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Is Redweek only offering two verified and protected options now?

One thing I will say about Redweek is that the do run a tight ship. If you screw up, they will shut you down immediately.
 
DeniseM said:
Sorry for the confusion - I posted the wrong screenshot, so I deleted my post. After looking at it again, I realized that page is not the page where I start my Ads: I always start on the "My Postings" page which gives me different options.
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Yes. But wherever you start, there are only two options now. No $39 option.
 
DeniseM said:
Sorry for the confusion - I posted the wrong screenshot, so I deleted my post. After looking at it again, I realized that page is not the page where I start my Ads: I always start on the "My Postings" page which gives me different options.
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I don't have any listings so I don't see anything on "My Postings". Do you still see the $39 option there?
 
If I might answer on her behalf (since the 15 minutes worth of suspense were killing me): No. She does not see a $39 option.

And, presumably, she has not been "shut down" because she "screwed up" since Redweek "runs a tight ship". :)
 
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dioxide45 said:
I don't have any listings so I don't see anything on "My Postings". Do you still see the $39 option there?
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No more $39 option.

Can't get around it by "copying" a DIY listing, and renewing a $39 listing also goes to the $49 option.

I suspect we'll see a lot more DIY listings on TUG :)
 
IMO this isn't about preventing fraud. No offense but I sometimes find some elements within TUG to be a little overly paranoid about scammers. Yes, they obviously exist, but in the grand scheme of things, they are a tiny minority (a rounding error) on the more reputable booking platforms. Redweek is one of the more reputable booking sites, and they will remove scammers quickly if / when they are identified.

Redweek appears to be trying to move more into the space occupied by AirBnb, VRBO, etc. In essence, trying to generate revenue via increased fees and the carry interest collected on rental deposits. If they are able to increase revenue in a meaningful way, not only do they benefit financially right away, but it also makes them a more attractive acquisition target in a world where M&A has become the only meaningful way for larger enterprises to grow. Arrivia already did this when they acquired Redweek in 2022 but based on total sales they could potentially be an M&A target themselves at some point.

However, it will be interesting to see how this works out for "non-Marriott type" listings. Smaller independent resorts, Fixed Week units, etc. And all the shoulder season rentals where people are trying to recover their maintenance fees and post on Redweek for not much profit or even a loss with the $39.99 listing.

Although this change will result in me personally using Redweek less, I'm guessing Redweek has done the math. Just as one example, if they can convert every single Marriott listing into Proctected / Verified versus the DIY option, I am guessing that would be a significant increase in revenue. Maybe enough to offset the DIY listings elsewhere they might now lose?
 
One additional thought...

Redweek really dominated a niche space in the Rental market for years and years. They provided a DIY option of $39.99 on a well-known and reputable platform. They have now abandoned that niche and it is no longer really being provided. At least not at the scale Redweek made possible across the timeshare world. I am curious if this move by Redweek actually ends up benefitting another company to step up and now take that niche over?

TUG? KOALA? Can MyResortNetwork ever resurrect their site?

It will be interesting to see if anything develops.
 
RLS50 said:
TUG? KOALA? Can MyResortNetwork ever resurrect their site?
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I don't think KOALA is a viable alternative for DIY rentals. They work much the same as Redweek verified and protected/full service. Perhaps they could enter the DIY space, but that doesn't seem to be their business model. TUG is certainly 100% DIY and perhaps My Resort Network is an alternative.
 
Norcal5 said:
I'm betting on Facebook.
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THIS. My rentals are already 50/50 between Redweek and Facebook. I won't pay the extra exploitation fees to Redweek so I guess I'll have to hope for more Facebook rentals once my current DIY ads on Redweek expire.

It has nothing to do with fraud. Its just a money grab by Redweek. As dioxide45 pointed out- I have never heard of a single person being scammed on Redweek by a DIYer. Too many other free options out there for scammers- why pay the Redweek fees to scam someone??
 
jwalk03 said:
THIS. My rentals are already 50/50 between Redweek and Facebook. I won't pay the extra exploitation fees to Redweek so I guess I'll have to hope for more Facebook rentals once my current DIY ads on Redweek expire.

It has nothing to do with fraud. Its just a money grab by Redweek. As dioxide45 pointed out- I have never heard of a single person being scammed on Redweek by a DIYer. Too many other free options out there for scammers- why pay the Redweek fees to scam someone??
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Unfortunately the free nature of Facebook leads to many scams. Both by people claiming to be owners and from the renter side.
 
Here is what I found from October 2023. The $49 option then was verified and protected but no additional $99 fee when rented. Though Redweek would have still charged the 10% booking fee to the renter.

1740153577796.png
 
They clearly did the math...

The new option gets them an extra $99 and the extra 10% from the renter side which is typically $150+ (and can even be $400+). They can give up 5 DIY listings for each one that converts to the new option and still come out way ahead.
 
Norcal5 said:
Still only seeing two options now, where I saw three last week. Current options are the $59 and the $49, both Verified and Protected, not the $39, handle your own payment.
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I'm shocked, shocked I telzya
 
RLS50 said:
Redweek appears to be trying to move
Click to expand...
Here we go. Not only will they raise revenue, they will lower costs (theirs, not yours yuk yuk).
The camel's nose was in the hen-house and the fox keeps waving it in. The only way to throw it out is for all the other foxes (the owners who list) to go on strike and stop listing.
 
I'm actually not displeased by this change. I won't be able to go to my Key West 2 BR, 2 bath this year at a non-Hyatt resort. The dates are Dec 20 thru Dec 27 (Christmas week). I'm an owner there and not a person who acquired the week via exchange.

Yet, upon my checking my resort's Redweek page, there are two questionable listings already there for that week. One identifies itself as a 2 BR but says that it's unit 110. Unit 110 is without question a 1 BR unit. The second is allegedly for unit 210 but mis-identifies its sleeping accommodations and other features of that 2 BR (which is located right above unit 110).

Both asking rents are on the low side, lower than I might like to accept.

And both appear as what was the $39 non-verified option.

So I'm competing with someone whose listings, anyway, are either 100% deliberately wrong or "mistaken". And I'd have to lower my asking price to compete with apparent bullsh&^5.

So I say bring on the "verified and protected" if it will mean bullsh&^5 will disappear. I'll gladly pay that $49 instead of $39 and even the "not that much" $99 if it means I'll actually achieve a well-priced rental. Like the tariffs, I'll just pass that $99 on to the renter.

Moreover, the renter can be confident that it's not a scam, as no money gets put in the owner's hands until the day or second day after the check-in occurs.

I might add that, because of the BS other listings, I decided not to list via Redweek. So that's also a possibility. People like me perhaps listing with Redweek under these new rules but not under the old rules..
 
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andre10056 said:
I'm actually not displeased by this change. I won't be able to go to my Key West 2 BR, 2 bath this year at a non-Hyatt resort. The dates are Dec 20 thru Dec 27 (Christmas week). I'm an owner there and not a person who acquired the week via exchange.

Yet, upon my checking my resort's Redweek page, there are two questionable listings already there for that week. One identifies itself as a 2 BR but says that it's unit 110. Unit 110 is without question a 1 BR unit. The second is allegedly for unit 210 but mis-identifies its sleeping accommodations and other features of that 2 BR (which is located right above unit 110).

Both asking rents are on the low side, lower than I might like to accept.

And both appear as what was the $39 non-verified option.

So I'm competing with someone whose listings, anyway, are either 100% deliberately wrong or "mistaken". And I'd have to lower my asking price to compete with apparent bullsh&^5.

So I say bring on the "verified and protected" if it will mean bullsh&^5 will disappear. I'll gladly pay that $49 instead of $39 and even the "not that much" $99 if it means I'll actually achieve a well-priced rental. Like the tariffs, I'll just pass that $99 on to the renter.

Moreover, the renter can be confident that it's not a scam, as no money gets put in the owner's hands until the day or second day after the check-in occurs.

I might add that, because of the BS other listings, I decided not to rent via Redweek. So that's also a possibility. People like me perhaps renting with Redweek under these new rules but not under the old rules..
Click to expand...

I've been on Redweek for 10 years. I monitor listings at dozens of resorts on a daily basis. While the scenario you describe is obviously possible, it is clearly an exception to the rule.
 
I used to do everything on my own ... with Redweek etc. I've long ago decided to let Redweek do the work for me. So I am fine with verified and protected, the fees, and would also prefer it when I rent. Unless of course it's one of you outstanding citizens.
 
Redweek makes mistakes. I booked a 2 bed and a 2 bed lockoff at Sheraton Broadway and both were showing as regular two bedrooms. I had the lockoff priced higher than the other, both are the same date. Check your listings for accuracy. I emailed yesterday about this issue. They say they will get back to me after verifying my information.
 
We can't really say we didn't see this day coming. From Redweek making it harder for owners to find the DIY (Classic Pricing Table) harder and for Verified and Protected rentals appearing at the top of search results by default, it was only a matter of time. I am sure they will say that only a small percentage of overall rentals were DIY and that justifies the change. The reality is that they are only a smaller percentage of rentals because of actions taken to make it harder and less attractive to use that option. Kind of like Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines getting rid of chocolates on the pillow at night. They said they did it because most of them just went into the trash. They were in the trash because they tasted terrible. They could have fixed it by making them taste better and making them with less wax.
 
Common sense will tell you that the $99 fee is going to pretty much cover all or part of the credit card fees you pay as DIY.
 
Not a fan of this change at all for a number of reasons. Guess I’ll try relying more heavily on Vacation Candy in the future.
 
NTP66 said:
Not a fan of this change at all for a number of reasons. Guess I’ll try relying more heavily on Vacation Candy in the future.
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Vacation Candy is not a great alternative. I haven't rented anything through them, and I have listed mine several times.

Try go-koala.com. It's free to list. I think it's wise to always list with any site that is free to list. You just have to decide how much you need to make sure your listing amount minus the fees is what you want to earn net.

Redweek is still great.
 
rickandcindy23 said:
Vacation Candy is not a great alternative. I haven't rented anything through them, and I have listed mine several times.

Try go-koala.com. It's free to list. I think it's wise to always list with any site that is free to list. You just have to decide how much you need to make sure your listing amount minus the fees is what you want to earn net.

Redweek is still great.
Click to expand...
I’ve heard of others renting through VC with a lot of success, and the listings are free. Just have to bake in some of their fees to your pricing. I’ll still post RW ads, but waiting until after they check in to get paid? Hate it. Honestly, I hope this move hurts RW’s bottom line and they wind up reversing course.
 
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