RCI downside

[ronbob64]

been to one of those RCI sale pitch talks and must say that if what they say/sell is true it sounds like a good deal.
But come on it almost sounds too good to be true, there must be a downside.
Anyone?

 

[logan115]

Without knowing the specifics of either RCI or the sale pitch you were given, I can still somewhat confidently say it's too good to be true.

Others will chime in, but buying from the developed is almost always a recipe for disaster (of the financial kind).

Chris

 

[Bill4728]

been to one of those RCI sale pitch talks and must say that if what they say/sell is true it sounds like a good deal.
But come on it almost sounds too good to be true, there must be a downside.
Anyone?

The biggest thing you need to know is that RCI doesn't sell or own timeshares. So I'm not sure what you are talking about.

BUT, If you talking about how by own at a resort, you can trade your week at that resort for RCI points. Then use those points to make exchanges to other resorts. YES that can be a good deal. The key to making it a good deal is to buy your resort week/points at the best price you can. Why pay $10,000 for 60,000 RCI points if you can pay $500?

Before buying anything you can also try RCI points for 3 years at a very low cost by leasing your points. this thread talks about leasing RCI points. If you like how they work for you, then you can continue to lease or you can buy a resort which generates RCI points.

Good Luck and Welcome to TUG

 

[Jimster]

OMG

OMG You are implying there is an upside Well the previous post explains things rather well. IF you watch what you buy, IF you trade wisely, and IF you plan well in advance, you can have many nice exchanges and vacations. OTOH if you don't RCI will take advantage of you in any number of ways. Realize RCI is out to make the biggest profit they can and they really have very little social conscience about it. Do not assume any kind of fiduciary relationship between you(the owner) and RCI (the exchange company). The other thing that is important to note is they are not the only game in town. There are other exchange companies.

 

[calgarygary]

I think it is possible the OP has been to a sales pitch of one of the many scam companies that try to associate themselves with RCI, by incorporating their initials into the scam company's name such as was discussed in this old thread.. If indeed you were at a sales presentation of a company selling timeshares claiming to be RCI, stay far, far away.

 

[geekette]

Where did you hear this presentation?

I'm wondering if OP was at a resort that is going to RCI Points and RCI was onsite, pitching that resort. RCI has people at many resorts.

Lots of people like RCI points. I don't own em. Do your homework, read the good and bad posts and if you're still interested, at least you will have a price target and an idea of how easy/hard, cheap/expensive it will be to take the vacations you are seeking.

good luck.

 

[Stricky]

There is no down side. It is all good.

Now have I got a deal for you....

 

[jbcoug]

Downside? They are owned by Wyndham!

 

[wetrat]

Realize RCI is out to make the biggest profit they can and they really have very little social conscience about it.

Well said Jimster. Due to busy schedules, we find it difficult to find time to travel outside of our kids' school vacations, and rarely are we able to plan more than six months in advance. We have been weeks (as opposed to points) RCI members for about 15 years and have NEVER received an equal quality exchange for our timeshare in Maui, and most times we are told nothing is available in the location or date range we request. This is completely the opposite of what the salesman told us in the sales presentation. We were told our Hawaii timeshare on the beach was the most desirable in the inventory, we would have no troubles at all trading for whatever we wanted, and even that our one week would equal two weeks at other resorts. None of this was true, unfortunately.

In addition, availability of units to you is extremely poor once they have your money. I was told recently, when trying to exchange my week in Maui, that there was nothing available on the beach or on a lake in California. Yet I live near the beach in California and went to a local RCI affiliated resort to find out if they had units available, and they quite enthusiastically said they did and that we could even stay at a reduced rate if we were willing to attend a timeshare sales presentation. What?!?!? Needless to say, I am one of the many involved in a class action lawsuit against RCI and am allowing my membership to lapse.

I do not understate the case when I say they provide the worst customer service of ANY organization I have ever been associated with. EVERY time you call to make an exchange, they will aggressively try to take more of your money in fees by trying to extend your membership. Even after I explain how unhappy I am with them, they STILL try to get me to extend my membership for additional fees. It's almost comical, really, as if they have no ability to listen to their customers at all.

You may want to believe I am just a disgruntled RCI member trying to slander
RCI, or that RCI may work for you in your individual circumstance. But this is the first time I have ever been unhappy enough with a company to complain about them on the internet. If you are able to plan your vacations a year in advance outside of holiday and school breaks, and you are able to look at a unit in advance to ensure the quality, you may have an "OK" experience with RCI. But there are so many better companies and options out there, why even bother with this bureaucratic, dieing dinosaur?