[merged-RCI Bk.] No European Resorts or Even MAPS??? - New 2009 RCI Weeks Directory

[cr4909]

Being ''green'' is an excuse to stick it to the average Joe these days, whether it is RCI skimping on their directory or the UK socking air travellers with a massive ''save the planet'' air ticket tax. It makes me want to puke when I hear it. It is like an airline announcing ''enhancements'' and customers know they are going to be hosed.

My favorite excuse is when you stay in a hotel and you see the placard in the bathroom telling you that you should be environmentally friendly to save water and reuse the towels instead of throwing them on the floor so the housekeeping will exchange them. Actually, I have no problem with reusing towels as I'm used to it by staying in timeshares, but a little honesty please. I'm sure their concern for saving money on laundry is infintiely greater than their concern about the environment.

 

[Don]

Unbelieveably small. don't throw away your old editions.

Totally agree. I have kept the last three since it has less resorts every year and now it only includes USA, Canada, Mexico and Caribbean. I also have an old european addition that I have kept for the great information and pictures listed that we can no longer see unless you check the on line directory.

We still have the '97/'98 edition, which was the last one to give a small description of what the surrounding area had to offer.

 

[Bigbird130]

RCI Weeks Book

Just got mine and as a few people have said it has gotten smaller.
I was wondering if anyone might know what determines whether or not a resort gets their picture and description in the book.
My home resort has 2 different areas
Holiday Beach Resort
Holiday Beach Resort Phase II
And neither one has a picture or description-just the name and number in the back pages
I've E-mailed the resort but haven't heard back yet.
One is a Siver Crown and the other is a Gold Crown.

 

[AwayWeGo]

Skinny Minny.

Today's USPS mail delivery included our copy of the new, downsized RCI timeshare resort directory -- slimmed down so much that at 1st I thought it was an issue of RCI's Endless Vacations magazine.

-- Alan Cole, McLean (Fairfax County), Virginia, USA.​

 

[sfwilshire]

I'm sure their concern for saving money on laundry is infintiely greater than their concern about the environment.

And if they really cared, they would recycle. It makes me nuts to be told that there is no way to recycle my newspapers and soda bottles or cans while I'm staying there.

Sheila

 

[Jennie]

I still keep the European RCI book that was given to us as a "gift" by the manager of a small timeshare in Denmark where we stayed for 2 weeks in 1998. Trouble is, all of the words are in Danish

 

[pranas]

I used to use it but now use the online edition mostly.
I suspect that is what RCI's market research showed for most so they shrunk it
What the heck that is the "Greener" Solution it saves paper and a tree.

Yes, it save trees but I doubt this was the reason. It saves $$$ for RCi is the real reason. Just think of all the electricity it would save if we did not have to spend hours on line and could get the information from a printed book.

 

[lprstn]

RCI explains the reason why their 2009 book is so small

RCI's response to the smaller book sent out to members this year....I emailed them to inquire

Hello, Thank you for your e-mail.

RCI understands that our business activities impact the earth and its resources, and we are continuing our efforts to conserve resources, preserve natural habitats and prevent pollution. In 2008, RCI was proudto introduce its first "green directory.” Both the 2008 and 2009 issues have been printed on paper which has been certified by the ForestStewardship Council for meeting the standards of compliance for sustainable forestry practices. In response to member feedback and in an effort to be even more fiscallyresponsible to our members, additional changes have been made to the 2009 Directory. Many members have indicated they rely less on printed materials than ever before. Because we understand a printed directory remains a useful tool for some members, the decision was made to continue to publish a resort directory which contains listings of affiliated resorts in North America and the Caribbean—the areas most visited by US and Canadian RCI members. Although the size of our directory is smaller, the number of resorts affiliated with RCI is higher than ever. In fact, over 4,600 resorts are now affiliated with RCI worldwide.

Because of our commitment to our members and to the environment, the number of pictured resorts has been reduced within each region. Additionally, international resorts, other than those located in Canada,Mexico and the Caribbean, are no longer listed in the printed directory.All RCI-affiliated resorts are viewable in the online directory at RCI.com. We are very excited to be able to offer our members many enhanced features via www.rci.com, including RCI’s complete directory online.

When members access the online directory, they are provided the most up-to-date and detailed information available for RCI-affiliated resortsworldwide. We encourage members to check out the www.rci.com site and explore the many options available.

The online directory includes resorts' phone numbers, addresses, and e-mail or website information where available, as well as both unit and resort amenities listed by name.

Many resort listings also include access to RCI member reviews. Just click on the "Resort Directory" tab. You may search by Map, Preferred Region, Resort ID or Resort Name. Kind Regards, John HornCustomer Communications

 

[Steve NH]

Green is good

Well I do agree going green is good. And yes with internet access we seldom consult the directory.

Also since it does cost less to produce a smaller directory the reduced RCI membership fees will be welcomed (ROFL)

 

[mav]

Maybe this is a catalog of the resorts they will not be renting to the general public.

 

[ati2d]

What about people who don't have a computer or access to a computer? I do, but I know people who don't, and really don't want to or can't make a trip miles to a library or pay fees at a internet cafe.

 

[Carolinian]

I know quite a few elderly people who have never gotten into the computer thing. Could this be a case of age discrimination by RCI?

The real reason for not including the European resorts is that RCI is renting the better inventory and what is availible for trade is not what it used to be. The old saying ''out of sight, out of mind'' seems to be the theory they are operating on. I have been watching the steady decline of European availibility since RCI started its rental programs. When a Tugger found a site with a lot of that inventory availible for rent to the general public, it was clear what was going on.

 

[jesuis1837]

Havent received mine yet, anyone from Canada who has it?

 

[moonstone]

Yes I got mine about 2 weeks ago. Very thin indeed, glad I still have the old ones!
~Diane

 

[jesuis1837]

Well i received it today and love it! It is all glossy and my book has 388 pages! I dont think that's the one people are talking as mine is as big as the last one. It is call: The Ultimate Vacation Guide and there are really 388 pages!

 

[Stricky]

I am not sure it ever made fiscal sence to mail out a small phone book sized catalog every year to 3.7 million members. That said you would think they would have put a downloadable PDF version on line of the full catalog or at least have an online version that looks like the printed version that you can look at whole pages.


Postage Rate History for US over the past 8 years:
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