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New Redweek Listing Policy

BigDawgTUG

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After starting this thread, and after cancelling all of my Redweek listings, I listed about 10 rentals on Koala. In determining the listing price, I start with what I would have listed it on Redweek and I then add about 8% to cover the Koala fee. Not a single inquiry to date from Koala, and these are all mainstream, highly desirable MVC properties. I have rented about half through other sources. So, not too impressed by Koala so far.
 

emeryjre

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Perhaps you can point people from Facebook Groups to your listings on those more secure sites? Essentially, just use Facebook Groups as a lead generator?
I have done that after the initial contact. It has not been enough of a success to continue.
 

emeryjre

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After starting this thread, and after cancelling all of my Redweek listings, I listed about 10 rentals on Koala. In determining the listing price, I start with what I would have listed it on Redweek and I then add about 8% to cover the Koala fee. Not a single inquiry to date from Koala, and these are all mainstream, highly desirable MVC properties. I have rented about half through other sources. So, not too impressed by Koala so far.
I agree the site traffic has not worked for some resorts. I have no idea why. I know it works for the ones it works for. I have not talked with the owner in several years. I think @dioxide45 has a good relationship with him. Perhaps you could have a conversation with the owner and see if there is anything that could be changed regarding marketing.
 

hurnik

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After starting this thread, and after cancelling all of my Redweek listings, I listed about 10 rentals on Koala. In determining the listing price, I start with what I would have listed it on Redweek and I then add about 8% to cover the Koala fee. Not a single inquiry to date from Koala, and these are all mainstream, highly desirable MVC properties. I have rented about half through other sources. So, not too impressed by Koala so far.

To be fair, I don't see the issue being so much Koala, but rather Redweek has been around for a while and has become the "defacto" standard for rentals (a few exceptions like DVC).
 

Marathoner

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Ultimately prime weeks availability at the prime resorts is what will make Koala successful or not. However, it is important for them to have enough marketing so that Koala develops enough name recognition so those looking to rent can find it. Unfortunately, I don't know what marketing they are doing. But their website is good, although not great, as I think the utility of the Redweek website is stronger.
 

hurnik

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We wanted to take a moment to respond. Needless to say, we've been a little busy with Hurricane Ian and resort closures.

For our supporters, thank you so much!!

For those of you who are unhappy, we do absolutely understand why some owners would be upset with the new default sorting and we did expect it. Our management team has reviewed every comment and thank you all for taking the time to let us know your thoughts.

Currently, we have no plans to change the the default view. Our visitors are always welcome to re-sort postings using any of the criteria from the drop down and also use the filters. We understand that this isn’t the outcome that some owners desire, but we believe that it gives priority to the postings that protect both the renter and the owner.

Many owners don't realize that they're the targets of scammers just as often as the renters are. We've seen many cases where an owner's personal email is hacked, and the scammer will impersonate the owner and intercept rental funds intended for the owner. We're coming into the season where we see the most of that activity. So, we had to weigh all sides of the matter and simply want every owner's week to rent, and we want everyone to be safe, owners and renters alike.

For those owners who have no interest in using our Online Booking, our Customer Service team can certainly cancel your posting(s) and request the refund. If you're interested in trying either RedWeek Verification or Full Service rentals, please let our Customer Service team know and we will see what we can do to help.

To answer a few questions that have come up:

We do not verify any reservation from Interval International or RCI. Renting units obtained through them violates the terms of both companies and we don't want to see a renter's reservation canceled because of it.

For Byloe, If you're not a US Citizen, you can make that selection when your Tax information is requested and you'll be able to bypass entering the information.


Edited to add that you can always contact us at support@redweek.com

Well it's been two weeks since my FIRST email to Redweek requesting a refund. Nothing. I sent a SECOND email last week as well. Still no response.
 

TheHolleys87

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I received another email from RW today, touting the benefits of renting from RW (vs. Airbnb), not anything to do with renting out our weeks via RW. I decided to follow the link to “Explore Hawaii Perks” on RedWeek.com and was surprised to read that one of the options RW offers is “Marriott’s Waiohai Beach Club: Perched above Kauai’s scenic Hanalei Bay….” That error in location doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in the accuracy of their descriptions of different properties.
 

qlaval

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And I have the feeling that if one day the Verified and Protect ads top 66% of the rental volume ads the Basic ads will simply no longer be available for our own "safety" of course...
 

DaveNV

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I received another email from RW today, touting the benefits of renting from RW (vs. Airbnb), not anything to do with renting out our weeks via RW. I decided to follow the link to “Explore Hawaii Perks” on RedWeek.com and was surprised to read that one of the options RW offers is “Marriott’s Waiohai Beach Club: Perched above Kauai’s scenic Hanalei Bay….” That error in location doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in the accuracy of their descriptions of different properties.

Oh, haven't you heard? That's their new "Imaginary Phase" location. On the other side of the island, in case it's raining in Poipu. Guaranteed sunny every day. :rolleyes:

:D

Dave
 

AlmostRetired

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The move to featured is going to be a big win for online timeshare rental realtors. They are going to have a data based of listings that will have (more ) difficulty finding renters. They will increase their focus to find renters and with higher success rate use Redweek to satisfy that request. I have 2 units for rent on Redweek both verified. One I rented. When I spoke with the renter on how they found the unit, they said the saw a post on FB about the default change. On both I have been approached by a broker responding to the Redweek add requesting a booking. I knew it was a broker by the email address.
The cost of Verified, and Verified and Protected is the same. Verified and Protected comes with a1099k to the owner, payment 2 days after checkin to the owner, no owner/renter dispute resolution (hold money until it is resolved), a 7% fee to the renter and state tax collection for the states that tax rentals.

BTW, Redweek gets to earn interested on all the rental money collected until payment to the owner or refund to the renter.

Just as an FYI to owners who think that this is risk free. Ask Redweek what happens with payment to the owner if a credit card payment is made and the card holder disputes the payment with the CC company within 60 days before checkin or after checkin. Redweek requires you to resolve the dispute with the renter.
 

MOXJO7282

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When this change was made I was pissed and had a grave concern if renters would understand the new layout and scroll down to find the better deals or just rent from the top and then those V&P slots would just get refilled before anyone scrolls down to find ads like mine that were definitely competitively priced but not V&P. At least for my Maui weeks I'm beginning to believe it is a overblown concern because in the last week I've rented 4 Maui weeks that renters definitely had to find because of the number of other ads for the MOC that typically has a lot of ads and now the stacking by V&P. I guess we'll see overall after we have time to analyze but I would caution anyone against just dropping RW without truly understanding the impact because for me there has been no better resource over the years than RW to rent prime Marriott weeks.
 

BigDawgTUG

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Thanks for the update - very encouraging to hear. Since this post, I've had ZERO inquiries on my Koala listings. During the same time, I posted two V&P listings on Redweek. One rented in two days via Redweek (before verification could even be done by Redweek) and the other rented in two days from a different source. Given your experience, I'll likely try a few basic listings in the new year and see how it goes.
 

rickandcindy23

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Redweek is turning out to be a big PIA for confirming DVC reservations. They will not take the forwarded confirmation as proof for their verify system, and they just did a three-way call with Disney, me and a Redweek rep. The ridiculousness of this is manyfold. The obvious problem is that I can cancel this at any time, so why bother to call and verify the rental? Also, I have never rented anything through Redweek I don't have, so that is another thing I am scratching my head over. They cannot take my word for it that I have this week reserved and cannot see the forwarded confirmation?

The third issue is obvious, and that is that Disney now knows I am renting through Redweek. Can't we just keep that secret?

This may have burned me on Redweek for any future rentals of anything WorldMark, Shell, or Disney. That's about all I have left. So now I am wondering if Redweek is going to burn bridges with many longtime timeshare owners who have a history of renting through them.

I am unaware if Koala does this, and I will ask my contact there. If they do, I don't want double the calls to Disney about my Disney's Riviera rental. Another reason to just use Koala, if they don't do the calls.
 

Ken555

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The obvious problem is that I can cancel this at any time, so why bother to call and verify the rental?

This is a risk with all rentals from any source, not new. I’m surprised they wanted the call.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 

sunski

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Redweek is turning out to be a big PIA for confirming DVC reservations. They will not take the forwarded confirmation as proof for their verify system, and they just did a three-way call with Disney, me and a Redweek rep. The ridiculousness of this is manyfold. The obvious problem is that I can cancel this at any time, so why bother to call and verify the rental? Also, I have never rented anything through Redweek I don't have, so that is another thing I am scratching my head over. They cannot take my word for it that I have this week reserved and cannot see the forwarded confirmation?

The third issue is obvious, and that is that Disney now knows I am renting through Redweek. Can't we just keep that secret?

This may have burned me on Redweek for any future rentals of anything WorldMark, Shell, or Disney. That's about all I have left. So now I am wondering if Redweek is going to burn bridges with many longtime timeshare owners who have a history of renting through them.

I am unaware if Koala does this, and I will ask my contact there. If they do, I don't want double the calls to Disney about my Disney's Riviera rental. Another reason to just use Koala, if they don't do the calls.
This is why "verifying" is pointless and according to Redweek's sorting process it doesn't get you to the "top". Only using their "protected" feature does that. Skip the "V" and only go "P" and save yourself the hassle.
 

beachbarbie

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I put a rental listing on Redweek 2 days ago not realizing that things have changed. I now notice that when you go to look for your listing in that resorts rentals that even
though one side of the pages states "showing all dates" on the other side of the page the listings are default sort to "featured" so mine doesn't even show up.
I emailed Red Week but said that I didn't see my listing because the listing that can be booked online would show up first. Are they talking about the $14.95 booking upgrade to let Redweek collect the money and verify the account? And if you don't do this is there a way for people to see your listing besides sorting to ALL instead of the default of FEATURED
Thank You for any help you can provide.
 

SteelerGal

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It is quite irritating to have to provide the Marriott confirmation when Vistana reservation shows the changes. It’s literally 2 different Systems. I rarely utilize Marriott Systems.
 

rickandcindy23

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Koala takes the forwarded confirmation and confirms within a few hours. No three-way calls to DVC to confirm the reservation. And it's free!!

If I sent the reservation, I have a reservation. What is to keep me from cancelling at any time. This is a stupid process and a waste of time. If I don't have the reservation, and someone goes to check into the resort, first they are going to know because I have to add a guest name for the verify. Second, why would I cancel a reservation after I paid for the verify on it. Makes zero sense. I would be just throwing $59.99 away.
 

byeloe

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And if you don't do this is there a way for people to see your listing besides sorting to ALL instead of the default of FEATURED
The non featured listings should be at the very bottom of the page, after all the featured listings which use Redweek Payments
 

pedro47

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This is an eye opening thread about Redweek policies and features.
 

BostonKingB

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NONE! Looking for a good trader to purchase.
Is Redweek running a black friday membership sale this year?
 

Almond123

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That is when I buy mine as well. I checked last year and it was actually cyber Monday that they were on sale. Hopefully this year as well but haven’t seen anything yet. Good luck.
 

rickandcindy23

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Rentals generally are slow during the fall. Planning vacations usually occurs to people after the new year. It's as though they need to get through the holidays before they can consider a vacation.

I think you will see some action on your Koala listings starting January.

I agree that Koala's website is tougher to search and posting is also a little more difficult than Redweek. I keep hoping for improvements to that site.

Advertising in both places seems to be important. But don't forget about TUG ads. They are free with our membership to TUG.
 
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