RCI - New Product and Service Enhancements [merged]

[alwysonvac]

The following statement was posted on RCI

"Due to new product and service enhancements being introduced, all accounts will be unavailable starting Saturday, October 13, 2012 at 7:00 PM EDT through Sunday, October 14, 2012 at 10:00 PM EDT."

 

[Carolinian]

When that Orwellian term of corporate-speak ''enhancments'' is deployed, I always cringe at what might be coming down the pike. When airlines use it for changes in their ff programs, for example, the changes are invariably negative for the customers.

 

[BevL]

When that Orwellian term of corporate-speak ''enhancments'' is deployed, I always cringe at what might be coming down the pike. When airlines use it for changes in their ff programs, for example, the changes are invariably negative for the customers.

I think I am actually in agreement with you about something to do with RCI.

The note that I have lists all different times for the closures for different continents, basically, South Africa, Australia, Europe. Sounds like a pretty major overhaul, I don't recall ever seeing that before.

Yikes!!

 

[alwysonvac]

Additional message

Due to new product and service enhancements, RCI.com will be unavailable during the following times: North America - Saturday, Oct 13th, 2012 at 8:45PM EDT through Sunday Oct 14th, 2012 at 10:00 PM EDT. Europe - Sunday Oct 14th, 2012 at 0:01 BST through Monday Oct 15th, 2012 at 3:00 BST. South Africa - Sunday Oct 14th, 2012 at 2:45 AM SAST through Monday Oct 15th, 2012 at 4:00 AM SAST. India - Sunday Oct 14th, 2012 at 6:15 AM IST through Monday Oct 15th, 2012 at 7:30 AM IST. Asia - Sunday Oct 14th, 2012 at 8:45 AM SGT through Monday Oct 15th, 2012 at 10:00 AM SGT. Australia - Sunday Oct 14th, 2012 at 10:45 AM EST through Monday Oct 15th, 2012 at 12:00 PM EST.

 

[skimble]

Could the frequency of RCI "Sales Events" could be an indicator of rental demand?
Could the incentives they've been sending to get me to deposit my Prime weeks be an indicator of their waning prime deposits?
Could anecdotal popular opinion polls (as heard through spa-talk at resorts) be an indicator of declining RCI popularity?
Is it possible that, after 2 years of this TPU system, RCI is having to come to grips with the fact that people with weak traders would rather use, rent or trade elsewhere? And are people with strong traders are sick and tired of the politics, hold-back inventory, and limited exchange opportunities (knowing they cannot exchange back into their own resort or even a comparable resort because RCI doesn't give TPU parity-- they thumb the scales.)
Maybe... RCI is beginning to look at their viability as a business... maybe they've experienced a reduction in owner deposits that breached double digit percentages.
Maybe they are seeing profit-loss in the rental market...
Maybe the aggressive Interval business model is a threat...
Maybe the computer phone abyss has frustrated enough people to make them want to change...
Maybe... just Maybe... maybe there is hope that RCI changes to a positive customer-oriented approach to their business model.

 

[PeelBoy]

Could the frequency of RCI "Sales Events" could be an indicator of rental demand?
Could the incentives they've been sending to get me to deposit my Prime weeks be an indicator of their waning prime deposits?
Could anecdotal popular opinion polls (as heard through spa-talk at resorts) be an indicator of declining RCI popularity?
Is it possible that, after 2 years of this TPU system, RCI is having to come to grips with the fact that people with weak traders would rather use, rent or trade elsewhere? And are people with strong traders are sick and tired of the politics, hold-back inventory, and limited exchange opportunities (knowing they cannot exchange back into their own resort or even a comparable resort because RCI doesn't give TPU parity-- they thumb the scales.)
Maybe... RCI is beginning to look at their viability as a business... maybe they've experienced a reduction in owner deposits that breached double digit percentages.
Maybe they are seeing profit-loss in the rental market...
Maybe the aggressive Interval business model is a threat...
Maybe the computer phone abyss has frustrated enough people to make them want to change...
Maybe... just Maybe... maybe there is hope that RCI changes to a positive customer-oriented approach to their business model.

Aggressive II business model? I see RCI more aggressive than II.

 

[dougp26364]

Could the frequency of RCI "Sales Events" could be an indicator of rental demand?
Could the incentives they've been sending to get me to deposit my Prime weeks be an indicator of their waning prime deposits?
Could anecdotal popular opinion polls (as heard through spa-talk at resorts) be an indicator of declining RCI popularity?
Is it possible that, after 2 years of this TPU system, RCI is having to come to grips with the fact that people with weak traders would rather use, rent or trade elsewhere? And are people with strong traders are sick and tired of the politics, hold-back inventory, and limited exchange opportunities (knowing they cannot exchange back into their own resort or even a comparable resort because RCI doesn't give TPU parity-- they thumb the scales.)
Maybe... RCI is beginning to look at their viability as a business... maybe they've experienced a reduction in owner deposits that breached double digit percentages.
Maybe they are seeing profit-loss in the rental market...
Maybe the aggressive Interval business model is a threat...
Maybe the computer phone abyss has frustrated enough people to make them want to change...
Maybe... just Maybe... maybe there is hope that RCI changes to a positive customer-oriented approach to their business model.

I think it's simpler than this. RCI has come up with yet another way to enhance their profits at the expense of those who actually own the timeshares. They'll look for new profit avenues that don't include member friendly changes or enhancements.

 

[DaveNV]

The thing RCI needs to come to grips with, is that they're driving away loyal customers. I was a loyal RCI-only depositor, back before TPU came into play. Now, even with more than 50 TPU on deposit, I don't see anything I want to exchange for. But if I want to rent something, it's everywhere I want to go - for an outrageous fee.

To try to get usage from what I deposited, I'm forced to deal with an Ongoing Search, in hopes of getting the exchange I want. I've paid to combine my deposits, I've paid for an ongoing search, and I paid to join RCI in the first place. Add that to the maintenance fees I've already paid for what I deposited, and that week's vacation is suddenly pretty darned expensive.

That kind of extra effort aggravates a level of frustration I choose not to endure. My membership in RCI expires in a couple of years, and I won't be renewing unless things change dramatically. I'll sell what I own and rent when I want to, rather than continue to feed RCI's self interests. I'm a pretty patient guy, but things are getting to be pretty much out of control.

Dave

 

[BevL]

It's 4:45 west coast time and RCI is back up.

 

[DaveNV]

It's 4:45 west coast time and RCI is back up.

And the only thing different I see so far is the font on the resort page after a search. I'd hope there would be more than that, for all this downtime.

Dave

 

[bnoble]

Looks like eye-candy for the most part. Nothing substantive is different that I can see on first blush.

 

[cmh]

I can't tell any difference, can you?

 

[stanleyu]

Yes, I COULD tell a difference. When I clicked on "My Favorites", the individual resorts showed, but not the group. So I created a new group, and viola! both groups appeared. Next I logged off and back on again: same problem, no groups.

So it is a difference. Not what I would call an improvement, but a difference.

 

[Luvstotravel]

When looking at an individual resort's page, the pictures are presented differently. They automatically switch, and when I move the cursor over the picture, more choices are visible, to move back and forth, and to choose a different picture.

 

[JPD]

I totally agree with BMWGUY's posts. I also remember going online and finding something decent no matter when I looked. I've been looking for a two bedroom for spring break in Orlando for a couple of months now. Nothing but 1 bdrms/studios, unless you want to take your grandkids to the Gardens resort. I have 5 months before spring break, I have an ongoing search on, and I'll be checking in daily.

As far as the enhancements, didn't notice anything. When I checked my ongoing search this morning, nothing jumped out at me.

 

[matbec]

No inventory after April 2014???

I noticed that there's absolutely no inventory (for anywhere) listed after April 2014, with the search criteria set at all exchanges, extra vacations, and last call. I have a favourite search set up to look for summer 2014 availability (any size unit) in the in the SouthEast (Carolinas and Virginia) for July and Aug 2014. On Saturday morning, 48 resorts were listed. This morning ... nothing.

Weird.

 

[jdunn1]

Worldmark owners (who access RCI only through a portal) now have the ability to see and modify our on-going searches. Finally!!! Can't tell you how frustrating it was to call RCI to set-up a search only to never get a match because the RCI rep didn't list all of the resorts you asked or didn't get the date range right, etc... We still have to call RCI to set-up the search but it looks like we can modify the search on our own after a rep sets-up the search.

 

[bnoble]

It looks like that might be possible for the Wyndham portal too; there is a tab th ere that was not there before, but I don't have an active search to test it.

noticed that there's absolutely no inventory (for anywhere) listed after April 2014, with the search criteria set at all exchanges

I see exchange inventory all the way to October 14, but EV inventory ends in April. Is it possible tat your latest expiring deposit is April 14 or earlier? If so you cannot see exchange inventory past that point.

 

[dougp26364]

The thing RCI needs to come to grips with, is that they're driving away loyal customers. I was a loyal RCI-only depositor, back before TPU came into play. Now, even with more than 50 TPU on deposit, I don't see anything I want to exchange for. But if I want to rent something, it's everywhere I want to go - for an outrageous fee.

To try to get usage from what I deposited, I'm forced to deal with an Ongoing Search, in hopes of getting the exchange I want. I've paid to combine my deposits, I've paid for an ongoing search, and I paid to join RCI in the first place. Add that to the maintenance fees I've already paid for what I deposited, and that week's vacation is suddenly pretty darned expensive.

That kind of extra effort aggravates a level of frustration I choose not to endure. My membership in RCI expires in a couple of years, and I won't be renewing unless things change dramatically. I'll sell what I own and rent when I want to, rather than continue to feed RCI's self interests. I'm a pretty patient guy, but things are getting to be pretty much out of control.

Dave

Why not just join SFX or one of the other independant exchange companies and give them a try?

 

[cotraveller]

The WorldMark RCI portal now has access to Extra and Last Call vacations. Before this change you had to log in directly to the RCI site to see those, they were not accessible through the WorldMark portal.

 

[skimble]

I totally agree with BMWGUY's posts. I also remember going online and finding something decent no matter when I looked. I've been looking for a two bedroom for spring break in Orlando for a couple of months now. Nothing but 1 bdrms/studios, unless you want to take your grandkids to the Gardens resort. I have 5 months before spring break, I have an ongoing search on, and I'll be checking in daily.

As far as the enhancements, didn't notice anything. When I checked my ongoing search this morning, nothing jumped out at me.

I suspect RCI is holding back inventory in the 2+ bedroom range at many resorts to use for their rental pool AND... they can use this to bolster their hold-back inventory for the "Try-it-and-see-for-yourself" Wyndham developer sales promo.
If there are no takers in rentals or the promo, they'll use these weeks as upgrades for Platinum members.

 

[matbec]

It looks like that might be possible for the Wyndham portal too; there is a tab th ere that was not there before, but I don't have an active search to test it.


I see exchange inventory all the way to October 14, but EV inventory ends in April. Is it possible tat your latest expiring deposit is April 14 or earlier? If so you cannot see exchange inventory past that point.

My latest deposit expires July 2015. When I had checked my summer 2014 (favourite) search earlier, I got the dialogue box indicating "No Search Results".

I've just logged back in to RCI, and that search is now working, and I can also see inventory to October 2014. Must have have been a momentary glitch ...?

 

[Weimaraner]

For me, when they make web "enhancements" it means they are making it harder to view favorite resorts/searches on my ipad. A few months ago it was on the right nav and easy to access, then they made it a pop up screen which was no good on the ipad since I can only see a few of the options. I sent them an email expressing concern a few weeks ago and this latest enhancement just made it worse. Apparently I'm the only one who uses an ipad to access RCI.

The only other change I notice is the alert on the left side of my screen which says I need to add protection to a 2014 trip. It says they have a special TPU protection promotion for $49 but it looks like it costs $89 if I use my credit card. Also dates listed have passed:

"For a limited time, add Trading Power Protection for $49 USD. Protect the Deposit Trading Power used toward your Exchange vacation! Add Trading Power Protection for just $89 USD. Trading Power Protection can be purchased from 11-Jun-2012 to 11-Jul-2012. "

 

[BevL]

One new RCI "Product Enhancement" - NOT!!

I put a week on hold and when I went to confirm it, the normal insurance I get that will give you a credit for your exchange fee AND restore your TPUs was not available, even though it indicates it is available using their help/search feature.

Anyway, I called in and the only insurance you can now get is strictly for trade power. So the first of the enhancements is more like a reverse enhancement, I guess.

 

[cory30]

Definitely not an enhancement. I made an exchange a little over a week ago and have delayed purchasing the insurance as I knew I had several weeks to make this purchase. As mentioned above, my option to purchase the upper tier insurance to refund my exchange is no longer an option.

Having said all of that, I think there are definitely some issues with the system. I checked an upcoming exchange that I have for the last week of November for which insurance was not purchased (I exchanged around 6 months ago). Interestingly, there is now a link to allow me to purchase insurance should I be so inclined. By clicking the link I go to a screen requesting payment/credit card information and that has the following language:

For a limited time, add Trading Power Protection for $49 USD. Protect the Deposit Trading Power used toward your Exchange vacation! Add Trading Power Protection for just $89 USD. Trading Power Protection can be purchased from 14-May-2012 to 13-Jun-2012.