

Did you stop to think that Redweek thought thru very carefully all the different ways they could go about their business and came up with exactly what they are doing for very specific reasons? You think you have a better mousetrap for them, but it may not fit their objectives. It is THEIR business. You can start your own if you have a superior model.

 

[skimble]

Plain and simple...
A search for a rental vacation week should turn up Redweek. Currently, it is not. They need to fix this-- for no other reason other than to maintain their competitive edge.
And, it appears people here are fixated on the idea that, when renting their week, they are incapable of pulling higher returns with a service like Redweek that Could (possibly... if ideas were offered) reach a broader market.
It's obvious to me by the number of misdirected responses (we don't want spam marketing calls, and take your business elsewhere, and "I do fine with them") that people skim to much and don't actually read the posts... they think they understand, but they're reacting to only part of the message.
The intent here was to help--- help Redweek reach more customers with simple solutions and ideas. Maybe my lead-in with this post set people off in the wrong direction.
Oh well.

 

[theo]

With all due respect, your apparent dissatisfaction with (or suggestions concerning) RedWeek should really be directed to RedWeek itself. I must admit that I really just don't comprehend at all what you hope to achieve by complaining about shortcomings you perceive about RedWeek practices --- on TUG. If you want to "help" Redweek --- tell THEM!

 

[Dave M]

Plain and simple...
A search for a rental vacation week should turn up Redweek. Currently, it is not. They need to fix this....

No, they really don't need to fix it.

As discussed above, they are basically a mom-pop operation and there could be any number of reasons for staying the way they are.

• They might have concerns that spending additional money to accomplish what you want might not generate enough additional revenue to justify those costs.
• They might have already done a study that shoots down many of your suggestions.
• They might have all of the traffic they can currently handle.
• Perhaps they aren’t aware of the possibilities.
• (Add your own here.)

The bottom line is that they have a business model that seems to work well for them. Those who don't like the business model can take business elsewhere. But Redweek has no obligation, any more than any other business does, to make changes just to satisfy you or even to satisfy 99% of their customers. If they should make changes and don’t, they might eventually fail. Their primary obligation, like any business, is to structure their business in a way that benefits stockholders. In most cases, that means doing things that will make customers happy, but not always. (Look at the major airlines for contrary examples!)

I think your suggestions might have value to Redweek. As suggested above, you should consider contacting them with your suggestions.

I don't perceive that the general lack of support you have gotten here is because we are, as you suggested, "an educated choir that seems to have lost their capacity to see things from the perspective of a timeshare layperson." Rather, we don't know what Redweek's motivation (or lack thereof) is for the way they have structured their business. And it's not our position to tell them they need to do things differently.

As with any business we deal with, we vote with our dollars based on our perception of value compared to other similar businesses. Clearly, on that test, Redweek is often a winner.