Membership requirements for potential renters ($9.99 fee)

Being forced to pay a fee to become a Redweek member so you can look and see if there are timeshares you would want and contact owner to see if unit is still available is a waste of most people's time and many will not bother with it! Not everyone that comes on this site wants to become a member so paying to look then after no results getting a credit just a pain in the butt.

This is not good business by charging someone to just look at ads and see if there is something they might want and then checking with owner to make sure they can rent the unit. Anyone who has spent time on here understands that many owners never delete their ad or state that it in the process of renting or selling. It just sits there until time runs out and Redweek deletes it.

Owners have already paid the fee to become a member then paid another fee to list their timeshare for rent or sale. Then others are forced to join to see these already paid for ad's. This is a nickel and dime operation that seems to only have one purpose and that is to squeeze every cent they can from anyone checking out this timeshare forum!

Redweek could have one charge to become a member and this cost allows them to use all sites for their membership fee. I would think this would be best business model and more people would want to be a member.

Members then could run ads to rent or sell their timeshares or the wishlist or even a site to try and make a permanent ownership swap. I would think this one fee each year would open up so many uses for its members and forget this nickel and dime operation that drives most people crazy.

PHILL12

WOW - I am continually amazed at the reponse this topic has caused. I am still looking for the answer to one of my original questions: Will Redweek allow for renters to discuss possible options with listers and then if an agreement is made, require the membership fee as to help "protect" personal information. But couldn't a true "hacker" find out all the info they needed just by doing a little research with the email titles provided in thie forum? My prayers are with you Redweek members -it sounds like some of you are pleased with Redweek and others are not - try listing on myresortnetwork.com or vacationtimesharerentals.com - I'll be looking there again! Thanks for your thoughts everyone! I appreciate your honesty and willingness to discuss this HOT topic.

phill12 wrote:

After all this is stated about your saftey it gets down to only one thing, MONEY FOR REDWEEK!. Its really that simple.

Money is what motivates most internet sites since we do live in a capitalist society. Most timeshare sales/rental sites make money, otherwise why would they bother with setting up the site? The vast majority of the time there's no free lunch, even on the internet. Yes, there are some sales/rental sites where you can contact the lister at no charge, but I wouldn't want my email address there.

The only thing I can recommend is that if you don't care for Redweek's business model, then you are free to use one of the other listing sites on the internet where you don't have to pay a fee for personal information. Freedom of choice is a powerful thing.

Actually, I'm surprised that Redweek doesn't charge a fee to see reviews. There are many timeshare related websites that do charge for that privilege.

One more thing, myresortnetwork does not have the ease of surfing as Redweek does, the photos, the indepth descriptions of the resorts nor the reviews. Most of the time, you get what you pay for.

I've never checked out the second site you listed.

It has been stated that the forcing of the membership fee by Redweek before contacting a owner is for saftey of the owner.Only information is what ever the owner list on their ad.

I don't see any truth in the safe factor as many have been scammed on Redweek just like free sites!

This is just a fee Redweek wants to get their hands on and hope to build membership.

If no renting happens and you want a refund then Redweek will credit your credit card back the charge. This should take four or five days for charge and then credit just so you can contact a owner to see if unit can still be rented.

PHILL12

darcy54 wrote:

I think most members of Redweek are Timeshare owners and want to rent their week to recoup some of their costs such as maintenance fees etc. or they would like to exchange with other timeshare owners to avoid paying exchange fees. It is very difficult to find weeks to echange on this site. It would be nice if we could do a search just for exchanges. The other problem I think is because non members cannot contact owners who have paid for an ad unless they become members. They should be able to contact us without charge. I would even be willing to pay an extra $10 to cover their fee if my week is rented. There are a lot of classified ad sites on the internet that are free. Most timeshare owners don't want to pay rental fees, that is why they bought timeshare in the first place. Our best prospects are those who usually rent hotels or maybe are considering timeshare. But I don't think these people want to pay a membership hoping to find something to rent. I know I wouldn't. I think if Redweek could drop the membership fee to contact owners we would get better results.

I joined RedWeek years ago, and read/posted reviews and checked out rentals. Since the fee was instituted, I have paid maybe once or twice. I primarily use the site to review a resort, but since that option isn't available free any longer, I rarely consider paying the fee unless I am deadset on the resort and really want more detail from reviews. These are, after all, only opinions - but quantity and quality of response may be the deciding factor. And I'm not one to usually be "deadset" on a resort.

As for the rental/purchase debate, if I had the option to review the resort ratings, I would be MORE inclined to pay a fee for a rental or for a purchase. Is that a bad thing to say (then maybe those renting/selling would up the anty on good reviews). If one of the renters or purchasers were unhappy, they could then come back and post a review (since they would have paid their $9.99 to be able to enter into the transaction to begin with).

However, in my case - a traveller who utilizes many methods for my travel needs - I may have much more to say about resorts but unwilling to PAY the site for the privilege of writing a review that is meant to help the timeshare community at large. And if I like what I'm reviewing on a site about a resort, I have no problem ponying up a fee in order to rent or buy it.

And yes, I am a timeshare owner!

I have been spending hours looking for a condo to rent in Florida over the last week. I have found numerous sites that post terrific information about the resorts, reviews, pictures etc. I will no longer be looking at Redweek for possible rentals! Wow are they limited compared to other sites!!!! Get out there people and enjoy the possible rentals and communicate with the owners for free! I have communicated with over 12 owners in the last few days alone and have my condo narrowed down to 3 possibilities. Not to mention other sites post reviews for FREE. I didn't know what I was missing until I got off of Redweeks site. Thanks for everyone's comments --- until the actual people in charge of Redweek take our comments to heart and DO something, the majority of us renters will be booking with other people who are not Redweek members. Too bad really because I have found many timeshare rentals that are posted on Redweek available on other FREE sites - 2 of which are in my final search and possible rental! Sorry Redweek members.

To the posters above .... do the free sites have customer service reps that will follow up on any scam or other problem that you may encounter by renting, buying or selling?

Most of the time, you get what you pay for.

In this case what you pay for is the right to surf the Redweek site and contact the owner who already paid to try and rent,sell their timeshare unit.

If you find nothing then Redweek will refund your $9.99 { Now the fee is $14.99 } and this is a waste of someone's time just to see if their is a unit their looking for!

Again I will state this is all about Redweek making money and this is reason their in business to start with.

If people don't like this fee then they can go to other sites and spend their money just like I did!

Biggest loser here is the member paying to find a renter or buyer!

.

PHILL12

Jayjay--Gingin can help many people when she shares an idea and thoughts but her showing up on her Redweek Soap Box gets old. We always had to put up with her on Tug but then she went by Gingin and my understanding is she is now one of my neighbors in North Carolina! "Talk about bad news"

Jayjay jumps on the Redweek band wagon anytime someone says anything about Redweek and asking for some changes!

We would as timeshare owners like to be heard and see some changes. And yes there are other sites and I'm sure all of us use them. We take the good points we need from all sites for our own use.

I have been a member of Tug for long time. I do spend time on this site too but can only take so much from Jayjay and this Ken 1193 and then I need to leave here for a time. Between these two no one else needs to offer a opinion and both have said these kind of rude statements at times to others on here.Anytime someone stands up to Jayjay Redweek deletes the post and keeps Jayjay's post in many cases.

If you look you will see she is on every post giving her opinion and advice and you better take it or she will start little digs in her post about anything you say. Gingin will break your post down to fit her needs and do rude replies to each section.

You go back and see people that have had words because of a different opinion and you will find insults about statements and most times its to tell you that you are wrong or a lier or scammer,shill. She has no problem telling others they should leave Redweek and go to another site.

Just a add on, I see Robbie back now giving Kathyd122 a lecture for Redweek today 12/9/06.

These are the same kind of actions that Gingin was banned from Tug! My understanding was she was also banned from TS4MS !

Jayjay no longer owns timeshares (owned nine few years ago as she keeps telling everyone and sold most here on good old Redweek). Jayjay only relates from her past and really not part of any of the topics of timeshare owners or their problems that she likes to go on about here.

She is a non-timeshare owner telling all others what they should do about anything to do with timeshares.

New people love her until they get sick of her jumping on every post and always taking Redweeks side or as it has been called "up on her Redweek soap box".

You can go back and read past post when you can find the ones Redweek didn't delete. You see how many people have left this site because to be truthful they just got sick of dealing with jayjay and because jayjay jumps on every post many others that could help just won't waste their time.

I have had words with Jayjay many times and been deleted within hours as have many others on here.

This site now seems to be controlled by Jayjay and this Ken 1193's thoughts and opinions while others are dismissed on a regular bases.

There have been people ask and demand that Jayjay not answer their post again and she will be the first one to answer back.

It seems that all the questions posted on here and Jayjay will be first one to answer 90% of the time including people that don't like her and have told her.

Seems we have lost many of our Redweek friends last couple years to other sites because of these problems with these two people.

Darlene

Personally, I'm delighted that renters are paying $10 to access the site. Weeds out the 90% of folks out there who are just window shoppers and can waste your time by the bucketful.

When I get a lead through redweek, I know it's usually a serious inquiry. I love the site the way it is (other than reducing the price of for sale ads).

I'm delighted !!!

john1671 wrote:

Personally, I'm delighted that renters are paying $10 to access the site. Weeds out the 90% of folks out there who are just window shoppers and can waste your time by the bucketful.

When I get a lead through redweek, I know it's usually a serious inquiry. I love the site the way it is (other than reducing the price of for sale ads).

I'm delighted !!!

John, you state this charge stops 90% of window shoppers. I have breaking news for you as Phill12 stated very well we all are window shoppers until we find what we want. What your really saying is Redweek forcing people to become members and pay this fee stops us from having 90% of these Window Shoppers a chance to buy/rent our units even though we already paid Redweek to list our units.

So if Redweek can squeeze member fee's out of 10% of the people (window shopping) this is amount of new people we have a chance with. This is great news!

You and others talk about this fee being for the members safety. There has been many post last few months from renters coming to Redweek and being scammed by Redweek members who are trying to rent timeshares.

Most if not all are out all their money and getting lectures on what they should have done to protect themselves on here. So much for the safety factor!

I'm not a liar, nor are the staff members at Redweek, when you have been told that I am NOT an employee of Redweek (I wish I was).

I have an extensive education in timesharing by buying several weeks, selling several weeks, going through the buying/selling closing process(es), belonging to both RCI and II exchange companies having performed numerous exchanges, researched timesharing in general for several years (had to learn the hard way since we bought our first from the developer and lost a good deal of money when we decided to sell).

I like to educate people on timesharing and the answers I give are from experience and research. I check Redweek on a daily basis and help in any way I can to EDUCATE people in the areas that I am familiar with.

If I WAS a staff member at Redweek, I would gladly divulge that information on this board. I will continue to pass my knowledge on to others. If you don't care to read my posts, then you are free to ignore them and go on to others posts.

phill12 wrote:

jayjay wrote:

To the posters above .... do the free sites have customer service reps that will follow up on any scam or other problem that you may encounter by renting, buying or selling?

Most of the time, you get what you pay for.

Jayjay, I know someone on another post made comment that you work for Redweek and the staff came back and said you don't!

I'm not trying to cause problems here and you are full of good information. But my god you have answer for every issue that someone has with Redweek. I don't know if you have missed any post but get off the soap box here!

There are problems on this site that people would like to get changed to make this site better.

You posted few days ago that if I wasn't happy here I should go to another site. This is statement I could see staff saying but from what you say your in no way connected to Redweek,"just one of us owners"

There are many good sites out there! Redwwek is alright but needs changes too!

It just seems if your not being paid by Redweek then you just live on this site.

You mention Tug above ... you have to pay a fee of $10 every 3 months for EACH listing to post a 'for rent' or 'for sale' ad there. You also have to be a paying member to see reviews, so what's the difference between Tug and Redweek? The difference is that Redweek was SET up as a commercial timeshare buying, selling and rental site with a full profile of all resorts including color photos, reviews, prices and discussion in a very easy to read and surf format.

Also, Tug ad seller's and renter's personal email addressess are included for all (scammers and spammers) to view and lift (if they so choose). Even though you pay a fee to place an ad there, you don't have to pay a fee to view their ads. They are there for any/everyone to view, including personal email addresses.

You're comparing apples to oranges concerning Tug and Redweek.

It is great that you have so much helpful information to give us owners!

Problem is you take over every post and run with it always taking Redweeks side on any issue others have about this site.

Marty or who ever with Redweek makes a token post on here and then disappears from the issues and you take over their job and this is every time on every issue!

You then fight with them until Redweek comes in and deletes most of the post that disagree with you.

You like their business model and always talk it up and we understand since it has been stated by Tug members on here and Tug that you were banned by Tug and other sites so you better like Redweek because it is all you seem to have left!

You go after anyone who wants to see a change and push your opinion that Redweek is the best and number one timeshare forum on-line.(soapbox)

Most people will tell you Tug.com is the best on-line timeshare forum and many have never heard of Redweek!

My understanding is you don't work for Redweek and you don't own timeshares. Most people come on these forums like this and are asked why they are still bothering with a timeshare forum when they have no connection any longer to timeshares.When your out of timesharing its time to get a life and move on!

Maybe these are the reasons why people still think you have something to do with Redweek.

You have no problem telling others they should leave this site or insulting others on here when they disagree with you.

Maybe this is why the Soapbox term is used and I wasn't the one that started this term for you.

I'd like to know how sharing timeshare information is being on a soapbox? I merely answer questions to the best of my ability.

As far as my defending Redweek's business model, I defend it because I believe in it. Redweek's listing and viewing fees are a SMALL price to pay in relation to timeshare upfront fee sellers and scammers/spammers. We're not talking megabucks to join and retrieve information from ads here.

Redweek is not going to change their business model/strategy for you or me or anybody else. Their model is there for a reason and that reason is to protect those that list ads with them.

I really can't understand why you can't comprehend this. You've evidently never been emailed by a scammer or a spammer that lifted your email address from a free or ad paying site with email addresses in plain view.

I don't see how having a paid membership really keeps the seller's e-mail from getting out. Lots of free sites do not display your e-mail ie Craigslist.org or Kijiji.com. I have ads on both of these sites and have gotten many more inquiries than on Redweek. Some of the inquiries I got from this site were for dates other than what I advertised, asking if I wanted to exchange etc, so an inquiry from a paid member is not necessarily any better than a non paying inquiry. Don't get me wrong, I think there are a lot of good things about this site. My personal favorite is Redwishes. If I were looking to rent a week I would not hesitate to pay for an ad on Redwishes and just wait for renters to find me! However by only allowing paid members to contact us we could be loosing 90% of the potential market as mention in previous posts. I don't know if it is that high, I hope not. Perhaps Redweek could introduce a free one time only trial membership say for a week or two or a month. Once they have used Redweek with, I'm sure, good results they will probably not have any problem with a paid membership for future rentals. Getting our weeks rented or sold is all a numbers game as it is with any sale. The more shoppers the higher the percentage of a sale.

I would continue to use the sites that you have had the most luck in getting responses. I really don't see what all this has to do with Redweek if you're having much better luck elsewhere. As I said above, I don't believe Redweek is going to change their business model for me, you or anyone else. It's there for a reason.

As far as people contacting you on Redweek to possibly exchange your week with them ... my assumption would be that they are Redweek members and are already entitled to communicate with you.

darcy54 wrote:

Lots of free sites do not display your e-mail ie Craigslist.org or Kijiji.com. I have ads on both of these sites and have gotten many more inquiries than on Redweek.

jayjay , Why do you find it so hard to believe that Redweek wouldn't change their "business model" as you put it for you me or any other paying customer? If a business isn't willing to listen to their customers concerns, well they risk losing those customers. I'm not saying they have to change but at least listen to the concerns of their customers and see if they might be able to come up with a solution, ie, a trial membership as I mentioned earlier or maybe some other member has some ideas. This topic seems to have the most comments on here so we have to assume it is an important issue and deserves Redweeks consideration.