For those advertising on Koala, what do you think of the new private messaging feature? I won't be using it again.

[rickandcindy23]

The feature actually got me into trouble. I had someone who asked if I could cut down a stay to four nights, she asked me last week, and I said I couldn't do that because as soon as I cancel this week at Peacock Suites, I will probably lose the entire week because that has been what happened in the past. It was a week starting 12/7, peak time for Christmas lights.

I happened to cancel the week on Friday and saw the four nights the woman wanted. I told her I have the four nights. Well, Koala takes days to confirm the dates, and of course they have to get their part of the money, I don't even know what they charge because I don't look at my listings for the final amounts. I would lose the points by Monday, so I offered to rent to her outside of Koala and put the ad on RW.

I received a much-deserved reprimand from Koala. Edited to say, now I am unable to even use private messaging. I have been punished handily.

I am getting old. Maybe I can claim senility.

But really, I am dealing with a lot right now, and this all seems petty in comparison.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Maybe Koala should set the messaging with an intermediary person like RW has. RW doesn't allow messages without any moderation either to/ from a verify/ protect renter or owner, just for this reason.

Maybe I am getting senile.

 

[montygz]

The feature actually got me into trouble. I had someone who asked if I could cut down a stay to four nights, she asked me last week, and I said I couldn't do that because as soon as I cancel this week at Peacock Suites, I will probably lose the entire week because that has been what happened in the past. It was a week starting 12/7, peak time for Christmas lights.

I happened to cancel the week on Friday and saw the four nights the woman wanted. I told her I have the four nights. Well, Koala takes days to confirm the dates, and of course they have to get their part of the money, I don't even know what they charge because I don't look at my listings for the final amounts. I would lose the points by Monday, so I offered to rent to her outside of Koala and put the ad on RW.

I received a much-deserved reprimand from Koala. Edited to say, now I am unable to even use private messaging. I have been punished handily.

I am getting old. Maybe I can claim senility.

But really, I am dealing with a lot right now, and this all seems petty in comparison.

The rules are there for your protection, the protection of the customers of Koala and Koala itself as a going concern.

Ideally, there would be some in-Koala method to quickly book a rental deal, but with the scale these Internet companies work at that likely isn't realistic.

It is frustrating, but consider without all these Internet rental sites we'd be putting up postcards on the supermarket wall to advertise.

 

[SmithOp]

It's not private messaging if Koala can read them, thanks for the warning.

 

[dioxide45]

It's not private messaging if Koala can read them, thanks for the warning.

The button does just say "Message Host". Nothing about it being private but no notation that it would be read by others. I can understand why they may look at messages or scan them for certain keywords. Like Ebay, they don't want buyer and seller working out some kind of arrangement outside of their platform.

 

[WaikikiFirst]

I offered to rent to her outside of Koala and put the ad on RW. I received a much-deserved reprimand from Koala.

For brokers, that just may = The Original Sin? Did she tell them or does koala snoop?

 

[rickandcindy23]

I understood why they were upset. Receiving TWO emails for chastizement and being told I cannot use messaging again, that was hurtful. I am actually extremely hurt, I have to say.

I do push Koala because I think it's a wonderful option to RW. I hope they can make it against RW. I see listings at my owned resorts just sitting online, and for the fees they charge to list on RW, it's ridiculous that they make so much money to list verify/ protect and rentals just aren't happening. Before the verify/ protect, I had a good chance of renting my weeks. I could price them under others' prices, and I didn't have renters asking me to add the verify/ protect with the extra fees.

It would be so nice for all of us, if Koala could get a real foothold on the market. An alternative timeshare rental website that actually competes with RW would be nice. I like the model of paying on the back-end of the rental and not upfront. It's just better.

There needs to be some information on Koala that says, "If you have a rental you want to get verified immediately because you have a renter, email us at XXXXX@go-koala.com and we will make it happen for you." This is an empathetic move.

The problem with big wigs at major companies like Koala and RW, they really have no sympathy or empathy for the timeshare owners. Do they own points that didn't get used for 2024 and didn't get banked in time? Do they have rentals listed that if they don't rent, they have to cancel at 60 days out to retrieve the points back in full to use for something that is not as good as what they got at 12 months out? No. They aren't there to be sympathetic, they are there to profit from your rental, not listen to how they can be better. If you are stuck with weeks that don't rent, it's not their fault, it's your fault. All of that is truth.

 

[davidvel]

I understood why they were upset. Receiving TWO emails for chastizement and being told I cannot use messaging again, that was hurtful. I am actually extremely hurt, I have to say.

I do push Koala because I think it's a wonderful option to RW. I hope they can make it against RW. I see listings at my owned resorts just sitting online, and for the fees they charge to list on RW, it's ridiculous that they make so much money to list verify/ protect and rentals just aren't happening. Before the verify/ protect, I had a good chance of renting my weeks. I could price them under others' prices, and I didn't have renters asking me to add the verify/ protect with the extra fees.

It would be so nice for all of us, if Koala could get a real foothold on the market. An alternative timeshare rental website that actually competes with RW would be nice. I like the model of paying on the back-end of the rental and not upfront. It's just better.

There needs to be some information on Koala that says, "If you have a rental you want to get verified immediately because you have a renter, email us at XXXXX@go-koala.com and we will make it happen for you." This is an empathetic move.

The problem with big wigs at major companies like Koala and RW, they really have no sympathy or empathy for the timeshare owners. Do they own points that didn't get used for 2024 and didn't get banked in time? Do they have rentals listed that if they don't rent, they have to cancel at 60 days out to retrieve the points back in full to use for something that is not as good as what they got at 12 months out? No. They aren't there to be sympathetic, they are there to profit from your rental, not listen to how they can be better. If you are stuck with weeks that don't rent, it's not their fault, it's your fault. All of that is truth.

"Hurt." Rental business. Someone else making money not me. Hilarious.

 

[rickandcindy23]

"Hurt." Rental business. Someone else making money not me. Hilarious.

Wow, that was just nasty.

I didn't say that at all. This is about the hundreds of listings on RW that aren't moving. I have two listings that are verify/ protect, and they will rent, eventually, one that I can use myself in the event it doesn't.

This is about RW making money on listing fees and no guarantee to owners, no money back, when $60 fees are collected and nothing comes of it. The service includes advice on the rental amount the owner is asking. They send the owner a likely amount to ask, like they are experts. If they are advising an amount to charge, they should rent it for that.

I did have several that expired without renting, but I rented those with DVC Rental Store.. But so many more that belong to people I don't know, people who trusted that RW would come through for them. And Koala is not well known.

I don't really know anything about you. This is Timeshare Users' Group, a place where I should be able to post without attacks to my character. There is a marketplace here on TUG as well. I think the rental of timeshares is pretty much accepted among us here.

 

[billymach4]

I have not been impressed with KOALA.
Had an issue with them where they would not share the name of the renter. I wanted to update the reservation.

I called BS on that and cancelled. This was at about the time Marriott was about to start enforcing the new forms.

However now there is a firm process in place. So not sure how they handle names anymore since they did not share the renter name with me. I put up a big push back and ended up speaking to Mike Kennedy. I have to dig up the details.

 

[billymach4]

Here is my issue with Koala. Since at the time about a year ago they did not share the name of the renter with me. The issue and explanation was that owners would put a name on a reservation... Then a few months later have to change the name yet again. He said that many owners were inconvenienced and penalized by the resort company for changing names again and again on the reservation?

Now I am a small fish in an ocean here in the TS renting world. In my experience with Redweek and private rentals I have never had to change the name on a reservation after I confirmed and received payment.

Mike explained that as the date of the reservation or once the plans of the renter were firm then the name and details of the reservation would be shared with me. At that point I was required to change the name on the reservation.

I don't know how they are handling this now with Marriott and their form request.

All I know is that Redweek does not hesitate at all to ensure that I am diligent about changing the name on the reservation. Redweek wants proof positive that I hold up my end of the bargain.

With Koala I was and I continue to be suspicious. As I have seen ads on VRBO from Koala.

If Koala is renting on VRBO where are they getting the inventory ?

I know Mike Kennedy has an account here on TUG. Please feel free to further explain your position with respect to Koala and names on reservations.

 

[amycurl]

Cindy, didn’t you say your daughter now works for Koala? Has she shared your issues internally?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[rickandcindy23]

Cindy, didn’t you say your daughter now works for Koala? Has she shared your issues internally?


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

She was one of the people who emailed me, absolutely shocked that I would try to rent outside of Koala, when it was a Friday night and I had no idea how to go about listing four nights on Koala for this woman to rent before my expiration date for the points to be returned to me, if she didn't rent after all of the trouble.

They will be happy to know that I didn't rent the four nights.

I am still a fan of Koala. I like the company, I like the owner. I am pretty embarrassed, actually, to have done what I did and then to be be treated like this. I am red-faced and embarrassed and should have known this would be a terrible thing for me to do.

 

[davidvel]

Wow, that was just nasty.

I didn't say that at all. This is about the hundreds of listings on RW that aren't moving. I have two listings that are verify/ protect, and they will rent, eventually, one that I can use myself in the event it doesn't.

This is about RW making money on listing fees and no guarantee to owners, no money back, when $60 fees are collected and nothing comes of it. The service includes advice on the rental amount the owner is asking. They send the owner a likely amount to ask, like they are experts. If they are advising an amount to charge, they should rent it for that.

I did have several that expired without renting, but I rented those with DVC Rental Store.. But so many more that belong to people I don't know, people who trusted that RW would come through for them. And Koala is not well known.

I don't really know anything about you. This is Timeshare Users' Group, a place where I should be able to post without attacks to my character. There is a marketplace here on TUG as well. I think the rental of timeshares is pretty much accepted among us here.

Sorry if you felt it was nasty, not sure why. I did not attack your character in any way. You clearly rent as a business. To feel "hurt" for receiving 2 emails (one from your daughter) from apparently violating Koala's rules of not renting around them seems a bit over the top. That was my point.

They run a business just like you. It is not personal. Going around them is like renting an II exchange and then being upset they close your account.

 

[rickandcindy23]

If I am renting as a business, I should get a new profession because this is not working out well for me.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Here is my issue with Koala. Since at the time about a year ago they did not share the name of the renter with me. The issue and explanation was that owners would put a name on a reservation... Then a few months later have to change the name yet again. He said that many owners were inconvenienced and penalized by the resort company for changing names again and again on the reservation?

Now I am a small fish in an ocean here in the TS renting world. In my experience with Redweek and private rentals I have never had to change the name on a reservation after I confirmed and received payment.

Mike explained that as the date of the reservation or once the plans of the renter were firm then the name and details of the reservation would be shared with me. At that point I was required to change the name on the reservation.

I don't know how they are handling this now with Marriott and their form request.

All I know is that Redweek does not hesitate at all to ensure that I am diligent about changing the name on the reservation. Redweek wants proof positive that I hold up my end of the bargain.

With Koala I was and I continue to be suspicious. As I have seen ads on VRBO from Koala.

If Koala is renting on VRBO where are they getting the inventory ?

I know Mike Kennedy has an account here on TUG. Please feel free to further explain your position with respect to Koala and names on reservations.

That's not really suspicious, Koala having ads on VRBO. I think it's good business, actually, because they are trying to get their name out there to the benefit of those who advertise with Koala. They are attempting to rent inventory that people have listed on their site by adding it to existing rental platforms.

It's hard to fight against RCI Rentals, RW Rentals and all of the other companies' rentals. I think longevity is important for coming up on Google searches. Longevity and good reviews will win in the end. Longevity is something Koala does not have. To stay in the game and acquire a more prominent place on Google, they need to spread rentals into venues like Airbnb and VRBO, two very well-known names in the business. I am glad they are doing it, if they still are, because timeshare owners benefit.

RCI has a huge presence on the internet, bigger than even RW. I enter a search for our home resort, Hono Koa, and RCI pops up ahead of any other site, including Hono Koa's home page.

 

[dioxide45]

If I am renting as a business, I should get a new profession because this is not working out well for me.

That's a decision a lot of businesses have to make.

 

[rickandcindy23]

The button does just say "Message Host". Nothing about it being private but no notation that it would be read by others. I can understand why they may look at messages or scan them for certain keywords. Like Ebay, they don't want buyer and seller working out some kind of arrangement outside of their platform.

Yes, I am sure they don't want arrangements being made outside of their platform. Absolutely.

Sorry if you felt it was nasty, not sure why. I did not attack your character in any way. You clearly rent as a business. To feel "hurt" for receiving 2 emails (one from your daughter) from apparently violating Koala's rules of not renting around them seems a bit over the top. That was my point.

They run a business just like you. It is not personal. Going around them is like renting an II exchange and then being upset they close your account.

Trolls do this. They drop bombs and then say they are misunderstood.

 

[davidvel]

Yes, I am sure they don't want arrangements being made outside of their platform. Absolutely.



Trolls do this. They drop bombs and then say they are misunderstood.

I am so "hurt."

 

[frank808]

If I am renting as a business, I should get a new profession because this is not working out well for me.

No saying you are renting as a business or not.

Just want to point out that not all businesses or hobbies are successful.

Got to try and if it doesn't work then time to move on has been my motto.