This resort may have been booked

[Jimster]

I have noticed recently that every time I want to book a resort on line I get the message which says in effect: This resort may already have been booked. Please choose another resort. Ok so what is it doing on line wasting my time looking at it?????? This is the most irritating message since "Head on-apply directly to the forehead". Can't RCI think of a better way to resolve whatever issue is involved here rather than waiting for someone to try and book the property and then sending this message. Why not something like: "Hey stupid, you just wasted your time looking at this resort when RCI already screwed you"?

 

[Fern Modena]

In the past when I've received this message (generally on the Weeks side of RCI Points) I've found the unit is still available if I call...

Fern

I have noticed recently that every time I want to book a resort on line I get the message which says in effect: This resort may already have been booked. Please choose another resort. Ok so what is it doing on line wasting my time looking at it?????? This is the most irritating message since "Head on-apply directly to the forehead". Can't RCI think of a better way to resolve whatever issue is involved here rather than waiting for someone to try and book the property and then sending this message. Why not something like: "Hey stupid, you just wasted your time looking at this resort when RCI already screwed you"?

 

[Madge]

Jimster,

If you're in the Points system, it might be that online access to the resort has been blocked due to complexities with check-in days that are changeable. In some cases, a Guide must be consulted to be sure of the correct information. This is usually only the case for a few European resorts.

 

[Jimster]

Message

Since I book mainly European resorts, this applies to many of my searches. It is very irritating! This is particularly true when you take the time to check available units and times and to check out the resort in the directory or on Tug and then you get this ridiculous message when you finally decide to put the unit on hold or to confirm. Furthermore, the message itself makes no sense. Doesn't RCI know if the resort has already been booked if not this does not inspire confidence? A message like "This resort is on hold for another member. Please consult a VC." makes more sense. Removal from the system until it is available makes sense, but the message as written is ridiculous. As both you and Fern point out, you may be able to get the unit by calling a guide. God only knows why that is not part of the message. Then again I search usually in the early a.m. and RCI is closed at that time which makes calling a guide impossible. My point is simple: find another way to convey whatever point is trying to be made because this one certainly is very poorly done. Can we get a new method to do this?

P.S. I am a points and also a weeks member.

 

[Madge]

Jimster,

I agree that if our website cannot process certain inventory, the message should be clearer. It really doesn't relate to availability so much as to the required method of booking. I'll pass your comments on to see what might be done to at least be clearer about what's happening.

 

[sfwilshire]

I got this dreaded message today when I tried to hold, then tried to book a week at Barnsdale Country Club. Called in and the VC could not see it.

This is twice in about a week that I lost a wanted week in the time it took me to call in because I couldn't do the transaction on the web. It's starting to get a bit irritating.

Is there anything we as members can do to avoid this situation? I wasn't on hold any time at all, so there is no complaint about the RCI call response time. I dialed as fast as I could.

Thanks,

Sheila

 

[orenb]

I got this message on Memorial Day when trying to make a Weeks reservation using Points. I picked up the phone and called RCI as my experience has always been that the week is really still available. RCI was closed for the Holiday so this didn't help. I tried online again on Memorial Day several hours later but the week was no longer there but was on Last Call at $539.99.

A little over a month ago I was looking for resorts in the Southeast and there were multiple ones available. We were thinking about taking one---these were not high demand resorts but ones I frequently see available in considerable number--- but by the next morning they were all gone but now available on Last Call. Is RCI routinely shifting these weeks at a particular time from the exchange pool to Last Call?

 

[Madge]

Sheila,

I'm still checking into whether we can accomplish this a different way or at least provide a clearer message. Right now, there are some international resorts that have special requirements for the exact check-in day to be confirmed by a Guide. Inventory from these resorts is displaying the message.

I am sorry to hear of the frustration it's causing. When I can get more information, I'll pass it along.