Did RCI improve their exchange service?

Ask the Timeshare Crusader / December, 2010

I have read about RCI's new system that is supposed to give members more options in trading their vacation properties. Is this really the case or is it just hype?

For those of you who don't know, RCI recently introduced several features to better timeshare exchange. The one that I'm most interested in is that they will be finally "valuing" each timeshare week so that owners and potential exchangers can get a more accurate indication of how much their week is truly "worth" when it comes time to exchanging.

As a former timeshare salesperson who used to rely on the old "red, white and blue" system and the horrible notion that "Orlando is all red, all of the time" - both of which were outdated back in 2001 when I began my career - I feel this is an important step forward for RCI in acknowledging that some locations and some weeks are not really great for trading. But remember that not everyone wants to own a timeshare to exchange.

There will be pushback from this new valuation system no doubt. First and foremost, lazy salespeople and sales managers will try to avoid letting the consumer know about it for fear that their sales numbers will suffer. The same lazy people pushed back several years ago when II introduced their "Travel Demand Index" and it became apparent that the 3rd week in September in Orlando was not as in demand as the 4th of July week. By the way, II's Travel Demand Index was another great idea for timeshare owners everywhere.

I hope that RCI's new "vision" will herald a new age of more transparency for the timeshare industry and the beginning of the end of outdated sales practices.*

One final word: while it is terrific to see RCI move in the right direction, it is still up to the consumer to educate themselves about the timeshare product. It will take both the industry and consumers working together to move timeshare into the new millennium. I strongly urge owners and potential owners to do their homework, read timeshare forums, ask the right questions, and become involved.